Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Biggs, California

Biggs’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Biggs city limits; Biggs administers its own Title 14 Zoning code

  • Zoning district rules apply by district; see the R-MU and other district chapters

  “title 14 zoning (§ 14.10.010 – § 14.430.040)”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Side and rear setbacks in the R-MU residential mixed-use district where the lot abuts a residential district inside Biggs city limits

  • Side yard: 10 feet minimum where the side of the lot abuts a residential district
  • Rear yard: 15 feet minimum where the rear of the lot abuts a residential district
  • Front and street-side setbacks are set out in the chapter but were not fully captured

  side yard setback abutting residential: >= 10 feet (applies only where the lot side abuts a residential district) · rear yard setback abutting residential: >= 15 feet (applies only where the lot rear abuts a residential district)

  “where the side of a lot in the r-mu district abuts a residential district there shall be a side yard setback of not less than 10 feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  Building height in the R-MU residential mixed-use district inside Biggs city limits

  • Height limit may be exceeded by appurtenances necessary to the operation of a permitted use
  • Planning commission may grant an exception under chapter 14.180 to allow up to 50 feet

  maximum building height: <= 45 feet (planning commission may grant an exception under chapter 14.180 up to 50 feet)

  “no building or structure erected on property in the r-mu district shall have a height greater than 45 feet”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed

  Accessory dwelling units in the R-MU residential mixed-use district inside Biggs city limits

  • Built to the setbacks required for primary units
  • Subject to BMC § 14.110.115 (accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units), not opened

  “accessory dwelling units may be constructed in accordance with the setbacks required for primary units and in accordance with bmc § 14.110.115, accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  New homes inside Biggs city limits located within 150 feet of a public sewer running through a city street or alley

  • Premises within 150 feet of a public sewer in a city street or alley must connect; the city council may waive the requirement on application from a property owner if the cost of connection is not feasible (§ 10.05.040).

  sewer connection distance: <= 150 feet (city council may waive the requirement on application if connection cost is not feasible)

  “no person owning or occupying or having under his or her control any premises situated or being within 150 feet of a public sewer running through any street or alley in the city of biggs shall construct or maintain”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division inside Biggs city limits

  • Procedures and standards are in Title 13 Subdivisions; not opened

  “title 13 subdivisions (§ 13.10.010 &ndash; § 13.110.110)”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Biggs or Butte County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for new homes inside Biggs city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Biggs city limits
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for construction inside Biggs city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Biggs city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Biggs city limits

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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