Bolthole Index

Modoc County, California

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Alturas, California

The City of Alturas, California adopts and administers its own zoning through Chapter 28 of its Code of Ordinances1 and has adopted the International Code Council model codes by reference for building construction2. Septic systems inside city limits are regulated by Modoc County Environmental Health, not the city3. Living in an RV in Alturas for more than 48 hours is unlawful outside a mobile home park4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: the city adopts its own zoning (Code Chapter 28)1
Building permit
Required for buildings and structures under the California Building Standards Code5
Building code
ICC model codes adopted by reference, with state and local amendments2
Septic
Modoc County Environmental Health regulates septic systems, city and unincorporated3
RV living
Over 48 hours is unlawful unless in a mobile home park4
Manufactured homes
New units only, at least 1,000 sq ft of living area6
Accessory dwellings
Allowed with an administrative permit on qualifying lots7

Who to call

Septic permits

Modoc County Environmental Health

Septic and well permits for Modoc County, including addresses inside Alturas

530-233-6310

202 West 4th Street, Alturas, California

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Does Alturas have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, manufactured homes and lot rules?

Yes. The City of Alturas adopts and administers zoning standards through Chapter 28 of its Code of Ordinances, and a general development standards matrix sets the standards for each primary zone1. Rules differ by zone, so look up the zoning district of the specific lot before you buy.

RVs: occupying a recreational vehicle as living quarters on a lot in Alturas for longer than 48 hours is unlawful unless the RV sits within a mobile home park4. Campgrounds and RV parks inside the city need a use permit and a maximum stay of 90 days in any twelve-month period applies8.

Manufactured homes: units installed in residential zones in Alturas must be new, with at least 1,000 square feet of enclosed living area, and a certificate of occupancy is required before anyone moves in6. Secondary dwelling units are allowed on lots zoned for single-family or multifamily use that already have a house, with an administrative permit7. We could not confirm how Alturas treats tiny homes as a separate category; ask the City of Alturas planning staff.

Do you need a building permit in Alturas, and who issues it?

Yes. Under the California Building Standards Code, no building or structure inside Alturas may be erected, enlarged, altered, moved or demolished until a separate permit has been obtained from the building official5. Alturas adopts the International Code Council model codes by reference, with state and local amendments2.

We could not confirm which office takes building permit applications inside city limits, or the current fee schedule. Ask Alturas City Hall before you apply. Modoc County's Building & Safety and Planning offices serve unincorporated land, and the county's own permit rules do not govern a lot inside the city.

California's owner-builder exemption covers contractor licensing only; it is not a building-permit exemption9. We found no Alturas rule that waives permits or inspections for owner-builders.

How do septic permits work inside Alturas?

Modoc County Environmental Health regulates onsite wastewater treatment systems throughout the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Modoc County, so septic permits for an Alturas address come from the county, not the city3. Contact10.

A lot connected to or near city sewer may not get a septic system at all: when a public sewer lies within 500 feet along the street, alley or right-of-way, the Alturas city council can order the owner to connect, and an existing septic tank may stay for no more than 30 days after the order11.

The county requires a pre-cover inspection for new, altered or repaired systems12. Wells are permitted by Modoc County Environmental Health as the local enforcing agency13. We could not confirm well rules specific to lots inside the city.

Building a home in Alturas: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district in Chapter 28 of the Alturas Code of Ordinances and the standards that apply to it1.
  2. Ask whether the lot can connect to city sewer; if so, the city can order connection11. If not, contact10 about a septic permit3.
  3. Check the lot against mapped flood zones A1-30, AH and AE, where separate floodplain rules apply to RVs14.
  4. Obtain a building permit from the building official before work starts5.
  5. For a manufactured home, request a certificate of occupancy before moving in6.

What stays with Modoc County, and what to check before you buy

Septic and well permits stay with Modoc County Environmental Health3. For land outside city limits, see the Modoc County page, where different rules apply.

County-level context: Modoc County has about 2.2 people per square mile15, and the federal government holds about 67.8% of the land16. Only about 15.6% of county soils are rated not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so many rural lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system17. Modoc County's effective property tax rate is 0.7%18.

Watch-outs

  • Alturas has a separate floodplain rule for RVs in mapped flood zones A1-30, AH and AE14.
  • Alturas building permit fees, short-term rental rules and the inspection schedule are unconfirmed; ask Alturas City Hall5.
  • Search results for Alturas can show Modoc County's unincorporated rules; those do not apply inside city limits3.

Sources

  1. Alturas Code § 28.41.020, General development standards matrix (Alturas), quoted and re-checked
  2. Alturas Code § 5-23, Adoption of model codes (Alturas), quoted and re-checked
  3. Modoc County Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Local Agency Management Program, quoted and re-checked
  4. Alturas Code § 26-1, Recreational vehicle nuisance (Alturas), quoted and re-checked
  5. California Contractors State License Board, building permit requirements (Alturas), quoted and re-checked
  6. Alturas Code § 5-63, Manufactured home installation applicability (Alturas), quoted and re-checked
  7. Alturas Code § 28.38.040, Secondary dwellings (Alturas), quoted and re-checked
  8. Alturas Code § 28.37.010, Campgrounds (Alturas), quoted and re-checked
  9. California Business and Professions Code Section 7044 (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Modoc County Environmental Health (countyofmodoc.gov)
  11. Alturas Code § 21-3, Connection to public sewer (Alturas), quoted and re-checked
  12. Modoc County Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Local Agency Management Program, quoted and re-checked
  13. Well Standards, quoted and re-checked
  14. Alturas Code § 29-20, Standards for recreational vehicles (Alturas), quoted and re-checked
  15. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  16. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Alturas

Alturas’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Alturas city limits.

    • The ordinance adopts the listed model codes by reference, with state and local amendments allowed under § 5-22.
    • The listed editions include the 2007 California Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Fire, Energy, Existing Building, Elevator, Historical, and Green Building codes, plus subsequent editions.
    “the model codes of the international code council, and noted appendices, with any state and local amendments as allowed by section 5-22 for local topo-geographical, geographical and/or climatic constraints and all subsequent editions thereof, are hereby adopted by this reference with the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this subsection.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Certificate-of-occupancy requirements inside Alturas city limits.

    • The available official code excerpt specifically requires a certificate of occupancy before occupancy of a manufactured home installed under the residential-zone regulations; a general citywide certificate-of-occupancy rule was not established.
    “prior to occupancy, the owner shall request a certificate of occupancy pursuant to subsection (2) of subsection (b) of section 18551 of the health and safety code of the state. such certificate of occupancy shall not be issued until all of the above standards have been met. no occupancy shall occur until such certificate is issued.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Alturas city limits; the city adopts and administers zoning standards through Chapter 28 of its Code of Ordinances.

    “table 28.41.020 lists the general development standards that apply to each primary zone unless modified by this section, a use permit (which can only impose more restrictive standards), the land use restrictions of article iii, or a variance permit.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Manufactured homes installed in residential-permitted zones inside Alturas city limits.

    • This minimum applies to manufactured homes under § 5-64, not necessarily to every conventional dwelling.

    minimum fully enclosed living area: >= 1000 square feet (porches, terraces, garages, carports, and outbuildings excluded)

    “have a minimum of one thousand square feet of fully enclosed floor area devoted to living purposes, exclusive of roofed or unroofed porches, terraces, garages, carports and other outbuildings.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Occupancy of recreational vehicles as living quarters on lots inside Alturas city limits.

    • Occupancy longer than 48 hours is unlawful unless the RV is located within a mobile home park.
    • Separate floodplain restrictions apply in zones A1-30, AH, and AE.
    • RV storage on qualifying single-family lots is addressed separately by § 28.38.050.

    maximum occupancy outside a mobile home park: <= 48 hours (longer occupancy is allowed only within a mobile home park)

    “for a period longer than forty-eight hours unless the same is located within a mobile home park as defined in section 18214 of the health and safety code of the state of california.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Campgrounds and recreational-vehicle parks inside Alturas city limits.

    • A use permit is required for all campgrounds within the city limits.
    • Campgrounds must comply with California Special Occupancy Parks Act standards and applicable HCD regulations.
    • The campground must be at least three acres, at least 50 percent natural or landscaped, and each campsite or RV space must be at least 1,000 square feet.
    • Maximum stay is 90 days in any twelve-month period.

    minimum campground area: >= 3 acres · minimum campsite or RV-space area: >= 1000 square feet · maximum length of stay: <= 90 days per twelve months

    “the maximum length of stay in any part of the campground shall be 90 days in any twelve-month period.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes installed in residential-permitted zones inside Alturas city limits.

    • The regulations apply where residential uses are permitted or conditionally permitted.
    • The home must comply with zoning, subdivision, infrastructure, building-code, and manufactured-home requirements.
    • The unit must be new when installed in the city; used, second-hand, and repossessed units are not permitted.
    • A certificate of occupancy is required before occupancy.
    • The home must have at least 1,000 square feet of enclosed living area and a minimum width of 24 feet applying to at least 80 percent of its length.

    minimum enclosed living area: >= 1000 square feet (porches, terraces, garages, carports, and outbuildings are excluded) · minimum width: >= 24 feet (applies to at least 80 percent of the full length)

    “have a minimum width of twenty-four feet which shall apply to a minimum of eighty percent of the full length of the mobilehome.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Secondary dwelling units on lots inside Alturas city limits.

    • An administrative permit is required under the cited section.
    • The lot must be zoned for single-family or multifamily use and contain an existing single-family dwelling.
    • The unit cannot be sold separately.
    • Attached units are limited by state law to 30 percent of existing living area; detached units are subject to the city lot-area table and the 1,200-square-foot state limit.
    • The project must conform to applicable height, setback, lot-coverage, site-plan, building-code, fee, and other zoning requirements.

    maximum detached secondary-dwelling floor area: <= 1200 square feet (city lot-area table may impose lower limits) · maximum attached secondary-dwelling floor area: <= 30 percent of existing living area

    “an administrative permit for a secondary dwelling unit must be approved, per california government code section 65852.2.(b)(1), if all of the following conditions are met.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Property inside Alturas city limits served by or within 500 feet of a public sewer measured along the public street, alley, or sewer right-of-way.

    • The city council must order the connection.
    • The septic tank, cesspool, or privy may remain for no more than 30 days after the order.
    • The rule addresses sewer connection and does not establish a public-water connection requirement.

    distance to public sewer: <= 500 feet (measured along the public street, alley or sewer right-of-way) · connection deadline after city-council order: 30 days

    “for more than thirty days after having been ordered to connect to the public sewer by the city council.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Recreational vehicles placed inside Alturas city limits in mapped flood zones A1-30, AH, or AE.

    • The RV must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, or be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or satisfy the floodplain permit and manufactured-home elevation and anchoring requirements.

    maximum consecutive days under first alternative: < 180 days (alternative compliance paths are available)

    “All recreational vehicles placed on sites within zones A1-30, AH, or AE on the community's flood insurance rate map will either: (1) Be on the site for fewer than one hundred eighty consecutive days; (2) Be fully licensed and ready for highway use. A recreational vehicle is ready for highway use if it is on its wheels or jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick disconnect-type utilities and security devices, and has no permanently attached additions; or (3) Meet the permit requirements of article III of this chapter and the elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes in subsection 29-19 (a).”

Rules another office applies inside Alturas

Alturas does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building permitRequired

    Buildings and structures inside Alturas city limits.

    • The California rule applies statewide; local requirements may vary and the state page directs applicants to the local building department.
    “According to the California Building Standards Code, no building or structure may be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate permit for each building or structure has first been obtained from the building official.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders undertaking construction inside Alturas city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Alturas city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Alturas city limits.
  • Septic permit — Septic permits for onsite wastewater systems inside Alturas city limits.
  • Septic inspection — Septic inspections inside Alturas city limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Alturas publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Modoc County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Modoc County: county rules, score and offices