Lake Wildwood, CA

RVs, travel trailers, and boats may be stored on a residential parcel in unincorporated Nevada County, but full-time occupancy of an RV as a dwelling is prohibited unless a temporary-occupancy permit is issued. RVs cannot block fire-access lanes and must remain registered and operable. Abandoned/inoperable vehicles on private property are violations of the Land Use & Development Code.

Nevada County Code Title 8 prohibits any dog or other animal from being 'at large' off its owner's premises. An animal is deemed at large when it is off the owner's property and not under direct control by leash, chain, tether, adequate fence, or other effective device. Violations carry impoundment, redemption fees, and administrative penalties.

Section L-II 3.4 of the Land Use & Development Code allows backyard chickens (hens only, no roosters) in the R1 and RA zoning districts. Hen counts range from 4 to 12 depending on parcel size. Coops must be set back at least 10 feet from any property line and at least 30 feet from any adjacent residence. Roosters, guinea hens, and loud exotic varieties are prohibited.

Beekeeping is broadly allowed in unincorporated Nevada County. Hobbyist apiaries with fewer than 10 hives pay no County registration fee (Board Resolution 93-393, July 28, 1993). All apiaries must be registered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture through the BeeWhere portal as of January 1, 2025. Commercial apiaries are capped at 48 hives per location during nectar flow (May 15 - October 15) and must keep a 2-mile buffer between new commercial locations.

Most of western Nevada County is served by the Nevada Irrigation District (NID). Under NID's adopted Drought Contingency Plan, Stage 1 asks for 10% voluntary conservation and limits treated-water customers to every-other-day outdoor irrigation. Higher stages can mandate cutbacks, restrict new water sales to 1 miner's inch, and discourage flood irrigation. Truckee-area properties are served by the Truckee-Donner Public Utility District and follow its own conservation rules.

Most of unincorporated Nevada County does not impose a general tree-removal permit on private property, but a Tree Removal Permit is required within the Nevada City Sphere of Influence Area Development Policy (ADP). Inside Nevada City limits, Ordinance 2023-03 requires a city permit for any tree with a cumulative diameter at breast height of 4 inches or more (Madrone, Manzanita, Oak) or 6 inches or more for all other species.

Nevada County Land Use & Development Code Sections L-II 3.19 and L-II 3.19.1 implement state ADU law (Gov. Code 65852.2) and JADU law (65852.22). One ADU plus one Junior ADU is allowed by-right on any lot with a single-family home, conforming to state size ceilings, a minimum 5-foot side/rear setback, and the County's Wildland-Urban Interface standards. ADUs built after April 25, 2019 are recorded with a deed restriction prohibiting use as a short-term rental.

Unincorporated Nevada County does not require a Planning Department permit to operate a short-term rental in a primary residence. Operators must register for and collect a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax under Nevada County Code Title 3, Chapter 6. ADUs permitted after April 25, 2019 carry a recorded deed restriction prohibiting short-term rental. The Town of Truckee (Truckee Municipal Code Ch. 5.02) has its own STR registration certificate and cap, separate from the County.

Nevada County is a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program. Construction, fill, or placement of structures within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area requires a use permit, and zoning establishes a 100-foot non-disturbance buffer measured from the boundary of the floodplain. FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps for most of the County were updated February 3, 2010.