17 local rules on file · Pop. 373 · Shasta County
Showing ordinances that apply to French Gulch, CA
French Gulch is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 373 in Shasta County, California. Because French Gulch is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Shasta County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Shasta County may have different rules.
Most of Shasta County is designated either State Responsibility Area (SRA) under CalFire or a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Properties in these zones are subject to CalFire defensible space requirements (PRC 4291), the California Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building standards in Chapter 7A of the California Building Code, and Shasta County Code Chapter 8.08 hazardous fuel reduction. New construction must use ignition-resistant materials and meet ember-resistant design requirements.
Fire pits and recreational fires in unincorporated Shasta County are regulated under Chapter 8.08 (Fire Hazard Regulations) of the County Code and Shasta County Air Quality Management District rules. Recreational fires are subject to daily burn day determinations, must use clean dry wood only, and are restricted or banned during fire season (typically May 1 through autumn rains). CalFire jurisdiction applies to State Responsibility Area parcels.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Shasta County ordinances.
Beekeeping in Shasta County is regulated by the Department of Agriculture under California Food and Agricultural Code provisions. Apiaries must be registered, and out-of-state hives must be registered within 30 days of arrival. Apiary signs with owner contact information are required (except at the owner's residence), a water source must be within 50 yards, hives must be at least one mile from any registered nucleus yard, and 72-hour written apiary movement notices are required.
Shasta County Code Section 6.04.050 requires owners to control their dogs and prohibits allowing any dog to enter the grounds of any school unless leashed and under control. Dogs running at large in public areas are subject to impoundment by the Shasta County Sheriff Animal Regulation Unit. Owners must prevent their animals from trespassing on or damaging the property of others.
Keeping chickens and other livestock in unincorporated Shasta County is largely governed by zoning under Title 17 of the County Code. Rural Residential (R-R), Exclusive Agriculture (E-A), and other agricultural zones allow most livestock by right, while suburban and urban residential zones have density-based limits on poultry and prohibitions on larger livestock such as cattle, swine, and horses on small lots.
Shasta County does not establish specific construction hour limits by ordinance for unincorporated areas. Construction noise is governed by general nuisance provisions in Chapter 8.28 of the Shasta County Code and California Penal Code Section 415. Within incorporated cities (Redding, Anderson, Shasta Lake), municipal construction hour limits apply.
Shasta County regulates barking dogs through Title 6 (Animals) of the County Code, including Section 6.04.050. Habitual or excessive barking that disturbs neighbors is treated as an animal nuisance and is enforced by the Shasta County Sheriff's Office Animal Regulation Unit. Complaints typically require written reports from affected neighbors before formal action is taken.
Shasta County does not have a quantitative county-wide noise ordinance with decibel limits or stated quiet hours in its unincorporated areas. Excessive or disturbing noise is enforced through Chapter 8.28 (Nuisances) of the Shasta County Code and California Penal Code Section 415 (disturbing the peace). Cities within the county such as Redding, Anderson, and Shasta Lake have their own noise ordinances that apply within municipal limits.
Shasta County does not have a county-wide ordinance setting daily watering schedules. Water use restrictions in Shasta County come primarily from California State Water Resources Control Board emergency regulations (notably the Scott-Shasta Rivers Drought Emergency Regulations) and from individual water districts and cities. In past drought emergencies, the county Board of Supervisors has declared local emergencies and adopted conservation measures.
Shasta County does not have a comprehensive county-wide tree protection or heritage tree ordinance for the unincorporated area. Tree removal on private property is generally allowed without a county permit. However, removal in connection with development projects, in floodway or floodplain districts, or in California Forest Practice Rules-regulated timber operations may require additional review. The City of Shasta Lake has a separate tree conservation ordinance (Chapter 12.36) that applies within its city limits.
Shasta County Code Section 17.88.132 governs Accessory Dwelling Units. ADUs are permitted by right in any zoning district that allows a one-family residence, as well as in the Mixed Use district. The county's ordinance was adopted in 2017 and updated to align with state law: ADUs are capped at 1,200 square feet or 50% of the primary residence (whichever is less), and the county offers seven pre-approved ADU designs free of charge.
Shasta County follows the California Building Code adopted under Title 15 of the County Code. Detached one-story accessory structures not exceeding 120 square feet of floor area are exempt from a building permit under California Residential Code Section R105.2. Sheds larger than 120 square feet require a building permit. All structures, regardless of size, must comply with setback requirements in Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter 17.84.