Bolthole Index

Shasta County, California

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Shasta County, California

56Index Score / 100
#4 of 58 in California

Unincorporated Shasta County, California requires building permits for new construction and remodeling through the county Building Division1. County zoning applies there, while incorporated cities use their own zoning systems23. New and replacement septic systems require county Environmental Health approval before installation45. An RV may serve as a residence only temporarily, for the owner of a building site during construction6.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction and remodeling in unincorporated Shasta County1
Zoning
County zoning applies in unincorporated areas; Rural Residential needs 2 acres and Limited Residential 5 acres, with 30-foot setbacks, and other districts need a parcel-specific check278910
Septic permit
Required before installing a new or replacement septic tank and leach field45
RV living
Residential RV or trailer occupancy is limited to the site owner during construction under a temporary permit; stored RVs may not be used for habitation611
Tiny home
The structure must fit a recognized California housing category and comply with parcel-specific county zoning122
Owner-builder
Conditional contractor-license exemption, not a building-permit exemption; the owner must complete and sign the county acknowledgment before issuance1314
Building permit fees
Published on a valuation-based schedule, with plan review charged separately15
Well permit
Required through Shasta County Environmental Health before well construction, modification or destruction1617

Who to call

Building permits

Shasta County Building Division

Building permits, plan review, grading permits, manufactured-home installation permits and inspections for unincorporated Shasta County

(530) 225-5761

1855 Placer Street, Suite 102, Redding, CA 96001

Online permits →

Zoning

Shasta County Planning Division

Zoning, general-plan, land-division and use-permit questions for unincorporated Shasta County

(530) 225-5532

1855 Placer Street, Redding, CA 96001

Septic permits

Shasta County Environmental Health Division (EHD)

Onsite wastewater treatment system permits under Shasta County's Local Agency Management Program

(530) 225-5787

1855 Placer Street, Redding, CA 96001

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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Do you need a building permit in Shasta County, California?

Yes. New construction and remodeling in unincorporated Shasta County require a building permit through the Resource Management Department's Building Division1. California's Title 24 building standards apply in Shasta County, while local zoning, setbacks and property-line requirements remain local decisions18. The 2025 California Building Standards Code applies to permit applications filed on or after January 1, 202619. Shasta County publishes valuation-based building-permit fees and charges regular plan review at 65% of the permit fee, subject to an $82.03 minimum; request a current project-specific estimate because the total can also include planning, fire, electrical, mechanical and plumbing charges1520. Owner-builder status concerns contractor licensing, not exemption from building permits or inspections13. Before issuance, the owner must personally read, initial, sign and return Shasta County's acknowledgment form and provide agency-accepted signature verification14. Hiring people other than California-licensed contractors on work totaling at least $500, including labor and materials, may make the owner an employer under state and federal law14.

Who is the Shasta County building department, and how do you reach it?

The Shasta County Building Division is the first stop for building permits and inspections in the unincorporated county1. Call (530) 225-5761 or visit 1855 Placer Street, Suite 102, Redding, CA 9600121. The Build Shasta portal lets registered public users and licensed contractors search parcels, submit limited online building permits and planning projects, pay fees and request inspections22. Inside Redding, the city Building Division issues building permits; Anderson handles its own building permits, including ADU applications2324. Septic permitting stays with Shasta County Environmental Health, including approval for private sewage-disposal systems in Anderson425. County land-use questions go to the Planning Division at (530) 225-5532, 1855 Placer Street, Redding, CA 96001; septic questions go to Environmental Health at (530) 225-5787 at the same street address265.

Does Shasta County have zoning?

Yes. Shasta County zoning applies to unincorporated land; Redding and Anderson have their own zoning systems272829. City zoning does not transfer septic permitting away from Shasta County Environmental Health, whose approval is required for private sewage disposal in Anderson425. The Planning Division maintains the County Zoning Plan and answers questions about zoning, land divisions and use permits26. Those standards are parcel- and district-specific, so ask Planning to identify the exact district and applicable conditions using the assessor's parcel number before relying on a listing description2726. In the Rural Residential (R-R) district the base minimum lot area is 2 acres, and in the Limited Residential (R-L) district it is 5 acres; new lots that abut timberland or agricultural land can face a larger minimum, and each building site must include contiguous acreage that is not steeper than 30 percent slope.78 Both districts carry 30-foot front, side and rear setbacks unless another section of the county code provides otherwise.910 We could not confirm a complete, current table for other districts, dwelling size, lot coverage or height; the Planning Division is the office to ask for a written parcel-specific answer.26

How do septic permits work in Shasta County?

Shasta County Environmental Health administers onsite-wastewater permitting and requires a permit before a new or replacement septic tank and leach field is installed45. The county application must include an accurate site plan, fees and soil-test data5. California's statewide onsite-wastewater policy allows locally tailored siting and design standards through approved Local Agency Management Programs30. A properly functioning existing system may qualify for the policy's existing-system tier, but proximity to impaired waters or special local provisions can change the requirements; ask Environmental Health which rules apply before relying on an existing system31. A local program cannot authorize a new or replacement onsite system where public sewer is available; Environmental Health should evaluate the policy's distance and replacement-cost exceptions for the parcel32. Only 1.5% of mapped Shasta County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so test before fixing the house location or assuming a standard system will work335. Supplemental-treatment systems have separate operating-permit reporting and inspection paperwork; that requirement is not established for every conventional system3435.

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

A tiny home on wheels classified as an RV is not intended as a permanent dwelling in California and, unless a local ordinance says otherwise, generally may be occupied only in a mobilehome park or special occupancy park36. We could not confirm a broader Shasta County option for long-term RV occupancy on vacant private land, so ask the Planning Division about the parcel and proposed use26. Shasta County limits residential occupancy of a mobile home or travel trailer at a building site to the site owner during construction of a one-family or two-family residence, and it requires the building permit and any use permit first637. That temporary permit expires automatically when the building permit expires, when a certificate of occupancy is issued, or when the owner occupies the permanent home, whichever comes first37. A recreational vehicle stored on a lot may not be connected to utilities or used for human habitation11. A site-constructed tiny home that does not fit another recognized housing category must comply with the California Building Standards Code and receive the applicable approval before occupancy; local land-use, fire and health requirements also apply12.

Building a home in Shasta County: the steps, in order

  1. Give the Planning Division the assessor's parcel number and confirm zoning, allowed use and parcel-specific development standards2627.
  2. Ask Environmental Health whether public sewer is available; if onsite treatment is eligible, submit the required site plan, fees and soil-test data325.
  3. If the parcel needs a well, obtain the well permit through Shasta County Environmental Health and use a licensed C-57 well-drilling contractor1617.
  4. Settle access and grading: Caltrans approval applies to state-highway encroachments, and a grading permit is triggered by more than 250 cubic yards of earth movement or disturbance of 10,000 square feet or more2138.
  5. Submit construction plans and the filing fee to the Building Division or use the online functions available through Build Shasta2122. Complete required inspections before final approval; owner-builders must first complete the county acknowledgment and signature verification3914.

What should you check before buying land in Shasta County?

Confirm zoning, legal access, flood exposure, water source and septic feasibility before making the purchase dependent on a buildable homesite26215. Shasta County receives about 43.1 inches of precipitation annually, yet severe drought occurs in 36.8% of years, so a water plan needs to work through dry periods as well as average ones4041. Shasta County Environmental Health is the local well-permitting agency, and California requires a permit before construction, modification or destruction by a licensed C-57 well-drilling contractor1617. Terrain can add cost: 74.6% of the county is wooded, while only 20% of its land has a slope of 15% or less4243. If a future split matters, California's Subdivision Map Act and local review address access, drainage, sanitary disposal and water availability44. For carrying costs, the county's effective property-tax rate is about 0.7%, and the median annual bill is about $2,4424546.

Watch-outs

  • Do not treat a parcel's county zoning label as the full answer: district conditions and development standards still need parcel-specific confirmation from the Shasta County Planning Division2726.
  • Shasta County allows a construction-period temporary residence only for the site owner, and a stored RV may not be used for habitation, so an RV is not a way to live on vacant land while you wait to build; the narrow camping allowance in the Timber Production district does not change that61147.
  • A state-highway driveway needs Caltrans encroachment approval; we could not confirm the county-road driveway requirements, so ask the Shasta County Building Division which access review your project needs2138.
  • Shasta County's mapped soils rarely rate free of severe conventional-drain-field limitations, so complete soil testing before committing to a house site335.

Sources

  1. 16.04.110 - Temporary residential facilities (2026 county census)
  2. Legend (Internet/Planning_Zoning_Layers) (2026 county census)
  3. Legend (Internet/Planning_Zoning_Layers), quoted and re-checked
  4. OWTS Supplemental Treatment Reporting Form, quoted and re-checked
  5. Shasta County Environmental Health Division (EHD) (shastacounty.gov)
  6. 16.04.110 - Temporary residential facilities, quoted and re-checked
  7. 17.26.060 - Site development standards, quoted and re-checked
  8. 17.24.060 - Site development standards, quoted and re-checked
  9. library.municode.com, quoted and re-checked
  10. library.municode.com, quoted and re-checked
  11. 17.88.280 - Storage of mobile homes, recreational vehicles, intermodal shipping containers or truck trailers, quoted and re-checked
  12. Information Bulletin 2016-01 Tiny Homes, quoted and re-checked
  13. California Business and Professions Code section 7044 (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Considering Becoming an Owner-Builder?, quoted and re-checked
  15. SHASTA COUNTY FEES, quoted and re-checked
  16. Wells, quoted and re-checked
  17. Wells, quoted and re-checked
  18. California Health and Safety Code Section 17922, quoted and re-checked
  19. Approved Building Standards (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Shasta County Building Permit BRES23-0031, quoted and re-checked
  21. Shasta County Building Division (shastacounty.gov)
  22. eTRAKiT / Build Shasta Web Portal, quoted and re-checked
  23. Redding: Building (Shasta County), quoted and re-checked
  24. Anderson: City of Anderson Accessory Dwelling Unit How-to Permit Guide (Shasta County), quoted and re-checked
  25. Anderson: Anderson Municipal Code § 17.60.030 (Shasta County), quoted and re-checked
  26. Shasta County Planning Division (shastacounty.gov)
  27. Legend (Internet/Planning_Zoning_Layers), quoted and re-checked
  28. Redding: Redding Municipal Code § 18.31.030 — Residential site development regulations (Shasta County), quoted and re-checked
  29. Anderson: Anderson Municipal Code Chapter 2.47 (Shasta County), quoted and re-checked
  30. Onsite Waste Water Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  31. Onsite Waste Water Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  32. 2023 OWTS Policy, quoted and re-checked
  33. 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
  34. OWTS Supplemental Treatment Reporting Form, quoted and re-checked
  35. OWTS Supplemental Treatment Reporting Form, quoted and re-checked
  36. Information Bulletin 2016-01 Tiny Homes, quoted and re-checked
  37. 16.04.110 - Temporary residential facilities, quoted and re-checked
  38. Encroachment Permits | Caltrans (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  39. Owner-Builder Responsibilities (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  40. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  41. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  42. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  43. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  44. California Government Code § 66428, quoted and re-checked
  45. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  46. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  47. Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Hatchet Ridge Wind Project — Land Use and Planning, quoted and re-checked

Written October 10, 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.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 6 of its neighbors, Shasta County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleShasta CountyTehama CountyTrinity CountySiskiyou CountyButte CountyPlumas CountyGlenn County
Building permitRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsCounty Env. HealthCounty Env. Health Dept.County Env. HealthCounty Env. Health Div.County Env. Health Div.County Public Health AgencyCounty Env. Health

County locator

Shasta County in California

56
County map
Shasta County highlighted among the California counties · colored by Index score

How Shasta County scores

Seclusion79100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency57100% ev.
Admin Boringness41100% ev.
Durability26100% ev.
Property Autonomy56100% ev.
Carry Cost52100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$377kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$10,930Land / acre
43.1"Annual rain
36.8% of yrsSevere drought
19.1 / yr (+10.8)Mid-century 100°F days
51.1 daysMid-century dry spell
2.7" (+4.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.12×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,409Home insurance / yr
11.8% / yrInsurance growth
2.91%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
6,470Radius comparison (15 mi)
47.8People / sq mi
42.1%Federal land
20%Land at 15% slope or less
1.5%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
32,290 acWorkable land screen
74.6%Wooded land
58.7 tonsBiomass / forest ac
55.5°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Shasta County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Not yet researched: Shasta Lake

Answers from the rulebook for Shasta County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Shasta County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Placement of a mobile home or travel trailer as a temporary residence at a building site during construction of a one-family or two-family residence or pending installation of a mobile home.

    • The owner of the site must occupy the residence or mobile home when constructed or installed.
    • Any required use permit and the building permit or mobile home utilities permit must first be obtained.
    • For a temporary mobile home, Sections 16.04.100 and 16.04.170 must be met; for a travel trailer, Section 16.04.100 must be met.
    • Permits expire upon expiration of the building permit or mobile home installation permit, issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the permanent residence or mobile home, or occupancy of the permanent residence or mobile home, whichever occurs first.
    “the building permit or mobile home utilities permit are first obtained”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Property owners applying for a Shasta County building permit as an owner-builder.

    • The county will not issue the building permit until the property owner reads and initials each provision, signs the Owner-Builder Acknowledgment and Information Verification Form, and returns it to the official address.
    • An agent may not execute the notice unless the property owner obtains prior approval from the permitting authority.
    • Before permit issuance, the form must be completed and signed by the property owner and returned to the permit-issuing agency.
    • A copy of the property owner's driver's license, notarization, or other verification acceptable to the agency must be presented when the permit is issued to verify the owner's signature.
    • The owner-builder is the responsible party of record and is legally and financially responsible for the construction activity.
    • If the owner employs or engages persons other than California-licensed contractors and the total construction value is at least $500 including labor and materials, the owner may be considered an employer and must comply with state and federal employer requirements.
    • An owner-builder building a single-family residential structure cannot legally build it with intent to offer it for sale unless all work is performed by licensed subcontractors and the number of structures does not exceed four within a calendar year, or all work is performed under contract with a licensed general building contractor.

    construction value threshold for possible employer status: >= 500 USD (includes labor and materials) · single-family structures built for sale under licensed-subcontractor exception: <= 4 structures per calendar year (otherwise all work must be performed under contract with a licensed general building contractor)

    “We will not issue a building permit until you have read, initialed your understanding of each provision, signed, and returned this form [...]”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Property owners applying for construction permits through the Shasta County Building Division as owner-builders.
      “We will not issue a building permit until you have read [...] signed, and returned this form”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Future residential structures in the unincorporated Shasta County project area described in the County’s environmental review document.

    • Construction must comply with the seismic standards and requirements of the currently adopted California Building Standards Code.
    • A soils report is required if deemed necessary based on site-specific soil conditions.
    • The source concerns future residential structures associated with the identified project and does not establish separate rules for incorporated municipalities.
    “All future residential structures shall be constructed according to the seismic standards and requirements of the currently adopted California Building Standards Code, including preparation of a soils report, if deemed necessary based on site specific soil conditions.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New structures or change-of-use buildings constructed as part of Shasta County Use Permit 24-0010.

    • Non-residential roadways, driveways, and turnarounds must comply with Section 6.12 of the Fire Safety Standards before the final inspection by the Shasta County Building Division.
    • The inspection requirement is stated for new structures or change-of-use buildings constructed as part of this use permit.
    “prior to the final inspection by the Shasta County Building Division”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    The development governed by Shasta County Use Permit 24-0010, including structures with unpermitted additions.

    • Before initiating the use and obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy, building permits must be obtained for all unpermitted additions to the structure through the Building Division.
    “Prior to initiating the use and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Shasta County zoning in the unincorporated area, including published county zoning districts such as Limited Agriculture, Existing Residential, Rural Residential, Timberland, and other listed districts.

    • The source is the County’s zoning GIS layer and applies to the unincorporated county; incorporated cities have separate zoning layers and authorities.
    • Specific uses and development standards depend on the applicable zoning district and other requirements.
    “Zoning (0) Cities LIMITED AGRICULTURE LOCAL CONVENIENCE CENTER, COMMUNITY, HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL OFFICE COMMERCIAL, COMMERCIAL-LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL RECREATION EXCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL-AGRICULTURAL PRESERVE EXCLUSIVE AGRICULTURAL EXISTING RESIDENTIAL”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Local zoning across Shasta County: the County zoning layer identifies unincorporated county districts, while separate zoning categories are identified for incorporated cities including the City of Redding.

    • This aggregate claim does not assert that Shasta County administers incorporated-city zoning.
    • For parcels in the unincorporated area, the County zoning districts apply; incorporated municipalities may apply their own zoning rules.
    • Specific district limits and use standards require parcel- and district-level review.
    “Zoning (0) Cities LIMITED AGRICULTURE [...] City of Redding Zoning (5) Single Family Rural Lands District Multiple Family Mixed Use Specific Plan Office Commercial Industry Open Space Public”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Limited Residential (R-L) district.

    • The base minimum lot area is five acres, except as otherwise provided in Section 17.84.010.
    • For proposed lots outside the south central region planning area that abut timberland, agricultural-cropland, or agricultural-grazing land, the minimum is ten acres outside a rural community or town center and five acres within one.
    • The ten-acre standard does not apply if topographic or man-made features sufficiently separate the uses.
    • Every building site created after adoption of the chapter must contain at least two-and-one-half contiguous acres not exceeding thirty-percent slope.
    • Maximum density is one dwelling unit per eighty acres on land exceeding thirty-percent slope and one per five acres on land not exceeding thirty-percent slope, subject to adequate water, county sewage disposal standards, and other county development standards.

    minimum lot area: 5 acres (District and location exceptions stated in conditions.) · maximum density on land exceeding 30% slope: 1 dwelling unit per 80 acres · maximum density on land not exceeding 30% slope: 1 dwelling unit per 5 acres

    “Five acres; except when the proposed lots are outside of the south central region planning area”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Rural Residential (R-R) district.
      “Two acres; except when the proposed lots are outside of the south central region planning area”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Limited Residential (R-L) district.

    • Applies except as otherwise provided in Section 17.84.020.

    front setback: 30 feet · side setback: 30 feet · rear setback: 30 feet

    “Front, thirty feet; Side, thirty feet; Rear, thirty feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Rural Residential (R-R) district.
      “Front, thirty feet; Side, thirty feet; Rear, thirty feet.”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Residential occupancy of a mobile home or travel trailer at a building site.

    • Occupancy is limited to the owner of the site during construction of a one-family or two-family residence or pending installation of a mobile home.
    • Any required use permit and the building permit or mobile home utilities permit must first be obtained.
    • Applicable requirements of Sections 16.04.100 and 16.04.170 apply as specified.
    • The temporary permit expires upon the events listed in Section 16.04.110(B).
    “All permits [...] are temporary permits and expire automatically”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Camping on your landAllowed

    Camping and similar recreational uses in Shasta County's Timber Production (TP) zoning district.

    • The source limits the use to camping and similar recreational uses.
    • The use must not involve any permanent improvement of the land.
    • The use must not interfere materially with the primary use of the TP district.
    “The following uses are permitted outright in the TP zoning district: [...] C. Hunting, fishing, camping and similar recreational uses not involving any permanent improvement of the land or interfering materially with the primary use;”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed

    A manufactured home used as an ADU on a permanent foundation at APN 079040051000, 20749A Highway 299 E, Redding, California.

    • The documented approval is parcel-specific and does not establish countywide permission.
    • The permit identifies the unit as a mobile home and the permit subtype as an ADU manufactured home on a permanent foundation.
    • The permit was applied for on 2024-09-11, approved on 2024-10-30, and issued on 2024-11-06.

    permit number: MH24-0028 · job value: 6035.64 USD · total fees charged: 1524.62 USD

    “PERMIT TYPE MOBILE HOME PERMIT SUB-TYPE ADU MANUFACTURED HOME ON PERMANENT FOUNDATION [...] APN 079040051000 [...] APPROVED DATE 10/30/2024 [...] ISSUED DATE 11/6/2024”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed

    An accessory dwelling unit consisting of a manufactured home on a permanent foundation at APN 079040051000, 20749A Highway 299 E, Redding, California.

    • The documented approval is parcel-specific and does not establish countywide permission.
    • The permit identifies the project as an ADU manufactured home on a permanent foundation.
    • The permit was approved on 2024-10-30 and issued on 2024-11-06.

    permit number: MH24-0028 · bedrooms: 2 · total fees charged: 1524.62 USD

    “PERMIT SUB-TYPE ADU MANUFACTURED HOME ON PERMANENT FOUNDATION [...] APN 079040051000 [...] DESCRIPTION REPLACEMENT MHF/ADU 2 BDRM SDS NO DISP”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — A new accessory dwelling unit at APN 207040024000, 16275A Gas Point Road, Cottonwood, California.
      “Subtype: ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT [...] Status: FINALED [...] APN: 207040024000”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Shasta County Department of Resource Management, Environmental Health Division administration of onsite wastewater treatment system permitting documentation.

    “SHASTA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Onsite wastewater treatment systems using supplemental treatment in Shasta County.

    • The official document is specifically an operating-permit and supplemental-treatment reporting form; it does not establish that every septic system requires an operating permit.
    “ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM PERMIT TO OPERATE SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENT REPORTING”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Inspection and reporting associated with an onsite wastewater treatment system operating-permit form for supplemental treatment.

    • The form includes system inspection checklist items and supplemental-treatment sample reporting; it does not establish a universal inspection requirement for every septic system.
    • Lab results for BOD and TSS are to be submitted within 30 days of sampling.
    • If surfacing sewage is observed, it must be reported to SCEHD within 48 hours, effluent must be prevented from running offsite or into bodies of water, and a repair permit application must be submitted.
    “SYSTEM INSPECTOR/SAMPLE COLLECTOR [...] SYSTEM INSPECTION CHECKLIST”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Resource Management Building Division permit fees in Shasta County.

    • Fees are based on hourly rate or ICC valuation per Ordinance.
    • Basic building permit fees vary by valuation tier.
    • Manufactured home/mobile home installation and utilities are charged per California Administrative Code.
    • Permit extension or reissuance is $82.03 plus an hourly fee after the first half or 50% of the permit fee based on the current fee schedule, whichever is lower.
    • Application filing and plan review fees are non-refundable if plan review has commenced.
    • Regular building plan review is 65% of the building permit fee, with a minimum of $82.03; repetitive built homes within the same subdivision or site are 25% of the building permit fee.
    • Temporary mobile home/RV/cargo installation is $164.06 and utilities are $82.03.
    • Bridge application filing requires a deposit based on project cost determined by the Public Works Director.
    • No effective date is stated in the cited excerpt or document filename.

    building valuation $1 to $500 fee: 28.3 USD · building valuation $501 to $2,000 fee: $28.30 for the first $500 plus $4.23 for each additional $100 or fraction through $2,000 USD · building valuation $2,001 to $25,000 fee: $91.69 for the first $2,000 plus $19.15 for each additional $1,000 or fraction through $25,000 USD · building valuation $25,001 to $50,000 fee: $532.05 for the first $25,000 plus $13.85 for each additional $1,000 or fraction through $50,000 USD · building valuation $50,001 to $100,000 fee: $878.25 for the first $50,000 plus $9.56 for each additional $1,000 or fraction through $100,000 USD · building valuation $100,001 to $500,000 fee: $1,356.29 for the first $100,000 plus $7.43 for each additional $1,000 or fraction through $500,000 USD · building valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000 fee: $4,328.05 for the first $500,000 plus $6.39 for each additional $1,000 or fraction through $1,000,000 USD · building valuation $1,000,001 and greater fee: $7,525.13 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.25 for each additional $1,000 or fraction USD · regular application filing and plan review fee: 65% of Building Permit Fee - minimum $82.03 USD (Non-refundable if plan review has commenced.) · repetitive built homes plan review fee: 25% of Building Permit Fee USD (Within same subdivision or site.) · temporary mobile home/RV/cargo installation fee: 164.06 USD · temporary mobile home/RV/cargo utilities fee: 82.03 USD

    “Resource Management - Building Division Basic Permit Fee Buildings Valuation $1 to $500 $ 28.30 $ $ 28.30 Valuation $501 to $2,000 $ $28.30 for the first $500 plus $4.23 for each additional $100 or fraction through $2,000”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Publicly viewable Shasta County Department of Resource Management permit records display fee summaries for individual permits.
      “APPLICATION FILING FEE $700.00 PERMIT PROCESSING RESEARCH $137.30 SB1186 CASP FEE $4.00 PLANNING $140.35 FIRE $20.00 BUILDING $1,158.53 ELECTRIC $68.65 MECHANICAL $68.65 PLUMBING $68.65 Total Fees Charged: $2,366.13”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Online building-permit and planning-project submission through the Shasta County Department of Resource Management Build Shasta portal.

    • Online building permits and planning projects are limited to licensed contractors and registered public users.
    • The portal provides permit application, fee payment, permit search, project application, and inspection functions.
    • The portal identifies the County Department of Resource Management and gives the office address as 1855 Placer Street, Redding, California.
    “This site provides citizen access to search for parcel information, and submit code enforcement complaint (CRM) and limited online building permits and planning projects are available for licensed contractors and registered public users.”

California rules that apply here

  • Zoning districtsPartial

    California city and county zoning codes and the zoning districts established by those local jurisdictions.

    • The city or county zoning code implements general-plan policies at the individual-parcel level.
    • Local zoning codes identify allowed land uses in the jurisdiction’s zoning districts.
    • Since 1971, state law requires city or county zoning codes to be consistent with the jurisdiction’s general plan, except in charter cities.
    • The source does not publish a statewide list of parcel-specific zoning districts; the applicable local jurisdiction must be consulted.
    “The zoning code presents standards for different land uses and identifies which land uses [...] are allowed in the various zoning districts of the jurisdiction.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Efficiency units permitted by a California city, county, or city and county.

    • The local jurisdiction must adopt an ordinance permitting the efficiency unit.
    • Occupancy is limited to no more than two persons.
    • The unit may have partial kitchen or bathroom facilities as specified by the local ordinance.
    • All other applicable minimum standards under Health and Safety Code Part 1.5 continue to apply.

    minimum floor area: >= 150 square feet · maximum occupancy: <= 2 persons

    “Notwithstanding Sections 17922, 17958, and 17958.5, a city, county, or city and county may, by ordinance, permit efficiency units for occupancy by no more than two persons which have a minimum floor area of 150 square feet and which may also have partial kitchen or bathroom facilities, as specified by the ordinance.”
  • Tiny homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Occupancy of a structure marketed or described as a tiny home in California.

    • The tiny home must comply with applicable standards and be approved as a HUD-Code manufactured home, California Residential or Building Code home, factory-built housing, recreational vehicle, park trailer, or camping cabin.
    • The location must be approved for the applicable classification.
    • A tiny home that does not fit one of those classifications and does not comply with the California Building Standards Code is a noncomplying structure whose occupancy is illegal.
    • Approving and enforcing agencies vary depending on whether the unit is inside or outside a mobilehome or special occupancy park.

    park trailer or RV gross area limit: <= 400 square feet (Applicable classification-specific exclusions and standards apply.)

    “In order to be occupied, a tiny home must comply with the standards of, and be approved as one of the following types of structures: a HUD-Code manufactured home (MH), California Residential Code or California Building Code home, factory-built housing (FBH), recreational vehicle (RV), park trailer (PT) or camping cabin (CC).”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Site-constructed or otherwise non-chassis tiny homes used as dwelling units in California, including Shasta County.
      “A tiny home that is site-constructed or mobile, and does not fit the definition of an MH, FBH, RV, PT or CC, is a dwelling unit and must comply with the CBSC in order to be legally occupied.”
    • Limited — Tiny homes on wheels classified as recreational vehicles in California, including Shasta County.
      “Unless otherwise allowed by a local ordinance, RVs generally may be occupied only in mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act (MPA), HSC Sections 18200, et seq., and Title 25, CCR Sections 1000, et seq., or the Special Occupancy Parks Act (SOPA), HSC Sections 18860, et seq., and Title 25, CCR Sections 2000, et seq.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction, modification, or destruction of water wells in California, including Shasta County.

    • A permit must be obtained from the applicable local environmental health agency or local water district before construction, modification, or destruction.
    • Water-well construction activities must be performed only by a licensed C-57 Well Drilling Contractor.
    • The work must meet applicable local and state well standards.
    • California DWR identifies Shasta County Environmental Health Department as the local permitting agency for Shasta County.

    well driller license: C-57

    “Well owners need to obtain permits from local environmental health agencies or local water districts before construction, modification, or destruction takes place. Any water well construction activities must be performed only by a licensed C-57 Well Drilling Contractor and must meet applicable local and state well standards.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Water well construction, modification, and destruction in California, including Shasta County.
      “Well owners need to obtain permits from local environmental health agencies or local water districts before construction, modification, or destruction takes place. Any water well construction activities must be performed only by a licensed C-57 Well Drilling Contractor and must meet applicable local and state well standards.”
    • Limited — Construction, alteration, maintenance, or destruction of water wells, monitoring wells, cathodic protection wells, and geothermal heat exchange wells in California.
      “Permitting and enforcement are carried out by the LEAs, such as the County Department of Environmental Health.”
    • Required — Construction, modification, or destruction of water wells in California.
      “Well owners need to obtain permits from local environmental health agencies or local water districts before construction, modification, or destruction takes place.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Certain existing OWTS in California Tier 3 impaired-water-body areas that commit to connect to a centralized wastewater collection and treatment system regulated through waste discharge requirements.

    • The OWTS must have been constructed and operating, or permitted, on or before the date the nearby water body was added to OWTS Policy Attachment 2.
    • The owner must commit by legally binding document to connect to a centralized wastewater collection and treatment system regulated through waste discharge requirements.
    • The owner must sign the legally binding document within 48 months after the nearby water body's initial listing on Attachment 2.
    • The specified connection date may not extend beyond nine years after the date the nearby water body is added to Attachment 2.
    • The rule is an exception to Section 10 requirements for qualifying existing or permitted systems; it is not a general statewide requirement that every property connect to public sewer.

    deadline to sign connection commitment: 48 months (Measured from the date the nearby water body is initially listed on Attachment 2.) · maximum time to complete connection: <= 9 years (Measured from the date the nearby water body is added to Attachment 2.)

    “The owner must sign the document within forty-eight months of the date that the nearby water body is initially listed on Attachment 2. The specified date for the connection to the centralized community wastewater collection and treatment system shall not extend beyond nine years following the date that the nearby water body is added to Attachment 2.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Sewer (with conditions) — New or replacement onsite wastewater treatment systems on parcels served by or abutting an available public sewer, including parcels in Shasta County.
      “The following are not allowed to be authorized in a Local Agency Management Program: [...] Installation of new or replacement OWTS where public sewer is available.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of real property in California, including Shasta County, subject to the California Subdivision Map Act and applicable local ordinances.

    • Local ordinances may require a tentative map where a parcel map is required.
    • A parcel map is required for subdivisions for which a final or parcel map is not otherwise required, unless preparation is waived by local ordinance.
    • A parcel map is not required for qualifying short-term railroad-right-of-way subdivisions.
    • A parcel map is not required for land conveyed to or from a governmental agency, public entity, or public utility, unless substantial evidence shows public policy necessitates a parcel map.
    • Local agencies must provide an ordinance-based parcel-map waiver procedure requiring findings regarding area, improvement and design, floodwater drainage control, improved public roads, sanitary disposal facilities, water supply availability, environmental protection, and other applicable requirements.
    • Where a local ordinance waives a parcel map, it may still require a tentative map.
    • The cited state provision was amended by Senate Bill 184 and became effective January 1, 2014.
    “(a) Local ordinances may require a tentative map where a parcel map is required by this chapter. A parcel map shall be required for subdivisions as to which a final or parcel map is not otherwise required by this chapter, unless the preparation of the parcel map is waived by local ordinance as provided in this section.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Division of land in California that falls within the statutory definition of subdivision, including division for sale, lease, or financing.
      “A parcel map shall be required for subdivisions as to which a final or parcel map is not otherwise required by this chapter, unless the preparation of the parcel map is waived by local ordinance as provided in this section.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways and driveway connections involving proposed encroachments within, under, or over State highway rights of way.

    • The requirement applies to proposed activities related to placement of encroachments within, under, or over State highway rights of way.
    • Applications are submitted to the appropriate District Encroachment Permits Office having jurisdictional authority over the site.
    • Local or other agency requirements may also apply outside State highway rights of way.
    “An encroachment permit must be obtained for all proposed activities related to the placement of encroachments within, under, or over the State highway rights of way.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Occupancy and use of manufactured homes and mobilehomes in California mobilehome parks and other locations subject to HCD jurisdiction.

    • HCD administers titling and registration for manufactured homes and mobilehomes.
    • HCD-inspected mobilehome parks are subject to health and safety enforcement where local government has not assumed enforcement.
    • Manufactured/mobilehome park regulations address construction, use, maintenance, and occupancy.
    • Separate local land-use, building, fire, health, and utility requirements may apply.
    “MHs may be occupied outside or inside of mobilehome parks and installation and approval for occupancy is governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act (MPA), HSC Sections 18200, et seq., and Title 25, CCR Sections 1000, et seq.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Occupancy and use of recreational vehicles in California special occupancy parks and designated RV sections of mobilehome parks.
      “Unless otherwise allowed by a local ordinance, RVs generally may be occupied only in mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    California county legislative bodies' authority to adopt zoning ordinances regulating buildings, structures, land uses, lots, yards, open space, lot coverage, intensity of use, parking, loading, and setbacks within county jurisdiction, including unincorporated areas.

    • The authority is exercised pursuant to Government Code Chapter 4, Zoning Regulations.
    • The statute separately authorizes city legislative bodies; incorporated municipalities may exercise their own zoning authority.
    • Government Code Section 65850 also lists authority to regulate signs and billboards, building and structure location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size, lot and open-space size and use, lot coverage, intensity of land use, offstreet parking and loading, and building setback lines.
    • The cited section states it was amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 376, Sec. 1, effective January 1, 2018.
    “The legislative body of any county or city may, pursuant to this chapter, adopt ordinances that do any of the following:”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    California counties administering and enforcing state building standards through county building departments, including residential construction in unincorporated areas.

    • Each county must maintain building standards and state building regulations in the office of the building official responsible for administration and enforcement of state building standards.
    • The statewide Title 24 standards apply subject to statutory exceptions and any authorized local amendments or local requirements.
    • The cited HCD bulletin concerns the 2019 California Building Standards Code and its July 1, 2021 supplement; later code editions may supersede those particular edition dates.
    “These codes shall be maintained in the office of the building official responsible for the administration and enforcement of state building standards”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in unincorporated Shasta County.
  • Building height — Building-height limits in unincorporated Shasta County.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems in Shasta County.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural-building exemption from building-permit requirements in unincorporated Shasta County.
  • Building in a floodplain — Floodplain development in Shasta County.
1 more unanswered
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Water rights & wells in Shasta County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from California’s water agency.

Actively managed

This basin is under active state management — new water use is scrutinized, though a domestic well is usually still allowed.

Household wellPermit required — restricted

California requires no STATE permit for a domestic well — wells are permitted by the county — but under SGMA a Groundwater Sustainability Agency can meter or restrict new wells in medium/high-priority and critically overdrafted basins, and Executive Order N-7-22 requires counties in those basins to get GSA verification that a new well is consistent with the Groundwater Sustainability Plan before permitting.

Limit: 2 acre-feet/year de minimis under SGMA (Water Code §10721(e)) — largely exempt from GSA metering/fees

California DWR / State Water Board — SGMA de minimis & EO N-7-22 Action 9 FAQ ↗
  • Redding Area Subbasins (Anderson, Enterprise) — Medium Prioritypartial of county

    Medium-priority SGMA basin (DWR 2019 Basin Prioritization) requiring an adopted Groundwater Sustainability Plan; a new well is subject to GSA consistency review under Executive Order N-7-22. De minimis domestic wells (<2 af/yr) are generally exempt from GSA metering but still need a county permit.

    California DWR — SGMA Basin Prioritization (2019) ↗

Hybrid state (appropriation + riparian). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the California state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Shasta County, California

Is Shasta County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Shasta County scores 56/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 6,470 people within 15 miles. Watch-outs: elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure and more administrative friction around building and land use.

Do you need a building permit in Shasta County, California?

Shasta County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Shasta County Environmental Health. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

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

Living in an RV on your own land in Shasta County is allowed on a temporary basis only: Residential occupancy of a mobile home or travel trailer at a building site. Occupancy is limited to the owner of the site during construction of a one-family or two-family residence or pending installation of a mobile home. Any required use permit and the building permit or mobile home utilities permit must first be obtained. A tiny home is allowed. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Shasta County, California?

Land in Shasta County runs about $10,930 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Shasta County?

Shasta County gets about 43.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 36.8% of years. On water rights, Shasta County lies in the Redding Area Subbasins (Anderson, Enterprise) — Medium Priority — Medium-priority SGMA basin (DWR 2019 Basin Prioritization) requiring an adopted Groundwater Sustainability Plan; a new well is subject to GSA consistency review under Executive Order N-7-22. De minimis domestic wells (<2 af/yr) are generally exempt from GSA metering but still need a county permit..

How remote is Shasta County?

A typical private-land location has about 6,470 people within 15 miles and 1,006,720 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

How Shasta compares in California

Compare side-by-side →See all 58 California counties ranked →