Court Bans Grants Pass From Enforcing Homeless Rules Until Disability-Friendly Sites Are Built
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The Josephine County Circuit Court granted a preliminary injunction suspending enforcement of municipal camping site rules until disability-friendly sites are made available yesterday in the Disability Rights Oregon et al. v. Grants Pass case.
Until the case is resolved, the city is barred from removing tents or campsites from city parks or citing or arresting people for camping on city property.
Preliminary Order Granted In Grants Pass Disability Rights Oregon Court Case
Disability Rights Oregon launched a lawsuit against the City of Grants Pass centering on homeless campsite restrictions.
The city only allows camping in two designated sites, and Disability Rights Oregon argued that the city’s approach is inadequate and unreasonable for the number of people experiencing homelessness.
Source: Josephine County Circuit Court opinion letter in Disability Rights Oregon et al v City of Grants Pass (Case No 25CV05989, March 28 2025)
Dailytidings.com
The organization says the rules are too restrictive for the growing homeless population, while the city confirmed that its laws are necessary for public safety and order.
In February, a Josephine County judge issued a 14-day temporary restraining order prohibiting Grants Pass City from limiting homeless campsites and enforcing $75 against violators of the ordinance.
The Judge gave the city 14 days to set out how it would revise its homeless encampment policies.
In Friday’s injunction, Josephine County Circuit Court Judge Sarah E. McGlaughlin ruled that, while the litigation is pending, the City of Grants Pass may not enforce the Grants Pass Municipal Codes 5.61.030, 5.61.050, and 5.61.070 until the City has fulfilled two conditions:
- Increased its designated camping sites to the same capacity previously offered by the J Street site and the 6″ Street site before January 2025 and
- Ensured that existing camping sites have accessible routes and surfaces for people with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Oregon nondiscrimination law.
| Item | What it means now | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement paused | City cannot enforce GPMC 5.61.030, 5.61.050, 5.61.070 until the 2 conditions are met | Preliminary injunction order |
| Condition 1 | Increase designated sites to the same capacity previously offered by the J Street site and the 6th Street site prior to January 2025 | Preliminary injunction order |
| Condition 2 | Ensure existing sites have accessible routes and surfaces for people with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Oregon nondiscrimination law | Preliminary injunction order |
| Parks excluded | Riverside Park at 304 East Park Street and Reinhardt Volunteer Park at 1690 Southwest Webster Road are not covered by the injunction limits | Preliminary injunction order |
| Still enforceable | Injunction does not limit enforcement of GPMC 5.61.020 | Preliminary injunction order |
Until these conditions are met, the City cannot:
- Cite, arrest, detain, issue fines, or otherwise prosecute any person for camping on public property in Grants Pass,
- Compel a person to leave a campsite, remove a campsite that is not clearly abandoned, or otherwise prohibit a person from camping on lands designated as park spaces.
Two parks— Riverside Park at 304 East Park Street and Reinhardt Volunteer Park at 169 Southwest Webster Road—are specifically excluded from the injunction. The city may also continue to enforce Grants Pass Municipal Codes 5.61.020 (Sleeping on sidewalks, streets, alleys, or within doorways).