On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council will look at amendments to its camping on city property ordinance–anti-camping ordinance.
The city will look at a 5-page ordinance that tackles Camping, erecting a campsite, tent or shelter on city owned property. Further defines what “camp” or “camping” is, what “camp paraphernalia” includes, and better defines city property. The ordinance also gets into storage of personal property and discarding items after 30-days.
This comes as homeless have been sleeping in the downtown area, impeding entry ways to business while firefighters have responded to multiple homeless encampment fires in the city, as well as a few barns, and even a suspicious death in a creek.
Currently, the city has a local ordinance where the city responds to individuals providing a 48-hour notice to vacate, if they don’t, Brentwood police use state laws for enforcement. The enforcement, however, was put on hold due to a Ninth Circuit ruling in a case of Martin vs. City of Boise stating a local anti-camping ordinance violated the Eight amendment. With a recent Supreme Court ruling in the City of Grants Pass vs Johnson, it found anti-camping ordinances did not violate the Eight amendment of the US Constitution—meaning Brentwood Police can now enforce the laws.
According to the staff report: encampments sheltering the unhoused can contain dangerous and/or illegal items, including drugs, weapons, and stolen goods. These makeshift living arrangements can become health hazards due to trash accumulation, the presence of untreated sewage, the existence of drugs and drug paraphernalia (including syringes), use of unsafe building practices (including excavation beneath bridge abutments), fire danger, rodent and insect infestation, and other conditions.
Brentwood’s Municipal Code (“BMC”) currently contains a very brief prohibition on camping on City-owned property. BMC Section 7.02.150 (‘Camping’) says:
Camping on city-owned property is prohibited, except that the director may permit overnight camping by youth organizations and their chaperones in conjunction with an exclusive use permit.
This prohibition leaves many important details unaddressed. What constitutes ‘camping’? Does this mean that individuals can store their personal goods on City property just as long as they are not also sleeping there? What will happen to these items if the City removes them? Will individuals be provided with any notice of their need to vacate City property before their goods are removed?
The proposed Ordinance clarifies these details, offering all community members information on what is and is not permissible on City-owned property, how items belonging to unhoused individuals will be treated, and what sort of notice individuals will receive prior to their goods being moved.
The city also says, while this Ordinance addresses camping on City-owned property, the City continues to look to private property owners to monitor and enforce their own property rights and play their part in keeping Brentwood a safe community for all to
enjoy.
Proposed 5-page ordinance — click here
2024 Point in Time: Contra Costa County Sees Increase in Homelessness
East County had a 39% increase from 2023
| City | 2023 | 2024 | +/- |
| Antioch | 334 | 413 | +79 |
| Bay Point | 50 | 51 | +1 |
| Bethal Island | 6 | 4 | -2 |
| Brentwood | 37 | 30 | -7 |
| Oakley | 9 | 35 | +26 |
| Pittsburg | 58 | 110 | +52 |
| Total | 494 | 646 | +152 |
Documents:
Also on the agenda:
Brentwood Looks to Expand Downtown Farmers Market: the Brentwood City Council will discuss the expansion of the downtown farmers market in the City of Brentwood. If approved, the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA) Farmers Market would increase by 20 additional booth spaces – which would be placed on Oak between Diablo Way and First Street, with five of these spaces reserved for City oversight and use with some limit restrictions (no hot food vendors or political activities).
According to the staff report, PCFMA has a current waitlist for the Brentwood Farmers Market, and would operate 15 of the new booths. This expansion will enhance the market’s offerings, support local businesses, and provide additional opportunities for community engagement.
If You Go
- Brentwood City Council Meeting
- April 08, 2025 at 7:00 P.m.
- City Council Chambers
- 150 City Park Way, Brentwood, CA 94513
- Staff Report – click here
