100 local rules on file · Pop. 964 · Lake County
Showing ordinances that apply to Spring Valley, CA
Spring Valley is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 964 in Lake County, California. Because Spring Valley is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Lake County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Lake County may have different rules.
Unincorporated Lake County has no stand-alone quiet-hours ordinance with a curfew, but the County Zoning Code Performance Standards (Sec. 21-41, Subsection 41.11) set lower nighttime noise limits from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Chapter 13 of the Lake County Code also treats loud or unusual noises that offend the peace of a neighborhood as a public nuisance.
Unincorporated Lake County exempts construction-site sounds from its noise standards when they occur between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Under Section 41.11(e)(5) of the County Zoning Code Performance Standards, construction noise within that window is exempt; outside that window construction is subject to the property-line decibel limits and to public-nuisance abatement.
Lake County does not publish a stand-alone barking-dog decibel rule. Persistent dog barking in unincorporated areas is handled as a public nuisance under Chapter 13 of the County Code, which lists loud or unusual noises that offend a neighborhood's peace and quiet. Complaints go to Lake County Animal Care and Control or Code Enforcement.
Unincorporated Lake County does not ban leaf blowers. Under Section 41.11(e)(6) of the County Zoning Code Performance Standards, lawn and plant care machinery fitted with correctly functioning sound suppression equipment is exempt from the noise standards when operated between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Outside those hours, the property-line decibel limits apply.
Unincorporated Lake County controls amplified music through the County Zoning Code property-line decibel limits (Section 41.11) and through the public-nuisance provisions of Chapter 13. Loud or unusual amplified noise that offends the peace and quiet of a neighborhood is a nuisance, and the Sheriff can cite an active disturbance under California Penal Code Section 415.
On public roads, vehicle and exhaust noise in unincorporated Lake County is governed by California state law, not a county ordinance. California Vehicle Code Section 27150 requires an adequate, properly maintained muffler, and Section 27151 prohibits modified exhaust that amplifies vehicle noise. The Sheriff and CHP enforce these on county roads.
Unincorporated Lake County uses numeric decibel limits set in Section 41.11 of the County Zoning Code Performance Standards. Maximum one-hour equivalent sound levels (Leq, A-weighted) measured at the receiving property line are 55/45 dBA day/night in residential and agricultural areas, 60/55 dBA commercial, and 65/60 dBA industrial.
Outdoor music in unincorporated Lake County must comply with the property-line decibel limits in Section 41.11 of the County Zoning Code. Only non-electronically amplified sounds at sporting, amusement, and entertainment events are exempt; electronically amplified outdoor music is not exempt and event venues are typically conditioned through use permits.
Industrial and commercial noise in unincorporated Lake County is governed by Section 41.11 of the County Zoning Code Performance Standards. Limits at the receiving property line are 65/60 dBA day/night for industrial-zoned receivers and 60/55 dBA for commercial, but drop to 57/50 dBA when the receiver is a home, school, hospital, library, or nursing home.
Aircraft noise over unincorporated Lake County is regulated by the federal government (FAA), not by county ordinance. The County's own noise standards expressly exempt aircraft subject to federal or state regulation. Land-use compatibility near airports is addressed through California's airport land use planning framework administered with Caltrans Aeronautics.
Unincorporated Lake County imposes a 9% Transient Occupancy Tax on the rent charged for any lodging rented to transients (stays of 30 days or less), under County Code Section 18-12. An additional 2.5% assessment funds the Lake County Tourism Improvement District, so operators file a combined TOT-TID return with the Tax Collector each calendar quarter.
Unincorporated Lake County, California has no stand-alone short-term rental ordinance. The County Zoning Ordinance does not list vacation rentals as a use; transient lodging is regulated only as a Bed and Breakfast (zoning permit) or Bed and Breakfast Inn (use permit), and any operator must register for and remit Transient Occupancy Tax under County Code Chapter 18, Article II.
Unincorporated Lake County has no online vacation-rental registry. Instead, anyone renting lodging to transients must register with the Tax Collector and obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate under County Code Section 18-15, posted conspicuously on the premises. The County uses a combined TOT-TID registration form. The certificate expressly "does not constitute a permit."
Unincorporated Lake County sets no specific guest-occupancy cap for whole-house vacation rentals, because it has no dedicated STR ordinance. The only transient-lodging occupancy limits in the County zoning code are room counts for Bed and Breakfasts - a maximum of two guest rooms (Sec. 21-27.3(c)) - and Bed and Breakfast Inns, three to eight rooms (Sec. 21-27.13(b)).
Unincorporated Lake County has no parking rule written specifically for vacation rentals, because there is no STR ordinance. The only transient-lodging parking standard in the County zoning code requires one off-street parking space per guest room for a Bed and Breakfast (Sec. 21-27.3(c)) or Bed and Breakfast Inn (Sec. 21-27.13(b)), in addition to the parking for the principal residence.
Unincorporated Lake County has no noise rule written specifically for vacation rentals. Short-term rental guests are subject to the County's general performance and nuisance standards. The County Zoning Ordinance references its noise standard at Section 21-41.11, applied through the zoning code's general performance standards in Article 41, rather than through any STR-specific quiet-hours ordinance.
Unincorporated Lake County does not require a host to be present during a short-term rental stay. With no dedicated STR ordinance, the County imposes no on-site host or local-contact mandate on vacation rentals. The only host-presence concept in the County code is the residential, accessory nature of a Bed and Breakfast under Article 27.
Unincorporated Lake County does not require a short-term rental to be the host's primary residence. Because the County has no STR ordinance, there is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence restriction on vacation rentals in the unincorporated area - a distinction from many California jurisdictions that limit STRs to a host's primary home.
Unincorporated Lake County sets no annual cap on the number of nights a vacation rental may operate, because it has no dedicated STR ordinance. The only stay-length limit in the County code is the 14-consecutive-day maximum for guests at a Bed and Breakfast Inn (Sec. 21-27.13(b)), a per-stay limit rather than an annual cap on a vacation rental.
Unincorporated Lake County does not impose a liability-insurance requirement on short-term rentals, because it has no dedicated STR ordinance. There is no County-mandated minimum coverage for vacation rentals; the County code addresses lodging through the Transient Occupancy Tax (Chapter 18, Article II) and the zoning use types, neither of which requires proof of insurance.
Fireworks are banned in unincorporated Lake County. The county confirms that possessing, using, selling, or exploding any fireworks—including those labeled 'Safe and Sane'—is unlawful everywhere outside the City of Lakeport. Only organized, permitted professional displays are allowed.
Lake County adopts the California Fire Code by reference. Recreational fires (including fire pits) must stay at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, be constantly attended, and have fire-extinguishing equipment ready. Burning is prohibited on declared no-burn days and during critical fire conditions.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District bans all open green-waste burning from May 1 to November 1 each year. Outside the ban, burning requires an LCAQMD permit and must occur only on declared burn days. Burning without authorization brings citations, fines, and suppression-cost liability.
Lake County's Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Ordinance (Ord. 3082) requires a 30-foot defensible space around all buildings, extending up to 100 feet where slope or fuel load demand it. Property owners must abate hazardous vegetation after notice; fire-season citations run $100 to $500 per day plus abatement liens.
Backyard burning in unincorporated Lake County is heavily restricted. The LCAQMD bans open burning from May 1 to November 1, and any open burning otherwise requires a permit and a burn day. Small recreational and cooking fires are allowed under California Fire Code rules but must stay 25 feet from structures and be attended.
Lake County does not have a separate smoke-detector ordinance; California state law governs. Health and Safety Code 13113.7 requires working smoke alarms in all dwelling units, and HSC 17926 requires carbon-monoxide alarms in homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages. Violations are infractions.
Lake County adopts the California Fire Code, which governs propane (LP-gas) storage. Chapter 61 covers portable cylinders: containers may not be stored in basements, pits, or on roofs, and must be sited to minimize heat, damage, and tampering. Large tanks (over 2,000 gallons) require construction documents and a permit.
Most of unincorporated Lake County is mapped as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by CAL FIRE—about 92% of the county's State Responsibility Area. These designations trigger defensible space (PRC 4291), Wildland-Urban Interface building codes, and the county's vegetation abatement ordinance, reflecting the area's catastrophic fire history.
In unincorporated Lake County there is no blanket ban on keeping an RV or boat on your own property, but an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperable recreational vehicle, trailer, camper, or boat is a public nuisance under County Code Sec. 13-3.1.e(13). A vehicle behind a six-foot solid fence and out of view is exempt (Sec. 13-29.1.c).
On county-maintained roads in unincorporated Lake County, on-street parking is governed mainly by the California Vehicle Code rather than a detailed local parking schedule. State law (Veh. Code 22651) and the county's vehicle-removal code (Code Sec. 13-31, adopting Veh. Code 22660) authorize removal of abandoned or improperly parked vehicles. Curb colors and posted signs control where parking is barred.
Unincorporated Lake County has no published countywide overnight on-street parking ban; the controlling limit is the California Vehicle Code 72-hour rule. A vehicle left on a county road for 72 or more consecutive hours can be tagged and removed (Veh. Code 22651(k)), and the county's vehicle-removal code (Sec. 13-31) backs this up using Vehicle Code 22660.
Lake County does not publish a residential commercial-vehicle weight or size ban for its unincorporated roads; commercial-vehicle parking is governed by the California Vehicle Code and posted limits. On private property, a contractor's storage yard and commercial uses must meet Zoning Ordinance parking standards (Article 46), and inoperable commercial vehicles are a nuisance under Chapter 13.
Unincorporated Lake County has a detailed abandoned-vehicle ordinance in Chapter 13, Article V (Removal of Vehicles), adopting the California Vehicle Code abatement framework. An abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on public or private property is a public nuisance (Sec. 13-3.1.e(13)) that the county can remove after a 10-day notice (Sec. 13-32.1).
Lake County's Zoning Ordinance (Article 46) sets driveway standards in the unincorporated area. For single-family homes in APZ, A, TPZ, RL, RR, and SR districts, the first 50 feet of driveway must have an all-weather surface; in other districts driveways must be asphalt or concrete (Sec. 46.14(h)). Driveway widths and corner clearances are also fixed.
Lake County does not publish a separate oversized-vehicle street ordinance for the unincorporated area; size and weight limits on county roads come from the California Vehicle Code and posted signs. On private property, an abandoned or inoperable oversized vehicle is a nuisance under Chapter 13, and required RV/large-vehicle parking spaces must meet Zoning Ordinance dimensions.
Lake County does not publish a dedicated EV-charging parking ordinance in the unincorporated area; EV charging stations are governed by California state law and the statewide building and electrical codes the county enforces. New parking facilities follow the California Green Building Standards (CALGreen) EV-readiness requirements adopted statewide.
Lake County's Zoning Ordinance (Article 46, Sec. 46.17) requires off-street loading for larger buildings in the unincorporated area. Any building of 10,000 square feet or more used for goods handling must provide at least one loading space, plus one more for each 20,000 square feet. Each loading space must be 35 by 12 feet with 14 feet of overhead clearance.
Curb colors on county roads in unincorporated Lake County follow the statewide California Vehicle Code system, not a separate local color code. Painted curbs (red, yellow, white, green, blue) only carry legal effect when placed by or under the authority of the local agency under Veh. Code 22507. Unofficial curb painting by residents is not enforceable.
A building permit is generally not required for most fences in unincorporated Lake County, but a zoning minor use permit is required for fences over 4 feet in a front yard or over 6 feet along side/rear yards. Masonry/concrete fence walls over 4 feet need a building permit.
In unincorporated Lake County, a building permit is not required for a retaining wall 4 feet or less in height (footing to top) unless it supports a surcharge. Walls over 4 feet, or those supporting a surcharge, need an engineered building permit. Walls 3 feet or less are exempt from zoning setbacks.
In unincorporated Lake County, residential fences may be up to 4 feet in a required front yard and up to 6 feet along side and rear property lines without a use permit. Taller fences need a minor use permit. Corner-lot front fences are limited for visibility.
Lake County's Zoning Ordinance does not set a cost-sharing rule for shared boundary fences. For fences on the property line between neighbors, California Civil Code Section 841 (the Good Neighbor Fence Law) controls: adjoining owners are presumed equally responsible for a dividing fence.
Unincorporated Lake County requires fences to respect height limits (4 ft front, 6 ft side/rear), corner-lot visibility, and official road setback lines. Taller fences need a minor use permit, and the County reviews them for sight distance and public-safety impacts.
Lake County's Zoning Ordinance does not list approved fence materials for general residential fences, but it does require see-through materials (wire mesh, chain link, transparent) for the upper portion of corner-lot front fences and for agricultural fences over 4 feet, to preserve visibility.
Common fence materials - wood, vinyl, chain link, masonry - are allowed in unincorporated Lake County subject to height and setback rules. The Zoning Ordinance specifically requires see-through materials for corner-lot front fences over 3 feet and agricultural fences over 4 feet in a yard.
Lake County is a rural, agricultural county, so keeping chickens and small livestock in the unincorporated areas is generally allowed where zoning permits. Fowl and livestock fall under the County Code's animal chapter and the zoning code. There is no published countywide ban on backyard chickens, but zoning, nuisance limits, and animal-care rules apply.
In unincorporated Lake County, dogs are regulated under the County Code's animal chapter (Chapter 4, Animals, Fish and Fowl), enforced by Lake County Animal Care & Control. Dogs running at large off the owner's property are subject to impoundment, and the County backstops control with California's dangerous-dog framework. The cities of Lakeport and Clearlake have their own separate rules.
Unincorporated Lake County does not impose breed-specific bans. California law (Food & Agricultural Code 31683) prohibits local dangerous-dog programs from declaring a dog dangerous solely by breed, except for limited spay/neuter rules. Any dog of any breed is regulated under the County's animal code and the state's dangerous-dog procedures based on individual behavior.
Beekeeping is allowed in unincorporated Lake County, but every beekeeper in California must register their apiary annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner under the Apiary Protection Act (Food & Agricultural Code, Division 13). Local hive placement is also shaped by the parcel's zoning. There is no published countywide hive-count cap, but registration is mandatory even for a single hive.
Exotic and wild animals in unincorporated Lake County are governed mainly by California state law. CCR Title 14 section 671 and Fish & Game Code 2118 classify many species (most non-domestic carnivores, primates, ferrets) as restricted, requiring a state permit that is not issued for personal pets. The County Code's animal chapter can add local controls atop the state ban.
Lake County is a working agricultural county (cattle, horses, sheep), and livestock keeping is broadly permitted on appropriately zoned land. The County Code's animal chapter addresses livestock running at large/straying, and California Food & Agricultural Code estray and 'open range' rules govern stray livestock, owner liability, and fencing duties. Allowed numbers and types depend on parcel zoning.
Lake County regulates animal numbers through its animal code (Chapter 4) and a kennel licensing scheme: once a household exceeds the per-home limit, a kennel license is required. All dogs over four months must be licensed, and (with limited exemptions) spayed or neutered under Lake County Code 4-17. The exact household limit is set in Chapter 4.
Cats in unincorporated Lake County must be spayed or neutered once over four months under Lake County Code 4-17, with exemptions for registered breed-registry cats and vet-certified health cases. The County runs a low-cost community/stray cat program ($15 to spay/neuter, vaccinate, and ear-notch) for the unincorporated county and the City of Lakeport, run by Animal Care & Control.
California law prohibits feeding big-game mammals such as bears and deer (California Code of Regulations Title 14 section 251.3), and that applies in unincorporated Lake County. The County's 'Living with Wildlife' guidance warns about rabies-carrying skunks and raccoons and notes it is illegal to trap and relocate wildlife. The County directs nuisance-wildlife questions to its Agriculture Department.
Animal hoarding in unincorporated Lake County is addressed through the County's animal code (including kennel-license limits and care standards in Chapter 4) and California Penal Code 597, which makes neglect and cruelty - including keeping so many animals that their health and safety is compromised - a prosecutable offense. Lake County Animal Care & Control investigates cruelty and neglect complaints.
In unincorporated Lake County, the Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Ordinance (County Code Chapter 13, Article VIII, Ord. 3082) requires a 30-foot defensible space around structures and, on unimproved parcels, grass trimmed to under 6 inches within a 10-foot buffer of structures and roads. It supplements California Public Resources Code 4291.
Unincorporated Lake County has no stand-alone urban tree-trimming permit ordinance for private trees. Pruning is governed mainly by the Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Ordinance (trees pruned 6 feet above grade in fire buffers) and the Scenic Combining District. Routine pruning of your own trees generally needs no county permit.
Unincorporated Lake County has no general urban tree-removal permit for individual yard trees. Removal is regulated when it occurs during permitted grading (County Code Ch. 30), on parcels with Scenic (Art. 34) or Environmental Protection (Art. 64) overlays, or as commercial timber harvest, which requires a CAL FIRE Timber Harvesting Plan.
Unincorporated Lake County's Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Ordinance (County Code Chapter 13, Article VIII, Sections 13-57 to 13-66; Ord. 3082, 2019) declares flammable weeds, brush, and combustible material a public nuisance and supplements California PRC 4291. The County Fire Official may abate and bill owners who fail to clear.
Lake County has no single county-wide outdoor watering-day schedule. Conservation is set by the County's Special Districts for its CSA water systems (currently a voluntary 20% reduction, Stage 1), a fixture-retrofit-on-sale ordinance (Ord. 2291), and statewide MWELO requirements administered by Community Development for qualifying new landscapes.
Rainwater harvesting is permitted in unincorporated Lake County. California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Water Code 10574) allows rooftop capture without a water-right permit, and small non-potable rain barrels are typically permit-exempt under the California Plumbing Code. The County has no ordinance prohibiting rain barrels.
Unincorporated Lake County does not mandate native plants for private gardens. Native and drought-tolerant planting is encouraged through the State MWELO (administered by Community Development) and UC Master Gardener firewise guidance, but homeowners may plant most non-invasive species freely.
California's SB 1383 makes organic-waste recycling mandatory statewide, including unincorporated Lake County: residents and businesses must separate organics or self-haul to a diversion facility. Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged as a diversion method. The County's Health Services / Environmental Health Division administers exemptions.
Unincorporated Lake County has no ordinance banning residential artificial turf, and California Civil Code 4735 prohibits HOAs from banning synthetic grass on an owner's property. Installation may still require drainage, grading, or building review under County codes when it affects runoff.
Unincorporated Lake County requires a building permit through the Community Development Department's Building & Safety Division for private swimming pools and spas. Pools are regulated under 2019 California Building Code Section 3109, as modified by the County, and contractors must give buyers the state pool-safety notice.
In unincorporated Lake County, a private pool must be enclosed by a fence or wall at least 60 inches high with gaps that won't pass a 4-inch sphere. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching with the latch at least 60 inches above the ground. These rules follow CBC 3109.4 as modified by the County.
Unincorporated Lake County requires a pool to be isolated from the home by at least one approved method before filling: a compliant enclosure, removable mesh fencing, an ASTM F1346 safety cover, door exit alarms, self-latching doors, or an ASTM F2208 pool alarm. The intent is to prevent unsupervised child access.
In unincorporated Lake County, above-ground pools are treated as swimming pools whenever they hold water over 18 inches deep. The County's barrier handout expressly includes above-ground structures, so the same 60-inch fence/Part A and Part B isolation requirements and building permit apply.
In unincorporated Lake County, a self-contained hot tub or spa with a locking safety cover meeting ASTM ES 13-89 (ASTM F-1346) is exempt from the pool fence requirement. Non-self-contained spas are treated as swimming pools and must meet the full enclosure and isolation rules.
Unincorporated Lake County allows home occupations as a use permitted with a zoning permit in many districts (Section 27.3(j) of the Zoning Ordinance). The business must stay secondary to the home and not change the residential, agricultural, or rural character of the property or neighborhood.
Unincorporated Lake County permits one non-illuminated sign for a home occupation. In R1, R2, and SR lots under one acre, the sign cannot exceed one square foot and must be mounted flat against the dwelling wall or fence; in other districts it may not exceed two square feet.
A home occupation in unincorporated Lake County is permitted with a zoning permit from the Community Development Department's Planning Division, subject to the standard terms and conditions of Section 27.3(j). Customer visits are capped at eight per day, by single-family dwellings only, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Cottage food operations in unincorporated Lake County register with the County's Environmental Health Division as a Class A or Class B operation under the California Homemade Food Act (AB 1616 / HSC 113758). State law sets the allowed-food list, sales caps, and home-kitchen rules; the County administers registration.
Small and large family day care homes are a residential use by right in unincorporated Lake County and statewide. Under California SB 234 (2019), counties cannot require a local zoning permit or business license for a licensed family day care home, overriding the County's older large-family-daycare use-permit standard.
In unincorporated Lake County, ADUs are reviewed ministerially under California Government Code §65852.2. State standards cap an ADU at 800 sq ft (minimum 150 sq ft), allow up to 16 ft for a detached unit and 25 ft when attached, and require only 4-foot rear and side setbacks. One ADU is allowed per single-family lot, plus a JADU on owner-occupied parcels.
In unincorporated Lake County, a detached accessory structure such as a shed needs a building permit if it is over 12 feet tall OR larger than 120 sq ft; smaller, shorter sheds need only a zoning clearance. Setback and height requirements are set in Article 42 of the Zoning Ordinance, with separate setback exceptions for garages and carports.
Unincorporated Lake County allows conversion of an existing garage to an accessory dwelling unit under California Government Code §65852.2, which the County applies ministerially. State law bars the County from requiring replacement parking when a garage becomes an ADU, and the existing structure's setbacks are preserved for the conversion footprint. A building permit is still required.
In unincorporated Lake County, a carport that is over 12 feet tall or larger than 120 sq ft requires a building permit; smaller, shorter ones need only a zoning clearance. Carports and garages are subject to setback exceptions that are separate from those for other detached accessory structures, with the underlying setbacks set in Article 42 of the Zoning Ordinance.
Unincorporated Lake County has no standalone tiny-home ordinance. A tiny home on a foundation is treated as a dwelling or ADU under state law, and a pre-approved ADU plan used as a primary residence must be at least 360 sq ft with a fire-suppression system. A tiny home on wheels is generally regulated as an RV, not a permanent dwelling.
Propane and gas barbecue grills are allowed at homes in unincorporated Lake County. Cooking fires are not subject to the LCAQMD burn ban, but the California Fire Code restricts where charcoal and open-flame grills may be used at multi-unit buildings, and propane cylinders must follow LP-gas storage rules. Defensible space around grills is strongly advised.
Outdoor meat smokers are allowed at homes in unincorporated Lake County and, as cooking devices, are not subject to the LCAQMD vegetation burn ban. Charcoal and wood-fired smokers are still open-flame devices: California Fire Code rules on placement near structures and required attendance apply, and extra caution is needed given the county's very-high fire hazard.
Building setbacks in unincorporated Lake County vary by zoning district. In the R1 Single-Family Residential district the front yard is 20 feet, rear yard 15 feet (20 feet for two-story), and side yard 5 feet. Larger road setbacks apply along state highways and major county roads.
Maximum building height in unincorporated Lake County is set by zoning district. In the R1 Single-Family Residential district, a principal structure may be up to 35 feet and an accessory structure up to 20 feet. Taller accessory structures or buildings need a use permit.
Maximum lot coverage in unincorporated Lake County is set by zoning district. In the R1 Single-Family Residential district, coverage is limited to 35 percent for a one-story dwelling and 30 percent for a two-story dwelling. Swimming pools and open decks are exempt from coverage limits.
In unincorporated Lake County, most items stored outdoors on residential parcels must be screened from property lines and public roadways, and the amount is capped by lot size. The Community Development Department's Code Enforcement Division handles blight, junk and open-storage complaints in the unincorporated area.
Accumulating or storing solid waste so as to create a public nuisance is regulated under the Lake County Code's solid-waste nuisance provisions. The county may investigate complaints, and where a nuisance is found and abated, removal costs become a lien against the property.
Vacant and unimproved land in unincorporated Lake County may not be used for outdoor storage, and owners must abate weeds, brush and rubbish each fire season. Parcels under 5 acres must have combustible growth over 4 inches cut and removed or disked; rubbish left on the land must be cleared.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors has declared weeds and rubbish a public nuisance. Any owner of property within 30 feet of a structure must maintain a 30-foot firebreak by clearing brush and grass. Hazardous vegetation across the unincorporated county is also a nuisance under the County's vegetation-abatement ordinance.
Garage, yard and rummage sales are allowed in unincorporated Lake County and are treated under the Zoning Ordinance as the limited sale of second-hand goods by individuals or non-profits. No standalone Lake County garage-sale permit ordinance with day, hour or fee limits was found published online; questions go to the Planning Division.
Curbside garbage, recycling and green-waste collection in unincorporated Lake County is voluntary, not mandatory. The County contracts with haulers (including Lake County Waste Solutions and South Lake Refuse & Recycling) to offer service; rates depend on cart size, and recycling and green-waste carts are provided free.
Curbside customers in unincorporated Lake County must set carts at the curb or roadway edge by 4:00 a.m. on collection day, with at least 3 feet between carts and 15 feet of overhead clearance, arrows facing the street, and away from mailboxes and cars. Carts must not exceed 75 pounds.
Curbside customers in unincorporated Lake County can schedule one bulky-item pickup of free items twice per year at no charge through their hauler. Large appliances carry a $10 fee. Items can also be self-hauled to the Eastlake Landfill near Clearlake.
Unincorporated Lake County offers free curbside recycling carts to garbage subscribers, accepting paper, cardboard, glass and metal food/beverage containers, and plastic bottles. CRV beverage containers can also be redeemed at buy-back centers. California's commercial recycling mandate (SB 1383) also applies to businesses.
California's SB 1383 organic-waste law applies in Lake County, but the unincorporated county is largely rural. Lake County's total population (~68,000) is far above the 7,500 threshold for a jurisdiction-wide low-population waiver; individual unincorporated census tracts under 75 people per square mile can qualify for rural waivers. Edible-food-recovery rules apply now to covered businesses.
In unincorporated Lake County, temporary political signs are permitted in all zoning districts under Section 45.3(x) of the Zoning Ordinance. No political sign may be erected earlier than 90 days before the election, and all must be removed within 10 days of the close of the campaign. Signs for a candidate who wins the primary may be retained for the general election.
Unincorporated Lake County has no sign category specifically named 'garage sale signs.' Garage and yard sales are addressed as 'rummage sales' in the Zoning Ordinance, which limits a private individual to two non-illuminated signs of two square feet each, displayed only during the sale. Frequent sales (more than six days a year) require a zoning permit.
Unincorporated Lake County has no standalone 'dark sky' ordinance, but Section 41.8 of the Zoning Ordinance requires that all exterior lighting accessory to any use be hooded, shielded, or opaque, and that no unobstructed beam of light be directed beyond any property line. Near Clear Lake, the Scenic 'SC' combining district adds view-protection standards.
In unincorporated Lake County, Section 41.8 of the Zoning Ordinance prohibits any unobstructed beam of light from being directed beyond a property's exterior lot line and requires all exterior lighting to be hooded, shielded, or opaque. For signs, Section 45.26(b) separately requires lighting to be shielded so it does not cast glare onto neighboring properties or public streets.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Lake County ordinances.