Homelessness: Changes to Camping Rules

Thank you for your question. 

Camping on public property, including camping in a vehicle or RV, is not allowed in residential zones, which includes MR-2 Multi-Dwelling Residential zones. 

Camping in a vehicle, motorhome, or RV is subject to current parking regulations under Hillsboro Municipal Code Section 8.12.030, so vehicle camping would not be allowed for more than two hours in locations with two-hour time limits for parking. 

Thanks for reaching out with this question. 

For occupied residential properties, a property owner may register with the city to have either one backyard tent or one occupied vehicle in a driveway, with some conditions such as having restroom and garbage disposal access available. An RV would be considered a motor vehicle under the definitions in this code. 

To read more about conditions for private property and process to register visit our Camping Rules webpage.

Thank you for your question.

Under our updated rules for camping on public property, camping in the public right-of-way (in general the area between the sidewalk and curb) is not allowed within 10 feet of business doorways, whether or not a business owner gives permission.

However, business owners who own commercial property may register with the City to establish limited camping in a parking lot in areas that are zoned for commercial or industrial use.

Thanks for this question.

Persons can camp in vehicles or trailers overnight so long as the time, place, and manner rules are followed. The time camping is allowed is from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am. The places where camping is allowed are shown on the camping areas map. Streets highlighted in green are where camping can occur overnight. For those in vehicles/trailers, parking code will also need to be followed on those streets. For example, someone sleeping in a vehicle could not park overnight in a spot that limits parking to two hours- even if it is on a highlighted street.

The manner section of the updated camping policy gives rules on how camping can occur, with rules such as not blocking sidewalks or leaving debris. You can read the time, place, and manner rules on the new Camping Rules webpage.

Thank you for your question. 

The 500-foot buffer was set around K-12 schools because these are grade levels where children could be potentially walking or transiting to and from school independently.  

Day care facilities have continual adult supervision from pick-up to drop-off. In addition, any day care facilities in residential zones are further protected by the exclusion of residential zones from camping areas. Camping is also prohibited within 10 feet of any driveway or business entrance, which applies to day cares in commercial and non-residential zones. Lastly, camping is not allowed from 7 am to 7 pm, which covers the majority of operating hours for day care facilities

Thank you for your question. Under the updated camping rules, camping cannot occur within 500 feet of a K-12 school. This applies year-round and does not change in the summer.

Hello,

Thank you for your question. The camping areas map is available on our Camping Rules Webpage or on the Camping Rules Engage Project Page.

Thank you for reaching out. The updated camping rules do not identify Tri-met parking lots as an area where camping would be allowed. Persons using these parking lots would need to follow TriMet rules for use.

Good afternoon and thank you for your question. 

The expectation would not be for community members who are living unsheltered to know whether or not shelter beds that meet their needs are available. 

Instead, the Hillsboro Police Department's Crisis Intervention Team will work with compassion to complete individualized assessments and connect people who are camping with local outreach teams, service providers, and shelters that meet their needs. 

The Crisis Intervention Team works with local shelters on a day-to-day basis and can connect community members with emergency shelter beds if they are available. 

Individualized assessments are especially important as not every type of shelter may meet the needs of every person in the community. For example, a shelter with stairs and no elevator would not meet the needs of a person in a wheelchair. A shelter that does not allow animals would not meet the needs of a community member with a pet.

Good afternoon and thank you for your question. 

Under the proposed updated ordinance, "persons who do not have available shelter are permitted to camp on public rights-of-way located within the city or upon other city properties that are outdoors and open to the public between the hours of 7pm to 7 am." 

Camping in the public rights-of-way is subject to place and manner restrictions outlined in the proposed Manager's Administrative Rules: 

• Camping or camp materials may not obstruct any portion of any street, bike lane, or bike path
  
  
• Camping may not obstruct the sidewalk
  • 36 inches of unobstructed passage must be available
  • Must allow access as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act

Additional place restrictions would prohibit camping within residential zones, within 500 feet of homeless services, within 500 feet of schools attended by children under 18 (excluding preschools and daycares), within city parks and more. 

For the full list of proposed place and manner restrictions, read the drafted Manager's Administrative Rules.