Tehama County, CA Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Tehama County Code Ch. 17.84
- Small system permit
- By-right in nearly all zones
- Power facility permit
- Discretionary use permit required
- Excluded zone
- PF Primary Floodplain district
- Abandonment rule
- 6 months idle = nuisance
Summary
Small solar energy systems are a permitted use in nearly every unincorporated Tehama County zoning district, while larger solar power facilities and dual-purpose systems need a discretionary use permit.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, small and dual purpose solar energy systems and solar power facilities are allowed only in the following zone districts, subject to the following conditions...P = PERMITTED USE, C = Permitted with approval of a use permit, X = Not allowed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 17.84 lets a property owner in unincorporated Tehama County install a small solar energy system, one sized to offset on-site power use, as a permitted use in every zoning district except PF Primary Floodplain, with no use permit required. Larger solar power facilities and dual-purpose systems, which also sell excess power, require a discretionary use permit in every district where they're allowed. All installations must still meet the height and setback standards of the underlying zone, and a system left idle for six continuous months is deemed abandoned and declared a public nuisance.
Violations & Fines
An unpermitted solar power facility, or a system exceeding the zoning district's height or setback limits, is a code violation; an abandoned system left in place is a public nuisance subject to county abatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put solar panels on my house in unincorporated Tehama County?
What if I want to sell excess power back to the grid?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tehama County
California rules heatmap·Compare Tehama County to another location·View the California solar energy overview
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