SOMERSET, Calif. — El Dorado County residents will have another opportunity Tuesday evening to help shape the future of agricultural lodging and low-impact camping in the county as officials bring their public outreach effort to Pioneer Park in Somerset.
The Nov. 10 meeting is the second public open house in the County’s current outreach series. The event is scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Pioneer Park, 6740 Fair Play Road, Somerset.
The County is encouraging residents, agricultural property owners, farmers, ranchers and other interested community members to attend, ask questions and provide feedback.
According to the County’s announcement, the purpose of the meetings is straightforward:
“Your input could help shape how these programs may be offered in our community.”
The discussion centers on two related but distinct land-use opportunities: agricultural lodging and California’s Low-Impact Camping Areas Act, commonly known as AB 518.
What is agricultural lodging?
Agricultural lodging generally refers to overnight accommodations offered on working farms, ranches, orchards and vineyards, with the agricultural operation remaining the primary use of the property.
The concept could give qualifying agricultural property owners another source of supplemental income while providing visitors with opportunities to experience El Dorado County’s agricultural heritage.
For a county with established agricultural communities in Somerset, Fair Play, Camino, Pleasant Valley and other rural areas, the proposal could have implications beyond tourism.
Potential benefits include additional revenue for agricultural operations, expanded visitor experiences and increased economic activity for rural communities.
However, the County is also examining how to maintain agricultural land, protect rural character and address potential conflicts with neighboring properties.
Low-impact camping raises additional questions
The second component involves California’s AB 518, the Low-Impact Camping Areas Act.
The state program provides a framework for eligible property owners in participating jurisdictions to offer temporary, lower-intensity camping opportunities.
Unlike traditional commercial campgrounds, low-impact camping is intended to provide smaller-scale camping experiences while maintaining appropriate land-use and safety requirements.
El Dorado County is evaluating whether adopting this approach would be appropriate locally.
The County’s informational materials explain that low-impact camping is not currently permitted under a specifically adopted county program. Existing zoning provisions do allow certain campground and lodging activities through applicable permits.
The distinction matters. The County is not simply announcing that property owners can begin operating new camping facilities. It is exploring potential regulatory changes and the requirements necessary to establish such opportunities.
Previous survey identified both interest and concerns
The discussion has already generated public interest.
According to a Planning and Building Department report presented to the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 25, 2026, the County conducted a seven-question public survey beginning June 10.
The survey received 677 responses and 268 written comments during its one-month availability.
County staff reported that a majority of respondents expressed interest in pursuing additional temporary lodging opportunities on agricultural land. Low-impact camping emerged as the most desired agritourism activity.
However, the responses also identified concerns that will likely remain central to Tuesday’s discussion.
Those concerns included:
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Wildfire risk and emergency access.
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Increased traffic on rural roads.
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Parking and road safety.
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Potential impacts on neighboring properties.
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Excessive hosting of special events.
The County cautioned that the survey was not statistically representative of all county residents and should not be treated as a definitive measure of community opinion.
That distinction is important as the County continues gathering input before developing proposed regulations.
Board of Supervisors has already directed further work
The current effort follows several years of discussion involving agricultural representatives and county officials.
On Sept. 24, 2024, the Board directed the Agricultural Commissioner and Planning and Building Department leadership to work with the agricultural community on an agricultural lodging model.
The discussion continued through 2025 and into 2026.
On Aug. 25, 2026, the Board approved staff recommendations to pursue potential zoning amendments addressing temporary agricultural lodging as a supplementary use on properties zoned Agricultural Grazing, Planned Agriculture and Limited Agriculture.
The Board also directed the Planning and Building Department to work with the Department of Agriculture to develop and staff a program supporting the proposed changes.
The County has identified potential economic benefits, including additional transient occupancy tax revenue, as one consideration.
However, the proposal remains subject to further planning, public input and regulatory development. No final countywide expansion of these activities has been established through the open-house process.
Public participation remains important
Tuesday’s Somerset meeting provides an opportunity for residents of southern El Dorado County to discuss how potential changes could affect their communities.
For agricultural property owners, the discussion may involve new opportunities to generate income and support working lands.
For nearby residents, questions may focus on the practical consequences of additional visitors, including fire protection, road capacity, noise, parking, water resources and enforcement.
Balancing those interests will be an important part of developing regulations that work for El Dorado County’s rural communities.
The County has also scheduled an additional open house for Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Pollock Pines-Camino Community Center, 2675 Sanders Drive, Pollock Pines.
Residents who cannot attend Tuesday’s meeting can also submit questions directly to the County.
Agricultural lodging: Aglodging@edcgov.us
Low-impact camping: LowImpactCamping@edcgov.us
Additional information, background documents and updates are available through the County’s Agricultural Lodging and Low Impact Camping webpage.
For residents who care about the future of El Dorado County’s agricultural lands and rural communities, Tuesday evening offers an opportunity to participate before proposed regulations move further through the county planning process.
