Sacramento Bans Sleeping Outside City Hall

The Sacramento City Council voted 6-3 to ban overnight sleeping and camping outside City Hall, ending a six-year exemption that allowed unhoused individuals to sleep there between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The new ordinance, effective in 30 days, prohibits sitting or lying on City Hall grounds unless using city-provided benches or chairs, with violators facing fines from $250 up to $25,000 and possible misdemeanor charges. Supporters, including Mayor Kevin McCarty, cite safety, cleanliness, and reduced cleanup costs as key reasons for the ban. Opponents, including several council members and advocacy organizations, argue the policy criminalizes homelessness and fails to address its root causes or offer sufficient alternatives. The city plans to inform those affected and help connect them with shelter or services during the transition. The decision has sparked strong public debate, with critics describing the measure as inhumane.