Lake County Municipal Code Art. I Boats and Boating

(a) Blue Lakes, as used herein, includes that body of water known commonly as Laurel includes that body of water known commonly as Laurel Dell Lake and all lakes situated in Section 6, 7, or 8 of Township 15 North, Range 101 West, M.D.M. and Section 1 of Township 15 North, Range 11 West, M.D.M.

(Ord. No. 223, § 3, 1939)

(b) Boat is a vessel or other device for boating or sailing as defined by the Harbors and Navigation Code.

(Ord. No. 2430, § 1, 5-12-98)

(c) Motor Boat is any device or vessel, in or upon which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon the waters in the County of Lake, excluding aquaplanes, water skis, and devices moved solely by human power, wind or gravity.

(Ord. No. 223, § 1, 1939; Ord. No. 2430, § 1, 5-12-98)

(d) Person as herein used, includes every natural person, firm, copartnership, association or corporation.

(Ord. 223, § 2, 1939; Ord. No. 2430, § 1, 5-12-98)

(e) Aquaplane shall mean any device, including water skis, used for the transportation of one or more persons upon the surface of the water, and which is pulled or towed by any boat, vehicle, or other motive power by means of a rope, chain, cable, wire or other connection.

(Ord. No. 485, § 2, 1966; Ord. No. 2430, § 1, 5-12-98)

(f) Race shall mean beth ski races and motor boat races.

(Ord. No. 485, § 2, 1966)

(g) Personal watercraft means a vessel of thirteen (13) feet in length or less, propelled by machinery, that is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than in the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel.

(Ord. No. 2733, § 2, 5-7-2005)

(Ord. No. 223, § 5, 1939; Ord. No. 419, § 1, 1958; Ord. No. 763, § 1, 9-4-73)

(Ord. No. 223, § 5, 1939; Ord. No. 419, § 1, 1958)

(Ord. No. 223, § 5, 1939; Ord. No. 419, § 1, 1958)

(Ord. No. 223, § 6, 1939; Ord. No. 419, § 3, 1958)

(Ord. No. 223, § 4, 1939; Ord. No. 419, § 2, 1958)

(Ord. No. 223, § 4, 1939; Ord. No. 419, § 3, 1958)

(a) 90 dbA to and including July 1, 1974;

(Ord. No. 223, § 6, 1989; Ord. No. 741, § 1, 5-1-73)

(b) After July 1, 1974, to and including July 1, 1975, 88 dbA;

(Ord. No. 741, § 1, 5-1-73)

(c) After July 1, 1975, 86 dbA.

(Ord. No. 741, § 1, 5-1-73)

(Ord. No. 223, § 6, 1939; Ord. No. 741, § 2, 5-1-73)

(a) All that portion of the Eel River tributary to Lake Pillsbury, lying southerly of the south line of the north half of the north half of Section 19, Township 18 North, Range 9 West, M.D.B.&M.

(Ord. No. 469, § 1, 1965)

(b) That portion of the Rice Fork of the Eel River lying southerly of the south line of the north half of the north half of Section 23, Township 18 North, Range 10 West, M.D.B.&M.

(Ord. No. 469, § 1, 1965; Ord. No. 665, § 1, 1971)

(c) The waters of Cache Creek or any tributary thereto.

(Ord. No. 763, § 2, 9-4-73)

(d) The waters within the Clear Lake Keys Subdivision One through Seven.

(e) Blue Lakes.

(Ord. No. 1068, § 2, 4-17-79; Ord. No. 2109, § 1, 8-25-92)

(f) Within four hundred (400) feet of the outermost portion of the outer most dock at the Konocti Harbor Resort boat dock facility.

(Ord. No. 2478, § 2, 8-3-99)

(g) Within three hundred (300) feet of the outermost portion of the outermost dock adjacent to Clearlake Avenue on the North to Willow Point on the South along the shoreline in Lakeport.

(Ord. No. 2562, § 2, 6-5-2001)

Any violation of the above provision shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months.

(Ord. No. 452, § 1, 1963; Ord. No. 469, § 1, 1965)

(a) In any part of Clear Lake that is northerly of Rodman Bridge.

(Ord. No. 439, § 1, 1962)

(b) In any part of Indian Valley Reservoir.

(Ord. No. 1068, § 1, 4-17-79)

(Ord. No. 223, § 5, 1939; Ord. No. 2109, § 2, 8-25-92)

(Ord. No. 223, § 5, 1939; Ord. No. 2109, § 2, 8-25-92)

(a) Any part of Clear Lake that is northerly of Rodman Bridge.

(Ord. No. 439, § 2, 1962)

5.9 Penalty. Any violation of Section 5.8 of this article shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding three hundred (300) dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not to exceed six (6) months.

(Ord. No. 439, § 2, 1962)

5.10 No person shall operate or permit to be operated any personal watercraft on Blue Lakes.

(Ord. No. 2733, § 3, 6-7-2005)

5.11 Any violation of subsection 5.10 of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months.

(Ord. No. 2733, § 3, 6-7-2005)

Sec. 15-6. - Sirens Prohibited.

6.1 It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or permit to be operated, any siren or sirens in or upon any boat on the waters of Clear Lake, except those used by Federal, State or Local law enforcement agencies.

(Ord. No. 244, § 1, 1942)

6.2 Penalty. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty (250) dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ninety (90) days or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. No. 244, § 1, 1942)

Sec. 15-7. - Motor Boat and Ski Races.

7.1 No person, club, organization, or group shall hold or engage in a motor-propelled speedboat race or ski race wherein skiers are towed by motor-propelled boats on the waters of Clear Lake unless and until a permit therefor shall have been issued by the Office of Sheriff, County of Lake.

(Ord. No. 485, § 3, 1966)

7.2 Any person, club, organization or group sponsoring or holding a motorboat speed race or ski race on the navigable waters of Clear Lake must first make application to the Sheriff of Lake County for a permit to hold such race. Any individual, person, group, or corporation may, even though no race is to be immediately held, apply to said Sheriff for a permit to make trial runs or to tune-up a motor or motors of boats being built up for such races, or for trial runs, private or official, which may be made preparatory to entry of such boat in such organized races.

(Ord. No. 485, § 4, 1966)

(a) The name and address of the applicant.

(Ord. No. 485, § 4, 1966)

(b) The date, time, and place the proposed race is to be held.

(Ord. No. 485, § 4, 1966)

(c) A diagram of the area in which the said race or races are proposed to be held.

(Ord. No. 485, § 4, 1966)

(Ord. No. 485, § 4, 1966)

(a) The said five (5) day period hereinabove required for filing of applications for permits may, in the discretion of said Sheriff, be shortened.

(Ord. No. 485, § 4, 1966)

(Ord. No. 485, § 8, 1966)

(a) Such appeal may be taken by filing with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors an "Intention to Appeal" from said decision of said Sheriff, within ten (10) days from the time that said Sheriff shall have rendered his decision, issued the permit or denied the issuance of said permit.

(Ord. No. 485, § 8, 1966)

(b) The Clerk of said Board shall notify the Sheriff's Department of such pending appeal; thereafter the Board shall set a date, time and place of hearing of the appeal and the applicant and all interested parties shall be notified of the time and place of hearing such appeal; the decision of said Board with respect thereto shall be final and conclusive.

(Ord. No. 485, § 8, 1966)

(Ord. No. 485, § 7, 1966)

(a) The permittee shall proceed directly to such area using the shortest possible route, having in mind other traffic then present on the lake and along the shoreline, at a safe speed and in a reasonable manner.

(Ord. No. 485, § 7, 1966)

7.9

(a) All courses, whether for speed boat races, ski races, trial runs, official trials for speed records, or trial runs for adjustment and tuning of engines, shall be adequately marked with buoys and patrol boats. The adequacy of such marking shall be determined by the Sheriff.

(Ord. No.485, § 4, 1966)

(b) All race courses used for races trial runs, tuneup runs, or other events shall be so marked and situated so as to allow at least two hundred (200) feet of unobstructed navigable waters between such boats and the farthest- extended pier along the shoreline adjacent to such events.

(Ord. No. 485, § 4, 1966)

(Ord. No. 485, § 6, 1966; Ord. No. 1367, § 1, 3-6-84)

8.2 No person may moor, dock, or otherwise attach any ship, boat, barge or other vessel or any structure of any kind at any public marina or facility located in the waters of Clear Lake beginning at midnight and continuing to 6:00 a.m. for a period of not in excess of fifteen (15) minutes. The prohibition of this subsection shall not apply to: (1) the mooring, docking or attachment in the event of an emergency declared by the person in command or control of the above-described vessels or structures; or (2) the mooring, docking or attachment which has been authorized by an Administrative Encroachment permit issued by Lakebed Management Division of the County of Lake pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 23 of this code. For this subsection only, a public facility or marina is defined as any facility owned, maintained or operated by the County of Lake, any city or special district.

(Ord. No. 1367, § 1, 3-6-84; Ord. No. 2430, § 2, 5-12-98)

(Ord. No. 1367, § 1, 3-6-84; Ord. No. 2430, § 3, 5-12-98)

(a) Keeling Park located in Nice, California.

(Ord. No. 1095, § 1, 8-28-79)

(b) Nice Community Beach located in Nice, California.

(Ord. No. 1095, § 1, 8-28-79)

(c) Alpine Park located in Lucerne, California.

(Ord. No. 1095, § 1, 8-28-79)

(d) Lucerne Harbor Park located in Lucerne, California.

(Ord. No. 1095, § 1, 8-28-79)

(e) Lucerne Clubhouse Park located in Lucerne, California. (Oat. No. 1095, § 1, 8-28-79)

(f) Oaks Beach in Clearlake Oaks, California.

(Ord. No. 1095, § 1, 8-28-79)

(g) Austin's Park located in Clearlake Highlands, California.

(Ord. No. 1095, § 1, 8-28-79)

(h) Redbud Park located in Clearlake Highlands, California.

(Ord. No. 1096, § 1, 8-28-79)

(i) Lakeside Park located in Kelseyville, California.

(Ord. No. 1095, § 1, 8-28-79)

(a) Keeling Park located in Nice, California.

(Ord. No. 1096, § 1, 8-28-79)

(b) Lucerne Harbor Park located in Lucerne, California.

(Ord. No. 1096, 1, 8-28-79)

(c) Redbud Park located in Clearlake Highlands, California.

(Ord. No. 1098, § 1, 8-28-79)

(d) Lakeside Park located in Kelseyville, California.

(Ord. No. 1098, § 1, 8-28-79)

(e) Oaks Beach Park located in Clearlake Oaks, California.

(Ord. No. 1096, § 1, 8-28-79)

The speed and distance from the shoreline limitations set forth below shall apply to the respective fish areas as described in this section.

(a) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel, motorboat, water skis, aquaplane, or similar device in excess of five (5) nautical miles per hour within 400 feet of the shoreline in any of the following areas posted as "Fish Area":

(1) Rodman Bridge Area. All that portion of Section 29, T.15N., R.9W., M.D.B.&M., lying Southeasterly of the County road commonly known as Nice-Lucerne Cutoff and lying between the West end of Rodman Bridge and the East line of said Section 29, saving and excepting therefrom that portion of Tule Island.

(2) Rumsey Slough Area. The outfall of Rumsey Slough thence Westerly to the outfall of Manning Creek.

(3) Long Tule Point Area. Long Tule Point thence Southwesterly to the outfall of McGaugh Slough.

(4) Quercus Point Area. Quercus Point thence Southeasterly to four hundred (400) feet west of Gaddy Beach.

(5) Dorn Cove Area. The most Southerly boundary of the State Park swim area thence Southeasterly to the most Southerly point of Dorn Cove.

(6) Horseshoe Bend Area. Southeasterly two hundred (200) yards from the Riviera Heights Marina thence South-easterly and Northeasterly to the South line of Lot 7, Block P, Buckingham Park Sub. 1.

(7) Rattlesnake Island. The Northeasterly, Southwesterly, and the Westerly portion of said island, and the Easterly end and mainland being a portion of the N.W. ¼ of Section 6, T.13N., R.7W., M.D.B.&M., commonly known as Sulphur Bank Rancheria.

(Ord. No. 2253, § 1, 10-25-94)

(8) Barnes Area. The outfall of Elliott Creek thence Northwesterly to the intersection with the West line of Section 36, T.15N., R.9W., M.D.B.&M.

(b) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel, motor boat, water skis, aquaplane or similar device in excess of five (5) nautical miles per hour within 200 feet of the shoreline in any of the following areas posted as "Fish Areas":

(1) Southerly portion of Indian Island also known as Honkoyemdon Island, also known as Island No. 3 more specifically described as a portion of the Northeast one-quarter of the Northwest one-quarter of the Northwest one-quarter and a portion of the Northwest one-quarter of the Northeast one-quarter of the Northwest one-quarter of Section 33, Township 13 North, Range 7 West, M.D.B.&.M.

(Ord. No. 1185, § 1, 2-24-81; Ord. No. 1298, § 1, 2-22-83; Ord. No. 1468, § 1, 5-7-85)

11.2 5 MPH Areas. No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel, motor boat, water skis, aquaplane or similar device in excess of five (5) nautical miles per hour in Clear Lake in the following areas posted as "5 MPH AREAS":

(a) In the Lucerne Riviera area described as follows:

Beginning at a point of intersection of the Southwesterly corner of Laurel Del Drive and the North line of State Highway No. 20, being a portion of Section 18, T. 14 N., R. 8W., M.D.B.&M., thence Westerly 300 feet from the Point of Beginning lakeward into Clear Lake, thence Southerly and Westerly and parallel to the North line of the State Highway No. 20, 1200 feet to the intersection with the Westerly extension of Station 22 + 08, thence Easterly from said point of intersection and landward from Clear Lake to the intersection of the North line of the State Highway No. 20 and Station 22 + 08, thence Easterly and Northerly along said State Highway No. 20 to the Point of Beginning.

(Ord. No. 1298, § 1, 2-22-83)

(b) In the Stubbs Channel and the Dollar Island area described as follows:

Being a portion of the Northwest one-quarter of Section 5, T. 13 N., R. 7 W, M.D.B. & M. and a portion of the Southwest one-quarter of Section 32, T. 14 N., R. 7 W., M.D.B. & M.

(Ord. No. 1631, § 1, 3-10-87)

Any violation of the above provisions is punishable as an infraction by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00); or as a misdemeanor by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. No. 1185, § 1, 2-24-81; Ord. No. 1298, § 1, 2-22-83)

The above-named officers and employees shall enforce all provisions of this article and all laws of the State of California relating to boating and navigation.

(Ord. No. 2289, § 1, 6-27-95)

Sec. 15-13. - Idle Speed Required During Period of High Lake Levels on Clear Lake.

13.1 It shall be unlawful for anyone operating a motor boat on the waters of Clear Lake to exceed idle speed when operating said motor boat one-quarter mile or less from the shore of Clear Lake if the lake is at a level of eight (8.0) Rumsey or higher for a twenty-four (24) hour period.

13.2 The above-described idle speed requirements shall remain in full force and effect until such time as Clear Lake reaches a level of seven and nine-tenths (7.9) Rumsey or lower for a twenty-four (24) hour period.

13.3 On-duty boats of the Lake County Sheriffs Office and on-duty boats of the State Department of Fish and Wildlife are exempt from these idle speed requirements.

13.4 Penalty. Any violation of subsection 13.1 of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months.

(Ord. No. 3065, § 1, 8-15-2017)

Sec. 15-14. - Reserved.