Bolthole Index

Glenn County, California

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Orland, California

Inside Orland city limits in Glenn County, California, the city's own Planning Department handles zoning and its Building Department handles building permits12. Septic systems are allowed only case by case on parcels of at least 5 acres3. Living in an RV is limited to licensed parks4. Land outside the city is on the Glenn County page.

At a glance

Zoning
City zoning under Title 17, with R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential zones56
Building permits
Issued by the City of Orland Building Department2
Building code
2022 California Residential Code adopted, with a local slab amendment7
Septic
Only case by case, on parcels of at least 5 acres3
RV living
Limited to licensed RV, trailer and mobilehome parks4
Accessory dwellings
ADUs and JADUs allowed without a use permit8
R-1 setbacks
20 ft front, 20 ft rear, 5 ft side9

Who to call

Building permits

City of Orland Building Department

Building permit applications, plan review and inspections inside Orland city limits

(530) 865-1606

Planning & zoning

City of Orland Planning Department

Zoning, land use permits, subdivisions, use permits and variances inside Orland city limits

(530) 865-1608

cityplanner@cityoforland.com

815 Fourth Street, Orland, CA 95963

Septic permits

Glenn County Environmental Health — Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Program

Review of test data and design proposals, and construction inspections, for onsite wastewater treatment systems in Glenn County

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Orland means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Orland, California have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The City of Orland zones the land inside its limits under Title 17 of the city code, and its Planning Department has primary responsibility for zoning and land use permits51. The residential zones we reviewed are R-1, R-2 and R-36.

In the R-1 single-family zone, the minimum lot area is 6,000 square feet, rising to 10,000, 15,000 or 20,000 for the larger designations10. Main buildings in R-1 need a 20-foot front setback, a 20-foot rear setback and a 5-foot side setback9, and building coverage is capped at 40 percent11. In the R-2 two-family zone, coverage can reach 60 percent12. Height limits, agricultural zones and a minimum dwelling size were not confirmed; ask the Planning Department.

Do you need a building permit in Orland, and who issues it?

The City of Orland Building Department reviews permit applications, reviews plans and inspects building work inside the city2. Orland has adopted the 2022 California Residential Code for residential construction in the city, with a local amendment to the slab reinforcement section7. Whether a particular small project is exempt was not confirmed, so call the Building Department before you start2.

The city's rules stop at city limits. For land outside Orland, Glenn County's own Building Inspector division issues building permits13; see the Glenn County page.

How do septic permits work inside Orland city limits?

Orland's city code allows individual sewage disposal systems only on set conditions: residential parcels of at least 5 acres, a capacity of no more than 1,500 gallons, and ground that lets septic fluids disperse easily3. Each request is reviewed case by case, with the public works commission recommending and the city council deciding14.

An approved septic owner must also agree to connect to the city sewer once a line comes within 200 feet of any property line15. Because the parcel minimum is 5 acres, most city lots should expect city sewer3. Glenn County Environmental Health runs the onsite wastewater program for the county1617; ask it which agency handles a septic permit for a given address inside Orland, and ask the city public works department about sewer and water connections.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Orland?

Generally not on an ordinary lot. Orland makes it unlawful to use a camp car, mobilehome, recreational vehicle or travel trailer for human habitation in the city except in a licensed mobilehome park, incidental camping area, recreational trailer park, temporary trailer park or travel trailer park4. The code has an exception for second dwellings under its accessory dwelling section, and a grandfather clause for habitation that began before 19714.

Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units are an allowed use in the city's single-family and multi-family zones and are not subject to a use permit8. Rentals of these units for 30 days or less are not allowed18. We found no tiny-home provision in Orland's code, so confirm with the Planning Department how a particular tiny home would be classified.

Building a home in Orland: the steps, in order

  1. Call the Planning Department at (530) 865-1608 to confirm the zone and its lot, setback and coverage rules1.
  2. Confirm sewer service with the city before you buy; septic is limited to large parcels3.
  3. Submit plans and a permit application to the Building Department, which reviews plans and inspects the work2.
  4. Build to the adopted California Residential Code7.
  5. Get a written permit from the public works director for any water or sewer connection15.

What to check before you buy land in Orland

Confirm the parcel is inside city limits; the same address can fall under the city or Glenn County rules, and the Glenn County page covers unincorporated land. Property taxes are set at the county level: Glenn County's effective property tax rate is 0.6 percent19, with a median bill of 2,190 dollars a year20. Only 3.4 percent of Glenn County soils rate as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so a site evaluation or engineered system is likely outside sewer service21. Floodplain rules, permit fees, driveway access and well rules inside Orland were not confirmed; ask the Building and Planning departments.

Watch-outs

  • Septic inside Orland is limited to parcels of at least 5 acres and a connection to city sewer is required once a line is within 200 feet315.
  • RV habitation is barred outside licensed parks inside city limits, so a camper on a vacant lot is likely not allowed4.
  • We could not confirm permit fees, the owner-builder process or inspection rules inside Orland; call the Building Department at (530) 865-16062.

Sources

  1. City of Orland Planning Department (cityoforland.com)
  2. City of Orland Building Department (cityoforland.com)
  3. Orland Code 13.04.270 Individual sewage disposal systems terms and conditions (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  4. Orland Code 15.38.020 Use restricted (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  5. Orland Code 17.20.050 R-1 Lot requirements (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  6. Orland Code 17.28.020 R-3 Principal permitted uses (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  7. Orland Code 15.06.010 California Residential Code adopted (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  8. Orland Code 17.76.130 Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  9. Orland Code 17.20.070 R-1 Setbacks (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  10. Orland Code 17.20.050 R-1 Lot requirements (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  11. Orland Code 17.20.050 R-1 Lot requirements (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  12. Orland Code 17.24.050 R-2 Lot requirements (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  13. Glenn County Building Inspector (2026 county census)
  14. Orland Code 13.04.270 Individual sewage disposal systems terms and conditions (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  15. Orland Code 13.04.270 Individual sewage disposal systems terms and conditions (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  16. Sewage Disposal Regulations — Glenn County Administrative Code Chapter 20.06, quoted and re-checked
  17. Glenn County Environmental Health — Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Program (countyofglenn.net)
  18. Orland Code 17.76.130 Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units (Orland), quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Orland

Orland’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Residential construction inside Orland city

    • Section R506.2.4 is locally amended (slab reinforcement)
    • Fire suppression systems regulated by city building official

    code edition: 2022 California Residential Code (and all subsequent editions)

    “The California Residential Code, 2022 Edition, with appendices thereto, and all subsequent editions thereto, published by the International Code Council, is adopted”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Orland city limits; city zoning ordinance Title 17 with R-1, R-2, R-3 zones

    • Zoning map shows approved lot area designation
    “Upon zoning of a residential project an area designation shall be selected using either, R-1, R-1 10,000, R-1 15,000, or R-1 20,000.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Orland city zoning districts including R-1, R-2, R-3

    • Full list of districts including agricultural not reviewed
    “Principal permitted uses in the R-3 zone are as follows:”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 Residential One-Family zone inside Orland city (designations R-1, R-1 10,000, R-1 15,000, R-1 20,000)

    • Corner lot area 7,000 for R-1; same as interior for other designations
    • Min lot width 60/80/90/100 feet respectively
    • Max lot depth three times lot width

    minimum lot area R-1: >= 6000 sq ft (10,000, 15,000, 20,000 for the larger designations)

    “Minimum lot area 6,000 10,000 15,000 20,000”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-2 Residential Two-Family zone inside Orland city
      “Minimum lot area: six thousand (6,000) square feet for interior lots, seven thousand (7,000) square feet for corner lots”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Main buildings in R-1 zone inside Orland city

    • Corner lot side facing street at least 20 feet
    • Accessory structures 4 ft side/rear unless otherwise specified; detailed table by height and use
    • Small accessory structures under 120 sq ft and 6 ft tall without permit exempt

    front setback: >= 20 feet · rear setback: >= 20 feet · side setback: >= 5 feet (20 ft on corner street side)

    “Front: twenty (20) feet; Rear: twenty (20) feet; Side: five feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 zone inside Orland city

    • ADUs and JADUs exempt from building coverage requirements

    maximum building coverage: <= 40 percent

    “Maximum building coverage: forty (40) percent.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Human habitation in RVs, travel trailers and camp cars inside Orland city

    • Allowed only in a licensed mobilehome park, incidental camping areas, recreational trailer park, temporary trailer park or travel trailer park
    • Exception for second dwellings under Section 17.76.130
    • Grandfathered for habitation of 30+ days before March 8, 1971
    “it is unlawful for any person to maintain or use, or allow to be maintained or used, for human habitation, any camp car, mobilehome, recreational vehicle, travel trailer, and/or trailer coach in the city, except in a licensed mobilehome park, incidental camping areas, recreational trailer park, temporary trailer park or travel trailer park”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured home parks inside Orland city

    • Park minimum lot area five acres
    • Each site at least 3,500 sq ft
    • Density not above base zone
    • Use permit approval
    • Rules for manufactured homes on individual lots not found in supplied sections; R-3 allows pre-manufactured structures per 17.76.120

    minimum park area: >= 5 acres · minimum site area: >= 3500 sq ft

    “All manufactured home parks shall be subject to the following requirements, plus other requirements that may be made conditions of use permit approval”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed

    ADUs and JADUs in single-family and multi-family zones inside Orland city

    • Not subject to use permit or discretionary action
    • Attached ADU floor area up to 50% of primary dwelling, max 1,200 sq ft; JADU max 500 sq ft
    • Four-foot side and rear setbacks for new ADUs
    • Rental only for more than 30 days
    • Parking max one space per unit or bedroom with exemptions

    maximum JADU size: <= 500 sq ft · maximum ADU floor area increase: <= 1200 sq ft

    “are an allowed use in all single-family and multi-family zoning districts in the city and shall not be subject to a use permit or other discretionary action”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Individual sewage disposal systems inside Orland city

    • Public works commission reviews and recommends; city council decides
    “Requests for septic tanks shall be acted on by case by case review of a sewage disposal plan containing all of the above items.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Septic systems inside Orland city

    • Residential parcels must be at least five acres
    • Capacity not over 1,500 gallons
    • Ground must allow easy dissemination of septic fluids
    • Applicant agrees to connect to city sewer when a line comes within 200 feet of any property line

    minimum residential parcel: >= 5 acres · maximum capacity: <= 1500 gallons

    “Individual sewage disposal systems shall not be allowed except under the following terms and conditions:”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Residential individual sewage disposal systems inside Orland city

    • Only on parcels of at least five acres
    • Case-by-case review by public works commission and council
    • Capacity max 1,500 gallons

    minimum residential parcel: >= 5 acres

    “Residential uses will require parcels having a minimum size of five acres.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New development inside Orland city

    • Written permit from public works director required for any water or sewer connection
    • Sewer connection requirement follows the California Plumbing Code
    • Septic applicants must agree to connect when a sewer line is within 200 feet of any property line

    sewer line distance triggering septic-owner connection: <= 200 feet (applies to applicants with approved septic systems)

    “The requirement to connect to the public sewer system shall be in accordance with the California Plumbing Code.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    ADUs and JADUs inside Orland city; STR rules for other housing not found

    • Applies only to ADU/JADU units

    minimum rental period for ADU/JADU: > 30 days

    “Short-term rental (30 days or less) of these units is not allowed.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Orland or Glenn County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Orland city
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Orland city
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Orland city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Orland city
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Orland city
11 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Orland publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Glenn County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Glenn County: county rules, score and offices