Colorado Springs's Homelessness & Encampment Rules: The Rules That Matter

Colorado Springs maintains 144 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with homelessness & encampment rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Colorado Springs falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Encampment Sanitation

City Code § 9.6.110 bans camping, defined broadly as using a public area for human habitation, including presence of waste, urination or defecation as evidence, anywhere on public property, with an outright ban on camping and waste disposal inside any stream or 100-foot riparian zone.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 9.6.110. Scope: All public property citywide, plus stream/riparian zones. Riparian buffer: 100 feet from any streambank. Vehicle camping: Requires prior warning + 24-hour wait before citation. Maximum penalty: Up to $2,500 fine, 189 days jail (§ 1.1.201).

General public-property and stream-zone camping violations, along with unlawful waste deposits in a stream riparian zone, are punished under the City's general penalty, § 1.1.201: up to a $2,500 fine, up to 189 days in jail, probation, or a combination. Vehicle-camping citations carry an extra procedural requirement, no citation may issue unless the person was previously warned that vehicle camping is prohibited and at least 24 hours have passed since that warning; a prior citation is treated as proof of the earlier warning.

Compared to other cities, Colorado Springs takes a harder line on encampment sanitation. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Sit-Lie Rules

City Code § 9.2.112 makes it unlawful to sit, kneel, recline or lie down on the public right of way in the Central Commercial District or Old Colorado City Commercial District between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. daily, and again from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 9.2.112. Zones covered: Central Commercial District; Old Colorado City Commercial District. Restricted hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily; 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Fri/Sat. First offense: Up to $500 fine or probation. Repeat offense: Up to $500 fine, 90 days jail, or probation.

First offense: a fine of up to $500, or probation, or both, per § 9.2.112.E.1. A second or subsequent offense raises the exposure to a fine of up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, probation, or a combination of the three, under § 9.2.112.E.2. An officer must have already warned the person that the conduct violates the section before any citation or arrest can issue.

This is one of the stricter rules in Colorado Springs's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs 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.