Realities of Rural Living (Butte County)

Rural County Brochure Page 1 (600 kb) | Page 2 (2.4 meg PDF - can print 11 x 17") 		From agricultural settings to oak studded foothills and high mountain panoramas, Butte County contains some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in California.  The Department of Development Services - responsible for reviewing land use and development in the County - welcomes all who wish to settle here, and is ready to assist in the many steps involved with the building of a home, community, or business.

Rural County Brochure Page 1 (600 kb) | Page 2 (2.4 meg PDF - can print 11 x 17")

Rural Homepage | Section I | Section II | Section III | Section IV | Section V | Section VI

Inside our brochure you will find a brief guide to the following unique rural
development issues:

Section I
Neighboring Resource-Based Land Uses (Agriculture, Mining and Logging)
Section II
Roads, Road Maintenance and Access
Section III
Property, Communities and Development Issues
Section IV
Natural Hazards (Fire, Flood)
Section VI
Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat

Of Butte County's 1676 square miles, 66 of them are within the 4 Cities of Biggs, Chico, Gridley and Oroville, and the Town of Paradise. (Click here for an overview)

The remaining unincorporated lands (1610 square miles) fall under County jurisdiction, and can be divided into 3 topographical zones: (click on map for larger image)

  • The Relatively Flat Valley of the West,
  • The Rolling Foothills and Volcanic Buttes in the Center, and
  • The High-Forested Mountains and the Deep River Canyons of the East