This chapter is intended to balance and prioritize several interests: recognition of the essential human dignity of everyone in the City of Bend; the need to have safe and orderly conditions in City rights-of-way for the safety and benefit of everyone in Bend; the right of everyone in Bend to have shelter for sleep and safety; and respect for public spaces and public property in service to the entire community.

With this in mind, this chapter is intended to regulate the use of public rights-of-way and City property to protect and preserve public places for their designed and intended purposes, while also making them available for shelter and sleeping by people who have no other options for shelter.

The City recognizes that surviving on City streets is typically an option of last resort. This chapter and the City’s enforcement efforts will be focused on mitigating the impacts to public health and safety that can arise from survival camping in public places. [Ord. NS-2458, 2022]