Acworth's Homelessness & Encampment Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles homelessness & encampment rules a little differently. In Acworth, Georgia, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Encampment Sanitation

Acworth bans camping and storing personal property in any city park, including lakefront parks on land leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, defining "camp" broadly enough to cover tents, prolonged sleeping in one spot, and regular cooking or meal prep.

Key details: Governing section: Acworth Code § 54-3(b). Covers: All city parks, plazas, playgrounds, monuments. Corps land included: Leased USACE lakefront parkland named expressly. Warning required first: Section 54-3(e), before any arrest. Max fine: $1,000 under general penalty § 1-11.

Section 54-3 carries no separate fine schedule, so a park-camping conviction defaults to the general penalty in § 1-11: a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, up to 60 days of city public-works labor, or a judge's combination, heard in Acworth Municipal Court, but only after the required warning under § 54-3(e) has already been given and ignored.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Acworth actively enforces its encampment sanitation requirements.

Sit-Lie Rules

Acworth bans sitting, lying down, sleeping, camping, or storing personal property on any public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way, with carve-outs for medical emergencies, wheelchair users, ticket lines, and sidewalk cafe patrons, and an officer must warn a violator before making an arrest.

Key details: Governing section: Acworth Code § 54-3(c). Covers: Streets, sidewalks, benches, parking lots, medians. Exceptions: 10 listed carve-outs including medical and lines, § 54-3(f). Warning required first: Section 54-3(e), before any arrest. Max fine: $1,000 under general penalty § 1-11.

Like the park-camping provision in the same section, § 54-3 sets no separate fine for sidewalk sitting or lying, so the general penalty in § 1-11 applies: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, up to 60 days of city labor, or a combination set by the Acworth Municipal Court judge, and an arrest can only follow a warning under § 54-3(e) that the person then ignores.

Compared to other cities, Acworth takes a harder line on sit-lie rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Acworth is tougher than many cities when it comes to homelessness & encampment rules. Out of the 2 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Acworth, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Acworth can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.