Marietta Council Bans Unauthorized Camping on Private Property

Marietta has adopted new rules on homeless camping. The city council voted Wednesday evening on a resolution that bans tents and any other form of camping on private property unless the owner has given permission.

The city's homeless population has grown over the past few years, particularly along Bells Ferry Road. A large homeless presence has gathered near Shady Grove Baptist Church. Church officials say they are trying to help by offering daily meals to people in need.

Some residents say the growth has caused problems in their neighborhoods. One woman who lives off Bells Ferry Road described "a lot of vandalism" and said people sometimes leave trash and clothes on mailboxes.

Police say 911 calls from the area have increased. Marietta Police Chief David Beam told council members at a recent meeting that officers get complaints about people camping and causing issues in the area on an almost daily basis. Those complaints include people lying down and sleeping in yards, he said.

Under the new ordinance, police can charge anyone who camps, sleeps or stores personal property on private property without the owner's permission. Beam has said officers will first try to confirm that the person does not have permission to be there. Those found to be uninvited could be cited, but officers will let them leave before taking that step.

Beam described how the grace period would work. "We're going to give people a chance to leave the grounds, probably two to three days' opportunity to get off the property, before we write a citation," he said.

Not everyone is convinced the change will make a difference. Alan Bourdeau said he is unsure whether the ordinance will do any good, and that his main hope is that people who need help get it.

"I hope this does some good, I just feel bad for them," Bourdeau said.