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Attention, property owners! Have you ever looked out at your sprawling land and thought, Wow! My little corner of Humboldt County is so exceptionally stunning. I wish I could share its beauty with some kind campers who share my appreciation for the great outdoors, but I don’t want to pay the state thousands of dollars to do it? If you have had this exact thought, listen up!

Staff in the county’s Planning and Building Department are developing an ordinance for low-impact camping in unincorporated areas of the county as a part of the implementation of AB 518. The state bill, passed in 2025, allows counties to permit small-scale camping on private property without a state permit, simplifying the application process for landowners and expanding affordable camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. 

Hipcamp, the Airbnb of the outdoor world, has led the charge in the low-impact camping movement. The site has listings for both tent and RV camping, glamping setups as well as small cabins and treehouses that average about $40 a night locally.

AB 518 allows for up to nine campsites, including up to four RVs, per property, which must be at least two acres. A host or manager must be available by phone 24/7 and the site must comply with local rules for waste/trash disposal, fire and noise impacts.

Along with increasing access to affordable overnight options, proponents of AB 518 see low-impact camping as another way for farmers and cannabis growers to increase revenue streams. Opponents of the bill, however, worry about careless behaviors that could increase environmental impacts and fire danger on remote properties with sketchy access to emergency services.

Staff are still working out drafts for both the inland and coastal versions of the county ordinance, which have been reviewed by key state and local agencies including the Building Division, Department of Environmental Health, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Cal Fire, California Coastal Commission and the Farm Bureau.

If you’d like to share your two cents on the ordinance, you’ll want to attend next week’s Humboldt County Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m.

More information about the upcoming meeting can be found in the meeting notice below:

The Humboldt County Planning & Building Department is developing an ordinance to allow low-impact camping areas in rural unincorporated Humboldt County and is seeking input from the community. 

A workshop will be held at the Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. to share information about the draft ordinance and receive input from the Planning Commission and the public. 

To review the Inland Low-Impact Camping Area Ordinance, please visit HumboldtGov.org/LICA.

Background 

Assembly Bill 518 was passed in October 2025. This bill allows counties to permit small-scale and low-impact camping on private rural lands without a state permit. Since the bill was passed, the Planning & Building Department has been working to develop a Low-Impact Camping Area Ordinance that follows state law and local health, safety and welfare standards.

Drafts of both the inland and coastal versions of the ordinance have been reviewed by important state and local agencies including the Building Division, Department of Environmental Health, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Cal Fire, California Coastal Commission and the Farm Bureau. Their input has been considered for incorporation into the draft ordinances.

An updated draft of the inland version was released to the public for review on July 8 and a public workshop on this version was held on July 15. Public comment has been received, and county staff have updated the draft ordinance, which will now be discussed at a workshop at the Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, Aug. 20.

The county is still working to address the California Coastal Commission’s comments on the coastal version of the ordinance, which is not currently available to the public. Once this document is ready to move forward, there will be opportunity for public comment at a future Planning Commission meeting.

Planning Commission Workshop

If you would like to be part of the discussion on this ordinance, please attend the workshop at the Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. Community members have the option to attend on Zoom or in person at the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors’ Chamber, located in the Humboldt County Courthouse at 825 Fifth St. in Eureka. 

More information and associated workshop documents will be available in the Planning Commission meeting agenda, which will be posted online by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14 at Humboldt.legistar.com.

How to Attend on Zoom

Members of the public may attend the workshop virtually by visiting Zoom online and entering the password 200525. To access it on the phone, call 346-248-7799, enter the meeting ID: 875 4480 7065 and password: 200525.

A live stream of the meeting will also be available on the county’s meeting agenda web page or by watching Access Humboldt on cable Channel 11. 

Following this workshop, the ordinance will enter the hearing stage where the Planning Commission will make their recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, who will consider those recommendations and make a decision regarding the proposed ordinance at a future meeting.

For more information about the workshop, please email macevedo@co.humboldt.ca.us or call 707-441-2634.
The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equal access to all county programs, services and activities through the provision of accommodations for individuals with qualified disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With 72 hours prior notice, a request for reasonable accommodation for this meeting can be made by calling 707-441-2634. For more information about Humboldt County’s draft Low-Impact Camping Area Ordinance, please visit HumboldtGov.org/LICA.

About the Humboldt County Planning & Building Department

The County of Humboldt’s Planning & Building Department is dedicated to supporting safe and well-planned communities throughout Humboldt County. Whether you’re building a home, opening a business or planning for the future, the Planning & Building Department is here to guide you through the processes that help ensure development aligns with local values, environmental stewardship and state law. For more information about the Humboldt County Planning & Building Department and the services it provides, please visit HumboldtGov.org/Planning-Building.