Clearlake council adopts rental registration and inspection ordinance after months of revisions

Clearlake City Council on Sept. 4 adopted Ordinance No. 279-2025, amending Section 9-4 of the Clearlake Municipal Code to create a city-run residential rental registration and inspection program.

The ordinance passed unanimously after months of staff work and meetings with local real estate managers and the Lake County Association of Realtors. Vice Mayor Slotin moved the ordinance and Council Member Downey seconded the motion; the council’s roll-call vote was unanimous.

City staff told the council the update changes enforcement and inspection procedures, clarifies registration rules and adds new provisions including phased inspections and a self-certification option for property owners and managers. Associate Planner Taylor summarized the ordinance’s background: the city first adopted rental rules in 2001, reexamined them in 2019 and has since developed inspection checklists and staffing to administer a program locally.

Chief building inspector Mary Jane Montana described a recent trial inspection staff used to test the checklist. Montana said the example property was a…