STURGIS - The Sturgis City Council continues to work through a proposed residential camping ordinance, tabling the matter on Feb. 17 and again discussing it March 2 without taking formal action as city leaders gather additional public feedback.

The proposed ordinance, drafted over several months by the city’s Ordinance Advisory Committee, is intended to repeal and replace the city’s current residential camping regulations. Officials have acknowledged that the existing code is highly restrictive, technically allowing only one camping unit on residential property, and has not always aligned with how camping has occurred in practice, particularly during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

After extensive public comment on Feb. 17, the council voted to table consideration and continue refining the proposal. Council members emphasized the move was not an abandonment of the ordinance, but a pause for additional analysis and direction.
 Some councilors shared that they didn't believe the current proposed ordinance is anywhere close to being ready for a first reading.

The council revisited the topic Monday, March 2, but again took no action. The issue will again be placed on the agenda of an upcoming council meeting.

Since the Feb. 17 meeting, individual council members have engaged in significant discussions with residents and other interested parties regarding residential camping.

Mayor Kevin Forrester has also held extensive conversations with residents, city staff and individual councilmembers in an effort to identify a workable path forward.
 Based on recent discussions, two potential paths were presented for council consideration at the March 2 meeting.

The first option would be to take no formal action at this time, allowing the mayor additional time to determine whether the Ordinance Advisory Committee’s proposed framework can be modified to better strike the desired balance. That effort would continue to incorporate feedback from council members, city staff, residents, and other interested parties.

The second option would be for the council to appoint either a standing committee or an ad hoc committee to review a revised draft of the residential camping ordinance and bring forward a new or modified recommendation for council consideration.

City Administrator Aaron Jordan said the city is working to strike the right balance between protecting property rights and addressing neighborhood concerns.

“At the end of the day, we’re trying to find something that’s not overburdensome for property owners, but also not overburdensome for their neighbors,” Jordan said. “We need something that fits Sturgis and recognizes the unique nature of the Rally.”

The draft ordinance proposes a clearer, two-track approach. Small-scale private or paid camping at owner-occupied homes would be allowed within defined limits, while more intensive or commercial camping activity would require a free permit. Permit review would focus on sanitation, emergency access, parking, fire safety, and neighborhood impacts.
 Forrester said the overall objective remains consistent.

“Our goal is to create something that’s clear, fair, and enforceable for the people hosting campers and for the neighbors who live next door," the mayor said.

Forrester also stressed that the city is not attempting to eliminate residential camping.
 “This isn’t about shutting things down,” he said. “It’s about allowing reasonable residential camping in a way that’s lawful, predictable, and respectful.”

Meanwhile, the current ordinance remains.

“If we delay changes and receive a complaint during the Rally, we are still obligated to enforce the ordinance that’s on the books,” Jordan said. “We’re a city and a nation of laws. That’s why we’re working toward something that makes more sense and provides a workable path forward for residents who are doing this responsibly.”

Forrester said the city remains committed to developing a workable framework.

“We respect the long-standing Rally tradition and the property rights of our residents, but we also have a responsibility to protect neighborhoods and public safety. We’ll keep working until we find a solution that does both,” he said.