Butte County, CA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)

Zoning Ordinance Division 13 implements Government Code Section 65915 locally, and Section 24-127 states that if this article ever conflicts with the state statute, the Government Code controls. Eligibility under Section 24-129 covers affordable housing projects with at least ten percent low-income units, five percent very low-income units, or ten percent moderate-income units in a common-interest development, plus senior housing developments of 35 units or more restricted to residents 62 and older, land donations for very low-income housing, and condominium conversions meeting income set-asides. Section 24-130 sets the bonus amount on a sliding table: very low-income projects start at a 20 percent density bonus for 5 percent very low-income units and rise to 35 percent at 11 percent very low-income units; low-income projects start at 20 percent for 10 percent low-income units and reach 35 percent at 20 percent low-income units; moderate-income common-interest projects start at 5 percent for 10 percent moderate-income units and climb in one-percent increments per additional percentage point.

Beyond the bonus itself, Section 24-133 lets an applicant request one to three incentives depending on the affordability tier reached, drawn from a list that includes reduced minimum parcel sizes, reduced setbacks, reduced building separation, increased floor area ratio or building height, reduced parking, and waiver or deferral of development impact fees. Section 24-134 allows waivers of any development standard that would physically prevent construction, with no cap on the number of waivers. Section 24-135 sets a reduced parking floor of one space per zero- to one-bedroom unit.

Applications are filed with Development Services under Section 24-137 and decided by the Planning Commission, or the Board of Supervisors when Board-level incentives are requested.