Madison administers sanctioned and unsanctioned encampments through joint city-county outreach. Public Health Madison and Dane County, plus Streets Division, provide trash, sharps disposal, and hand-washing while Porchlight conducts case management.
Madison operates Dairy Drive, a sanctioned tiny-home encampment, alongside enforcement of public-health standards at unsanctioned sites. Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) inspects sites for vector and sanitation hazards. The Streets Division stages dumpsters and sharps containers at long-running locations. Outreach teams from Porchlight, Catalyst for Change, and Just Bakery contact residents to connect them with shelter and benefits. Closure decisions follow a published protocol requiring 72-hour notice and storage of personal property for 30 days, in line with Martin v. Boise and Johnson v. Grants Pass guidance from the City Attorney. The Common Council reviews encampment policy annually.
Resisting closure after notice may result in citations under MGO Sec. 24.04 and Sec. 23.07; lost personal property after the storage window is generally not recoverable.
Madison, WI
Madison funds bridge housing through Dairy Drive tiny homes, scattered-site rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing partnerships. The Dane County C...
Madison, WI
Madison does not enforce a blanket sit-lie ban, but MGO Sec. 10.056 prohibits obstructing sidewalks and public rights-of-way. Officers issue warnings before ...
See how Madison's encampment sanitation rules stack up against other locations.
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