How do I report a campsite on PUBLIC PROPERTY, and what happens next?

Homelessness affects our whole community in many different ways and the City is committed to finding positive solutions for everyone. Below is some information about who to call and what to expect from the City in response to reports about camping in undesignated areas:

Campsites on Public Property:

If you come across a campsite in an undesignated area or trash that needs to be cleaned up, please call the Sandy Police Department non-emergency dispatch line at 503-655-8211 or use the MySandy app to report the issue.

If the camp is inhabited, please do not engage or make contact with those camping. This is for your safety and for the safety of those camping.

Once a report has been received, the Sandy Police Department will then determine next steps for handling the situation in line with current legal requirements. These next steps could include:

• Site visit from the Sandy Police Department Homelessness Liaison Officer
• Problem-solving the issue with the campsite occupants and referral to relevant social services
• As a last resort, possible enforcement actions such as posting a site for cleanup, and citations for trespassing, littering, etc.

What does it mean to "post" a campsite?

When we post a campsite for cleanup, a formal notice is issued to the occupant(s) that camping at that particular location is prohibited. This process gives the person(s) a chance to clean up and leave the site on their own.

After the time period of the "post" has expired, the site is revisited by the police department and the occupants are required to leave at that point if they have not already.

PLEASE NOTE: In locations that belong to ODOT, the City must follow ODOT camp posting requirements which allow for cleanup of belongings no sooner than 10 days and no later than 19 days from the date the site is posted for cleanup. There are some exceptions that would allow for cleanup within 24 hours, but those are reserved for severe situations.

If there is an emergency situation, please call 9-1-1