Floyd County, GA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

Sec. 2-11-90, adopted by Ordinance No. 05, 2024 on September 24, 2024, defines 'camp or camping' as using an area for living-accommodation purposes, including sleeping or preparing to sleep, laying down bedding, storing personal property or other belongings, building a fire, cooking, or using a tent or other structure for habitation, judged by whether the activities reasonably show someone is living there regardless of stated intent. 'Public area' is defined broadly to include streets, sidewalks, alleys, parking lots and decks, plazas, parks, greenspace, playgrounds, schools, transportation facilities and any other property owned, operated or controlled by Floyd County or where public gatherings regularly occur.

'Storing personal property' means leaving belongings such as bedrolls, cookware, luggage, backpacks or shopping carts unattended for more than one hour. Subsection (b)(1) makes it unlawful to camp in a public area unless the location is a designated campground or Floyd County has otherwise authorized it. Subsection (d) requires a verbal or written warning to cease before a citation or arrest can follow; only a continued violation after that warning can be charged. Subsection (e) lets Floyd County, the sheriff or the Floyd County Police Department treat personal property used for camping, or property that triggered a citation, as abandoned and confiscate it without further warning, retaining it the same way as other abandoned or confiscated property. Subsection (c) exempts county employees performing their official duties.