PLANNING DEPARTMENT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

ZONING

Q. What is zoning?

A. Zoning is the basic means of regulating land use. Zoning and development regulations are contained in the Butte County Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Ordinances establishes uses and standards which ensure that land is used in a manner which bests serves the health and safety of the entire community. Specific zoning districts separate land uses which might be incompatible with each other by directing industrial, commercial, residential, and other land uses to specified lands where similar uses will be located. The Zoning Ordinance also regulates the intensity of such uses, the location of structures on the property lines, and other development requirements such as parking or building height. Zoning also provides the legal and enforceable land use regulations required to carry out the policies set forth in the County's General Plan.

Q. How is the property zoned?

A. Information is available only for unincorporated areas through the link provided.   For parcels located in the cities listed below, please contact the corresponding Planning Departments.

  • CLICK HERE FOR “PARCEL LOOKUP.”
  • Click on the area of the county where your parcel is located.  
  • Use the tool bar features to zoom in and out (click on the magnifying glass icon) or drag the view to other areas of the display (click on the hand icon).  

 

  • City Planning Departments  
Biggs      868-5447 Chico         895-4851 Gridley   846-3631
Oroville   538-2430 Paradise   872-6291  

Q. What does that zoning allow?

A. There is also a link (http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/butteco/) on our website to the General Ordinances of the county that will tell you general information as to each type of zoning designation.   Zoning information is found in Chapter 24.   Each piece of property is unique and there are other factors that must be considered along with zoning in determining legal uses and development (including setbacks) of a piece of property.  

Some planning factors would be: deed restrictions, how the property was created, restrictions or conditions imposed as a condition of the map that created the parcel, existing use of the parcel, intended use of the parcel, location of the parcel (if it is in a high fire, deer herd or flood area, or part of the Williamson Act/land conservation), if it is agricultural property or does it border agricultural use/land, etc.  

The Planning Department is happy to assist with this planning level of research at their research fee rate of $157.40/hour.  

OTHER COUNTY RESOURCES – www.buttecounty.net Phone Fax
Agriculture 538-7381 538-7594
Assessor   - Assessor Parcel Numbers and addresses 538-7721 538-7991
California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE) – Butte Co. Fire 538-6226 538-7401
Environmental Health Oroville – Wells and septic systems 538-7281 538-7785
Public Works – Roads, drainage, encroachments, County Surveyor 538-7681 538-7171

(Last Updated: 2008-05-08)