Overnight Sleeping Information

Overnight Sleeping Information- Time, Place, and Manner

In 2021, the Oregon Legislature made changes to ORS 195.530 to codify recent court decisions which require any regulation of sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property that is open to the public to be objectively reasonable as to time, place, and manner prior to July 1, 2023. For brevity, the City uses the term “sleeping” when referring to the acts of sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm and dry outdoors.

Time: Cities can prohibit sleeping during certain hours.

Place: Cities can limit sleeping to certain areas.

Manner: Cities can set guidelines for how sleeping will occur. 

Learn more in the League of Oregon Cities' Guide to Persons Experiencing Homelessness in Public Spaces.

Designated Sleeping Area Guidance

On June 20, 2023, the Corvallis City Council passed  Ordinance 23-22 amending a number of sections of the Municipal Code related to ORS 195.530. The Council directed the City Manager to implement code and administrative procedure amendments, as needed, to comply with ORS 195.530 and as outlined in Municipal Code Section 5.03.080.080

The City Manager has identified a  number of places throughout the City where ORS 195.530 activities may occur as outlined in Section 5.03.080.080, on this webpage, and in the Sleeping Area Guide (see below).

City staff worked with local social service providers and community members experiencing houselessness to review 5.03.080.080 and its implementation during the Fall of 2023. As part of that review process, social service providers requested that the City identify some “prescreened areas” that comply with Section 5.03.080.080 amongst the large number of areas where sleeping is allowed across the City for ease of navigation. Maps of these prescreened areas are contained below. It should be noted that the prescreened areas are just a small portion of the areas where sleeping is allowed across the City and a large number of additional areas are also permitted per 5.03.080.080. On December 18, 2023 Council passed Ordinance  2023-31, amending Ordinance 2023-22

The social service provider workgroup also recommended that the City reduce the number of areas available for sleeping in order to establish a buffer zone around K-12 schools.

The City Manager has decided to implement both of the recommendations from the social service provider workgroup as outlined below.

The Sleeping Area Guide provides general information and guidelines to help persons experiencing homelessness, as well as other community members, understand how these requirements apply to Corvallis. This guidance is subject to change and updates will be provided on this webpage and through other communication channels. 

List of Parks - After Hours Sleeping Allowed

Sleeping is allowed in the following parks during non-park hours, 10pm-6am. Please note, all park rules and regulation of sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm and dry outdoors must be followed. Sleeping, sitting, laying down, and staying warm and dry outdoors can have a similar appearance at times to camping due to the use of a tent, tarp or similar weather protection. The primary difference is the length of time that the activity occurs. Camping is longer term, that includes both sleeping and non‐sleeping activities. Camping on public property owned by the City of Corvallis is largely prohibited, with limited exceptions. Please see Section 5.03.080.080 of the Municipal Code for more details.

In addition, City Hall front plaza is another area where individuals may sit, lie, sleep or keep warm and dry outdoors when shelter beds are not available. This location is prescreened and hours are available from 10pm -6am

Please refer to the following maps which identify the natural hazard areas in each park.  Please see page one that outlines additional restrictions associated with choosing a location to sleep.

List of Parks - After Hours Sleeping Prohibited

ORS 195.530 activities (sleeping) are prohibited after park hours in the following parks due to either or both:  

• The park being fully within identified natural areas and natural hazard areas.
• The park being within 1,000 ft. of a K-12 school.

Time, Place, and Manner Operational Advisory Workgroup 

At its June 20, 2023 Meeting, the City Council approved Ordinance 2023-22 and directed that the City Manager “work with providers, including Unity Shelter and the Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center, in determining time, place and manner regulations and to notify the City Council of decisions on a monthly basis.” The Council then further clarified its intent at the July 6, 2023 work session.

The time place and manner operational workgroup will not be discussing policy changes or potential projects such as making camping legal, creating a sanctioned camp, creating a managed camp, etc. Those topics would need to be discussed in a different process dedicated to that purpose. Workgroup materials may be found: here.