Roads

SECTION II

Butte County is responsible for some 1,340 miles of roads (of which almost 250 are unpaved), maintaining road surfaces, roadside vegetation and signage. Road maintenance is not funded by County General Fund dollars and, due to funding limitations, the County has no plans to pave any gravel roads. Roughly 1,270 miles of additional roads are privately owned and not maintained by the County.

Be aware that extreme events such as washouts, snow and fire can leave both public and private rural roads impassable for a variable length of time. You should find out what entity, if any, is responsible for the private roads leading to your property, and ask how maintenance is funded and to what standard. Rural parcels may have no legal access to a County maintained road, and may sometimes only be secured by crossing the properties of many different owners (possibly at considerable expense and even litigation.) It is very important that you have a clear understanding of your easement rights (or lack thereof.) Remember too that other property owners may have easement rights across your property. Get a feel for the amount of traffic that could be regularly crossing the land you are interested in.

Emergency response times (e.g., sheriff, fire, ambulance) will vary widely depending upon your location, and can be slow in arriving due to weather or fire. Check to see that emergency, construction and delivery vehicles can navigate the roads to your property.

Gravel and dirt roads are appealingly rustic - remember they're dusty in the summer, slick in the winter and hard on a vehicle. Rural often means remote. Everyday and periodic necessities - work, stores, children's schools, friends or health care - can require unexpected time, and the often narrow and winding rural roads demand attentive driving.

Access doesn't only refer to roads and driving - it also means that availability and connection to electricity, telephone, internet, cable and wireless services can be limited. Extension of electricity and telephone to an un-served property can be extremely expensive, particularly if easements to cross other properties do not exist. Many parts of the County are without internet or cell phone service.