Bolthole Index

Tehama County, California

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in unincorporated Tehama County, California

51Index Score / 100
#10 of 58 in California

Unincorporated Tehama County, California requires a building permit, issued by the county's Building & Safety Department, before you build1. The county's own zoning ordinance covers unincorporated Tehama County, and property-specific rules for setbacks, minimum lot size and permitted uses come from the Planning Department using your property address or APN2. Septic systems also go through the county: Tehama County Environmental Health issues onsite wastewater (OWTS) permits countywide3. California lets an owner-builder skip contractor licensure under specific conditions, but that does not remove Tehama County's own building-permit or inspection requirements4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required in unincorporated Tehama County, through Building & Safety1
Zoning
Yes, countywide in unincorporated areas; call Planning with your address or APN2
Septic permit
Tehama County Environmental Health (OWTS permits)3
Owner-builder exemption
Available, conditioned on doing the work yourself or using licensed subcontractors4
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)
Allowed in zoning districts permitting single- or multi-family use; one ADU plus one JADU per residence5
Agricultural exempt building
Up to 12,000 sq ft on parcels over 10 acres, with conditions6
Septic-friendly soils
Only 1.9% of soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field7
Median property tax bill
About $1,996/yr (0.6% effective rate)89

Who to call

Building permits

Tehama County Building & Safety Department

Building permit applications, plan review and inspections for construction in unincorporated Tehama County

(530) 527-7002

444 Oak Street, Room H, Red Bluff, CA 96080

Online permits →

Zoning

Tehama County Planning Department

Property-specific zoning information (permitted uses, use permits, setbacks, minimum lot sizes, building heights, parking) for unincorporated Tehama County

(530) 527-2200

444 Oak Street, Room I, Courthouse Annex, Red Bluff, CA 96080

Septic permits

Tehama County Environmental Health

Septic (OWTS) permits and inspections, well and water-supply oversight, and related land-use environmental review for Tehama County

(530) 527-8020

633 Washington Street, Room 36, Red Bluff, CA 96080

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 25, 2026.

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

Yes: the county's Building and Safety Division processes building permits for residential construction in unincorporated Tehama County under the California Building Code1. Tehama County adopted Ordinance #2150 for the 2025 code cycle, and local conditions include Climate Zone 11 on the valley floor and at Paynes Creek, Climate Zone 16 at Manton and areas east of Ponderosa, a 90 MPH design wind speed, and Seismic Zone D with Exposure C10. A submitted building-permit application expires after 180 days, and once a permit is issued, the work must reach final inspection and a certificate of occupancy within two years of issuance1112. California separately lets an owner-builder skip contractor licensure when doing the work personally, through employees paid wages as their sole compensation, or by contracting with properly licensed subcontractors, but this exemption does not replace Tehama County's own permit and inspection requirements, and property owners are barred from doing well-drilling work themselves13.

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

The Tehama County Building & Safety Department, at 444 Oak Street, Room H in Red Bluff, reviews plans, issues permits and inspects construction in unincorporated Tehama County14. Call (530) 527-7002, or apply online through the county's permitting portal at tehamacountyca.viewpointcloud.com14. If you are building a house, have an approved plot plan, a complete set of building plans, energy calculations, truss calculations, a modified soils test, structural calculations if applicable, solar plans and a Manual J report, and a flood elevation certificate if applicable ready when you apply11. After the permit issues, required inspections include the foundation, underfloor, roof sheathing and framing stages, plus County Fire, County Road/CalTrans and Environmental Health clearances before the final inspection15.

Does Tehama County have zoning?

Yes, but only in the unincorporated areas: the Planning and Building & Safety Departments enforce the Tehama County Zoning Ordinance and Building Code outside the cities of Corning and Red Bluff, which set their own separate zoning216. For your specific parcel's permitted uses, use-permit requirements, setbacks, minimum lot size, building height or parking requirements, call the Planning Department at (530) 527-2200 with your property address or APN, or visit the counter at 444 Oak Street, Room I17. Height limits illustrate how much this varies by district: the RE, R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts cap buildings at 35 feet, while R-4 allows up to 65 feet18. Tehama County has no separately codified minimum dwelling-unit size, so the California Building Code's own minimums apply by default19. An accessory dwelling unit is allowed in any zoning district that permits single-family or multifamily use, up to one ADU and one JADU per residence, once the Planning Department verifies the property and you obtain a county-approved plot plan and building permit5.

How do septic permits work in Tehama County?

Tehama County Environmental Health is authorized under county code and the state's OWTS Policy, through the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, to issue onsite wastewater (septic) permits countywide3. Reach that office at (530) 527-8020, 633 Washington Street, Room 36, Red Bluff20. Only 1.9% of Tehama County's soils rate free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field under the USDA soil survey, so expect a site evaluation and plan for the possibility of an alternative or engineered system7. Cesspools are not authorized under the county's Local Agency Management Plan, and an existing cesspool found through a complaint, a repair request or a capacity-increase application must be destroyed and replaced with an approved system21. Groundwater use also has its own rule: extracting water for use on a parcel other than the one where the well sits, or on a non-contiguous parcel, needs a permit, and an individual well of 8 inches or less in casing diameter generally will not be permitted unless the parcel has a permitted use the well will supply22.

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

Under California's default rule, an RV is not meant for occupancy as a permanent dwelling, and unless a local ordinance says otherwise, RVs may only be occupied in mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks23. A structure marketed as a tiny home must be approved as one of several defined types, such as a HUD-Code manufactured home, a California Residential or Building Code home, factory-built housing, a recreational vehicle, a park trailer or a camping cabin; a tiny home that fits none of those categories and does not meet the state building code is a noncomplying structure that cannot legally be occupied24. Tehama County passed a temporary urgency ordinance letting people displaced by the Park Fire occupy one RV, movable tiny house or post-2014 manufactured home per premises as a Temporary Dwelling, with utility hookups, written owner consent and setback compliance, but this rule is limited to Park Fire-displaced residents and expires three years after its effective date unless the Board extends it, so it is not a general path to RV or tiny-home living on rural land here2526.

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

  1. Call the Planning Department at (530) 527-2200 with your property address or APN to confirm the zoning district, permitted uses and setbacks before you design or site a home17.
  2. If your project is a subdivision or larger development, note that any proposal over 50 lots, or over five acres if that is the smaller threshold, must identify the flood hazard area and base flood elevation27.
  3. Gather your building-permit documents (approved plot plan, complete building plans, energy and truss calculations, a soils test, structural calculations if applicable, solar plans and a Manual J report, and a flood elevation certificate if applicable), then apply online or in person with the Building & Safety Department at 444 Oak Street, Room H1411.
  4. Apply for an OWTS (septic) permit with Tehama County Environmental Health if you are not on public sewer20.
  5. If you plan an agricultural exempt building instead of a residence, confirm it meets the program's rules, including a one-acre minimum parcel size and size limits by parcel size6.
  6. Schedule inspections after the permit issues, including County Fire, County Road/CalTrans and Environmental Health clearances, and complete the final inspection and certificate of occupancy within two years of the permit's issuance1512.

What to check before you buy land in Tehama County

Soils: only 1.9% of Tehama County's soils rate free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so budget for a site evaluation from Environmental Health before counting on a standard system720. Water: a well permit generally is not required for on-parcel use only, but extracting groundwater for use on a different or non-contiguous parcel needs one, and a small-diameter individual well typically will not be permitted without a qualifying use on the parcel22. Flood: in a floodway, new construction, fill and other development are prohibited unless a registered engineer certifies no increase in the base flood elevation, so ask Planning whether your parcel is mapped in a special flood hazard area27. Income plans: if you are considering a short-term vacation rental, unincorporated Tehama County has required a Short-Term Rental permit since June 20, 2024, and levies an 8% transient occupancy tax on stays of 30 days or less28. Taxes: Tehama County's effective property tax rate runs about 0.6%, for a median bill near $1,996 a year98. About 26.2% of the county is federal land, and the nearest metro area is about 34 miles from the county's center2930.

Watch-outs

  • Tehama County's temporary Park Fire housing ordinance allows a displaced resident to occupy one RV, movable tiny house or post-2014 manufactured home per premises as a Temporary Dwelling, but its more relaxed hookup rule ended on June 30, 2026, and the whole ordinance expires three years after its effective date unless extended; confirm current status with the county before relying on it, and it never applies to a general land purchase unrelated to the Park Fire25.
  • Tehama County's zoning ordinance applies only in unincorporated areas; land inside the City of Corning or City of Red Bluff follows that city's own zoning instead, as a Corning use-permit hearing for a PQ-zoned parcel illustrates16.
  • Only 1.9% of Tehama County's soils rate free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so do not assume a standard system until Environmental Health evaluates the site7.

Sources

  1. Tehama County Building and Safety - Permit Information (2026 county census)
  2. Code Enforcement | Tehama County (2026 county census)
  3. Tehama County Environmental Health (2026 county census)
  4. California Business and Professions Code Section 7044 (2026 county census)
  5. Tehama County Accessory Dwelling Units Quick Guide, quoted and re-checked
  6. Agricultural Exemption, quoted and re-checked
  7. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  8. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  9. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  10. Codes and Ordinances | Tehama County, quoted and re-checked
  11. Permit Information, quoted and re-checked
  12. Inspection Request Instructions, quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Official Information Guide - CSLB, quoted and re-checked
  14. Tehama County Building & Safety Department (tehama.gov)
  15. Inspection Request Instructions, quoted and re-checked
  16. Code Enforcement | Tehama County, quoted and re-checked
  17. Tehama County Planning Department (tehama.gov)
  18. Tehama County Housing Element, quoted and re-checked
  19. Tehama County Housing Element, quoted and re-checked
  20. Tehama County Environmental Health (tehama.gov)
  21. Tehama County Local Agency Management Plan, quoted and re-checked
  22. Tehama County Groundwater Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  23. Information Bulletin 2016-01: Tiny Homes (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Information Bulletin 2016-01: Tiny Homes (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. 24-1639 - Urgency Ordinance for Temporary Housing - Park Fire, quoted and re-checked
  26. 24-1639 - Urgency Ordinance for Temporary Housing - Park Fire, quoted and re-checked
  27. Title 15—Buildings and Construction, Chapter 15.52—Floodplain Management Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  28. Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), quoted and re-checked
  29. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 25, 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

Tehama County in California

51
County map
Tehama County highlighted among the California counties · colored by Index score

How Tehama County scores

Seclusion63100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency56100% ev.
Admin Boringness41100% ev.
Durability22100% ev.
Property Autonomy56100% ev.
Carry Cost71100% 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 →

$327kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$5,479Land / acre
37.2"Annual rain
38.4% of yrsSevere drought
29.1 / yr (+15.1)Mid-century 100°F days
65.1 daysMid-century dry spell
2.09" (+4.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.1×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,641Home insurance / yr
8.7% / yrInsurance growth
1.94%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
20,130Radius comparison (15 mi)
22People / sq mi
26.2%Federal land
17.7%Land at 15% slope or less
1.9%Septic soil without severe limits
30,119 acWorkable land screen
50.1%Wooded land
52.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
58.9°FAvg temp

Scout Tehama 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 Tehama 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 Tehama County

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

Tehama County rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Tehama County Building & Safety Department code-cycle adoption for building regulation in the unincorporated areas of Tehama County.

    • The County Building & Safety page lists Ordinance #2150 as adopting the 2025 code cycle.
    • The same official page lists local conditions and requirements, including Climate Zone 11 for Valley Floor and Paynes Creek, Climate Zone 16 for Manton and east of Ponderosa, 90 MPH wind speed, Seismic Zone D, Exposure C, and specified trench depths and utility test pressures.
    • The cited sources do not state an effective date for Ordinance #2150.

    wind speed: 90 MPH · seismic zone: D · exposure: C · water test: 50 psi for 15 minutes · waste test: 5 psi for 15 minutes · gas test: 10 psi for 15 minutes

    “Tehama County Ordinance #2150 Adopting Code Cycle 2025”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New construction permitted by Tehama County Building & Safety.

    • After receiving the permit, the listed inspections must be called for and approved before proceeding.
    • Required stages include foundation, underslab plumbing when applicable, underfloor, underfloor insulation, roof sheathing/structural, framing, wall insulation, stucco, sheetrock nailing, showerpan, county clearances, and final inspection.
    • County clearances include County Fire, County Road/CalTrans, and Environmental Health.
    • The final inspection requires CF6R forms and CF4R forms if applicable, plus a gas tag.
    “AFTER RECEIVING YOUR PERMIT, THE FOLLOWING INSPECTIONS MUST BE CALLED FOR AND APPROVED BY THE INSPECTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING:”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    New construction final inspections and manufactured-home soft-set final inspections handled by Tehama County Building & Safety.

    • For new construction, the final inspection requires the job to be completed, CF6R forms, CF4R forms if applicable, a gas tag, and issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
    • For manufactured homes, the source specifically states that a certificate of occupancy is issued for mobile home soft-set only.
    • Separately, Tehama County states that a certificate of occupancy is required where the code requires it, and permits expire if work is not completed with final inspection approval and that certificate within two years from issuance.
    • A change of occupancy classification or use requires approval of the building official and compliance with current code requirements.

    permit completion deadline: 2 years from date of issuance (except as specified in Section 15.28.060)

    “FINAL INSPECTION- Gas tag to be issued, certificate of occupancy (mobile home soft-set only)”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Tehama County Zoning Ordinance in the unincorporated areas of Tehama County.

    • The cited county zoning authority is expressly limited to the unincorporated areas of the County.
    • Property-specific permitted uses, use permits, setbacks, minimum lot sizes, building heights, and parking requirements must be obtained from the Planning Department using the property address or APN.
    “The Planning and Building & Safety Departments are responsible for the enforcement of the Tehama County Zoning Ordinance and Building Code in the unincorporated areas of the County.”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate local zoning across Tehama County, including County-administered unincorporated areas and incorporated municipalities.

    • The County administers and enforces its zoning ordinance only in unincorporated areas.
    • Incorporated municipalities may administer separate zoning rules; the City of Corning official notice identifies a parcel zoned PQ, Public/Quasi Public and subject to a city Planning Commission use-permit hearing.
    • This aggregate claim does not establish the complete zoning rules of every municipality in Tehama County.
    “The park site is zoned PQ, Public/Quasi Public.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeNone

    Residential development in Tehama County residential zones in unincorporated areas.

    • The County defaults to minimum unit sizes defined by the California Building Code.
    “no formally codified minimum unit size requirement”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential zones RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 in unincorporated Tehama County.

    • The PD district uses standards specified in the use permit, except for parking.
    • The H combining district establishes maximum height regulations that override underlying zoning height limits, with the more restrictive regulation prevailing.
    • Airport-hazard H districts may also regulate trees and other natural growth.

    RE maximum height: 35 ft · R-1 maximum height: 35 ft · R-2 maximum height: 35 ft · R-3 maximum height: 35 ft · R-4 maximum height: 65 ft

    “Max. Height 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 35 ft. 65 ft.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Residential use and occupancy of one recreational vehicle per premises as a temporary dwelling for a person displaced by the Park Fire during the ordinance's Effective Period.

    • The recreational vehicle must qualify as a Temporary Dwelling or satisfy the separate Transitory Period rule.
    • A temporary administrative permit is required for a Temporary Dwelling with utility hookups.
    • The use is limited to displaced persons whose residential dwelling was damaged or destroyed by the Park Fire.
    • The vehicle must have required water, sewage-disposal, and electricity hookups during the Effective Period, subject to the ordinance's separate Transitory Period provision.
    • Written property-owner consent is required.
    • The vehicle must be outside required setbacks and recorded easements, subject to the ordinance's setback exception.
    • The ordinance is temporary and expires three years after its Effective Date unless extended or modified by the Board.
    • The ordinance prohibits residence on a Park Fire-damaged or destroyed premises until certified clean by Environmental Health, subject to the stated exception for qualifying recreational-vehicle use during the Transitory Period.

    maximum temporary dwellings per premises: 1 dwelling (during the Effective Period) · Transitory Period end: 2026-06-30 (recreational vehicles do not need to meet water, sewage-disposal, and electricity hookup standards during that period)

    “Residential use and occupancy of up to one (1) Temporary Dwelling with hook-ups for water, sewage disposal, and electricity consistent with the Tehama County Code shall be allowed per premises during the Effective Period subject to a temporary administrative permit.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Residential use of a movable tiny house as a Temporary Dwelling for a person displaced by the Park Fire during the ordinance's Effective Period.

    • A movable tiny house must be licensed and registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
    • It must meet ANSI 119.5 or ANSI 119.2 (NFPA 1192) requirements and be certified by a qualified third-party inspector for ANSI compliance.
    • It cannot move under its own power, must comply with state highway-movement length limits, must have at least 150 square feet and no more than 430 square feet of habitable living space.
    • A temporary administrative permit or other county permits and written property-owner consent are required as applicable.
    • The use is limited to displaced persons and is subject to water, sewage-disposal, electricity, setback, easement, and other ordinance conditions.
    • The ordinance is temporary and expires three years after its Effective Date unless extended or modified by the Board.

    minimum total floor area: >= 150 square feet · maximum habitable living space: <= 430 square feet · maximum temporary dwellings per premises: 1 dwelling (during the Effective Period)

    ““Movable Tiny House” means a structure utilized as living quarters by one household that is licensed by and registered California Department of Motor Vehicles, meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 119.5 or ANSI 119.2 (NFPA 1192) requirements and is certified by a qualified third party inspector for ANSI compliance, cannot move under its own power, is not longer than allowed by State law for movement on public highways, has a total floor area of not less than 150 square feet, and has no more than 430 square feet of habitable living space.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Residential use of a mobile/manufactured home as a Temporary Dwelling for a person displaced by the Park Fire during the ordinance's Effective Period.

    • The mobile/manufactured home must meet the ordinance's definition and applicable county permit requirements.
    • The County shall not grant a permit for installation of a mobile/manufactured home manufactured before 2014.
    • The use is limited to displaced persons whose residence was damaged or destroyed by the Park Fire.
    • Required water, sewage-disposal, and electricity hookups, temporary or county permits, written property-owner consent, setbacks, easements, and other ordinance conditions apply.
    • The ordinance is temporary and expires three years after its Effective Date unless extended or modified by the Board.

    minimum manufacturing year for permitted installation: >= 2014 year · maximum temporary dwellings per premises: 1 dwelling (during the Effective Period)

    “The County shall not grant a permit for the installation of a mobile/manufactured home if such mobile/manufactured home was manufactured before 2014.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units on Tehama County properties in zoning districts allowing residential use, subject to county planning and building review.

    • The property must be verified by the Planning Department as allowing an ADU.
    • A county-approved plot plan and building permit application are required.
    • The county brochure states that all ADU applications require a building permit.
    • ADUs must comply with zoning regulations and property-development standards of the district.
    • A single-family residence may have up to one ADU and one JADU.
    • Short-term vacation rentals of less than 31 days are not allowed as ADUs.
    • Mobile homes are not allowed as ADUs.
    • Additional site-specific requirements may include septic, solar, fire-sprinkler, flood-zone, FEMA, CEQA, utility, soils, and fire-marshal requirements.
    • The county's official code-enforcement page states that county zoning and building-code enforcement applies in unincorporated areas.

    maximum ADUs per single-family residence: 1 ADU (one JADU may also be allowed) · maximum JADUs per single-family residence: 1 JADU (one ADU may also be allowed) · maximum JADU size: <= 500 square feet · maximum detached ADU size: <= 1200 square feet (studio, one-bedroom, and two-or-more-bedroom units as listed in the county brochure)

    “ADUs are permitted in all zoning districts allowing single-family or multifamily use.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid sanitation using onsite wastewater systems and cesspools in Tehama County.

    • Approved OWTS may be used where public sewer is unavailable and all permit, siting, soil, inspection, and approval requirements are met.
    • Cesspools are not authorized by the Tehama County LAMP.
    • Existing cesspools discovered through repair, complaint, or an application to increase OWTS capacity must be destroyed and replaced with an acceptable OWTS.
    • Permits will not be issued for construction of any cesspool.
    • Systems receiving a significant amount of RV holding-tank waste are regulated by the Regional Water Quality Control Board; TCEHD may issue permits when RV waste is incidental to a normal waste stream, such as a homeowner's RV dump station.
    “Cesspools are not authorized by this LAMP.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Groundwater extraction and individual wells in Tehama County, particularly off-parcel use and individual wells on vacant parcels.

    • A permit is required before extracting groundwater for use or sale on property other than the parcel where extraction occurs, or contiguous parcels under the same ownership.
    • The rule does not apply to extraction supplying a public water system, community water system, noncommunity water system, or state small water system serving Tehama County.
    • For an individual well with casing diameter of eight inches or less, the ordinance states that no permit shall be issued unless the parcel contains a permitted use supplied by the well, subject to the ordinance's exceptions.
    • The cited official materials do not establish a universal countywide permit requirement for every private well drilled solely for on-parcel use.

    individual well casing diameter threshold: <= 8 inches (The ordinance states exceptions may apply under subdivision (c).)

    “other than the parcel of land upon which the extraction occurs, or contiguous parcels of land under the same ownership [...] without first obtaining a permit”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural exempt buildings under the Tehama County Department of Building & Safety agricultural exemption program.

    • The building cannot be located in an area of special flood hazard.
    • The building cannot contain workers or customers, bathrooms, assemblages, product display, packaging or processing, sales, work stations, or storage warehousing of processed products in quantity.
    • The parcel must be at least one acre.
    • The building must be at least 20 feet from any property line and 23 feet from any dwelling.
    • The building cannot be used for human occupation, habitation, employment, recreation, or commercial purposes, including the listed examples of covered riding arenas, commercial stables, commercial feeding barns, fish hatchery facilities, wineries, sawmills, dairies, commercial greenhouses, warehouses, and firewood storage structures.
    • On parcels of one to ten acres, the building is limited to 600 square feet and 15 feet in height.
    • On parcels over ten acres, the building is limited to 12,000 square feet and 25 feet in height.
    • The ground floor must be on grade and concrete, dirt, or asphalt concrete.
    • Standard permits and inspections are required for electrical and plumbing installations; additional fees apply.
    • Electrical installations are limited to lights and not more than two 110V receptacles.
    • Plumbing is limited to exterior hose bibs and one cleanup sink; waste systems require Environmental Health approval before issuance.
    • Mechanical installations are prohibited.
    • No point in the building may be more than 300 feet from an exit.
    • An inspection must be requested after construction and before permit expiration.
    • Only the property owner or authorized agent may apply for and obtain the permit.
    • The permit expires and becomes void if the building is not completed within one year of issuance.

    minimum parcel size: >= 1 acre · property-line setback: >= 20 ft · dwelling setback: >= 23 ft · maximum area on 1-10 acre parcel: 600 sq ft · maximum height on 1-10 acre parcel: 15 ft · maximum area on parcel over 10 acres: 12000 sq ft · maximum height on parcel over 10 acres: 25 ft · permit completion deadline: 1 year from issuance

    “Must be located on a parcel of land one (1) acre or more in size.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    New construction, substantial improvements, subdivisions, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, and other development in Tehama County special flood-hazard areas and floodways.

    • In all areas of special flood hazards, new construction and substantial improvements must satisfy anchoring, flood-resistant materials and methods, utility-location, and elevation or floodproofing standards.
    • Residential construction must generally have the lowest floor at or above the base flood elevation; AO-zone structures must meet the specified depth or two-foot elevation rule where no depth number is specified.
    • Lowest-floor certification by a registered professional engineer or surveyor and verification by the community building inspector must be provided to the floodplain administrator.
    • Development proposals greater than fifty lots or five acres, whichever is lesser, must identify the flood hazard area and base-flood elevation.
    • In floodways, encroachments, fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other new development are prohibited unless a registered professional engineer certifies that the encroachment will not increase the base flood elevation.

    subdivision/development threshold: > 50 lots (or five acres, whichever is lesser) · recreational vehicle maximum stay in specified flood zones: < 180 consecutive days (Vehicle must be fully licensed and ready for highway use) · floodway base-flood-elevation increase: 0 feet (Engineer certification required)

    “Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement, and other new development unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in the base flood elevation during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Hotels, hosts, and operators offering lodging in unincorporated Tehama County for stays of 30 days or less.

    • Effective June 20, 2024, a Short-Term Rental permit is required to operate.
    • The county levies an 8% transient occupancy tax on lodging occupied for 30 days or less.
    • Operators must file quarterly transient occupancy tax returns online.
    • The cited requirement applies to unincorporated areas; incorporated municipalities may have separate rules.

    transient occupancy tax: 8 percent (Lodging occupancy for 30 days or less)

    “Effective June 20, 2024, Hoteliers and other hosts/operators are required to obtain a Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit to operate in all unincorporated areas of Tehama County.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    County building permit applications for building a house in unincorporated Tehama County.

    • Applications may be submitted online through the county permitting portal or with assistance at the county office.
    • The county page lists approved plot plan, complete building plans, energy calculations, truss calculations, soils test, structural calculations if applicable, solar plans and Manual J report, and flood elevation certificate if applicable.
    • All permit applications expire after 180 days.

    permit application expiration: 180 days

    “To apply for a permit online please go to: [...] Building a house? Have these documents ready when you apply [...] REMINDER: All permit applications expire after 180 days.”

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”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — California contractor-licensure exemption for an owner-builder undertaking construction, alteration, repair, improvement, or remodeling on owned property; this does not eliminate Tehama County building-permit or inspection requirements.
      “An owner-builder is exempt from licensure, but there are limitations. A license is not required if: 1. The owner-builder does the work himself or herself or through his or her own employees with wages as their sole compensation and the structure(s) is/are not intended for sale; or 2. The owner-builder contracts with properly licensed subcontractor(s).”
    • 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”
  • 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.”
  • 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”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping in units operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation statewide.

    • Camping is confined to areas designated for that purpose.
    • Occupancy by the same persons, equipment, or vehicles is generally limited to 30 days in any calendar year in that unit.
    • The Department may establish shorter or longer occupancy limits.
    • When a shorter seasonal limit applies, the camper must vacate the campsite and may not reregister in the unit until 48 hours have expired, measured from 12:00 noon on the checkout day to 12:00 noon on the second day following.
    • A district superintendent may permit one-night camping in a day-use area or portion of one, subject to Department-established fees and vehicle limitations; occupants must vacate by 9:00 a.m. the following morning.
    • California State Parks' current reservation policy states that each campground has a consecutive-night limit, requires a 48-hour absence after that limit, and generally has a 30-night annual maximum, subject to individual park policies.

    general annual occupancy limit: 30 days per calendar year per unit (The Department may establish shorter or longer limits of occupancy.) · return interval after shorter seasonal limit: 48 hours (Measured from 12:00 noon of the checkout day to 12:00 noon of the second day following.) · one-night camping in day-use area: 1 night (Only if permitted by the district superintendent; occupants must vacate by 9:00 a.m. the following morning.)

    “Occupancy by the same persons, equipment, or vehicles of any camping facility is limited to a total of 30 days in any calendar year in that unit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Temporary camping in California special occupancy parks, including parks containing recreational vehicles, tents, or camping cabins.
      ““Special occupancy park” means a recreational vehicle park, temporary recreational vehicle park, incidental camping area, or tent camp.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    California onsite wastewater treatment systems, including septic systems primarily treating domestic wastewater through subsurface disposal.

    • The State Water Resources Control Board establishes the statewide OWTS Policy.
    • Local agencies, such as county environmental health departments, issue OWTS permits under the statewide policy.
    • Local Agency Management Programs may establish locally tailored siting and design standards.

    OWTS Policy effective date: 2013-05-13 (Except for Tier 3, local agencies could continue existing permitting programs for 60 months after the effective date.) · Tier 1 maximum flow: <= 3500 gallons per day (Applies to qualifying new or replacement OWTS where no approved LAMP applies.) · Tier 2 maximum flow: <= 10000 gallons per day (Applies under an approved LAMP.)

    “The State Water Resources Control Board [...] adopted the OWTS Policy in June 2012. The OWTS Policy authorizes local agencies [...] to issue OWTS permits.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Septic permitLimited

    New, replacement, and corrective-action OWTS in California; existing properly functioning systems may fall under Tier 0 rather than new/replacement permitting requirements.

    • Tier 1 applies to qualifying new or replacement OWTS when no Regional Water Board-approved LAMP exists, with a maximum flow of 3,500 gallons per day.
    • Tier 2 applies to qualifying new or replacement OWTS under an approved LAMP, with a maximum flow of 10,000 gallons per day.
    • Tier 3 applies near impaired surface waters subject to a TMDL, a special LAMP provision, or within 600 feet of a water body listed on OWTS Policy Attachment 2; supplemental treatment may apply.
    • Tier 4 applies to systems that are not properly functioning and require corrective action.
    • Local agencies issue the permits and local LAMP requirements may differ from Tier 1.

    Tier 1 maximum flow: <= 3500 gallons per day (Qualifying new or replacement OWTS without an approved LAMP.) · Tier 2 maximum flow: <= 10000 gallons per day (Qualifying new or replacement OWTS under an approved LAMP.) · Tier 3 water-body setback: <= 600 feet (Applies to a water body listed on OWTS Policy Attachment 2.)

    “Tier 1 applies when a Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) has not been approved by the Regional Water Board. Maximum flow rate is 3,500 gpd.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New and replacement onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), commonly known as septic systems, statewide in California.
      “Every new or replacement septic system requires a permit, either through your local jurisdiction (City or County) OR from the Central Coast Water Board.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    OWTS in a Tier 3 Advanced Protection Management Program with supplemental treatment components, including systems in specified impaired-water-body areas statewide.

    • The requirement applies to OWTS in an Advanced Protection Management Program with supplemental treatment components.
    • Ongoing monitoring must follow the OWTS operation and maintenance manual or occur more frequently if required by the local agency or Regional Water Board.
    • Where telemetry is not possible, the owner or owner's agent must inspect at least monthly while the system is in use and notify the service provider at least quarterly of observed operating parameters.
    • For systems designed to meet disinfection requirements, a service provider must inspect proper operation quarterly while the system is in use unless continuous telemetric monitoring is capable of assessing operation.
    • Quarterly effluent sampling and certified-laboratory requirements apply to systems subject to the disinfection provisions.

    inspection frequency where telemetry is not possible: per monthly (While the system is in use.) · inspection frequency for disinfection systems: per quarterly (While the system is in use, unless continuous telemetric monitoring is capable of assessing operation.)

    “Where telemetry is not possible, the owner or owner’s agent shall inspect the system at least monthly while the system is in use as directed and instructed by a service provider and notify the service provider not less than quarterly of the observed operating parameters of the OWTS. [...] OWTS in an Advanced Protection Management Program designed to meet the disinfection requirements in Section 10.10 shall be inspected for proper operation quarterly while the system is in use by a service provider unless a telemetric monitoring system is capable of continuously assessing the operation of the disinfection system.”
  • 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)

    Division of land in California that falls within the statutory definition of subdivision, including division for sale, lease, or financing.

    • A parcel map is generally required unless a final or parcel map is otherwise required or the preparation is waived by local ordinance.
    • Local ordinances may require a tentative map and may establish additional area, improvement, design, drainage, road, sanitary-disposal, water-supply, environmental-protection, and related requirements.
    • Certain railroad-right-of-way and governmental or public-utility conveyances are excepted from the parcel-map requirement described in Government Code section 66428(a).
    “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”

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 Tehama 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 Tehama County, California

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

Tehama County scores 51/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and sparse surroundings — about 20,130 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 Tehama County, California?

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

Living in an RV on your own land in Tehama County is limited to specific cases: Residential use and occupancy of one recreational vehicle per premises as a temporary dwelling for a person displaced by the Park Fire during the ordinance's Effective Period. The recreational vehicle must qualify as a Temporary Dwelling or satisfy the separate Transitory Period rule. A temporary administrative permit is required for a Temporary Dwelling with utility hookups. A tiny home is limited to specific cases. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Tehama County, California?

Land in Tehama County runs about $5,479 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Tehama County?

Tehama County gets about 37.2" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 38.4% of years. On water rights, Tehama 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 Tehama County?

A typical private-land location has about 20,130 people within 15 miles and 1,726,854 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Tehama 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 Tehama compares in California

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