Cloverdale is an incorporated city in Sonoma County, California.
Sonoma County · city
Cloverdale
Cloverdale is an incorporated city in Sonoma County, in the North Bay. About 8,825 residents (2023 Census estimate). 3.36 sq mi of land. Verify city vs county jurisdiction on the APN. Screen any APN in or near Cloverdale for zoning, FEMA flood, CAL FIRE / WUI wildfire hazard, soils, geology, and planning — every finding linked to the official source — then verify with Cloverdale or Sonoma County planning before you buy or entitle.
Updated 2026-08-29
Useful sources for searching Cloverdale: Official sources to verify buildability in Cloverdale ↓
About Cloverdale land diligence
Cloverdale is an incorporated city in Sonoma County, in the North Bay. About 8,825 residents (2023 Census estimate). 3.36 sq mi of land. Verify city vs county jurisdiction on the APN.
Confirm whether the lot is inside Cloverdale limits or unincorporated Sonoma County, then verify zoning on the official planning site. Most deals need both a fast multi-layer screen and a follow-up with local planners—especially where city limits, specific plans, hillside fire standards, or floodplain rules apply.
Search intents this page answers: zoning in Cloverdale, FEMA flood near Cloverdale, CAL FIRE hazard severity, APN lookup, and whether a vacant lot is buildable before you spend on surveys or design.
Community snapshot
Character: Northernmost Sonoma County city on 101 / upper Russian River.
Population: about 8,999 residents (2023 estimate).
Climate: Mediterranean — mild wet winters, warm dry summers (North Bay).
Regional context: wine-country influence can shape land use, tourism, and edge-lot values.
Jurisdiction check: confirm whether the APN is inside Cloverdale limits or unincorporated Sonoma County before relying on city zoning maps alone.
Housing & land patterns
Median home
$619k
Median income
$117k
Ownership
72%
Median year built
1979
vs California
-18%
Terrain
Coastal bluffs · Russian River · Santa Rosa Plain
Cloverdale — Northernmost Sonoma County city on 101 / upper Russian River with housing prices below the California ACS median, above-average household incomes, a owner-heavy housing mix, and housing stock primarily built during the mid- to late-20th century.
Housing market
Median home value
$619k
$619,400
Lower than CA
Median rent
$1,435/mo
Median household income
$117k
$117,177
Higher than CA
Vacancy rate
1.5%
-18% vs California ACS median
Housing characteristics
1979
19202025
Typical home age signal — not a forecast of new construction.
Affordability & housing mix
Home value ÷ income
5.3×
ACS proxy — median home value divided by median household income
Rent ÷ income
15%
Annual median gross rent as share of median household income
Rent burden 30%+
57%
Share of renter households paying 30% or more of income on gross rent
Derived ACS ratios for market context — not a proprietary cost-of-living index or lender qualification standard.
Units-in-structure mix from ACS — shares of total housing units, not new construction pipeline.
Lifestyle & investment
Families
- Household incomes support a relatively affluent profile
- Neighborhood amenities and lot hazards still decide fit
- Confirm attendance boundaries on the specific APN
Retirees
- Housing stock centered around 1979 — maintenance needs vary
- Walkability and healthcare access differ street to street
- Review HOA rules, insurance, and parcel hazards before buying
Investors
- Owner-heavy markets still need local rental comps
- ACS median gross rent about $1,435/mo
- Zoning, ADU rules, and insurance drive outcomes more than ACS averages
Builders
- Valley lots can be gentle yet flood-exposed—pair topography with FEMA
- Verify zoning, setbacks, and utility access early
- Geotechnical and grading reviews are common on hillside lots
Terrain & geography
Sonoma County spans Pacific coast, foggy river valleys, volcanic highlands, and Mayacamas ridges. Petaluma and Santa Rosa flats sit near steep coastal and mountain terrain within the same county.
Elevation Sea level along the coast to roughly 4,000+ ft in the Mayacamas and Geysers area
01Coastal bluffsCoastal bluffs, terraces, and Sonoma Coast headlands
02Russian RiverRussian River and Petaluma River valleys and floodplains
03Santa Rosa PlainSanta Rosa Plain and other inland valley floors
04Mayacamas MountainsMayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Mountain, and volcanic highlands
Development checklist
- Slope and grading feasibility
- Flood exposure and drainage
- Wildfire / WUI hazard
- Liquefaction and geology where mapped
- Zoning, setbacks, and overlays
- Utility access (water, sewer/septic, power)
- Geotechnical conditions on hillside or fill lots
Screen slope and elevation on the APN in Parcel View, then confirm grading, driveway grades, and pad feasibility with Sonoma County planning and a licensed surveyor/engineer.
Key takeaways
- Housing prices in Cloverdale run below the California ACS median.
- Terrain shifts across several landscapes — from coastal bluffs to mayacamas mountains.
- Parcel-specific screening for zoning, flood, wildfire, soils, and slope matters more than any countywide average.
What Parcel View checks in Cloverdale
Parcel & APN
Boundary and assessor parcel number context so you can confirm you are looking at the right lot inside or near Cloverdale.
Zoning & land use
Reference zoning and general plan overlays from public GIS—verify final district with Cloverdale or Sonoma County planning.
FEMA flood
National Flood Hazard Layer zones across the parcel, including Special Flood Hazard Areas that affect insurance and building rules around Cloverdale.
Wildfire hazard
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones and WUI context for insurance and defensible-space diligence around Cloverdale.
Soils
USDA SSURGO map units for a first look at septic suitability, drainage, and grading constraints where mapped near Cloverdale.
Geology & slope
Mapped liquefaction, fault, landslide, and terrain screens where the state publishes them for Sonoma County.
Verify locally
Parcel View is a first-pass public GIS screen. City or county planning makes official determinations for Cloverdale.
- Cloverdale / Sonoma planning ↗ — zoning, general plan, and permit rules.
- Sonoma County Assessor ↗ — parcel numbers and lot records.
- Sonoma County Parcel View page — county-wide layers and nearby context.
- Sonoma FEMA flood screen
- Sonoma wildfire hazard screen
- Sonoma zoning screen
- FEMA Map Service Center ↗ — flood zones and base flood elevations.
- CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones ↗ — state wildfire hazard mapping.
Living and buying land in Cloverdale
Cloverdale is an incorporated city in Sonoma County, California.
Character: Northernmost Sonoma County city on 101 / upper Russian River.
Population: about 8,999 residents (2023 estimate).
Climate: Mediterranean — mild wet winters, warm dry summers (North Bay).
Regional context: wine-country influence can shape land use, tourism, and edge-lot values.
Jurisdiction check: confirm whether the APN is inside Cloverdale limits or unincorporated Sonoma County before relying on city zoning maps alone.
Wildfire, flood, and insurance diligence in Cloverdale
Hazard diligence is parcel-specific in Cloverdale, but community patterns matter for underwriting and timeline.
Wildfire: community screening level is elevated — Northern Sonoma wildland / WUI exposure elevated vs southern cities.
Elevated relative to southern Sonoma cities.
Flood: community screening level is moderate — Russian River regional flood diligence.
River-regional — screen APN.
Seismic: California is seismically active. Review Alquist-Priolo / fault maps and local geologic hazards for the APN..
Insurance diligence often focuses on wildfire underwriting, defensible space, and flood determination where mapped.
FAIR Plan / insurance context: Homeowners insurance can be constrained by wildfire, brush, and sometimes flood. FAIR Plan appears more often in higher wildfire zones — verify early in diligence.
Run a Parcel View screen on the APN for CAL FIRE, FEMA, soils, and geology overlays, then confirm with official maps and Cloverdale city/town planning.
Commute, transit, and utilities in Cloverdale
Primary highway access: US-101.
SMART rail: Cloverdale SMART (northern terminus context — verify service) (verify current schedules and station names).
Commute screen: Long to SF; more local / North County oriented..
Walkability: Small downtown walkable.
Downtown / village center: Yes — small downtown.
Visit the parcel at the hours you would actually commute — last-mile access varies street-by-street.
Water providers commonly referenced: City of Cloverdale.
Sewer: City of Cloverdale.
Sewer vs septic: Yes in city..
Wells: Common outside city.
Electric/gas utility context is typically PG&E territory in this part of Sonoma County — confirm the serving utility on the meter.
Broadband availability varies by street — confirm cable, fiber, fixed wireless, or satellite for the exact address.
Cloverdale neighborhoods and subareas
Buyers often search Cloverdale by neighborhood rather than citywide averages.
Areas commonly referenced: Downtown Cloverdale.
Each pocket can differ on fire, flood, walkability, schools, and lot pattern — screen the specific APN.
Downtown Cloverdale
Fire: moderate · Walk: Moderate
Lifestyle context for Cloverdale
Rivers: Russian River.
Lifestyle in Cloverdale is shaped by Sonoma County’s mix of neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and nearby open space.
Separate lifestyle preferences from lot-level buildability — a great street can still fail on fire insurance, flood zone, slope, or septic capacity.
How to screen a parcel in Cloverdale
Enter the address or APN on Screen and confirm jurisdiction (Cloverdale city/town planning vs Sonoma County).
Review zoning, FEMA flood, CAL FIRE / WUI, soils, geology, and slope/elevation overlays.
Short-term rentals: STR rules vary by city and often require permits — verify with the local code enforcement / planning desk.
Nearby AVAs / wine appellations: Alexander Valley (nearby).
Vineyard prevalence: High in surrounding valleys.
Checklist: (1) jurisdiction and zoning, (2) wildfire / defensible space, (3) FEMA flood and drainage, (4) slope / access / pad feasibility, (5) sewer vs septic or well, (6) easements, (7) insurance feasibility, (8) school boundaries if relevant.
- Population
- 8,999 (2023)
- Character
- Northernmost Sonoma County city on 101 / upper Russian River
- Median home value (ACS)
- $619,400 (about 18% below the California statewide ACS median) · ACS 2020-2024
- Median gross rent (ACS)
- $1,435/mo · ACS 2020-2024
- Median household income (ACS)
- $117,177 · ACS 2020-2024
- Homeownership (ACS)
- 72% owner-occupied
- Housing stock age
- About 1979
- Market context
- Median home $619,400 (about 18% below the California statewide ACS median); vacancy about 1.5% · ACS 2020-2024 context
- County elevation range
- Sea level along the coast to roughly 4,000+ ft in the Mayacamas and Geysers area
- Fire risk (community)
- elevated — Northern Sonoma wildland / WUI exposure elevated vs southern cities
- Flood risk (community)
- moderate — Russian River regional flood diligence
- SMART rail
- Cloverdale SMART (northern terminus context — verify service)
- Commute to SF
- Often 2+ hours
- Sewer / septic
- City sewer in limits; septic outside
- Downtown
- Small downtown walkable
Common Cloverdale buyer questions
Short screening answers for searches buyers actually type. These are community-level notes — confirm on the parcel and with local city planning.
Is this area expensive?
Median owner-occupied home value is about $619,400 (about 18% below the California statewide ACS median); median gross rent about $1,435/mo. Neighborhoods vary — confirm current listings with a local agent.
Is it a buyer's market?
Median home $619,400 (about 18% below the California statewide ACS median); vacancy about 1.5% · ACS 2020-2024 context
Is it family friendly?
High household incomes (about $117,177) suggest a relatively affluent community, but school quality, commute, parks, and parcel hazards still decide family fit. Confirm attendance boundaries and screen fire/flood on the APN.
Is it good for retirees?
Housing built around 1979 means maintenance needs vary. Walkability, healthcare access, HOA rules, and insurance costs should be reviewed before purchasing.
Is it good for investors?
Tenure mix is about 72% owner-occupied. Median gross rent about $1,435/mo. Rental demand may help, but zoning, ADU rules, STR ordinances, and insurance ultimately determine investment potential.
Are rentals in demand?
Median gross rent is about $1,435/mo. Confirm vacancy, comps, and any rent-stabilization or STR rules before underwriting.
Is there new construction?
Typical stock ages to around 1979; newer tracts and Housing Element sites still need local planning maps. Check current applications with Cloverdale city/town planning (or Sonoma County if the APN is outside city limits).
Can I build an ADU?
California ADU law is strong; confirm city ordinance standards and parcel hazards with planning.
Is it wildfire prone?
Elevated relative to southern Sonoma cities.
Is flooding common?
River-regional — screen APN.
Is there public sewer?
Yes in city.
Are wells common?
Common outside city.
Are short-term rentals allowed?
STR rules vary by city and often require permits — verify with the local code enforcement / planning desk.
What is the average commute?
Long to SF; more local / North County oriented.
Does it have a downtown?
Yes — small downtown.
Is it pet friendly?
Generally pet-friendly communities; confirm HOA/rental rules per property.
Screen a parcel in Cloverdale Local planning ↗ Sonoma County guide
Profile confidence: medium · Updated 2026-08-05. Informational screening only.
Frequently asked questions about Cloverdale parcels
Is land in Cloverdale buildable?
Buildability is not a single map label. Screen zoning, flood, wildfire hazard, access, and soils for the specific APN near Cloverdale, then ask Cloverdale planning whether your proposed use can be entitled and permitted.
How do I check zoning in Cloverdale?
Run a Parcel View screen for a first-pass zoning/general-plan reference, then confirm the controlling district with Cloverdale or Sonoma County planning. Overlays and specific plans can change what is allowed.
Does Cloverdale have FEMA flood risk?
Flood risk is parcel-specific. Parcel View intersects the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer with the lot polygon. Always verify Special Flood Hazard Areas and base flood elevations on the FEMA Map Service Center before financing or building.
How do I screen a parcel in Cloverdale?
Enter the address or APN in Parcel View. Confirm whether the lot is inside Cloverdale limits or unincorporated Sonoma County, then verify zoning on the official planning site.
Is Parcel View a substitute for Cloverdale planning?
No. It is a first-pass public GIS screen with source links. City or county planning makes official determinations.