Bolthole Index

Butte County, California

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Butte County, California

54Index Score / 100
#7 of 58 in California

Unincorporated Butte County, California requires a building permit from the Development Services Building Division before you build, alter or move a structure, and the county zones every unincorporated parcel with its own base zone12. Septic systems go through Environmental Health, and soils here run poor for a conventional drain field, so plan for a site evaluation and likely an engineered system34. You can live in an RV on your land only while building a permitted home, under a one-year Administrative Permit5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from Butte County Development Services Building Division in unincorporated areas16
Zoning
Yes; county zoning covers all unincorporated land, with a 300-ft buffer between new homes and adjacent ag uses2
Septic
Butte County Environmental Health permits OWTS construction; soils rate poorly for conventional drain fields34
Wells
Environmental Health permits every domestic and ag well; work must be done by a licensed C-57 contractor7
RV living
Temporary only: up to 1 year (2 with hardship extension) while building a permitted home5
Minimum lot size
1 to 40 acres in rural residential zones; 3,500 to 13,500 sq. ft. in urban residential zones, by district8
Building height
35 ft maximum for a primary structure in residential zones9
Ag buildings
Limited agricultural building permit path for barns, sheds and storage that can't be used for habitation10

Who to call

Building permits

Butte County Development Services — Building Division

Building permits, plan review and inspections in unincorporated Butte County, including floodplain development review under the county's Flood Hazard Prevention Ordinance

530.552.3699

7 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

Butte County Development Services — Planning Division

Zoning verification, land-use review and parcel questions for unincorporated Butte County

530.552.3701

7 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965

Septic permits

Butte County Environmental Health — Land Use & Wastewater

Septic (OWTS) construction and operating permits, private well permits, and graywater review for unincorporated Butte County

530-552-3880

202 Mira Loma Drive, Oroville, CA 95965

Roads & driveways

Butte County Public Works — Encroachment Permits

Encroachment permits for any work in the county road right-of-way, including new driveway approaches onto a county road

530-538-7681

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 24, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Butte County, California?

Yes. The Butte County Development Services Building Division administers state and county building codes for construction in unincorporated Butte County, and its permitting, plan review and inspection process applies to almost everything you build1. The county enforces the 2025 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Fire, Green Building and Wildland-Urban Interface codes for permit applications submitted after December 31, 2025, replacing the 2022 code cycle11. Building in a FEMA flood hazard zone adds a step: development there must comply with Butte County's Flood Hazard Prevention Ordinance, which the Building Division administers126. There's a narrower path for limited agricultural buildings — barns, sheds, grain silos and livestock shelters that can't be used for habitation — which still need a permit but follow a simplified checklist10.

Who is the Butte County building department, and how do you reach them?

The Butte County Development Services Building Division handles building permits, plan review and inspections for unincorporated Butte County6. Zoning and land-use review is a separate step: the Planning Division confirms your parcel's zone, setbacks and any overlay before the Building Division will issue a permit13. Both divisions share the Development Services building in Oroville613. If your project touches septic, wells or a driveway onto a county road, expect to also deal with Environmental Health and Public Works before the Building Division signs off1415.

Does Butte County have zoning?

Yes. Butte County zones all unincorporated land, and every parcel in the county system carries a base zone plus any applicable overlay zone2. Incorporated cities such as Chico, Oroville, Paradise and Biggs keep their own separate zoning ordinances that don't reach unincorporated land16. In the county's rural residential zones — FR, FCR, RR, RCR, VLDR and VLDCR — minimum parcel size for creating a new lot ranges from 1 to 40 acres, while urban residential zones run from 3,500 to 13,500 square feet, depending on the specific district8. An existing legal parcel smaller than the current minimum can still remain a legal parcel8. A primary structure in a residential zone tops out at 35 feet9. If your land sits near agricultural use, plan on a 300-foot buffer between a new home and adjacent farming operations, unless the county approves an unusual-circumstances exception2. Confirm your specific parcel's zone and any overlay with the Planning Division before you buy13.

How do septic permits work in Butte County?

Butte County Environmental Health is the local permitting authority for septic systems, known as on-site wastewater treatment systems or OWTS, in unincorporated Butte County3. You need a construction permit before you build or replace a system — only a qualifying graywater system is exempt — and that permit stays valid for two years from the date it's issued17. Soils are a real constraint here: only 1.6% of Butte County's soils rate suitable for a conventional drain field under the USDA soil survey, so budget for a site evaluation and, on most parcels, an engineered or mound system rather than a standard trench field4. If a public sewer main runs within 250 feet of your lot and has capacity, the county requires connecting to it instead of installing a new septic system, though the Environmental Health Director can grant an exception case by case18. Holding tanks, composting toilets and vault privies aren't allowed for a residence; they're permitted only for limited non-residential uses like agricultural storage buildings or primitive campsites where a full system isn't feasible19. Any well on your property, domestic or agricultural, also needs an Environmental Health permit and must be drilled by a licensed C-57 water well contractor7.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Butte County?

Not as a permanent residence. California treats RV occupancy as temporary unless a local ordinance says otherwise, and Butte County's ordinance only opens the door during construction20. The county lets you live in an RV while building a single-family home, or rehabilitating a damaged or condemned one, but only under an Administrative Permit tied to an active building permit, with sewage disposal already arranged through Environmental Health5. That permit runs one year from issuance, with one possible one-year hardship extension; the house itself must reach foundation, rough plumbing, framing and roof within six months, be finished within two years, and RV use must stop once it is5. Outside a construction permit, casual camping by RV or tent on a rural-zoned parcel (AG, TM, TPZ, RC, RR or FR) is allowed only short-term: 14 or fewer days in any 30-day period without hookups, and no more than two RVs or tents and two families on a parcel at once21. A tiny home is legal to occupy only if it qualifies as a manufactured home, an RV, a park trailer, or a structure built to the California Building or Residential Code; an unclassified tiny house on a trailer with none of those approvals isn't a legal dwelling22.

Building a home in Butte County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel's zone, minimum lot size and any overlay with the Planning Division before you design anything132.
  2. Get a septic site evaluation and construction permit from Environmental Health if you won't be on public sewer; budget extra time if your soils need an engineered system34.
  3. Apply for a well permit through Environmental Health if you'll drill your own water source, using a licensed C-57 contractor7.
  4. Submit your building permit application to the Building Division for plan review under the current California codes; a flood-zone parcel also needs Flood Hazard Prevention Ordinance review1112.
  5. If your access crosses a county road, get an encroachment permit from Public Works for the driveway approach before you build it15.
  6. If you need to live onsite during construction, apply for the RV Temporary Residence Administrative Permit before moving in5.
  7. Schedule Building Division inspections as work progresses, including the required construction-phase inspection for your septic system with Environmental Health23.

What to check before you buy land in Butte County

Ask the Planning Division to confirm the parcel's zone, minimum lot size, and whether the 300-foot agricultural buffer applies before you commit to a homesite132. Pull the flood hazard zone status; development inside a mapped flood zone triggers Butte County's Flood Hazard Prevention Ordinance and often an elevation certificate12. Only about a third of the county's land sits at a gentle enough slope, 15% or less, to build and farm easily, and over half of the county is wooded, so walk the actual grade and vegetation before you buy2425. Confirm water feasibility with Environmental Health, since every well needs a county permit and a licensed C-57 contractor7. If your driveway will cross a county road, Public Works requires an encroachment permit — its ordinance defines a driveway crossing the right-of-way as an encroachment — currently priced at $44015. If you're buying part of a larger parcel, know that creating five or more lots requires a tentative subdivision map, while a smaller split uses a tentative parcel map26. Butte County sees severe drought in roughly 38% of years, so a reliable water source and storage plan matter as much as the permit itself27. Expect a property tax bill built on a roughly 0.7% effective rate, about $2,819 a year on a typical county home2829.

Watch-outs

  • Butte County's 2022 building code cycle ended December 31, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.; permit applications submitted after that time are reviewed under the 2025 California codes instead11.
  • As of May 9, 2024, Butte County will not issue an installation permit for a mobile or manufactured home manufactured before September 1, 2008, so check a used unit's build date before you buy it30.
  • Butte County still processes accessory dwelling units under California's statewide ADU law rather than a locally adopted county ordinance, so confirm current standards with the Planning Division before you plan one3113.
  • The county's own zoning pages don't publish a minimum residential dwelling floor area or a lot-coverage percentage; confirm both directly with the Planning Division before you finalize a house size13.

Sources

  1. Butte County - Building Division (2026 county census)
  2. Zoning Ordinance | Butte County, CA, quoted and re-checked
  3. Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
  4. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  5. Recreation Vehicle as Temporary Residence Administrative Permit, quoted and re-checked
  6. Butte County Development Services — Building Division (buttecounty.net)
  7. Private Water Wells: Residential & Ag, quoted and re-checked
  8. Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  9. Butte County Zoning Ordinance – Residential Zones, quoted and re-checked
  10. Limited Agricultural Buildings - Plan Submittal Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  11. Building | Butte County, CA, quoted and re-checked
  12. Plan Check, quoted and re-checked
  13. Butte County Development Services — Planning Division (buttecounty.net)
  14. Butte County Environmental Health — Land Use & Wastewater (buttecounty.net)
  15. Butte County Public Works — Encroachment Permits (buttecounty.net)
  16. Frequently Asked Questions - Planning Division FAQs | Butte County, CA, quoted and re-checked
  17. On-Site Wastewater Systems Ordinance – Butte County Code Chapter 19, quoted and re-checked
  18. On-Site Wastewater Systems Ordinance – Butte County Code Chapter 19, quoted and re-checked
  19. On-Site Wastewater Systems Ordinance – Butte County Code Chapter 19, quoted and re-checked
  20. Information Bulletin 2016-01: Tiny Homes (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Butte County Zoning Ordinance — Recreational Vehicles and Camping, quoted and re-checked
  22. Information Bulletin 2016-01: Tiny Homes (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. On-Site Wastewater Systems Ordinance – Butte County Code Chapter 19, quoted and re-checked
  24. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Tentative Map Application Guide, quoted and re-checked
  27. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  30. New Manufactured Home Plan Submittal Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  31. Accessory Dwelling Units, quoted and re-checked

Written September 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

Butte County in California

54
County map
Butte County highlighted among the California counties · colored by Index score

How Butte County scores

Seclusion57100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency62100% ev.
Admin Boringness3690% ev.
Durability31100% ev.
Property Autonomy56100% ev.
Carry Cost44100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$405kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$13,981Land / acre
44.2"Annual rain
37.9% of yrsSevere drought
30.9 / yr (+17.6)Mid-century 100°F days
74 daysMid-century dry spell
2.72" (+4.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.09×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,785Home insurance / yr
6.8% / yrInsurance growth
3.2%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
764,727People within 2 hr
76,444Radius comparison (15 mi)
126.6People / sq mi
17.8%Federal land
36.3%Land at 15% slope or less
1.6%Septic soil without severe limits
13,478 acWorkable land screen
52.9%Wooded land
89.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
60°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Butte County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Butte County rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building-code administration by Butte County in the unincorporated area, including the 2025 California building, residential, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, energy, fire, green building, and Wildland-Urban Interface codes, together with Butte County codes and ordinances.

    • The Butte County Building Division administers State and County building codes and ordinances through permitting, plan review, and inspection.
    • The 2022 Code Cycle ended December 31, 2025, at 3:00 pm.
    • Permit applications submitted for review after December 31, 2025, at 3:00 pm are reviewed under the 2025 Building Standards Codes.
    • The Building Design Criteria document was revised February 18, 2026.
    • Building construction in Wildland Urban Interface areas must comply with the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
    • Construction in FEMA-designated flood hazard zones is subject to Butte County Code Chapter 26; a flood Elevation Certificate is required for new construction or substantial improvements in the flood zone.
    • This claim does not establish the building-code requirements administered by incorporated cities.

    2025 Building Standards Codes effective for permit-review submissions: 2026-01-01 date (The County page states the 2022 cycle ended December 31, 2025, at 3:00 pm; applications submitted after that time are reviewed under the 2025 codes.) · substantial improvement threshold for flood-zone Elevation Certificate: >= 50 percent of existing structure market value (Market value is considered with depreciation of the existing structure taken into account.)

    “CURRENT CODES: 2025 California Building Code (CBC) 2025 California Residential Code (CRC) 2025 California Electrical Code (CEC)”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Existing mobile or manufactured homes placed on a permanent foundation system under the Butte County retrofit process.

    • The certificate of occupancy is an HCD 513C.
    • The process follows the final inspection of the permit for the mobile/manufactured home.
    • The Building Department sends the recorded HCD Form 433A and certificate of occupancy to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
    • This evidence does not establish a certificate-of-occupancy requirement for every building type in Butte County.
    “The recorded HCD Form 433A and a certificate of occupancy, an HCD 513C, is then sent to HCD by the Building Department thus eliminating the tile to the mobile/manufactured home.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County zoning in the unincorporated area of Butte County.

    • The County zoning ordinance specifies allowed uses, development standards, and General Plan implementation.
    • Each property in the County zoning system is assigned a base zone or overlay zone.
    • Incorporated cities maintain their own zoning ordinances and land-use regulations; this claim does not apply within incorporated city limits.
    • Overlay zones may impose additional standards and regulations in specified areas.
    • The County zoning page identifies a 300-foot agricultural buffer between residential dwellings and agricultural uses under Butte County Code Article 17, § 24-83; approved unusual-circumstances requests may modify that buffer and apply only to non-discretionary actions such as building and administrative permits.

    agricultural buffer: 300 feet (May be modified through an approved unusual-circumstances request for applicable non-discretionary actions.)

    “Each piece of property in the County is assigned a zone, or combination of "base" and "overlay" zones”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate local-zoning status across Butte County, including County zoning in unincorporated areas and separate zoning ordinances maintained by incorporated cities.

    • This is an aggregate conclusion and does not mean Butte County administers each incorporated-city ordinance.
    • Butte County and each incorporated city maintain their own zoning ordinance, land-use regulations, and general plan.
    • Within the County zoning system, allowed uses and development standards vary by base and overlay zone.
    • Parcel-specific zoning should be confirmed through the County Parcel Look-Up Tool or the applicable city.
    “Butte County and each incorporated city maintain their own zoning ordinance, land use regulations, and general plan.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Creation of new residential parcels and residential development in unincorporated Butte County; minimum parcel area varies by County residential zoning district.

    • The cited minimum parcel-area standards apply only to creation of new parcels through the subdivision process.
    • A minimum 40-foot parcel width is permitted for cul-de-sac parcels.
    • Corner parcels may exceed maximum permitted parcel area by up to 10 percent.
    • Existing legal parcels smaller than the minimum may remain legal parcels where applicable under the zoning ordinance.

    minimum parcel area: 1 acre to 40 acres in listed FR/FCR/RR/RCR/VLDR/VLDCR zones; 3,500 sq. ft. to 13,500 sq. ft. in listed urban residential zones (Exact minimum depends on zoning district.)

    “Table 24-20-1 (Parcel Size and Density for Residential Zones) identifies the parcel size and density standards that apply in residential zones.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Primary structures in residential zoning districts in unincorporated Butte County.

    • Article 11 contains height measurement and exception rules.
    • Accessory-structure height is governed by §24-156.
    • Other overlay, fire-safety, or use-specific standards may also apply.

    maximum primary structure height: 35 ft (Applies across the listed FR/FCR, RR/RCR, VLDR, VLDCR, LDR, MDR, MHDR, HDR, and VHDR residential zones.)

    “Primary Structure Height (max.) 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft.”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Use of an RV as a temporary dwelling during construction of a single-family residence or rehabilitation of a qualifying damaged, condemned, or uninhabitable single-family residence in unincorporated Butte County.

    • A building permit for construction or rehabilitation is required.
    • Necessary permits from the Butte County Environmental Health Division are required.
    • A sewage disposal permit or proof of sewage service is required.
    • The RV may remain up to one year from administrative permit issuance; the Zoning Administrator may extend the permit for one year upon demonstrated physical or financial hardship.
    • Current RV registration must be maintained.
    • Approved power is required.
    • Within six months of building permit issuance, the foundation, rough plumbing, framing, and roof must be completed.
    • The house must be completed within two years and RV use discontinued thereafter.

    maximum initial temporary residence period: 1 year (from the date of issuance of the Administrative Permit) · possible extension: 1 year (upon demonstration of physical or financial hardship) · house completion deadline: 2 years (RV use must be discontinued after this period)

    “Use of a recreational vehicle as a temporary dwelling unit shall be permitted during construction of a single-family residence”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping by RV, travel trailer, or tent on parcels in unincorporated Butte County.

    • Camping outside a lawfully established outdoor recreational facility, campground, RV park, or hunting/fishing camp is prohibited except as provided.
    • The rule applies to parcels in Rural Zones AG, TM, TPZ, RC, RR, and FR.
    • Camping is regulated as a use by a property owner or a person with the property owner's permission.
    • For connected RV camping, current registration, approved power, approved sewage disposal, and approved domestic water supply are required.
    • An Administrative Permit is required before connection to approved power, sewage, and water.
    • For camping without those connections, the limit is 14 or fewer days within any 30-day period.
    • No more than two RVs or tents and no more than two families may occupy a parcel for camping at one time.
    • Solid waste must comply with Butte County Code sections 31-51 and 31-52.

    connected camping maximum: <= 180 days annually (Administrative Permit required prior to connection) · unconnected camping maximum: <= 14 days per 30-day period (without approved power, sewage disposal, and domestic water) · maximum RVs or tents: <= 2 per parcel (at any one time) · maximum families: <= 2 per parcel (at any one time)

    “Camping by means of recreational vehicle or tent is allowed on all parcels in Rural Zones (AG, TM, TPZ, RC, RR, and FR)”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Installation and residential occupancy of a manufactured home on private land in unincorporated Butte County.

    • A complete plan-review submittal and building permit are required before work.
    • Planning review for land use and setbacks is required.
    • Environmental Health review applies to septic or well requirements.
    • Public Works review may apply to encroachment permits or legal-lot determination.
    • Butte County Fire requirements apply for new construction.
    • As of May 9, 2024, the County will not grant an installation permit for a mobile/manufactured home manufactured before September 1, 2008.
    • The application requires plans, installation manual, foundation or tie-down plans, support data sheets, permit application, and permit-fee payment.

    manufacture-date eligibility threshold: >= 2008-09-01 (County statement applies as of 2024-05-09)

    “the County shall not grant a permit for the installation of a mobile/manufactured home if such mobile/manufactured home was manufactured prior to September 1, 2008.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    On-site wastewater treatment systems and septic systems in Butte County.

    • Environmental Health administers applicable state and local requirements.
    • The county states that the Town of Paradise has its own septic standards.
    “Environmental Health is the local permitting authority that ensures compliance with all applicable state and local regulatory requirements for the installation and repair of OWTS.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction or replacement of on-site wastewater systems in Butte County.

    • Exception for a graywater system meeting the California Plumbing Code, the On-Site Wastewater Manual, and subsection D.2.
    • The application must contain all requirements specified in the On-Site Wastewater Manual.
    • Community wastewater system permits require operation, repair, and replacement by a County Service Area under Board of Supervisors Resolution 13-080.
    • Construction permits remain valid for two years from initial issuance.
    • Construction or replacement must comply with Butte County Code Chapter 50 and Chapter 13, Article 1, Grading.

    construction permit validity: 2 years (from the date initially issued)

    “Except for a graywater system meeting the requirements of the California Plumbing Code, the On-Site Wastewater Manual, and Subsection D.2. of this section, no person shall construct or replace an on-site wastewater system without first having applied for and been issued a Construction Permit.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Construction and operation of on-site wastewater systems in Butte County.

    • The property owner must grant the Local Enforcement Agency access for inspection.
    • Inspection requirements apply in accordance with Chapter 19, the On-Site Wastewater Manual, and conditions in the Construction or Operating Permit.
    • Pressure-distribution and supplemental-treatment parcels must disclose the requirements to future property owners.
    • Construction inspection requires the installer to arrange inspection and leave the system open for a maximum of two working days.
    • Operating permits are required for pressure-distribution systems, supplemental-treatment systems, standard-gravity systems in Areas of Environmental Concern, and systems exceeding 2,500 gallons per day.

    maximum design flow before specified operating-permit threshold: > 2500 gallons per day

    “The installer must contact the LEA and system designer to make arrangements for an inspection of the system construction. The system must then be left open for a maximum of two working days, allowing the installation to be inspected by the designer and the LEA.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Non-discharging off-grid wastewater systems, including holding tanks, composting toilets, and vault privies.

    • Non-discharging systems are prohibited unless otherwise specified in the On-Site Wastewater Manual.
    • An exception exists for non-residential, non-commercial limited-use applications where onsite wastewater systems are not feasible as determined by the LEA.
    • Examples include agricultural storage buildings and primitive-type picnic grounds, campsites, and recreation areas.
    • Portable toilets may be used temporarily for community events and construction sites.
    • All such systems must meet the On-Site Wastewater Manual maintenance and operation specifications.
    “Unless otherwise specified in the On-Site Wastewater Manual, no person shall maintain or operate a non-discharging wastewater system, such as a holding tank, composting toilet, or vault privy, except for non-residential and non-commercial limited-use applications, such as agricultural storage buildings and primitive-type picnic grounds, campsites, and recreation areas where on-site wastewater systems are not feasible, as determined by the LEA.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Domestic and agricultural private wells in Butte County.

    • Environmental Health is the permitting agency.
    • Construction, alteration, or destruction work must be performed by a licensed C-57 Water Well Contractor under California Water Code.
    • The county ordinance separately states that construction, repair, deepening, or destruction of wells in the unincorporated area requires a written permit from the health officer.
    “In Butte County, the permitting agency is Environmental Health, and all wells must be drilled and constructed under a permit. Environmental Health permits both domestic and agricultural wells.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Connection of an existing or proposed dwelling to a public sewer system where the sewer main is within 250 feet.

    • The rule applies when an application has been made for new development or the LEA has identified a failing onsite wastewater system.
    • The public sewer system must have adequate capacity.
    • Connection must be permitted by the sewer utility.
    • The Environmental Health Director may grant an exception where the sewer main is not adjacent to the property line.
    • Exception factors include feasibility and cost, future sewer-utility expansion, willingness to connect in the future, and parcel suitability for an onsite wastewater system.

    maximum sewer-main distance: <= 250 feet

    “Other than where an exception is granted by the Environmental Health Director pursuant to Subsection B of this Section, connection to a public sewer system shall be required by the LEA whenever the sewer main is no more than two hundred fifty (250) feet from the existing or proposed dwelling and all of the following circumstances apply:”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Limited agricultural buildings in unincorporated Butte County; the County publishes a limited agricultural building permit pathway, not a blanket exemption from permitting.

    • The building must house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock, or other horticultural products and cannot be a place of human habitation, employment where agricultural products are processed, treated, or packaged, or a place used by the public.
    • Eligible types include livestock shelters, poultry buildings, barns, agricultural equipment storage, horticultural structures, sheds, grain silos, and stables.
    • The limited agricultural building permit does not apply in flood hazard zones or zones that do not allow agricultural land use.
    • Planning review for land use and setbacks, Environmental Health review for septic or wells, Public Works requirements, and Butte County Fire requirements may apply.
    • The application requires complete plans, an owners declaration of use, a permit application, and permit fee payment.
    “Current code regulations and local ordinances require building permits when buildings are constructed, altered, or improved.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision or lot split of land in unincorporated Butte County.

    • Five or more lots, five or more condominium units, or conversion of five or more existing dwelling units to a stock cooperative generally requires a tentative subdivision map.
    • Fewer than five lots, four or fewer condominium units, or conversion of four or fewer existing dwelling units generally requires a tentative parcel map.
    • Land divisions must be consistent with the General Plan, zoning requirements, development standards, public-health requirements, the Subdivision Map Act, and related County ordinances.
    • Subdivisions over 50 lots require parkland dedication of 0.008 acre per lot.
    • After tentative-map approval, conditions must be satisfied before recording a parcel map or final map.
    • City road and frontage standards apply within the applicable city's sphere of influence.

    tentative subdivision map threshold: >= 5 lots or condominium units (Fewer than five lots generally use a tentative parcel map.) · parkland dedication: per 0.008 acre per lot (Applies to subdivisions over 50 lots.)

    “A subdivision of land requires the submittal of a tentative map showing the design and improvements for the proposed division”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development within a Butte County flood hazard zone in the unincorporated county.

    • Development within a flood hazard zone must comply with the Butte County Flood Hazard Prevention Ordinance.
    • The County Plan Check page links the complete Flood Ordinance and the County Ordinances page identifies the Flood Ordinance as administered by the Building Division.
    “Development within a flood hazard zone must comply with Butte County's Flood Hazard Prevention Ordinance.”

California rules that apply here

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction projects within the California Department of Health Care Access and Information Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development jurisdiction, including health-facility projects requiring HCAI review.

    • Written plan approval must be issued before the building-permit application proceeds.
    • The application must provide contractor information, Inspector of Record information, and a Testing Inspection and Observation program.
    • The TIO program must be field-approved before approval and subsequent issuance of the building permit.
    • This claim does not establish the permit rule for projects outside HCAI jurisdiction.
    “Once a project receives written plan approval, a Building Permit application is submitted through the e-Services Portal.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Exemption from California contractor-licensing chapter for an owner-builder who builds or improves a structure on the owner’s property; this does not itself establish exemption from local building permits, inspections, or other code requirements.

    • For work personally performed by the owner or performed by the owner’s employees, none of the improvements may be intended or offered for sale, and employee compensation must be wages as their sole compensation.
    • For work directly contracted to licensed trade contractors, the owner must directly contract with licensees duly licensed for the respective trades.
    • For single-family residential structures under the licensed-contractor arrangement, no more than four structures may be intended or offered for sale in a calendar year; this limitation does not apply if the owner contracts with a general contractor for construction.
    • For a homeowner improving a principal residence or its appurtenances, the work must be performed before sale, the homeowner must have actually resided in the residence for the 12 months before completion, and the homeowner must not have used this exemption on more than two structures more than once during any three-year period.
    • A nonprofit corporation may qualify when assisting an owner-builder participating in a mutual self-help housing program.
    • Sale or offering for sale within one year after completion creates a rebuttable presumption that the structure was undertaken for sale; sale or offering for sale of five or more structures within one year creates a conclusive presumption.
    • This is a contractor-licensing exemption and should not be treated as a building-permit exemption.

    single-family structures intended or offered for sale: <= 4 structures per calendar year (Does not apply if the owner contracts with a general contractor for construction.) · prior residence occupancy: >= 12 months before completion (Applies to the principal-residence homeowner exemption.) · owner-builder exemption use: <= 2 structures during any three-year period (The statute states the homeowner has not availed himself or herself of the exemption on more than two structures more than once during any three-year period.) · sale presumption period: 1 year after completion (Sale or offering for sale creates a rebuttable presumption; five or more structures creates a conclusive presumption.) · conclusive-presumption threshold: >= 5 structures within one year after completion (Structures sold or offered for sale by the owner-builder.)

    “This chapter does not apply to any of the following: (1) An owner who builds or improves a structure on his or her property”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — Owners who build or improve structures on their own property, and homeowners improving their principal residence or appurtenances, subject to Business and Professions Code section 7044.
      “(a) This chapter does not apply to any of the following: (1) An owner who builds or improves a structure on his or her property”
    • Available (with conditions) — California contractor-licensing requirements for an owner who builds or improves a structure on the owner’s property; this is not stated as an exemption from building permits, inspections, or other code requirements.
      “This chapter does not apply to any of the following: (1) An owner who builds or improves a structure on his or her property”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction projects within HCAI jurisdiction involving California health facilities.

    • HCAI field personnel make periodic site visits.
    • The Inspector of Record is responsible for continuous inspection of the work.
    • The inspections address seismic, fire, life-safety, and other building-code requirements.
    “The approved IOR with the required personal knowledge performs only those duties associated with the required continuous inspections”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — California owner-builder projects addressed by the Contractors State License Board guidance.
      “Your project must pass codes and building inspections.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    California city and county zoning codes and the zoning districts established by those local jurisdictions.

    • The city or county zoning code implements general-plan policies at the individual-parcel level.
    • Local zoning codes identify allowed land uses in the jurisdiction’s zoning districts.
    • Since 1971, state law requires city or county zoning codes to be consistent with the jurisdiction’s general plan, except in charter cities.
    • The source does not publish a statewide list of parcel-specific zoning districts; the applicable local jurisdiction must be consulted.
    “The zoning code presents standards for different land uses and identifies which land uses [...] are allowed in the various zoning districts of the jurisdiction.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Efficiency units permitted by a California city, county, or city and county.

    • The local jurisdiction must adopt an ordinance permitting the efficiency unit.
    • Occupancy is limited to no more than two persons.
    • The unit may have partial kitchen or bathroom facilities as specified by the local ordinance.
    • All other applicable minimum standards under Health and Safety Code Part 1.5 continue to apply.

    minimum floor area: >= 150 square feet · maximum occupancy: <= 2 persons

    “Notwithstanding Sections 17922, 17958, and 17958.5, a city, county, or city and county may, by ordinance, permit efficiency units for occupancy by no more than two persons which have a minimum floor area of 150 square feet and which may also have partial kitchen or bathroom facilities, as specified by the ordinance.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Qualifying SB 9 housing developments in single-family residential zones, including development of up to two primary residential units, subject to the cited statutory eligibility requirements and local ministerial review.

    • The parcel must be located in a single-family residential zone.
    • The project must involve no more than two residential units.
    • Objective standards may be applied only if they do not physically preclude the statutory housing objectives, subject to the stated exceptions.
    • No setback may be required for an existing structure or a structure constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing structure.
    • For SB 9 projects, side and rear setbacks may not exceed four feet; a local agency may apply a lesser setback, such as 0–4 feet.
    • The local agency cannot apply existing side and rear setbacks applicable in the single-family residential zones.
    • The four-foot side and rear setback standards are not subject to modification.
    • The fact sheet cites Government Code Sections 65852.21(b)(2)(B) and 66411.7(c)(3).

    maximum side setback: <= 4 feet (A local agency may choose to apply a lesser setback, including 0–4 feet.) · maximum rear setback: <= 4 feet (A local agency may choose to apply a lesser setback, including 0–4 feet.)

    “SB 9 establishes an across-the-board maximum four-foot side and rear setbacks.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Building setbacks, side and rear yard requirements, and property line requirements under California's State Housing Law framework.
      “building setback, side and rear yard requirements, and property line requirements are hereby specifically and entirely reserved to the local jurisdictions”
  • Tiny homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Occupancy of a structure marketed or described as a tiny home in California.

    • The tiny home must comply with applicable standards and be approved as a HUD-Code manufactured home, California Residential or Building Code home, factory-built housing, recreational vehicle, park trailer, or camping cabin.
    • The location must be approved for the applicable classification.
    • A tiny home that does not fit one of those classifications and does not comply with the California Building Standards Code is a noncomplying structure whose occupancy is illegal.
    • Approving and enforcing agencies vary depending on whether the unit is inside or outside a mobilehome or special occupancy park.

    park trailer or RV gross area limit: <= 400 square feet (Applicable classification-specific exclusions and standards apply.)

    “In order to be occupied, a tiny home must comply with the standards of, and be approved as one of the following types of structures: a HUD-Code manufactured home (MH), California Residential Code or California Building Code home, factory-built housing (FBH), recreational vehicle (RV), park trailer (PT) or camping cabin (CC).”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units in unincorporated Butte County, subject to California ADU law and site-specific county review.

    • Butte County's official page states that the County is regulated under State ADU legislation until adoption of County draft ordinances.
    • The cited County page states the draft ordinances had not been adopted; current local adoption status should be confirmed before relying on County-specific standards.
    • Site-specific review is required before building permit issuance, including compliance with local planning, zoning, and other applicable requirements.
    • Septic, water, building, zoning, and other site-specific requirements may apply.

    housing units per parcel under described State legislation: <= 3 units per parcel (County page describes State-law changes; exact current eligibility depends on applicable California law) · side and rear yard setback: >= 4 feet (County page describes State-law changes) · junior ADU size: <= 500 square feet (County page describes State-law changes) · impact-fee threshold: < 750 square feet (County page states elimination of impact fees for units less than 750 square feet)

    “Butte County is regulated under the State's legislation until the adoption of the County's Draft Ordinances.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — ADUs and junior ADUs subject to California State ADU Law.
      “A permit application for an accessory dwelling unit shall be considered and approved ministerially without discretionary review or a hearing [...] A permitting agency shall determine whether an application to create or serve an accessory dwelling unit is complete and provide written notice of this determination to the applicant not later than 15 business days after the permitting agency received the application.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways and driveway connections involving proposed encroachments within, under, or over State highway rights of way.

    • The requirement applies to proposed activities related to placement of encroachments within, under, or over State highway rights of way.
    • Applications are submitted to the appropriate District Encroachment Permits Office having jurisdictional authority over the site.
    • Local or other agency requirements may also apply outside State highway rights of way.
    “An encroachment permit must be obtained for all proposed activities related to the placement of encroachments within, under, or over the State highway rights of way.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction, alteration, repair, movement, improvement, removal, conversion, or demolition of a building or structure in California.

    • A separate permit for each building or structure must be obtained from the building official before the work.
    • Code requirements vary by city and county; the applicable local building department must be consulted.
    “no building or structure may be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate permit [...] has first been obtained”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Occupancy and use of manufactured homes and mobilehomes in California mobilehome parks and other locations subject to HCD jurisdiction.

    • HCD administers titling and registration for manufactured homes and mobilehomes.
    • HCD-inspected mobilehome parks are subject to health and safety enforcement where local government has not assumed enforcement.
    • Manufactured/mobilehome park regulations address construction, use, maintenance, and occupancy.
    • Separate local land-use, building, fire, health, and utility requirements may apply.
    “MHs may be occupied outside or inside of mobilehome parks and installation and approval for occupancy is governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act (MPA), HSC Sections 18200, et seq., and Title 25, CCR Sections 1000, et seq.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — RV and trailer camping at Silver Strand State Beach Campground in the San Diego Coast District.
      “Camping Stay Limits: Applies to persons, equipment, or vehicles and any combination thereof [...] Maximum stay of 30 days per calendar year [...] Maximum 7 consecutive days during peak season (May 15 – September 15) [...] Maximum 14 consecutive days during non-peak season”
    • Limited — Occupancy and use of recreational vehicles in California special occupancy parks and designated RV sections of mobilehome parks.
      “Unless otherwise allowed by a local ordinance, RVs generally may be occupied only in mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    California county legislative bodies' authority to adopt zoning ordinances regulating buildings, structures, land uses, lots, yards, open space, lot coverage, intensity of use, parking, loading, and setbacks within county jurisdiction, including unincorporated areas.

    • The authority is exercised pursuant to Government Code Chapter 4, Zoning Regulations.
    • The statute separately authorizes city legislative bodies; incorporated municipalities may exercise their own zoning authority.
    • Government Code Section 65850 also lists authority to regulate signs and billboards, building and structure location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size, lot and open-space size and use, lot coverage, intensity of land use, offstreet parking and loading, and building setback lines.
    • The cited section states it was amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 376, Sec. 1, effective January 1, 2018.
    “The legislative body of any county or city may, pursuant to this chapter, adopt ordinances that do any of the following:”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    California counties administering and enforcing state building standards through county building departments, including residential construction in unincorporated areas.

    • Each county must maintain building standards and state building regulations in the office of the building official responsible for administration and enforcement of state building standards.
    • The statewide Title 24 standards apply subject to statutory exceptions and any authorized local amendments or local requirements.
    • The cited HCD bulletin concerns the 2019 California Building Standards Code and its July 1, 2021 supplement; later code editions may supersede those particular edition dates.
    “These codes shall be maintained in the office of the building official responsible for the administration and enforcement of state building standards”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in unincorporated Butte County.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Water rights & wells in Butte County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from California’s water agency.

Actively managed

This basin is under active state management — new water use is scrutinized, though a domestic well is usually still allowed.

Household wellPermit required — restricted

California requires no STATE permit for a domestic well — wells are permitted by the county — but under SGMA a Groundwater Sustainability Agency can meter or restrict new wells in medium/high-priority and critically overdrafted basins, and Executive Order N-7-22 requires counties in those basins to get GSA verification that a new well is consistent with the Groundwater Sustainability Plan before permitting.

Limit: 2 acre-feet/year de minimis under SGMA (Water Code §10721(e)) — largely exempt from GSA metering/fees

California DWR / State Water Board — SGMA de minimis & EO N-7-22 Action 9 FAQ ↗
  • Sacramento Valley high-priority subbasinspartial of county

    High-priority SGMA subbasins (Corning, Colusa, Vina, Antelope-Tehama, South Yuba, North & South American, Solano, Yolo) with adopted GSPs; a new well is subject to GSA/EO N-7-22 consistency review.

    California DWR — SGMA Basin Prioritization ↗

Hybrid state (appropriation + riparian). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the California state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Butte County, California

Is Butte County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Butte County scores 54/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: workable self-sufficiency basics: 44.2″/yr rainfall and 52.9% wooded land. Watch-outs: elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure and more administrative friction around building and land use.

Do you need a building permit in Butte County, California?

Butte County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Butte County Environmental Health Division (Land Use & Wastewater). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Butte County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Butte County is allowed on a temporary basis only: Use of an RV as a temporary dwelling during construction of a single-family residence or rehabilitation of a qualifying damaged, condemned, or uninhabitable single-family residence in unincorporated Butte County. A building permit for construction or rehabilitation is required. Necessary permits from the Butte County Environmental Health Division are required. A tiny home is allowed. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Butte County, California?

Land in Butte County runs about $13,981 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Butte County?

Butte County gets about 44.2" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 37.9% of years. On water rights, Butte County lies in the Sacramento Valley high-priority subbasins — High-priority SGMA subbasins (Corning, Colusa, Vina, Antelope-Tehama, South Yuba, North & South American, Solano, Yolo) with adopted GSPs; a new well is subject to GSA/EO N-7-22 consistency review..

How remote is Butte County?

A typical private-land location has about 76,444 people within 15 miles and 3,465,426 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Butte County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Butte compares in California

Compare side-by-side →See all 58 California counties ranked →