EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. – The next El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 14 at 9 a.m.

On the agenda is an ordinance, Camping and Storage of Personal Property on
Private and Public Property. If passed this will regulate camping, sleeping, sitting, lying, and storage of personal property on private and public property in El Dorado County.

The ordinance:

WHEREAS, pursuant to the County’s police power, as granted broadly under Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution and Section 210 of the Charter of the County of El Dorado, the Board of Supervisors of the County of El Dorado has the authority to enact and enforce ordinances and regulations for the public peace, health, and welfare of the County’s residents; and
WHEREAS, El Dorado County has seen a troubling rise in unauthorized camping, sitting, sleeping, and lying across public lands, private properties, forests, parks, and areas previously unregulated. These activities pose significant risks to public safety, the environment, and the community’s well-being; and
WHEREAS, El Dorado County’s geography—characterized by dense forests, rugged terrain, and wilderness areas—presents a high wildfire risk. Unauthorized camping, including open fires and unsafe cooking practices, significantly increases the chance of wildfires, endangering residents, emergency responders, and natural resources; and
WHEREAS, unauthorized campers often leave behind trash, human waste, and hazardous materials, contaminating water sources and damaging ecosystems. Expanding regulations will prevent the pollution of critical waterways, such as the South Fork American River and the Lake Tahoe Basin, preserving water quality and public health; and
WHEREAS, the County’s existing ordinance does not fully address the growing issues related to unauthorized camping, sitting, sleeping, and lying across the County. Action is required to establish county-wide regulations that better safeguard public health, safety, and the environment; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance strikes a balance by addressing both public safety and environmental concerns while considering the needs of unhoused individuals. The County will collaborate with social services and community partners to ensure that solutions are comprehensive, effective, and humane; and
WHEREAS, all findings, reports, and evidence presented are hereby included in the County’s record and are incorporated into this ordinance, providing a detailed justification for the regulation of illegal camping in order to safeguard public health, safety, welfare, and natural resources within El Dorado County.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF EL DORADO DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Chapter 9.55 of Title 9 of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code entitled “Camping and Storage of Personal Property on Private and Public Property” is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“Chapter 9.55. Camping, Sleeping, Sitting, Lying, and Storage of Personal Property on Private and Public Property
Sec. 9.55.010. – Purpose and findings.
The purpose of this chapter is to maintain streets, parks, and other public and private property within the County in a clean, sanitary, and accessible condition and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community. The Board of Supervisors finds that the use of public property for camping, sleeping, sitting, and lying purposes, or storage of personal property, interferes with the rights of others to use
the areas for which they were intended. Such activity can also constitute a public health and safety hazard that adversely impacts neighborhoods and commercial areas. The Board further finds that camping and storing personal property near the high water mark of waterways poses a serious risk to the quality of the waterways and the health and safety of citizens using the waterways and results in abandoned, unattended, or unsecured property polluting the waterways during high water flows. The Board of Supervisors further finds that camping and storing personal property on private property without the consent of the owner adversely affects private property rights as well as the health, safety, and welfare of the owner and public.
Section 9.55.020. – Application.
This chapter shall apply generally to all property throughout the unincorporated territory of the County, and including property that is County-owned, leased, operated, managed or maintained, wherein any of the conditions herein specified are found to exist. Any condition or conduct that would constitute a violation of this chapter, but which is permitted or authorized under any County ordinance or state or federal law, shall not constitute a violation of this chapter.
Section 9.55.030. – Enforcement.
Any law enforcement officer shall have the authority to enforce this chapter.

For the full agenda and instructions on participation, visit https://eldorado.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx,