MENDOCINO CO., 2/11/25 – The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday discussed the possibility of establishing a new type of permit for residents who want to rent parts of their property as “dude ranches” or “hip camps,” a popular form of temporary lodging for out-of-towners looking to experience the nature of the county.
At Tuesday’s meeting, a lively discussion focused on the setbacks as well as the benefits of creating a detailed permitting process for privately owned campsites.
“I am generally supportive of us having this new ordinance, this is already happening in our county,” said Supervisor Madeline Cline. “I want to have something that’s clear and accessible to the public.”
Supervisor John Haschak noted that commercial private camping has existed for many years in the county and said the board should create the guidelines to help homeowners who want to start their own private campsites and mediate the interactions with the residents who already have unpermitted lodgings on their properties.
“This is happening throughout the county, so how do we get compliance with some of the basic rules we want to see,” Haschak added. “A lot of neighbors are worried that they will be inundated with campers, and how do we regulate it to a degree. We have been dealing with this for a long time, and we should be able to give more direction.”
The possible regulations for the inland region, versus the type of regulations that would be needed for the coastal region, have been a point of discussion among the supervisors, the county planning commission and its Department of Planning and Building Services.
“The concerns on the coast are much more intense than the ones inland. Inland people are concerned about fire, but are looking for some economic development,” said Haschak. “The people on the coast are looking at it as though there are more issues involved.”
Mendocino County has worked for the last few years to develop rules for privately owned commercial campsites but has yet to officially implement them.
The county delayed establishing guidelines for the permits to gather more feedback from local emergency service providers, including fire departments and other community groups. There is also concern that coastal areas, such as Mendocino and Fort Bragg, may require separate regulations due to higher demand for camping along the coast.
The coastal areas are not zoned under the Inland Zoning Code but instead fall under the Mendocino County Local Coastal Program, which is part of the California Coastal Act, so county zoning must comply with additional layers of state oversight.
Public commenters at the supervisors’ meeting included small business operators who use HipCamp, a company similar to Airbnb that allows homeowners to convert their property into camping sites for tourists and visitors.
“I understand the fear,” said Sojourna Lee, the secretary of the Meadow Farm Community Land Trust board, a cooperative farm community just outside of Fort Bragg. Lee lives on the property and coordinates the lodgings and land maintenance.
“On our property, we have three camps, and two cabins. The people that come here don’t leave a scrap, and seem so grateful, and maybe our site is a bit different, but there are good people involved that come from cities. They are so happy to have a camping experience that is quiet.”
The supervisors said there will be workshops where community members can attend and help construct the guidelines on the private camping permits.
“I think most of the people who are coming here to the community are spending money, are quiet, and well behaved,” said Supervisor Ted Williams. “There’s probably some with trailers, packs of dogs, and subwoofers. I think the public concern would be around the 5 percent of people that create massive problems. How do we regulate from the very start that we don’t invite those 5 percent?”
The supervisors will be holding public meetings in each of the supervisor’s districts to discuss the possible regulations. People can contact their supervisor for more information by using this link.
people dying of fentanyl the economy is tanked. taxes thru the roof. roads in 3 rd world condition and these morons are going to try regulating camping on your own land ?? figures where else but mendo
What the fuck is wrong with these people? THIS IS WHAT THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY AND TIME AND RESOURCES ON?! The wine and Cannabis industries are crashing and burning where the fuck do they think money is gonna come from in the next 5 years? Stupid! WE NEED HOUSING AND NOT JUST WELFARE STATE BULLSHIT WHERE YOU ONLY CAN GET IN IF YOU RELY ON THE STATE.
Thanks to the Supervisors for taking up an important issue. On the one hand, camping sometimes creates problems for neighbors. On the other hand, allowing camping on private land is helpful to property owners faced with reduced income from other sources and high property taxes. The question is – how to balance these needs, both legitimate? Like so many other issues, we need to strike a balance. It’s not yet clear what that balance should be. I am glad that the supervisors intend to listen to many voices as they figure out how to solve this puzzle.
I want to know what they’re going to do with the many many senior citizens down there that live in the park? I want to know if they are going to buy them out so they can afford to leave there! I want to know where they’re going to house all these seniors if they move from there! Not a single one of those things came up in the meeting and it’s like nobody gives a crap about the residents that live there now all they care about is counting their money
What a joke. Just fix the roads and mind your own business.
Why aren’t we devoted this discussion and resources to allowing for people LIVING on this land. We are STARVING for rentals and we’re busy discussing more ways to lose our valuable spaces for visitors over locals. Not to mention our lack of emergency services and road maintenance that can’t even keep up as it is. This is infuriating and absurd.
SICK OF EXPENSIVE PERMITS AND REGULATION
More permits and regulations on PRIVATE LAND? c’mon you guys. You “permitted” the cannabis industry literally TO DEATH. Now, only the rich or big business can participate. Please don’t make the same mistake here.
The supervisors should be replaced for dump trucking the Cannabis industry, they are clearly way out of touch with reality. We risked freedom, lives, and property creating a multi billion dollar industry that they ruined in a matter of a few years. The gov tried to throw us a bone (cannabis equity grants) and hmmm….where’d the MILLIONS of dollars go supes?
The county has already tanked the cannabis economy due to incompetent meddling and greed. The board needs to back off because people will not tolerate more poorly planned regulations that infringe upon livelihoods and property rights.
Nice to see these people in lock step with der fuhrer Trump. Land only has value if they (county, state, fed) profit from it. The same reason they allow banks to steal homes, house sales contribute to GDP, paying mortgage does not.
These are Democrats doing this to you and how in the hell do you not know that?
nah they mostly the other ROTTEN side! dehr fuhrer has nothing to do with this, because he dead. But he prolly takin notes from hell or whatever fun place his burning soul resides in…?!
TDS in full effect
Mendocino county crooked and corrupt as ever. Does not give a shit about any of your real problems. Wild how they are transparent with it and still have jobs.
As a county official i support all this corruption as it helps me line my pockets. You slave sheep will never dethrone me.
Thanks for helping the already beleaguered & understaffed volunteer firefighters. One spark from a hip camp is all it takes.