OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Tuesday, Kissimmee Commissioners voted to adopt a no-camping ordinance aimed at addressing homelessness in public spaces.
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The council voted 4-1 with no public comment addressing the vote. The decision joins cities like Orlando, which enacted a city ordinance in October.
HB 1365 states preempt counties and municipalities from authorizing individuals to regularly sleep or camp on public property, at public buildings, or on public rights-of-way within their jurisdictions.
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City Manager Mike Steigerwald explained the law, which went into effect in October, now has sharper teeth.
Effective January 1, 2025, the bill authorizes a resident, local business owner, or the Attorney General to bring a civil action against a county or municipality to enjoin practices of allowing unlawful sleeping or camping on public property.
“This gives police the tools they need to enforce penalties,” said Steigerwald.”
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Steigerwald said the Kissimmee Police Department has protocols in place for dealing with the homeless community. He said the department also has a community engagement program to help facilitate people to shelters and resources.
When applying for an injunction, a person or business must also file an affidavit proving that the governmental entity was properly notified of the problem and that it has not been fixed.
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If the suit goes through, a person or business may recover reasonable expenses incurred in bringing the action. Individuals who sleep or camp on public property without authorization are not subject to penalties under the bill.
The bill states that bans against camping or sleeping on public property will not apply when the Governor has declared a state of emergency or when local officers have declared a local state of emergency.
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