Business Licensing & Operations in Butte County, CA (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Butte County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Butte County prohibits adult businesses everywhere except the GI and HI industrial zones under Sec. 15-111 and 15-112, and even there requires them to sit at least 1,000 feet from any other adult business, residential zone, park, bar, liquor store, church or school. Operators also need a county adult business permit under Sec. 15-113.
Butte County Adult Business Zoning Limits
Heavy RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 15-112
(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or other county ordinance, no adult business (excluding an adult hotel/motel) shall be established or operated in any zone in the county other than the GI (general industrial) and HI (heavy industrial) zones...(c)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or other county ordinance, no adult business shall be established or operated withi...
Tobacco Retail License
Butte County bans self-service tobacco and e-cigarette displays at every unincorporated retailer: products must be sold vendor-assisted, with a store employee retrieving and handing over each item only after purchase. Retailers must also check photo ID for anyone appearing under 21, sell only in original manufacturer packaging, and post required warning signage.
Butte County Vendor-Assisted Tobacco Sales Only
Significant RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 15-183
(a)It is unlawful for any person, business or tobacco retailer to sell, permit to be sold, offer for sale or display for sale any tobacco product or e-cigarette by means of a self-service display rack or shelf that allows self-service sales or any means other than vendor-assisted sales.(b)All tobacco products and e-cigarettes shall be displayed and offered for sale exclusively by means of vendo...
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers doing business in unincorporated Butte County need a license under Code Chapter 11 before buying or reselling previously-owned goods, including antiques. Every dealer must keep a Sheriff-issued transaction ledger and file daily reports, and the county can refuse, suspend or revoke the license for any violation of the chapter.
Butte County Secondhand Dealer License Rules
Significant RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances §§ 11-1, 11-6
"Secondhand dealer" is defined to be a person with a fixed place of business in the unincorporated area of the county, who conducts, manages or carries on the business of buying, selling, or otherwise dealing in miscellaneous secondhand goods, wares or merchandise which have been previously used or sold to a consumer, including antiques. ... Every junk dealer, secondhand dealer and pawnbroker s...
Pawnbrokers
Running a pawnshop in unincorporated Butte County requires a license from the county Tax Collector under Code Chapter 11. The Sheriff fingerprints and photographs every applicant, investigates their character, and can block the license outright. Before the license issues, the collector sets a bond or cash deposit to guarantee the shop's cleanup if it closes.
Butte County Pawnbroker License Requirements
Significant RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances §§ 11-1, 11-11
"Pawnbroker" shall mean a person engaged in conducting, managing or carrying on the business of pawnbroking, or the business of lending money for himself or any other person or firm upon personal property, or pledges; or the business of purchasing articles of personal property and reselling the same, or agreeing to resell the same, to the vendors or their assignees at prices agreed upon at or b...
Business Licensing & Operations by City in Butte County
1 cities in Butte County have their own business licensing & operations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Butte County ordinances
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