Board backs moving forward with optional AB 518 low-impact camping framework

County staff described Assembly Bill 518 (AB 518) as an option for Lake County to authorize "low-impact camping" on agricultural and rural parcels. Mireya Turner told supervisors the state law permits up to nine campsites on qualifying parcels (minimum two acres) with a cap of four RVs among the nine sites; counties may adopt the baseline framework and add local restrictions if needed. "The law itself does not make it mandatory that jurisdictions enact this, but it gives the jurisdictions an opportunity to create a framework with baseline regulations," Turner said.

Several supervisors supported moving the camping item forward more quickly than short-term rental rulemaking because AB 518's language is already drafted at the state level and would likely require less public outreach. Supervisor Houghton suggested adopting the state's version and then making adjustments later if the board wanted to tighten acreage minimums or setbacks; Turner recommended a focused stakeholder meeting with fire chiefs, the Farm Bureau, the ag commissioner and the tourism improvement district to confirm minimum standards and safety concerns.

Public commenters strongly supported adopting AB 518. Lisa Wilson, representing the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber endorses AB 518 and volunteered to represent the Chamber on the county process. Cassandra Prenvacelycas, government and community relations at Hipcamp, described Hipcamp's involvement in the state legislation and offered the organization as a resource to help implement low-impact camping locally.

Action: the board directed staff to hold a stakeholder meeting to assess adopting AB 518 standards and to return draft ordinance language if changes are needed; the county will proceed as staff capacity allows, with low-impact camping expected to move sooner than the more complex STR rulemaking.