Aurora city officials have enacted a significant change to their urban camping ban, eliminating the previous requirement of a 72-hour notice before dismantling illegal encampments. This decision, made by Aurora’s elected leaders on Monday night, aims to tighten enforcement of the city’s existing camping regulations, which were implemented two years ago.
With a 6-3 vote, the City Council passed an ordinance designed to prevent individuals without housing from quickly reestablishing tents within Aurora. Under the new rules, enforcement efforts will initially concentrate on the Interstate 225 corridor, marked by increased signage prohibiting camping and trespassing. The ordinance also grants authority for expanded enforcement throughout other areas of the city as necessary. Penalties for violating the updated camping ordinance will range from warnings to tickets or even arrest, depending on whether additional criminal activity is discovered by police.
According to the 2023 Point-in-Time survey by the Metro Denver Homelessness Initiative, 572 individuals were identified as homeless in Aurora. Updated figures from the 2024 count have yet to be released by the organization.
Earlier this month, the City Council introduced the HEART court (Housing Employment Assistance Recovery Team) within Aurora Municipal Court. This initiative targets homeless individuals facing low-level, non-violent charges, aiming to provide accountability while connecting them to necessary assistance and support services.
Mayor Mike Coffman emphasized before the vote, “The goal is not punitive; the goal is to facilitate treatment and support for those in need.”
This adjustment to Aurora’s urban camping policies reflects ongoing efforts by city officials to address homelessness while balancing public safety concerns.