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Read. Follow. Verify.North Carolina bans unauthorized public camping and sleeping on public property and establishes local government designation rules
Last action · May 8, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action)Sponsors: Brian Biggs and 10 others
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What This Bill Would Do
North Carolina bans s from authorizing or allowing regular on public property, starting October 1, 2025. Local governing bodies may designate specific property for public camping for up to one year, provided they meet strict sanitation, safety, and health standards and secure certification from the Department of Health and Human Services. Residents, business owners, and the Attorney General are authorized to bring civil actions to enjoin violations after providing written notice.
Local governments face potential civil lawsuits from residents, business owners, or the Attorney General if they permit unauthorized public camping on public grounds. To legally provide designated camping areas, municipalities and counties must meet strict DHHS certification criteria, including proving a lack of shelter beds, maintaining continuous access to running water and operable restrooms, and coordinating behavioral health services.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Local government units
Prohibited from authorizing public camping unless strict DHHS certification and property standards are met, and exposed to potential civil lawsuits.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Tasked with receiving requests, reviewing documentation, certifying local government property designations, and inspecting designated sites.
Residents and business owners in the unit
Granted the legal standing to bring civil actions against local units to enjoin violations of the public camping ban.
Homeless population
Subject to state-level restrictions on public camping and sleeping unless housed in authorized, certified designated properties or shelters.
Key Facts
- Beginning October 1, 2025, local government units are prohibited from authorizing or allowing regular public camping or sleeping on any public property or public right-of-way.
- Designated camping properties require minimum standards including security, sanitation (operable restrooms and running water), behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services, and a ban on illegal drugs and alcohol.
- Local unit property designations must be certified by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) before becoming effective.
- To obtain certification, a unit must document insufficient open shelter beds, non-contiguity with residential zoning, lack of adverse effect on property values and child safety, and a compliance plan.
Show all 9 facts
- DHHS must notify units of errors within 10 days of a request and certify or default-certify the designation within 45 days of a complete submission.
- Units must publish minimum standards and procedures on their website within 30 days of certification.
- Residents, business owners, and the Attorney General may bring a civil action to enjoin violations after giving the unit five business days written notice to cure.
- Prevailing residents or business owners in civil actions may be awarded reasonable expenses, including court costs, attorneys' fees, investigative costs, witness fees, and deposition costs.
- The camping ban does not apply during state-of-emergency declarations by the Governor or a local government unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can local governments still set up temporary camping areas for unhoused individuals?
Who can sue a local government if they fail to enforce the public camping ban?
Are motor vehicles and recreational camping exempt from the ban?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
16 actions- May 8, 2025SenateRef To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
- May 8, 2025SenatePassed 1st Reading
- May 8, 2025SenateSpecial Message Received From House
- May 8, 2025HouseSpecial Message Sent To Senate
- May 7, 2025HousePassed 3rd Reading
- May 7, 2025HousePassed 2nd Reading
Show 10 earlier actions
- May 7, 2025HouseAdded to Calendar
- May 7, 2025HouseCal Pursuant Rule 36(b)
- May 7, 2025HouseReptd Fav
- May 6, 2025HouseRe-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- May 6, 2025HouseReptd Fav Com Substitute
- Apr 29, 2025HouseRe-ref Com On State and Local Government
- Apr 29, 2025HouseReptd Fav
- Apr 7, 2025HouseRef to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Apr 7, 2025HousePassed 1st Reading
- Apr 3, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
Second Reading
Total
115
- Yes
- 66
- No
- 41
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 8
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (115)
91 more members
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 6 more sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.ncleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz65Current news / social attention level
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