Why Miramar Has Some of the Strictest Homelessness & Encampment Rules in the State

If you live in Miramar or are thinking about moving there, homelessness & encampment rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Miramar has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of homelessness & encampment rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Sit-Lie Rules

Miramar bans camping or sleeping on public property, including streets, sidewalks and rights-of-way, under City Code Sec. 13-17, adopted November 20, 2024. Officers must first order a person to stop and screen them for medical or homeless-assistance needs before any citation or arrest can issue.

Key details: Effective date: November 20, 2024 (Ord. 25-03). Covered area: Streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way, public facilities. Excluded area: City Parks. Pre-citation step: Oral warning plus needs assessment required. Property hold: Up to 30 days with Broward Sheriff's Office.

Violating Sec. 13-17 is punishable as provided in Sec. 13-1 of the City Code, but only after the officer's required warning, needs-assessment and shelter-transport offer under subsection (c) have been completed and the person still fails to comply or refuses available assistance.

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

Encampment Sanitation

Miramar bans camping or sleeping on public property outside city parks, but officers must first order the person to stop, offer a ride to a hospital or shelter, and only cite or arrest if that assistance is refused or unneeded. Unclaimed belongings are inventoried by the Broward Sheriff's Office for 30 days.

Key details: Adopting ordinance: Ord. No. 25-03, effective 11-20-24. City parks: Excluded from 'public property' definition. Pre-enforcement steps: Oral warning, then services offer required. Property hold period: 30 days via Broward Sheriff's Office. Perishable items: May be discarded immediately.

Subsection (e) directs that violations "shall be punishable as provided in Section 13-1 of this Code," but only after the mandatory oral-warning and social-services-referral sequence in subsection (c) has been followed; an officer who skips that sequence cannot lawfully cite or arrest under this section. This is a genuinely local Miramar measure, distinct from the Florida Statutes framework addressing unauthorized public camping statewide.

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

The Bottom Line

Miramar 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 Miramar, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Miramar's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.