Bolthole Index

Shasta County, California

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

56Index Score / 100
#4 of 58 in California

Unincorporated Shasta County, California requires building permits for new construction and remodeling through the county Building Division1. County zoning also applies, while incorporated cities use their own zoning systems23. New and replacement septic systems require county Environmental Health approval before installation45.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction and remodeling in unincorporated Shasta County1
Zoning
County zoning applies in unincorporated areas; parcel-specific district standards require a separate check26
Septic permit
Required before installing a new or replacement septic tank and leach field45
RV living
Long-term occupancy on vacant land is unconfirmed; a permitted temporary RV is available while an approved home is being built7
Tiny home
The structure must fit a recognized California housing category and comply with parcel-specific county zoning82
Owner-builder
Allowed conditionally; the owner must complete the county acknowledgment before permit issuance910
Building permit fees
Published on a valuation-based schedule, with plan review charged separately11
Well permit
California requires approval from the applicable local environmental health agency or water district12

Who to call

Building permits

Shasta County Building Division

Building permits, plan review, grading permits, manufactured-home installation permits and inspections for unincorporated Shasta County

(530) 225-5761

1855 Placer Street, Suite 102, Redding, CA 96001

Online permits →

Zoning

Shasta County Planning Division

Zoning, general-plan, land-division and use-permit questions for unincorporated Shasta County

(530) 225-5532

1855 Placer Street, Redding, CA 96001

Septic permits

Shasta County Environmental Health Division (EHD)

Onsite wastewater treatment system permits under Shasta County's Local Agency Management Program

(530) 225-5787

1855 Placer Street, Redding, CA 96001

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

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

Yes. New construction and remodeling in unincorporated Shasta County require a building permit through the Resource Management Department's Building Division1. California's Title 24 building standards apply, while zoning, setbacks and property-line rules remain local matters13. The 2025 California Building Standards Code applies to permit applications filed on or after January 1, 202614. Shasta County publishes valuation-based permit fees and charges regular plan review at 65% of the permit fee, subject to an $82.03 minimum11. Individual permit records show that a project's total can also include planning, fire, electrical, mechanical and plumbing charges, so request a project-specific estimate rather than relying on one permit's total15. Owner-builders still need a permit: the property owner must personally complete the county acknowledgment and provide acceptable signature verification before issuance910.

Who is the Shasta County building department, and how do you reach it?

The Shasta County Building Division is the first stop for building permits and inspections in the unincorporated county1. Call (530) 225-5761 or visit 1855 Placer Street, Suite 102, Redding, CA 960017. The Build Shasta portal lets registered public users and licensed contractors search parcels, submit limited online building permits and planning projects, pay fees and request inspections16. County permit conditions can require work to be completed before the Building Division's final inspection, and unpermitted additions can have to be permitted before a certificate of occupancy is issued; the cited examples are project-specific, so ask the division what applies to your permit1718. Land-use and zoning questions belong with the Planning Division at (530) 225-5532, 1855 Placer Street, Redding, CA 9600119. Septic questions go to Environmental Health at (530) 225-5787 at the same street address5.

Does Shasta County have zoning?

Yes. Shasta County maintains a zoning system for the unincorporated county, while incorporated areas such as the City of Redding are represented separately in county mapping263. The Planning Division maintains the County Zoning Plan and answers questions about zoning, land divisions and use permits19. California gives counties authority to regulate uses, building height, lot coverage, yards and setbacks through local zoning20. Those standards are parcel- and district-specific, so ask Planning to identify the exact district and applicable conditions using the assessor's parcel number before relying on a listing description619. We could not confirm a complete, current countywide table for ordinary minimum lot size, dwelling size, setbacks, lot coverage or height; the Planning Division is the office to ask for a written parcel-specific answer19.

How do septic permits work in Shasta County?

Shasta County Environmental Health requires a permit before a new or replacement septic tank and leach field is installed45. The county says the application must include an accurate site plan, fees and soil-test data5. California's statewide onsite-wastewater policy assigns permitting to local agencies under state and regional oversight, and Shasta County Environmental Health administers the county program2122. Start the septic review before fixing the house location because only 1.5% of mapped county soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field23. That countywide soil statistic does not decide an individual site, but it makes early testing and a realistic allowance for a nonstandard design especially important235. Supplemental-treatment systems have their own operating-permit reporting and inspection paperwork; that requirement is not established for every conventional system2425.

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

We could not confirm a general Shasta County rule allowing long-term RV occupancy on vacant private land, so ask the Planning Division about the parcel and proposed use before purchase19. Shasta County does confirm a narrower construction option: a mobile unit may serve as a temporary residence while the principal home is built if the owner obtains a temporary mobile-unit permit attached to a valid residential building permit7. If that unit is an RV, it may remain stored on the property, but it must be disconnected from utilities within 15 days and removed within 60 days after approval of the permanent residence's building permit7. Camping is expressly permitted in the Timber Production district only when it involves no permanent land improvement and does not materially interfere with the district's primary use; that narrow rule is not countywide permission for residential RV use26. A tiny home must fit a recognized California housing category and meet the rules for that category8. County records show that Shasta County has permitted both a conventional accessory dwelling unit and a manufactured-home accessory dwelling unit on a permanent foundation, but those parcel-specific approvals do not guarantee approval elsewhere272829.

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

First, give the Planning Division the assessor's parcel number and confirm zoning, allowed use and parcel-specific development standards196. Second, have Environmental Health determine the septic path and submit the required site plan, fees and soil-test data5. Third, settle access and grading: county review applies to projects accessing a county road, Caltrans approval applies to encroachments on a state highway, and a grading permit is triggered by more than 250 cubic yards of earth movement or disturbance of 10,000 square feet or more730. Fourth, submit construction plans and the filing fee to the Building Division or use the online functions available through Build Shasta716. Fifth, complete every required inspection and resolve unpermitted work before seeking final approval or occupancy; county use-permit conditions illustrate both requirements, although the exact conditions vary by project1718. An owner-builder must personally sign the county acknowledgment and provide acceptable signature verification before permit issuance10.

What should you check before buying land in Shasta County?

Confirm zoning, legal access, flood exposure, water source and septic feasibility before making the purchase dependent on a buildable homesite1975. Shasta County receives about 43.1 inches of precipitation annually, yet severe drought occurs in 36.8% of years, so a water plan needs to work through dry periods as well as average ones3132. California requires a permit from the applicable local environmental health agency or water district before a water well is constructed, modified or destroyed12. Terrain can add cost: 74.6% of the county is wooded, while only 20% of its land has a slope of 15% or less3334. If a future split matters, California's Subdivision Map Act and local review address access, drainage, sanitary disposal and water availability35. For carrying costs, the county's effective property-tax rate is about 0.7%, and the median annual bill is about $2,4423637.

Watch-outs

  • Do not treat a parcel's county zoning label as the full answer: district conditions and development standards still need parcel-specific confirmation from the Shasta County Planning Division619.
  • The construction-period mobile-unit permit and the narrow camping allowance in the Timber Production district do not confirm long-term RV living on vacant land elsewhere726.
  • A state-highway driveway needs Caltrans encroachment approval, while access from a county road goes through county review730.
  • Shasta County's mapped soils rarely rate free of severe conventional-drain-field limitations, so complete soil testing before committing to a house site235.

Sources

  1. Shasta County Building Division - General Information (2026 county census)
  2. Legend (Internet/Planning_Zoning_Layers) (2026 county census)
  3. Legend (Internet/Planning_Zoning_Layers), quoted and re-checked
  4. OWTS Supplemental Treatment Reporting Form (2026 county census)
  5. Shasta County Environmental Health Division (EHD) (shastacounty.gov)
  6. Legend (Internet/Planning_Zoning_Layers), quoted and re-checked
  7. Shasta County Building Division (shastacounty.gov)
  8. Information Bulletin 2016-01: Tiny Homes (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Considering Becoming an Owner-Builder? (2026 county census)
  10. Considering Becoming an Owner-Builder?, quoted and re-checked
  11. SHASTA COUNTY FEES, quoted and re-checked
  12. Well Standards (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. California Health and Safety Code Section 17922, quoted and re-checked
  14. Approved Building Standards (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Shasta County Building Permit BRES23-0031, quoted and re-checked
  16. eTRAKiT / Build Shasta Web Portal, quoted and re-checked
  17. Use Permit 24-0010 Exhibit A, quoted and re-checked
  18. Use Permit 24-0010 Exhibit A, quoted and re-checked
  19. Shasta County Planning Division (shastacounty.gov)
  20. California Government Code Section 65850 (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS Policy) (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. OWTS Supplemental Treatment Reporting Form, quoted and re-checked
  23. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  24. OWTS Supplemental Treatment Reporting Form, quoted and re-checked
  25. OWTS Supplemental Treatment Reporting Form, quoted and re-checked
  26. Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Hatchet Ridge Wind Project — Land Use and Planning, quoted and re-checked
  27. Shasta County Permit Search — ACCRES24-0118, quoted and re-checked
  28. Shasta County Permit MH24-0028, quoted and re-checked
  29. Shasta County Permit MH24-0028, quoted and re-checked
  30. Encroachment Permits | Caltrans (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  31. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  33. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  34. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  35. California Government Code § 66428, quoted and re-checked
  36. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  37. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 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.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

County locator

Shasta County in California

56
County map
Shasta County highlighted among the California counties · colored by Index score

How Shasta County scores

Seclusion79100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency57100% ev.
Admin Boringness41100% ev.
Durability26100% ev.
Property Autonomy56100% ev.
Carry Cost52100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$377kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$10,930Land / acre
43.1"Annual rain
36.8% of yrsSevere drought
19.1 / yr (+10.8)Mid-century 100°F days
51.1 daysMid-century dry spell
2.7" (+4.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.12×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,409Home insurance / yr
11.8% / yrInsurance growth
2.91%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
6,470Radius comparison (15 mi)
47.8People / sq mi
42.1%Federal land
20%Land at 15% slope or less
1.5%Septic soil without severe limits
32,290 acWorkable land screen
74.6%Wooded land
58.7 tonsBiomass / forest ac
55.5°FAvg temp

Scout Shasta County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Shasta County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Answers from the rulebook for Shasta County

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

Shasta County rules

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Property owners applying for a Shasta County building permit as an owner-builder.

    • The county will not issue the building permit until the property owner reads and initials each provision, signs the Owner-Builder Acknowledgment and Information Verification Form, and returns it to the official address.
    • An agent may not execute the notice unless the property owner obtains prior approval from the permitting authority.
    • Before permit issuance, the form must be completed and signed by the property owner and returned to the permit-issuing agency.
    • A copy of the property owner's driver's license, notarization, or other verification acceptable to the agency must be presented when the permit is issued to verify the owner's signature.
    • The owner-builder is the responsible party of record and is legally and financially responsible for the construction activity.
    • If the owner employs or engages persons other than California-licensed contractors and the total construction value is at least $500 including labor and materials, the owner may be considered an employer and must comply with state and federal employer requirements.
    • An owner-builder building a single-family residential structure cannot legally build it with intent to offer it for sale unless all work is performed by licensed subcontractors and the number of structures does not exceed four within a calendar year, or all work is performed under contract with a licensed general building contractor.

    construction value threshold for possible employer status: >= 500 USD (includes labor and materials) · single-family structures built for sale under licensed-subcontractor exception: <= 4 structures per calendar year (otherwise all work must be performed under contract with a licensed general building contractor)

    “We will not issue a building permit until you have read, initialed your understanding of each provision, signed, and returned this form [...]”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Property owners applying for construction permits through the Shasta County Building Division as owner-builders.
      “We will not issue a building permit until you have read [...] signed, and returned this form”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Future residential structures in the unincorporated Shasta County project area described in the County’s environmental review document.

    • Construction must comply with the seismic standards and requirements of the currently adopted California Building Standards Code.
    • A soils report is required if deemed necessary based on site-specific soil conditions.
    • The source concerns future residential structures associated with the identified project and does not establish separate rules for incorporated municipalities.
    “All future residential structures shall be constructed according to the seismic standards and requirements of the currently adopted California Building Standards Code, including preparation of a soils report, if deemed necessary based on site specific soil conditions.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New structures or change-of-use buildings constructed as part of Shasta County Use Permit 24-0010.

    • Non-residential roadways, driveways, and turnarounds must comply with Section 6.12 of the Fire Safety Standards before the final inspection by the Shasta County Building Division.
    • The inspection requirement is stated for new structures or change-of-use buildings constructed as part of this use permit.
    “prior to the final inspection by the Shasta County Building Division”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    The development governed by Shasta County Use Permit 24-0010, including structures with unpermitted additions.

    • Before initiating the use and obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy, building permits must be obtained for all unpermitted additions to the structure through the Building Division.
    “Prior to initiating the use and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Shasta County zoning in the unincorporated area, including published county zoning districts such as Limited Agriculture, Existing Residential, Rural Residential, Timberland, and other listed districts.

    • The source is the County’s zoning GIS layer and applies to the unincorporated county; incorporated cities have separate zoning layers and authorities.
    • Specific uses and development standards depend on the applicable zoning district and other requirements.
    “Zoning (0) Cities LIMITED AGRICULTURE LOCAL CONVENIENCE CENTER, COMMUNITY, HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL OFFICE COMMERCIAL, COMMERCIAL-LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL RECREATION EXCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL-AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE EXCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL EXISTING RESIDENTIAL”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Local zoning across Shasta County: the County zoning layer identifies unincorporated county districts, while separate zoning categories are identified for incorporated cities including the City of Redding.

    • This aggregate claim does not assert that Shasta County administers incorporated-city zoning.
    • For parcels in the unincorporated area, the County zoning districts apply; incorporated municipalities may apply their own zoning rules.
    • Specific district limits and use standards require parcel- and district-level review.
    “Zoning (0) Cities LIMITED AGRICULTURE [...] City of Redding Zoning (5) Single Family Rural Lands District Multiple Family Mixed Use Specific Plan Office Commercial Industry Open Space Public”
  • Camping on your landAllowed

    Camping and similar recreational uses in Shasta County's Timber Production (TP) zoning district.

    • The source limits the use to camping and similar recreational uses.
    • The use must not involve any permanent improvement of the land.
    • The use must not interfere materially with the primary use of the TP district.
    “The following uses are permitted outright in the TP zoning district: [...] C. Hunting, fishing, camping and similar recreational uses not involving any permanent improvement of the land or interfering materially with the primary use;”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed

    A manufactured home used as an ADU on a permanent foundation at APN 079040051000, 20749A Highway 299 E, Redding, California.

    • The documented approval is parcel-specific and does not establish countywide permission.
    • The permit identifies the unit as a mobile home and the permit subtype as an ADU manufactured home on a permanent foundation.
    • The permit was applied for on 2024-09-11, approved on 2024-10-30, and issued on 2024-11-06.

    permit number: MH24-0028 · job value: 6035.64 USD · total fees charged: 1524.62 USD

    “PERMIT TYPE MOBILE HOME PERMIT SUB-TYPE ADU MANUFACTURED HOME ON PERMANENT FOUNDATION [...] APN 079040051000 [...] APPROVED DATE 10/30/2024 [...] ISSUED DATE 11/6/2024”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed

    An accessory dwelling unit consisting of a manufactured home on a permanent foundation at APN 079040051000, 20749A Highway 299 E, Redding, California.

    • The documented approval is parcel-specific and does not establish countywide permission.
    • The permit identifies the project as an ADU manufactured home on a permanent foundation.
    • The permit was approved on 2024-10-30 and issued on 2024-11-06.

    permit number: MH24-0028 · bedrooms: 2 · total fees charged: 1524.62 USD

    “PERMIT SUB-TYPE ADU MANUFACTURED HOME ON PERMANENT FOUNDATION [...] APN 079040051000 [...] DESCRIPTION REPLACEMENT MHF/ADU 2 BDRM SDS NO DISP”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — A new accessory dwelling unit at APN 207040024000, 16275A Gas Point Road, Cottonwood, California.
      “Subtype: ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT [...] Status: FINALED [...] APN: 207040024000”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Shasta County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division administration of onsite wastewater treatment system permitting documentation.

    “SHASTA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Onsite wastewater treatment systems using supplemental treatment in Shasta County.

    • The official document is specifically an operating-permit and supplemental-treatment reporting form; it does not establish that every septic system requires an operating permit.
    “ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM PERMIT TO OPERATE SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENT REPORTING”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Inspection and reporting associated with an onsite wastewater treatment system operating-permit form for supplemental treatment.

    • The form includes system inspection checklist items and supplemental-treatment sample reporting; it does not establish a universal inspection requirement for every septic system.
    • Lab results for BOD and TSS are to be submitted within 30 days of sampling.
    • If surfacing sewage is observed, it must be reported to SCEHD within 48 hours, effluent must be prevented from running offsite or into bodies of water, and a repair permit application must be submitted.
    “SYSTEM INSPECTOR/SAMPLE COLLECTOR [...] SYSTEM INSPECTION CHECKLIST”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Resource Management Building Division permit fees in Shasta County.

    • Fees are based on hourly rate or ICC valuation per Ordinance.
    • Basic building permit fees vary by valuation tier.
    • Manufactured home/mobile home installation and utilities are charged per California Administrative Code.
    • Permit extension or reissuance is $82.03 plus an hourly fee after the first half or 50% of the permit fee based on the current fee schedule, whichever is lower.
    • Application filing and plan review fees are non-refundable if plan review has commenced.
    • Regular building plan review is 65% of the building permit fee, with a minimum of $82.03; repetitive built homes within the same subdivision or site are 25% of the building permit fee.
    • Temporary mobile home/RV/cargo installation is $164.06 and utilities are $82.03.
    • Bridge application filing requires a deposit based on project cost determined by the Public Works Director.
    • No effective date is stated in the cited excerpt or document filename.

    building valuation $1 to $500 fee: 28.3 USD · building valuation $501 to $2,000 fee: $28.30 for the first $500 plus $4.23 for each additional $100 or fraction through $2,000 USD · building valuation $2,001 to $25,000 fee: $91.69 for the first $2,000 plus $19.15 for each additional $1,000 or fraction through $25,000 USD · building valuation $25,001 to $50,000 fee: $532.05 for the first $25,000 plus $13.85 for each additional $1,000 or fraction through $50,000 USD · building valuation $50,001 to $100,000 fee: $878.25 for the first $50,000 plus $9.56 for each additional $1,000 or fraction through $100,000 USD · building valuation $100,001 to $500,000 fee: $1,356.29 for the first $100,000 plus $7.43 for each additional $1,000 or fraction through $500,000 USD · building valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000 fee: $4,328.05 for the first $500,000 plus $6.39 for each additional $1,000 or fraction through $1,000,000 USD · building valuation $1,000,001 and greater fee: $7,525.13 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.25 for each additional $1,000 or fraction USD · regular application filing and plan review fee: 65% of Building Permit Fee - minimum $82.03 USD (Non-refundable if plan review has commenced.) · repetitive built homes plan review fee: 25% of Building Permit Fee USD (Within same subdivision or site.) · temporary mobile home/RV/cargo installation fee: 164.06 USD · temporary mobile home/RV/cargo utilities fee: 82.03 USD

    “Resource Management - Building Division Basic Permit Fee Buildings Valuation $1 to $500 $ 28.30 $ $ 28.30 Valuation $501 to $2,000 $ $28.30 for the first $500 plus $4.23 for each additional $100 or fraction through $2,000”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Publicly viewable Shasta County Department of Resource Management permit records display fee summaries for individual permits.
      “APPLICATION FILING FEE $700.00 PERMIT PROCESSING RESEARCH $137.30 SB1186 CASP FEE $4.00 PLANNING $140.35 FIRE $20.00 BUILDING $1,158.53 ELECTRIC $68.65 MECHANICAL $68.65 PLUMBING $68.65 Total Fees Charged: $2,366.13”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Online building-permit and planning-project submission through the Shasta County Department of Resource Management Build Shasta portal.

    • Online building permits and planning projects are limited to licensed contractors and registered public users.
    • The portal provides permit application, fee payment, permit search, project application, and inspection functions.
    • The portal identifies the County Department of Resource Management and gives the office address as 1855 Placer Street, Redding, California.
    “This site provides citizen access to search for parcel information, and submit code enforcement complaint (CRM) and limited online building permits and planning projects are available for licensed contractors and registered public users.”

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.”
  • 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”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Occupancy of recreational vehicles as residential units in California.

    • RVs are not intended for occupancy as permanent dwellings.
    • Unless a local ordinance allows otherwise, RV occupancy generally is limited to mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act or Special Occupancy Parks Act.
    • Applicable state or local approval and enforcement requirements depend on the RV's location and classification.

    maximum gross area: <= 400 square feet (Measured at maximum horizontal projections; internal living room area must be less than 320 square feet excluding specified built-in equipment and bath/toilet rooms.)

    “RVs are not intended for occupancy as a permanent dwelling. [...] Unless otherwise allowed by a local ordinance, RVs generally may be occupied only in mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks”
  • 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).”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction, modification, or destruction of water wells in California, including Shasta County.

    • A permit must be obtained from the applicable local environmental health agency or local water district before construction, modification, or destruction.
    • Water-well construction activities must be performed only by a licensed C-57 Well Drilling Contractor.
    • The work must meet applicable local and state well standards.
    • California DWR identifies Shasta County Environmental Health Department as the local permitting agency for Shasta County.

    well driller license: C-57

    “Well owners need to obtain permits from local environmental health agencies or local water districts before construction, modification, or destruction takes place. Any water well construction activities must be performed only by a licensed C-57 Well Drilling Contractor and must meet applicable local and state well standards.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Water well construction, modification, and destruction in California, including Shasta County.
      “Well owners need to obtain permits from local environmental health agencies or local water districts before construction, modification, or destruction takes place. Any water well construction activities must be performed only by a licensed C-57 Well Drilling Contractor and must meet applicable local and state well standards.”
    • Limited — Construction, alteration, maintenance, or destruction of water wells, monitoring wells, cathodic protection wells, and geothermal heat exchange wells in California.
      “Permitting and enforcement are carried out by the LEAs, such as the County Department of Environmental Health.”
    • Required — Construction, modification, or destruction of water wells in California.
      “Well owners need to obtain permits from local environmental health agencies or local water districts before construction, modification, or destruction takes place.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Certain existing OWTS in California Tier 3 impaired-water-body areas that commit to connect to a centralized wastewater collection and treatment system regulated through waste discharge requirements.

    • The OWTS must have been constructed and operating, or permitted, on or before the date the nearby water body was added to OWTS Policy Attachment 2.
    • The owner must commit by legally binding document to connect to a centralized wastewater collection and treatment system regulated through waste discharge requirements.
    • The owner must sign the legally binding document within 48 months after the nearby water body's initial listing on Attachment 2.
    • The specified connection date may not extend beyond nine years after the date the nearby water body is added to Attachment 2.
    • The rule is an exception to Section 10 requirements for qualifying existing or permitted systems; it is not a general statewide requirement that every property connect to public sewer.

    deadline to sign connection commitment: 48 months (Measured from the date the nearby water body is initially listed on Attachment 2.) · maximum time to complete connection: <= 9 years (Measured from the date the nearby water body is added to Attachment 2.)

    “The owner must sign the document within forty-eight months of the date that the nearby water body is initially listed on Attachment 2. The specified date for the connection to the centralized community wastewater collection and treatment system shall not extend beyond nine years following the date that the nearby water body is added to Attachment 2.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of real property in California, including Shasta County, subject to the California Subdivision Map Act and applicable local ordinances.

    • Local ordinances may require a tentative map where a parcel map is required.
    • A parcel map is required for subdivisions for which a final or parcel map is not otherwise required, unless preparation is waived by local ordinance.
    • A parcel map is not required for qualifying short-term railroad-right-of-way subdivisions.
    • A parcel map is not required for land conveyed to or from a governmental agency, public entity, or public utility, unless substantial evidence shows public policy necessitates a parcel map.
    • Local agencies must provide an ordinance-based parcel-map waiver procedure requiring findings regarding area, improvement and design, floodwater drainage control, improved public roads, sanitary disposal facilities, water supply availability, environmental protection, and other applicable requirements.
    • Where a local ordinance waives a parcel map, it may still require a tentative map.
    • The cited state provision was amended by Senate Bill 184 and became effective January 1, 2014.
    “(a) Local ordinances may require a tentative map where a parcel map is required by this chapter. A parcel map shall be required for subdivisions as to which a final or parcel map is not otherwise required by this chapter, unless the preparation of the parcel map is waived by local ordinance as provided in this section.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Division of land in California that falls within the statutory definition of subdivision, including division for sale, lease, or financing.
      “A parcel map shall be required for subdivisions as to which a final or parcel map is not otherwise required by this chapter, unless the preparation of the parcel map is waived by local ordinance as provided in this section.”
  • 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.”
  • 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.

  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Shasta County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in unincorporated Shasta County.
  • Building height — Building-height limits in unincorporated Shasta County.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems in Shasta County.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural-building exemption from building-permit requirements in unincorporated Shasta County.
2 more unanswered
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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 Shasta 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 ↗
  • Redding Area Subbasins (Anderson, Enterprise) — Medium Prioritypartial of county

    Medium-priority SGMA basin (DWR 2019 Basin Prioritization) requiring an adopted Groundwater Sustainability Plan; a new well is subject to GSA consistency review under Executive Order N-7-22. De minimis domestic wells (<2 af/yr) are generally exempt from GSA metering but still need a county permit.

    California DWR — SGMA Basin Prioritization (2019) ↗

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 Shasta County, California

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

Shasta County scores 56/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 6,470 people within 15 miles. 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 Shasta County, California?

Shasta County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Shasta County Environmental Health. 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 Shasta County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Shasta County is allowed on a temporary basis only: Statewide rule. Occupancy of recreational vehicles as residential units in California. RVs are not intended for occupancy as permanent dwellings. Unless a local ordinance allows otherwise, RV occupancy generally is limited to mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act or Special Occupancy Parks Act. A tiny home is allowed. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Shasta County, California?

Land in Shasta County runs about $10,930 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Shasta County?

Shasta County gets about 43.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 36.8% of years. On water rights, Shasta County lies in the Redding Area Subbasins (Anderson, Enterprise) — Medium Priority — Medium-priority SGMA basin (DWR 2019 Basin Prioritization) requiring an adopted Groundwater Sustainability Plan; a new well is subject to GSA consistency review under Executive Order N-7-22. De minimis domestic wells (<2 af/yr) are generally exempt from GSA metering but still need a county permit..

How remote is Shasta County?

A typical private-land location has about 6,470 people within 15 miles and 1,006,720 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Shasta County 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.

How Shasta compares in California

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