Yuba County officials have passed a camping ordinance that critics say unfairly targets the homeless population.
Yuba County Board of Supervisors Chair Mike Leahy says something needed to be done to protect levees, which he says have been damaged by people digging into them.
"These decisions were not taken lightly, and people who are homeless were part of the decision making process," said Leahy.
The ordinance prevents camping on county property and along waterways. A federal appeals court ruled last year that homeless people could not be prosecuted for sleeping outside if there are not enough shelter beds available. Leahy says he expects the ordinance to be challenged in court.