Chatham County, GA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Chatham County Code Art. XIII §§21-1304, 21-1306, 21-1307
- Effective date
- May 23, 2025
- Camping definition
- Sleeping/living in one spot over 1 hour
- Property storage law
- O.C.G.A. §17-5-54
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Chatham County property
Summary
Chatham County bans camping on county property in unincorporated areas, and lets the County or law enforcement clear campsites and stored personal property. Article XIII, adopted May 23, 2025, spells out how removed belongings are handled and released.
§21-1304 Camping Regulated. No person may occupy a campsite inconsistent with the regulations in this Chapter unless specifically authorized by: 1. a formal declaration of the Chairman of the County Commission in emergency circumstances... §21-1306 Removal of Campsite on Public Property. Any violations pursuant to Article XIII of Chapter 21, the County or law enforcement shall be able to remove individuals, personal property, camping materials, and campsites from County property. §21-1307 Disposition and Release of Personal Property. Items having no apparent utility or monetary value and items in an unsanitary condition may be discarded. Weapons, drug paraphernalia, items appearing to be stolen, and evidence of a crime may be retained as evidence by the Police Department until an alternate disposition is determined.
Full Breakdown
Code of Chatham County Sec. 21-1304 bars anyone from occupying a campsite on county property unless a formal declaration by the County Commission Chairman authorizes it during an emergency, or the Commission passes a resolution exempting a specific special event, requiring proof of insurance and indemnification. "Camp" is defined at Sec. 21-1302(2) as residing in or using a location for private living accommodations, such as erecting tents or shelters, sleeping in one place for more than an hour, or cooking or preparing meals. Once any resolution or declaration allowing camping expires, all camping materials on county property must be removed.
Sec. 21-1306 authorizes the County or law enforcement to remove individuals, personal property, camping materials, and campsites from county property found in violation of the Article. Sec. 21-1307 governs what happens to removed items: belongings with no apparent utility or monetary value, or items in an unsanitary condition, may be discarded outright. Weapons, drug paraphernalia, apparently stolen items, and crime evidence may be retained by the Police Department as evidence. A. Sec. 17-5-54 and must be made reasonably available for release to anyone who can confirm ownership. The Article took effect May 23, 2025 and is not retroactive.
Violations & Fines
Camping on county property without an emergency declaration or a Commission-approved special-event exemption is a violation subject to removal of the person, campsite, and belongings under Sec. 21-1306. Storing personal property unattended for more than one hour on public property also falls within the Article's scope. Retained property is held per Sec. 21-1307 and released to a confirmed owner; unsanitary or valueless items may be discarded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Chatham County throw away my belongings after clearing a campsite?
Is camping ever allowed on Chatham County property?
What happens to a weapon or drug paraphernalia found at a cleared campsite?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chatham County
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