Spokane County considers regulating ‘nuisance’ camping on private property

(The Center Square) – Spokane County is considering expanding nuisance enforcement to camping on private property when the activity poses public safety risks, with the owner responsible for abatement.​

The Board of County Commissioners overhauled its regulations around nuisance properties at the end of last year. That followed a revamped camping ban that the Spokane City Council passed last October to strengthen enforcement and address a treatment-resistant homeless population living downtown.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jameson Dumo now wants to address camping on private property in the unincorporated areas of Spokane County. He briefed the board on the proposal on Tuesday, explaining that the county prosecutor’s office wants to address this after it slipped through the cracks last winter.

“For example, let’s say we have a private property where the owner of the property is not present, but he is allowing a dozen campers and RVs to be pitching tents or creating ...