Encampment Protocol Review

On November 12, 2024, Town Council adopted a new Parks By-law and Encampment Response Protocol following an extensive community consultation. This protocol establishes sensitive use areas where encampments are not permitted, and rules regarding size and cleanliness that must be followed for encampments on public land outside of the sensitive use areas.

Town staff worked with our community partners and service agencies through April 2025 to provide clear and consistent education about the new by-law and how it would be implemented in the community. Through the spring and summer, by-law staff have been enforcing the protocol through Town parks and public spaces.

This has meant that:

• Encampments that set up within a sensitive use area are moved to a non-sensitive location within 1 day of notification to by-law staff
• Encampments on publicly owned land outside of a sensitive use area are being allowed to stay in place as long as all other rules are followed
• Encampments are limited to a maximum of 3 tents in one location

Council will be reviewing the Parks By-law and Encampment Protocol at the end of the summer, and is looking for community input on how the Town's implementation of this by-law can be improved.

As a reminder, because there is a housing shortage and no emergency shelter options available in Greater Napanee, current case law requires the Town to permit some degree of encampments on public lands as unhoused residents have a constitutional right to shelter.