Off-grid site report
Butte County, CA
39.5068, -121.5643 · 161 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Butte 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 rulesButte County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedButte County Development Services administers countywide zoning in unincorporated areas; occupancy generally requires a legal dwelling compliant with the applicable zone's standards, not just raw land occupancy. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyThe county allows one primary dwelling plus one ADU per parcel in most residential zones with set size ranges; permanent RV or tiny-home-on-wheels residency outside RV parks is not confirmed by county sources. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe Building Division requires permits, plan review, and inspection for all habitable structures; unpermitted 'storage' space cannot be used as living space without a permit change of occupancy. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedButte County Environmental Health Division permits and regulates septic (OWTS) under a Board-adopted ordinance and manual, currently being updated; Paradise runs a separate program from the rest of the county. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedSimple laundry-to-landscape systems are exempt from permits; more complex greywater systems require Building Division and Environmental Health review under the county's adopted plumbing code provisions. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Butte County-specific restriction was found; rooftop rainwater catchment appears to follow the state's Rainwater Capture Act baseline.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedEnvironmental Health permits all domestic and agricultural wells under county well-construction code, and construction must be done by a state-licensed C-57 well contractor; water quality upkeep is the owner's responsibility, not the county's. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo dedicated county ordinance on full grid disconnection (off-grid solar, no water/sewer hookup) was found; standard building/occupancy rules still apply, so confirm feasibility directly with Development Services. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,532 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 31 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,495 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 7 to Dec 10
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Oroville Hospital - 1.2 mi
- Fire station
Oroville Station 63 - 1.2 mi
- Hardware store
Tractor Supply Co - 0.5 mi
- Grocery
FoodMaxx - 0.3 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 95923).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Butte 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.