GREELEY, Colo. -- A new ordinance addressing camping on public and private property went into effect in Greeley on Wednesday.

The city says the rule is to deal with concerns about safety, health hazards, and damage to public spaces and buildings.  

The ban encompasses camping on public property, including parks, sidewalks, and underpasses. It will also limit camping on private property — you’d have to get permission from the owner of the property to camp and could do so for no more than 7 days.  

The ban stems from complaints and costly efforts from the city to clean up.

The city says in the past two years it has spent more than $155,000 cleaning up abandoned property, debris and trash around the city. 

Staff have also taken 700 hours and 60 truckloads to remove trash, according to the city website. A campfire beneath a bridge also cost the city nearly $100,000 to repair a girder and melted conduit. 

Some residents in a June 3 meeting felt it wasn't fair to kick people off the street when the city doesn't have a 24/7 permanent homeless shelter.

“This doesn't solve anything. It just moves people from one sidewalk to another, deeper into crisis and deeper into isolation," one resident said, during the public comment period of the meeting.

The City Council passed the measure 5-2 in their June 3 meeting.  

“Where are they going to go if they don't have the resources to have steady housing. How are people going to protect themselves from cold, snow, rain and etc., while they need sleep? What happened to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, or liberty and justice for all?” said another resident, identified as Steve, at the meeting.  

The city says it will focus on education, awareness and support over punitive measures — using verbal enforcement, then citations and arrests as a last resort.  

“Our goal is to keep public spaces safe and accessible for everyone while continuing to support our residents through outreach and services,” said Greeley Police Chief Adam Turk. “This ordinance is about striking a balance. We’ve looked at how other cities across Colorado and the country are approaching these issues, and we’re working to apply those lessons here.”