A petition seeking to repeal Clarksburg’s recently enacted camping ban has failed to meet the required signature threshold, city officials confirmed.
The petition, submitted on December 9 by a five-member committee, aimed to prompt a reconsideration of the city’s ordinance that prohibits camping on public property, streets, parks, trails, and private property without explicit permission. The ban, approved by the Clarksburg City Council on November 7, is scheduled to take effect on January 1.
According to Clarksburg City Attorney Richard Marsh, the petitioners gathered 249 signatures. Under the city charter, at least 1,015 signatures—10% of the registered voters from the most recent election—were needed to force a referendum on the law. The petition fell significantly short of this goal.
Had the petition been successful, city council members would have been required either to repeal the camping ban or put the issue to a public vote.
Despite the failure, committee member Tracy Brady expressed optimism in an email to West Virginia Watch. “While we weren’t successful this time, the effort brought together residents who otherwise may not have engaged,” Brady said. “We formed a collaborative team that will continue working on building a framework for future success and refining our approach.”
Rev. Christopher Scott, another member of the petition committee, acknowledged the challenges of the campaign, noting that the time constraints surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday hindered their ability to collect sufficient support. Nevertheless, Scott pointed to the 249 signatures as a sign of significant backing and said the effort was enough to influence future city council elections.
“I hope the council takes notice of this level of community engagement,” Scott said.
Looking ahead, Scott emphasized that the petition is only the beginning of the committee’s work. He mentioned that the group had been offered a grant to help build long-term coalitions aimed at fostering a more compassionate and transparent city government.
The Clarksburg camping ban, part of a broader national trend, was enacted as a response to homelessness. Since June, over 100 cities across the country have passed similar laws following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of a camping ban in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Under the Clarksburg ordinance, penalties for violating the camping ban include fines up to $500 for repeat offenders, though jail time is not mandated.
With the law poised to take effect on January 1, supporters of the petition have indicated they will continue their efforts to advocate for change.
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