Rock Island County, IL Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted
- Ord. 2024-09, Oct 15, 2024
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated county only (§130.11)
- Notice before removal
- 24 hours (§130.17(A))
- Property storage
- Minimum 30 days (§130.18(A))
- Fine range
- $75 to $750 escalating (§130.20)
- Exempt property
- Weapons, drugs, stolen goods, unsanitary items
Summary
Outside incorporated towns, Rock Island County bans camping on any public sidewalk, park, or county property and follows a set removal procedure. § 130.17 requires 24 hours' posted notice before crews clear a campsite, and any recovered belongings that are not contraband stay in county storage for at least 30 days.
Upon discovery of a campsite on public property, removal of the campsite by the appropriate person(s) acting on behalf of Rock Island County may occur under the following circumstances: (A) Prior to removing a campsite, Rock Island County shall post a notice, 24-hours in advance of the removal, unless immediate removal of the campsite is deemed to be necessary for one of the reasons in divisions (1) through (4) below... (B) At the time of posting the 24-hour notice, the county shall inform a local agency (delivering social services to homeless individuals) of the location of the campsite and the persons found to be in violation of this subchapter... (C) After the 24-hour notice period has passed, the appropriate person(s) acting on behalf of Rock Island County are authorized to remove the campsite and all personal property related thereto.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-1: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2024-12-A, passed 12-17-2024; and State legislation current through 2024 Illinois Legislative Service, Pamphlet #6).
Full Breakdown
17 sets the removal steps: prior to removing a campsite, the county "shall post a notice, 24-hours in advance of the removal," except when immediate removal is needed to maintain property access, protect sanitary conditions, clear an obstruction to a right-of-way, or address a health and safety risk. At the time it posts that notice, the county must also tell a local homeless-services agency the campsite's location so it can offer services to the people found there. 14 to include unsanitary items, illegal weapons, drug paraphernalia, apparent stolen goods, and food that would spoil within 30 days, may instead be disposed of or retained as evidence by the Sheriff.
Violations & Fines
§ 130.20 escalates fines for camping-subchapter violations over a rolling 24-month period: $75 for a first violation, $150 for a second, $350 for a third, $500 for a fourth, and $750 for a fifth. § 130.19 allows a separate fine for each offense, including one for each day a violation continues, assessed by a court or the county's administrative adjudication hearing officer. § 130.21 lets that court or officer consider, in mitigation, whether the person promptly removed their property and litter after being warned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rock Island County's camping ban apply inside the city of Rock Island?
How much warning does the county give before clearing a campsite?
What happens to a person's belongings when a campsite is cleared?
What's the fine for repeat public camping violations?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rock Island County
Compare Rock Island County to another location·View the Illinois homelessness & encampment rules overview
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