La Crosse City Council passes 12-hour camping ban for public spaces

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLCX) – The La Crosse City Council passed an ordinance banning camping after 12 hours on publicly-owned spaces in the city at Thursday night’s regular meeting.

The measure passed 7-4 after being taken up without a recommendation from committee.

The ordinance was proposed by Mayor Mitch Reynolds, who cited the costs of clean-up from established encampments and safety for the city’s unhoused population to justify the new rule.

Opponents said that the ordinance unfairly targets the city’s homeless population.

Camping is already banned at dozens of city-owned properties. The new ordinance requires anyone camping to pick up and move at least 500 feet after 12 hours.

The Judiciary and Administration Committee voted 3-2 against the measure last week, with one person abstaining.

Mayor Reynolds and City Council President Chris Kahlow supported the ordinance.

The new measure reads:

It shall be unlawful for any person to camp on City-owned property for more than 12 hours consecutively in a particular location, or within 500 feet of the previous location, except as otherwise provided in Municipal Code or by declaration of the Mayor or Common Council in emergency or other special circumstances.

– City of La Crosse

With its passage on Thursday, the new ordinance goes into effect immediately.