Lake County truly is a great place to live and still a bit of a secret or mystery to those that live outside the area. We may have the cleanest air in the state, a great big playground called Clear Lake a growing wine industry. All of Lake County California is still considered rural. What does that mean to you? If you’re from a large metropolitan, urban or suburban area and have never lived in a rural area then you need to be aware that there will be some life changes in store for you. The Lake County Association of Realtors have prepared a detailed advisory that covers many issues including some of the following key issues. Be sure to ask me for a copy of the advisory if you’re seriously planning to live here.
- Drinking water in Lake County comes from a number of sources. Some properties have domestic wells, some properties are provided by the county or private water companies. Water fees vary greatly from area to area so if this is something that matters to you then this is something that you should investigate. Properties that are on well water should be checked when making a purchase. Find out what is in the water, what the water volume or capacity is and what the well history has been during drought years. If you’re planning on doing agriculture then you should check to see if there is BORON in the water. Boron can be like a herbicide to some plant varieties.
- Septic and Sewer : Many homes are on septic tanks while others are connected to sewer systems. Septic systems can be vary different some are engineered systems with mechanical components that need routine maintenance and the old standard systems should also be checked from time to time.
- Roads are not all paved and road maintenance responsibility varies depending on where you are. Some roads are maintained by the county, some by the city and others may be maintained by private road maintenance agreements.
- Services and shopping. Check the distance to shopping and local medical facilities. We have a hospital facility located in the Northwest shore which is Sutter Lakeside Hospital and to the south shore there is Adventist Hospital. If living too far from a local hospital is a big concern then be aware that we have a very good Helicopter medivac service called Lifeflight.
- Lakefront Living close to the lake is a great lifestyle but there are things to be aware of. Ask me for a copy of the Lake County Advisory that was prepared by the Lake County Association of Realtors. Also ask for the Flood Insurance Advisory prepared by the County of Lake.
6. Zoning Be familiar with the zoning ordinance for the property you are interested in. Know what is permitted. You can obtain a copy of the county zoning ordinance by going to the following website: Lake County Zoning Ordinance. County Planning Department, Lakeport Office Planning: 707-263-2221
Building: 707-263-2382. City of Lakeport Community Development, Lakeport Office Planning: 707-263-5613 extension 25 Lakeport Zoning Ordinance. City of Clearlake Community Development, Clearlake Office Planning: 707-994-
7. Utilities We do not have natural gas. Electricity, Propane and other heating fuels including diesel, kerosene are used locally. Prices on fuels vary so check with the local service providers. Electricity is provided by Pacific Gas and Electric. Some folks living off the power grid have managed to do well with solar and generators.
8. Wild Life There is abundant wildlife in Lake County and if you’re a animal lover then this may really be the place to live. The Audubon Society is very active here and they co-host a Heron festival every year. Among the critters you will often see are Wild turkeys, Ducks, Geese, Great Blue Heron, Western and Clark Grebes, hundreds of other bird species including Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey and Bald Eagles. There are Black Tail Deer, Tule Elk, Rabbits, Skunks, Otters, Possum, and Raccoons. The more reclusive species are Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Black bear, Coyote, Fox and other species. The fish in Clear Lake include Crappie, Bass, Blue Gill, Channel Cat, Carp, Hitch, and other species of fish. Yes we have snakes and lizards. We also have many insects which provide something for the other critters to eat.
