News

City Council to consider public encampment ban

City Council to consider public encampment ban

2024 Market Street Park camps Photo: Saga Communications/Rob Schilling


CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville City Council tonight considers an ordinance banning camping in public rights-of-way without written permission from the City Manager. Police Chief Mike Kochis will present to Council that CPD has received “quality of life complaints” which includes “blocked sidewalks and rights-of-way, accumulation of personal belongings, and impacts on surrounding neighborhoods and businesses”. The ordinance sets what the city calls an “encampment response protocol” that is “lawful and coordinated across departments, compassionate and respectful, and focused on connecting people to services”.

The ordinance would ensure immediate removal of hazardous sites — such as safety risks, criminal activity, and trash and health issues. If people are present, the protocol would require notifying law enforcement and outreach staff, posting notice if possible, and removing and storing personal property while disposing of trash and hazards. Non-profit partners may assist with outreach during inspections.

Non-hazardous sites would have to be removed within 10 business days.

Click here for the full agenda items.

Latest Stories

14 hours ago in Sports

Ohtani tops MLB jersey sales for 3rd straight season. Skenes and Raleigh break into top 20

Shohei Ohtani topped Major League Baseball's jersey sales for the third straight year heading into the end of the regular season as Paul Skenes and Cal Raleigh entered the top 20.

14 hours ago in Entertainment

Mikey Madison will play a Facebook whistleblower in Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Social Network’ follow-up

Aaron Sorkin is diving back into the world of Facebook with a "Social Network" follow-up featuring Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg and a newly minted Oscar winner as a whistleblower.

14 hours ago in National

Assata Shakur, a fugitive Black militant sought by the US since 1979, dies in Cuba

Assata Shakur, a Black liberation activist who was given political asylum in Cuba after her 1979 escape from a U.S. prison where she had been serving a life sentence for killing a police officer, has died, her daughter and the Cuban government said.