Homelessness & Encampment Rules, Sandy Springs

Every city handles homelessness & encampment rules a little differently. In Sandy Springs, 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

Sandy Springs bans camping, sleeping, and storing personal property such as tents, bedrolls, or cookware in any city-owned park under City Code § 38-60. The same section bars camping on public streets and other public property. Police must issue an oral or written warning before any arrest, and ten specific activities, from wheelchair users on sidewalks to festival-goers, are exempted.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 38-60. Warning required: Before any arrest, per § 38-60(e). Max penalty: $1,000 fine or 6 months jail. Enforcing agency: Sandy Springs Police Department. Adopted: December 1, 2005.

A first offense draws only a warning under § 38-60(e); ignoring it is punishable, absent a more specific penalty, under the Code's general penalty in § 1-10(c): up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or 30 days of confinement at labor. Camping that continues day to day counts as a new, separate offense each day under § 1-10(d)(1).

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

Sit-Lie Rules

Sandy Springs makes it unlawful to sit or lie down on any public street, defined to include sidewalks, benches, parking lots and medians, under City Code § 38-60(c). Subsection (d) extends the same ban to any public property where sitting or lying blocks entry to or exit from a building. Ten listed activities, from waiting in line to medical emergencies, are exempt.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 38-60(c)-(d). Covers: Streets, sidewalks, benches, parking lots, medians. Building-entry rule: Bans blocking ingress/egress on any public property. Warning required: Before arrest, per § 38-60(e). Max penalty: $1,000 fine or 6 months jail.

Sitting or lying on a public street or sidewalk draws a warning first under § 38-60(e); refusing to move after the warning is what exposes a person to arrest and, absent a specific fine in § 38-60 itself, the Code's general penalty of up to $1,000 and six months in jail under § 1-10(c).

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

The Bottom Line

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

This guide is based on Sandy Springs's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.