League City tightens rules on camping, panhandling

League City officials have approved updated ordinances aimed at curbing public camping and panhandling following an increase in homeless encampments, city leaders said.

The League City Council voted Tuesday night to adopt the changes, part of what officials are calling the “Healthy Spaces Initiative.” The updated rules require individuals to have written permission to camp on private property and place new limits on personal belongings left in public spaces, including abandoned or unattended items.

Mayor Nick Long said the changes come after “numerous complaints” from residents about encampments in wooded areas, behind buildings and in abandoned structures, as well as panhandling in roadway medians.

“We’ve had a rise in camping either in abandoned buildings or behind buildings or in woods,” Long said. “It’s a safety concern. It’s just not going to be allowed.”

Supporters of the ordinance say the updates aim to improve public safety and address quality-of-life concerns. Violations of the ordinance will be classified as misdemeanors, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense, according to city documents.

Not all council members supported the approach. Council member Tom Crews previously argued the rules could unfairly impact people experiencing homelessness and limit residents’ ability to offer short-term help.

“It simply allows people to do what they may feel is their Christian duty without fear that they are breaking the law,” Crews said during earlier discussions.

Crews also raised concerns about requiring written permission for camping on private property, citing potential insurance and logistical challenges, particularly for churches or property owners who may not be available to provide documentation.

“It’s just not realistic. That’s not the way things operate,” he said at a May council meeting.

Despite those concerns, the ordinance updates were approved unanimously as part of the consent agenda without incorporating Crews’ proposed changes.

Long said enforcement will begin in the coming weeks and emphasized that police officers will connect individuals in need with local resources, including nonprofits and mental health services such as the Galveston County Mental Health Wellness Center.

“Allowing somebody to sleep on the streets and stepping over them … was not the best way,” Long said.

City officials estimate that between 15 and 30 people are currently experiencing homelessness in League City. The city says the updated ordinances aim to balance enforcement with access to services as officials respond to the growing issue.

The rollout of enforcement is expected to begin within the next few weeks.