Good afternoon, Chair Rassmussen and Members of the Board.
My name is Rebecca Harper, and I am speaking on behalf of the Lake County Farm Bureau.
We appreciate the opportunity to provide comment on today’s discussion regarding low-impact camping and the potential local implementation of Assembly Bill 518.
The Farm Bureau supports the intent of AB 518, which creates a framework for limited, low-impact recreational camping on private agricultural lands while preserving strong local control. From an agricultural perspective, this legislation offers meaningful opportunities for farm and ranch income diversification at a time when producers are facing increasing operational costs, climate pressures, and market uncertainty while clearly maintaining agriculture as the primary use of the land. Any low-impact camping should remain strictly secondary and incidental to ongoing agricultural operations, ensuring that farmland is not incrementally converted or displaced and that farming and ranching remain the central purpose of these properties.
Low-impact camping can provide modest supplemental revenue without requiring permanent infrastructure or conversion of farmland. When implemented thoughtfully, it allows landowners to maintain agriculture as the primary land use while responsibly engaging in agritourism and rural recreation. This type of activity also helps connect the public with working lands, strengthening appreciation for agriculture and stewardship, while supporting local businesses and rural economies.
Equally important is AB 518’s emphasis on local control. Counties must opt in through ordinance and retain authority over zoning, permitting, and enforcement. This ensures that regulations can be tailored to Lake County’s unique agricultural landscape, infrastructure capacity, and community priorities.
As implementation is considered, we strongly encourage the Board to establish clear local standards related to waste management, water quality, fire safety, access, noise, and traffic, along with appropriate enforcement capacity. These safeguards are essential to protect neighboring agricultural operations, natural resources, and rural quality of life.
In closing, AB 518 presents a balanced approach that supports agricultural economic resilience while maintaining strong land use protections. With thoughtful local implementation, low-impact camping can serve as a complementary agritourism activity that benefits farmers, communities, and the broader local economy. LCFB welcome the opportunity to collaborate on a county ordinance should the board take that direction.
I am a resident of Clearlake and the owner of Clear Lake Campground, a campground on Cache Creek that has been part of Lake County since the 1950s. I am writing to express my support for low-impact camping and to ask the Board of Supervisors to opt into Assembly Bill 518 and move forward with an ordinance that allows small-scale camping on private land.
As a campground owner, I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats. Visitors who come to Lake County support local businesses, restaurants, wineries, farms, and services across the region. Providing a range of camping options – from campgrounds like mine to small-scale camping areas on rural and agricultural lands – helps Lake County remain competitive as an outdoor recreation destination while meeting the diverse needs of today’s visitors. We all want visitors to fall in love with Lake County, tell their friends, and come back!
Low-impact camping, as defined in Assembly Bill 518, is intentionally small in scale and includes clear standards that promote neighborhood compatibility, responsible recreation, and environmental stewardship. This type of camping will help expand access to outdoor experiences, support and grow our local tourism and outdoor recreation economy, and create sustainable revenue opportunities for local rural and agricultural landowners. County support for these activities will further establish Lake County as a place for nature-based tourism and recreation.
I encourage the Board to adopt the framework established by Assembly Bill 518 and direct staff to develop a clear, workable ordinance that is accessible for landowners and right-sized for low-impact recreation.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Lisa Wilson
Owner/Operator
Clear Lake Campground
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Agenda Item 7.6 and for your attention to low-impact camping.
Hipcamp respectfully asks the Board of Supervisors to prioritize the development of a low-impact camping policy that allows local landowners to host a limited number of campsites, creating income diversification opportunities for residents while expanding access to the outdoors.
Hipcamp partners with landowners across all 50 states and in four countries. Hosting campers helps landowners cover property taxes, make mortgage payments, keep farms and businesses economically viable, and invest in sustainable land management practices. In Lake County, we are proud to work with a community of farmers, ranchers, winery owners, campground operators, and rural residents who are invested in seeing the County support small-scale camping on private property where appropriate.
California Assembly Bill 518 (AB 518) creates a framework for “Low–Impact Camping Areas,” enabling counties to authorize small-scale camping on private land without requiring costly, duplicative state permits. This law presents an exciting opportunity for counties to increase outdoor access, support local landowners, and strengthen rural economies. It creates a foundation that Lake County can build on and includes standards for acreage minimums, site density, setback requirements, quiet hours, and more. A local ordinance aligned with AB 518 will allow Lake County to opt-into this legislation’s benefits while promoting responsible recreation and ensuring low-impact camping activities are well-managed locally.
Please support the development of a local low-impact camping policy and establish a simple, accessible approval pathway that allows more landowners to participate in and benefit from the region's growing tourism and outdoor recreation industries.
Hipcamp is happy to partner with the County and with community stakeholders throughout this process. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can be helpful in any way.
Good afternoon, Chair Rassmussen and Members of the Board.
My name is Rebecca Harper, and I am speaking on behalf of the Lake County Farm Bureau.
We appreciate the opportunity to provide comment on today’s discussion regarding low-impact camping and the potential local implementation of Assembly Bill 518.
The Farm Bureau supports the intent of AB 518, which creates a framework for limited, low-impact recreational camping on private agricultural lands while preserving strong local control. From an agricultural perspective, this legislation offers meaningful opportunities for farm and ranch income diversification at a time when producers are facing increasing operational costs, climate pressures, and market uncertainty while clearly maintaining agriculture as the primary use of the land. Any low-impact camping should remain strictly secondary and incidental to ongoing agricultural operations, ensuring that farmland is not incrementally converted or displaced and that farming and ranching remain the central purpose of these properties.
Low-impact camping can provide modest supplemental revenue without requiring permanent infrastructure or conversion of farmland. When implemented thoughtfully, it allows landowners to maintain agriculture as the primary land use while responsibly engaging in agritourism and rural recreation. This type of activity also helps connect the public with working lands, strengthening appreciation for agriculture and stewardship, while supporting local businesses and rural economies.
Equally important is AB 518’s emphasis on local control. Counties must opt in through ordinance and retain authority over zoning, permitting, and enforcement. This ensures that regulations can be tailored to Lake County’s unique agricultural landscape, infrastructure capacity, and community priorities.
As implementation is considered, we strongly encourage the Board to establish clear local standards related to waste management, water quality, fire safety, access, noise, and traffic, along with appropriate enforcement capacity. These safeguards are essential to protect neighboring agricultural operations, natural resources, and rural quality of life.
In closing, AB 518 presents a balanced approach that supports agricultural economic resilience while maintaining strong land use protections. With thoughtful local implementation, low-impact camping can serve as a complementary agritourism activity that benefits farmers, communities, and the broader local economy. LCFB welcome the opportunity to collaborate on a county ordinance should the board take that direction.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dear Supervisors,
I am a resident of Clearlake and the owner of Clear Lake Campground, a campground on Cache Creek that has been part of Lake County since the 1950s. I am writing to express my support for low-impact camping and to ask the Board of Supervisors to opt into Assembly Bill 518 and move forward with an ordinance that allows small-scale camping on private land.
As a campground owner, I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats. Visitors who come to Lake County support local businesses, restaurants, wineries, farms, and services across the region. Providing a range of camping options – from campgrounds like mine to small-scale camping areas on rural and agricultural lands – helps Lake County remain competitive as an outdoor recreation destination while meeting the diverse needs of today’s visitors. We all want visitors to fall in love with Lake County, tell their friends, and come back!
Low-impact camping, as defined in Assembly Bill 518, is intentionally small in scale and includes clear standards that promote neighborhood compatibility, responsible recreation, and environmental stewardship. This type of camping will help expand access to outdoor experiences, support and grow our local tourism and outdoor recreation economy, and create sustainable revenue opportunities for local rural and agricultural landowners. County support for these activities will further establish Lake County as a place for nature-based tourism and recreation.
I encourage the Board to adopt the framework established by Assembly Bill 518 and direct staff to develop a clear, workable ordinance that is accessible for landowners and right-sized for low-impact recreation.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Lisa Wilson
Owner/Operator
Clear Lake Campground
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Agenda Item 7.6 and for your attention to low-impact camping.
Hipcamp respectfully asks the Board of Supervisors to prioritize the development of a low-impact camping policy that allows local landowners to host a limited number of campsites, creating income diversification opportunities for residents while expanding access to the outdoors.
Hipcamp partners with landowners across all 50 states and in four countries. Hosting campers helps landowners cover property taxes, make mortgage payments, keep farms and businesses economically viable, and invest in sustainable land management practices. In Lake County, we are proud to work with a community of farmers, ranchers, winery owners, campground operators, and rural residents who are invested in seeing the County support small-scale camping on private property where appropriate.
California Assembly Bill 518 (AB 518) creates a framework for “Low–Impact Camping Areas,” enabling counties to authorize small-scale camping on private land without requiring costly, duplicative state permits. This law presents an exciting opportunity for counties to increase outdoor access, support local landowners, and strengthen rural economies. It creates a foundation that Lake County can build on and includes standards for acreage minimums, site density, setback requirements, quiet hours, and more. A local ordinance aligned with AB 518 will allow Lake County to opt-into this legislation’s benefits while promoting responsible recreation and ensuring low-impact camping activities are well-managed locally.
Please support the development of a local low-impact camping policy and establish a simple, accessible approval pathway that allows more landowners to participate in and benefit from the region's growing tourism and outdoor recreation industries.
Hipcamp is happy to partner with the County and with community stakeholders throughout this process. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can be helpful in any way.
Thank you,
Cassandra Prenn-Vasilakis
cassandra@hipcamp.com