Gaston County, NC Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing provision
- Code of Ordinances § 11-61
- Permission required
- Written authorization from county manager
- Legal status
- Declared a public nuisance
- Misdemeanor fine
- Up to $500 (G.S. 14-4)
- Civil penalty
- $250 per day
- Scope
- County property, ROW, sidewalks (not parks)
Summary
Camping, pitching a tent, or leaving bedding on any Gaston County-owned property, including rights-of-way and sidewalks, is unlawful without written permission from the county manager under § 11-61. The county treats camping as a public nuisance and can summarily remove belongings and issue a misdemeanor or civil citation under § 11-62.
Sec. 11-61. - Prohibited activity. (a)Unless otherwise expressly permitted in writing by the county manager or his designee, it is unlawful for any person to camp on any county property, including property located within public rights-of-way and sidewalks.(b)Tents, temporary shelters or other camping gear are prohibited on county property regardless of whether the tents are occupied and/or contain bedding or camping gear, except in locations designated in writing for camping and permitted for such activity. It is unlawful for any person to place or leave any tent, any temporary shelter, or any bedding on county property unless expressly permitted to do so in writing by the county manager or his designee.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 58 | Unified Development Ordinance: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
Section 11-60 defines 'camp or camping' as using county property for sleeping, preparing to sleep, storing belongings, or placing a tent or temporary shelter for living-accommodation purposes; 'county property' covers any county-owned parcel, including rights-of-way and sidewalks, but excludes property governed by the Park and Recreation Facilities Ordinance, which is handled separately in chapter 12. Section 11-61 makes it unlawful to camp, place a tent, temporary shelter, or bedding, or light a campfire or bonfire on county property unless the county manager or a designee has authorized it in writing.
Enforcement under § 11-62 treats unauthorized camping as a public nuisance: any sworn law enforcement officer or county employee with authority may direct a person to stop and remove camping gear or belongings, and may summarily remove tents, shelters, bedding, or personal belongings left behind. The same officers may summarily extinguish an unauthorized campfire. Officers and county-designated employees may issue civil-penalty citations, and law enforcement may additionally charge a misdemeanor. The article, adopted by Resolution No. 2012-146 on April 26, 2012, states its own severability and took effect immediately upon adoption (§ 11-63).
Violations & Fines
A misdemeanor charge under G.S. 14-4 carries a fine of up to five hundred dollars, or any other sanction the law allows. Separately, a civil-penalty citation carries two hundred fifty dollars per day, collectible as a civil debt if unpaid within seventy-two hours of issuance, and the article can also be enforced through an equitable remedy from a court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone legally camp overnight on Gaston County property?
Will Gaston County remove a person's belongings from an encampment?
What penalty applies for illegal camping in Gaston County?
Do these camping rules apply inside Gaston County parks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gaston County
Compare Gaston County to another location·View the North Carolina homelessness & encampment rules overview
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