Butte County, CA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)
Key Facts
- Dedicated Ordinance
- None; industrial zoning
- Allowed Zones
- LI, GI, HI Industrial
- Data Center Status
- Unlisted; classified industrial use
- Larger Campuses
- Conditional Use Permit + CEQA
- Applies To
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Butte County has no dedicated data-center ordinance. In the unincorporated county a server facility is an industrial use, allowed in the Light Industrial (LI), General Industrial (GI), or Heavy Industrial (HI) zones under Zoning Code Chapter 24, with a Conditional Use Permit and CEQA review for larger campuses.
The purpose of the GI zone is to allow for a variety of industrial and service commercial uses in Butte County... In addition to the uses permitted in the LI zone, the GI zone also permits agricultural and timber processing and heavy manufacturing with the approval of a Conditional Use Permit.
Full Breakdown
A data center is not named in Butte County's zoning code (Chapter 24), so the Development Services Department classifies a server facility as an industrial use. Three unincorporated industrial zones apply: Light Industrial (LI) for low-impact uses like warehousing and light manufacturing, General Industrial (GI) for a broader range, and Heavy Industrial (HI). A large, power-intensive campus resembling heavy manufacturing requires a Conditional Use Permit heard by the Planning Commission, which triggers CEQA review and, under General Plan policy, an acoustical analysis. Development implements the General Plan's Industrial land use designation. These rules govern only unincorporated land, not the cities of Chico, Oroville, Gridley, and Biggs or the Town of Paradise.
Violations & Fines
Building a data center on land not zoned LI, GI, or HI, or without a required Conditional Use Permit or CEQA clearance, is a zoning violation. The county can withhold building permits and issue stop-work orders until the parcel conforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a data center be built in unincorporated Butte County?
Does Butte County have data center rules, and how can I weigh in?
Do these county rules apply inside Chico or Oroville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Butte County
California rules heatmap·Compare Butte County to another location·View the California data centers & crypto mining overview
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