20 outdoor guides
The outdoors
Parks, coast, mountains, deserts, fire rules, snow roads, reservations, fishing, and day-of conditions.
Explore Outdoors →California, sorted by place and task
California Porch
Start with the rule, place, or task in front of you. Get the common answer, the California wrinkle, and the exact public office or source.
The California directory
Start with the part of California you need.
58 tools
Paperwork and money
Homebuying, insurance, property taxes, DMV, rent, benefits, work, records, permits, and official agency links.
Open Paperwork & Money →7 common lookups
Your Place
Cities, towns, counties, and Census places, with county and nearby place pages close at hand.
Find Your Place →1799 notes
Stories & Notes
Short sourced notes for local stories, public offices, state rules, maps, landmarks, and civic details.
Browse Stories & Notes →From Stories & Notes
The details that make a place easier to read.
Short California notes tied to real places, official maps, local offices, public records, and California history.
Los Angeles · Rules and licenses
In Los Angeles city, ZIMAS is the first property map
Los Angeles City Planning says ZIMAS shows zoning and other property information for addresses in the city.
Keep readingCalifornia · Home and property
Use the fire hazard map, then confirm the locally adopted zone
The state viewer is a starting point: State Responsibility Area maps are effective, while Local Responsibility Area recommendations must be confirmed with the city or county.
Keep readingCalifornia · Outdoors
California State Parks campsites can need six-month planning
Most standard State Parks inventory opens on a rolling six-month window at 8 a.m. Pacific, while some high-demand sites now use separate reservation drawings.
Keep readingSan Francisco · History and culture
Sutro Baths turned the edge of San Francisco into a giant swim house
The Sutro Baths ruins at Lands End are the remains of a huge oceanfront bathhouse that once mixed swimming, exhibits, restaurants, and Pacific views.
Keep readingPrefer a list? Open the A-Z directory, or browse by topic, place, or site search.
Your California place
City limits can change who handles the job.
A city, county, court, tax collector, fire district, water agency, or land manager may handle a different part of the same address.
Browse placesOfficial sources
Use the current public page for the final check.
Guides and tools link to public offices, official maps, state calculators, local pages, and current agency rules.