Greensboro City Council vote to prohibit sleeping, camping in public

The Greensboro City Council on Tuesday amended an ordinance to prohibit sleeping or camping in public spaces.

The change to the city code comes amid increasing numbers of people without housing. According to the Guilford County Point in Time Count, 665 individuals are experiencing homelessness in 2024, up from 452 last year.

The City Council voted unanimously for the amendment. Assistant City Manager Andrea Harrell says the change is due to complaints of trash, debris and defecation on sidewalks.

"We are going to firm up some of the boundaries around the behaviors we're going to allow, but at the same time, these folks are, you know, obviously not in the greatest situation," Harrell says. "And so that message needs to be delivered along with, 'Hey, here's the resources that we have that can help you.'"

Sitting or lying down on public streets will be prohibited from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Violations of the changed ordinance could result in someone being charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor.