Hillsboro, OR Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- HMC § 9.44.020(B)
- Tent setback
- 5 ft from property line/dwelling
- Max tent size
- 120 square feet
- Public camping hours
- 7 p.m.–7 a.m., no shelter
- Enforcement
- Public nuisance, abatable by City
Summary
Hillsboro requires anyone who authorizes camping on their property to provide sanitary sewage disposal, solid waste service, and screened storage for campers' belongings under HMC 9.44.020.
A real property owner who authorizes any other person to camp on property pursuant to subsection A above must:1.Provide or make available sanitary facilities for the proper disposal of sanitary sewage;2.Provide solid waste disposal services so that there is no accumulation of solid waste on or around the real property;3.Provide a storage area for campers to store any personal items so the items are not visible from any public street;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
Hillsboro lets a property owner authorize camping in specific settings, a backyard tent, a driveway vehicle, or a registered lot, but HMC 9.44.020(B) makes sanitation the host's job: sanitary sewage disposal, contracted solid waste service, and a street-screened storage area for campers' belongings. Backyard tents can't exceed 120 square feet or sit within 5 feet of the dwelling or property line. Separately, HMC 9.44.030 allows unsheltered individuals to camp on public rights-of-way and City property between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., subject to Manager rules limiting where and how.
Violations & Fines
Violating an authorized site's sanitation terms, or camping without authorization, makes the property a public nuisance the City may abate; the Manager can also revoke camping authorization, giving as little as 4 hours to vacate and remove belongings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Hillsboro property owner let someone camp in their backyard?
What sanitation is required at an authorized camping location?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsboro
Compare Hillsboro to another location·View the Oregon homelessness & encampment rules overview
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Encampment Sanitation in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Washington County handle encampment sanitation.