Denver's Unauthorized Camping Ordinance (DRMC §38-86.2), passed in 2012 and upheld by voters in 2019, bans sleeping outdoors with shelter on public or private property. Grants Pass v. Johnson (2024) eased Eighth Amendment limits from Martin v. Boise.
Denver Revised Municipal Code §38-86.2 prohibits any person from camping on public or private property without express permission. Camping means residing temporarily with shelter, including tents, tarps, blankets, sleeping bags, or any structure used to protect from the elements. Police must offer a written warning and access to shelter before citing or arresting. The 9th Circuit's Martin v. Boise (2018) had limited enforcement when shelter beds were unavailable, but the Supreme Court's Grants Pass v. Johnson (June 2024) reversed that, holding camping bans do not violate the Eighth Amendment. Denver continues to pair enforcement with sweeps and shelter offers from the Department of Housing Stability (HOST).
Camping-ban violations are petty offenses with fines up to $999 and up to 60 days jail. Property and tents are typically stored 30 days, but officers may abate immediately if the camp obstructs sidewalks or creates a public-health emergency.
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See how Denver's lamc §41.18 encampment rule rules stack up against other locations.
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