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.

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.

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).