Chatham-Kent Council Votes in Favour of Encampment Bylaw

On Monday, August 25, 2025, Council again discussed the issue of encampments in Chatham-Kent. A motion was approved which revised the setback distance from residential property lines from the previously approved 100m to 25m. The motion also exempted portions of the PUC site and the Water Tower site from the set back portions of the protocol regulations, as well as authorized a spend of up to $100,000 per exempted site for infrastructure to enhance privacy and community well-being.

Council received several deputations and advice from administration that stressed the legal restrictions all municipalities are under regarding encampments, including several court cases which have established that unhoused persons have a right to shelter on public lands if alternative shelter options are not available to them.

Following this, a vote on adopting an encampment bylaw was passed 10-5, with one Councillor abstaining.

The bylaw will include the following rules as per the Encampment Protocol, which are:

Encampments shall not be located in the following areas:

On or within 100 metres from municipal playgrounds, water parks, splashpads, beaches, or sports fields
On or within 100 metres from any elementary schools, childcare facility, assisted living facility, or other health or social service facility providing support or care services to youth or vulnerable populations including shelters
On or within 25 metres of any habitable residence or business
On or within 25 metres from construction sites
On or under bridges
On or within 10 metres of sidewalks or pedestrian paths.
On or within 25 metres of any cemetery
On or within 5 metres of an off-leash dog area
On or within 5 metres of any community garden
Structures must be freestanding and able to be moved as necessary
In any actively used parking lot
In or on any public-use building or structure
In areas that block the free movement of another person on a street, public pathway, sidewalk, or other path of public travel
On municipal land where individuals have a private easement or ownership interest, or where the Municipality owes a duty to maintain the land to the benefit or partial benefit of private individuals (i.e. beach access)
On municipal lands in areas obstructing construction or maintenance activities

In addition, to improve the safety and well-being of encampment occupants and general public, the following safety protocols are to be followed in encampments:

Tents/structures must be a minimum of 2 metres away from other structures while meeting all other rules to ensure fire separation and emergency service access.
Zero tolerance policy for violence or other criminal acts.
Sites must maintain a level of reasonable cleanliness including:
- no used, uncapped needles in or around the site. Sharps containers will be located in strategic sites around the community.
- no unreasonable amounts of garbage, clutter, or uncontained debris except as reasonably required for the provision of shelter. Access to garbage disposal will be located in strategic sites around the community.

A motion was also passed authorizing bylaw enforcement services for the Encampment Response Protocol to be single-sourced to Royal Protective Services.

The municipality has hired a local contractor to begin a cleanup of the PUC site starting Friday, August 29, and will begin enforcement of the newly implemented encampment protocol rules in the coming weeks.