STURGIS, S.D. – After months of work, the Sturgis City Council last night passed first reading of their revised residential camping ordinance.

Sturgis City Attorney Eric Davis says the ordinance isn’t perfect, and not everyone is going to be happy, but it is a substantial improvement over both the current enforceable posture and more rigid earlier drafts.

Davis believes it materially expands lawful camping rights and does so with the lightest regulatory touch reasonably available. He says it also aligns the city more honestly with the State’s regulatory structure and give the city a framework that is more realistic to administer, more rational to defend and easier for the council to adjust with time and experience.

The ordinance keeps by-right residential camping during rally and non-rally times at 3 camping units with up to 10 campers before a free permit would be needed. It also adjusts a more permissive parking situation, allowing motorcycles and passenger vehicles associated with camping activity to park on-street where otherwise lawful.