Escambia County, FL Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

County Code § 86-250, adopted by Ord. No. 2024-32 and amended by Ord. No. 2025-49, defines "public camping or sleeping" three ways: lodging in a tent or other temporary shelter evidenced by bedding, pillows or stored belongings; lodging or residing outdoors without any shelter at all; or lodging or residing in a motor vehicle on public property not designated for that purpose. It exempts a registered, insured vehicle parked somewhere the county has designated for that use, and recreational camping on property set aside for camping. "Public property" reaches every county-owned building and its grounds, parks, playgrounds, county parking areas, and public rights-of-way, streets, sidewalks, parkways and bridges under county jurisdiction. Subsection (b) is the operative rule: public camping or sleeping is prohibited on any public property, full stop.

Three narrow exceptions exist under § 86-251: any period Florida law itself carves out under F.S. § 125.0231(5), special events or activities on public property under a county-issued permit, and law enforcement, fire rescue or other government employees or officials acting within the scope of their duties. A violation is prosecuted as a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $500.00 fine, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both, though § 86-252(b) lets a law enforcement or code enforcement officer issue a civil citation instead of an arrest. Refusing to sign or accept that citation is itself a separate second-degree misdemeanor.