Lake County, CA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Lake County's 'Code Enforcement Corner' guidance explains that all residential zoning districts require most things stored outdoors to be screened from all exterior property lines and any public roadway, by fences, hedges or other effective means. On residential parcels one acre or less, the total screened open-and-outdoor storage allowed is no more than 100 square feet; securely fastened tarps may screen open-storage areas of 100 square feet or less. Outdoor storage is not allowed within the required front-yard setback (typically 20 feet from the front lot line) in any district, must sit at least 3 feet from side lot lines, and is barred from the front one-half of residentially zoned lots ('SR', 'R1', 'R2' and 'R3'). Neatly stacked firewood and materials for permitted construction are allowed. Code Enforcement operates within Community Development and only covers the unincorporated county — the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake run their own code divisions. Ordinance 3112 (effective October 21, 2021) amended Chapter 13, Article VII of the Lake County Code to add administrative fines and penalties for code violations.