Tacoma expanded its camping ban to buffer zones around key facilities, aiming to address homelessness and improve public safety.

The Tacoma City Council expanded its camping ban on October 21, 2025, extending restrictions to a two-block buffer around parks, libraries, schools, and shelters, including downtown and Hilltop. The update, part of a broader strategy to improve public safety and access to services, aims to address rising homelessness, which reached 2,955 in Pierce County in 2025. Violations may now lead to referrals to therapeutic courts offering treatment instead of jail. The move follows increased encampment removals and ongoing debate over balancing enforcement with access to shelter and support.