Concow, CA

Butte County Code Chapter 4 (Animals) defines a barking dog as one that barks, bays, cries, howls, or makes noise for an extended period of time that disturbs any person. "Extended period" means 60 minutes or more of incessant barking, or 60 minutes total of intermittent barking, in any 24-hour period.

Butte County Code Chapter 41A (Noise Control) prohibits excessive, unnecessary or offensive noise that disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood in the unincorporated county. Article II contains exterior and interior noise standards plus a general nuisance provision.

Outdoor residential burning in unincorporated Butte County is regulated jointly by CAL FIRE / Butte County Fire (Chapter 38A) and the Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD). All outdoor burning requires a burn permit during declared fire season and is only allowed on "permissive burn days" declared by BCAQMD.

Butte County Code Chapter 38A (Fire Prevention and Protection) and California Public Resources Code §4291 require property owners in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around any structure. Enforcement was substantially tightened after the 2018 Camp Fire.

All fireworks — including "safe and sane" — are prohibited in the unincorporated areas of Butte County and in the towns of Paradise and Chico. "Safe and sane" fireworks may be sold and used only within the city limits of Oroville (in designated areas only), Gridley, and Biggs.

Most of unincorporated Butte County lies in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) classified by CAL FIRE as Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Butte County Code Chapter 53 (Camp Fire Recovery) imposes ignition-resistant construction standards on rebuilds inside the Camp Fire footprint.

In unincorporated Butte County, recreational vehicles, travel trailers, and boats may be stored on a private residential parcel but cannot be occupied as a dwelling outside lawfully established RV parks. Standards live in Chapter 24 (Zoning), Article III, Division 5 (Recreational Vehicles and Camping) and the parking design rules in Division 9.

Butte County Code Chapter 4 (Animals) prohibits dogs from being off the owner's property unless on a leash or under the effective control of the owner or custodian. The leash law applies throughout unincorporated Butte County.

Chickens and other livestock are broadly permitted in unincorporated Butte County under Chapter 24 (Zoning), with standards that vary sharply by zone. Agricultural (AG), Foothill Residential, and rural residential zones are highly permissive; small-lot residential zones limit numbers and require setbacks.

Butte County itself does not impose a county-wide outdoor water-use ordinance. Restrictions are set by individual water purveyors — California Water Service Co. (Chico, Oroville), Paradise Irrigation District, Del Oro Water Co., and Tuscan Aquifer-based well users — plus any active State Water Resources Control Board emergency regulations.

Butte County applies oak woodland mitigation requirements to discretionary development projects under its draft Oak Woodland Mitigation Ordinance and CEQA. Up to 10% canopy removal is generally not significant; 10%–70% removal triggers mandatory replacement; removal of more than 70% is prohibited.

Butte County Code §24-172 (and §24-172.2 for second units) regulates Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior ADUs in conformance with California Government Code §65852.2. Recent updates allow up to three housing units per residential parcel, 4-foot setbacks, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no impact fees for ADUs under 750 sq ft.

Butte County's floodplain regulations are in Code Chapter 26 (Buildings), Article IV (Flood Hazard Prevention). The county has participated in the regular phase of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) since September 29, 1989, and enforces FEMA minimum standards plus a CEQA review trigger in §26-22.1.