Memorandum
Date: June 9, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Mireya G. Turner, Community Development Director
Prepared by: Marcus Beltramo, Code Enforcement Manager
Subject: 10:45 A.M. - HEARING - Consideration of Request for Hearing before the Board of Supervisors for Code Enforcement Actions taken at 12932 Third St, Clearlake Oaks (APN 035-375-16); Property Owner: Eugene Patterson (deceased) / Requestor: Michelle Patterson
Executive Summary:
Michelle Patterson (Patterson) made a request for a hearing in front of the Board of Supervisors regarding the issuance of a “Notice of Nuisance and Order to Abate” (NONOTA) issued against the subject property. (Attachment A - Appeal)
On April 15, 2026, Lake County Code Enforcement (CE) issued a NONOTA against the property located at 12932 Third St, Clearlake Oaks, CA for violation(s) of the Lake County Code (LCC) pertaining to: use of land, buildings, and premises operated, maintained, or contrary to the Lake County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 21) for placement of three (3) accessory structures (sheds) on the property without first obtaining zoning clearances; failure to obtain permits for the installation of electrical contrary to the Building Regulations of the County of Lake (Chapter 5); and the existence of trash which constitutes a public nuisance (Chapter 13). (Attachment B - NONOTA)
The hearing request is being made pursuant to LCC Chapter 13, Article I, Section 13-7.1 - A hearing before the Board of Supervisors regarding a Notice of Nuisance and Order to Abate may be requested by filing a written request for a hearing with the Lake County Community Development Department within twenty-one (21) days of service of the Notice of Nuisance and Order to Abate. When a hearing is requested as provided for in the Notice of Nuisance and Order to Abate, the Board shall proceed to hear the testimony of the Enforcement Official, his/her assistants or deputies, the testimony of the owner or his/her representatives, and the testimony of other competent persons concerning the conditions constituting such nuisance, the estimated cost of abatement, and other matters which the Board may deem pertinent. Any person affected may be present at such hearing, may be represented by counsel, may present testimony, and may cross-examine the Enforcement Official, and other witnesses. The hearing may be continued from time to time.
Basis for Patterson’s Request for Hearing in front of the Board of Supervisors (summary):
• The structures in question have been in place since 2016.
• The enforcement action should be null and void or negated as code enforcement conducted an inspection by providing a false reason and made many false complaints; Code Enforcement is harassing Patterson.
• No permits are necessary for the accessory structures at the time they were installed.
• One of the sheds
• The damage to correct the violations will cost between $5,000 and $30,000, Patterson is contesting her disability case and finances are tight.
Property / Background Information: The property is an improved lot with a structure approximately 2,650 sq ft.
Ownership Information as reflected by County Records: As of August 3, 2018, Eugene Patterson is
reflected on County records as having 100% interest. Eugune Patterson is now deceased.
Improvement(s): County records reflect that a residential structure and a “sleeping room” as being
permitted and/or being assessed. The “sleeping room” has been reflected on county assessor
records prior to 1950. At one time there was a shed on the property, that shed was removed prior
to the placement of the three sheds in question.
Zoning Designation: Single-Family Residential Or “R1” District. The purpose is to establish areas for individual residential dwelling units at relatively low densities where the traditional neighborhood character of single-family units prevail.
Investigation / Fact(s):
Code Enforcement (CE) received a complaint alleging “Mr. Patterson was renting out a shed as a dwelling…the shed has no bathroom, kitchen but pays rent, the tenant’s name is Skye Amos.” CE compiled evidence by making physical observations from public vantage points; statements made by Patterson, conducting an inspection of the property with consent from Patterson, review of time lapse imagery and research of Department and public agency records.
Use of land, buildings, or premises established, operated, or maintained contrary to the provisions of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance
Around 2021, three (3) accessory structures (sheds) were placed on the property without first obtaining a zoning clearance and placed in the property front setbacks (the property has two front setbacks) (Attachment C - Google Time lapse imagery). The investigation determined the structure referenced in the complaint was a “sleeping room” that is being assessed on the County tax rolls and most likely has been on the property since prior to 1950 therefore making this structure legal non-conforming. Community Development has no record of the three subject structures having been issued a zoning clearance. In addition, the structures are located within the property setbacks which most likely would not be allowed by the Planning Division if an application for a zoning clearance was received. The property setbacks as stated in the zoning ordinance are: (a) Front yard: Twenty (20) feet from lot line, or forty-five (45) feet from centerline of roadway, whichever is greater. Yards abutting streets are front yards; (b) Rear yard: Fifteen (15) feet from lot line for one story structures, twenty (20) feet from lot line for structures exceeding one story The property is a corner lot that abuts two streets and therefore has two front yard setbacks. (Attachment D - Site Photos of Sheds.)
Patterson claims her husband performed his due diligence and inquired if building permits were required for the structures sometime in 2020. At the time, the Building Division did not require bldg. permits for structures under 200 sq ft. Therefore, the Building Division did not require a bldg. permit, which is in accordance with past policy and precedent, but a zoning clearance was required by the Planning Division.
Use of land, buildings, or premises established, operated, or maintained contrary to the provisions of the Lake County Building Regulations
During a consensual inspection of the sheds, observed on the interior was unpermitted electrical consisting of exposed wiring installed improperly and not up to code. All wiring is to be covered either behind the walls or in a conduit. (Attachment E - Site photos of electrical)
In Attachment E-1, in addition to the unpermitted exposed wiring, there are two 220 boxes with 10-2 (orange wires) and 12-2 (yellow wires) wiring connected which may create overloading and a fire risk, as the box was designed to handle 12-2 wiring.
In Attachment E-2 , in addition to the unpermitted exposed wiring, there are too many wires connected to the box which could cause an overload.
Existence of Trash
Garbage, rubbish, and refuse are present on the property.
County Witness(es):
Marcus Beltramo, Code Enforcement Manager
Logan Smith, Code Enforcement Officer (lead Code Enforcement Officer)
Mireya Turner, Director of the Community Development Department / Planning Director
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Recommended Action:
Staff recommends the Board of Supervisors uphold the Notice of Nuisance and Order to Abate and direct the property owner to voluntarily remove all unpermitted sheds and electrical within thirty (30) days and to authorize staff to abate the nuisance if it is not voluntarily abated and that all associated costs of the abatement become a charge against the property and placed on the tax rolls as a special assessment.