Off-grid site report
Tehama County, CA
40.0271, -122.1233 · 223 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Tehama County, CA, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.
The local rulesTehama County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedTehama County has countywide zoning (Title 17) administered by the Planning Department; raw-land occupancy/camping is regulated by zone, not left open. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedRV parks/camping are treated as regulated uses under the zoning code, and second dwellings need Planning Department and Environmental Health approval; tiny home classification follows state HCD rules but placement is locally controlled.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedTehama County Building & Safety administers Title 15 (Buildings and Construction), recently repealed and readopted; no general exemption exists for off-grid or owner-built structures. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedTehama County Environmental Health runs a state-approved Local Agency Management Program with detailed county sewage disposal standards; any OWTS install or repair needs a county permit and final inspection. Composting-toilet-only setups are not separately confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found beyond the state Plumbing Code baseline; not confirmed, so ask Environmental Health directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance modifying the state rainwater capture baseline was found, so it likely follows the generally permissive state rule, but this is not separately confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWells are regulated jointly by Environmental Health (permits/construction) and the Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (groundwater/aquifer protection ordinances). source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone ordinance addresses off-grid utility disconnection directly; occupancy approval through Building & Safety still requires an approved water source and sewage disposal method. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,547 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 24 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 2 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,659 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 23 to Dec 1
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Saint Elizabeth Community Hospital - 9.8 mi
- Fire station
Tehama County Fire Department Station 10 - Los Molinos - 1.5 mi
- Hardware store
Corning Lumber - 7.4 mi
- Grocery
SAV•MOR Foods - 7.3 mi
From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.
Plan this spot
These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 96090).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Tehama County, CA?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.