County
Butte County
This is the county layer. It is often the first stop for assessor, tax collector, recorder, court, social service, election, health, sheriff, and unincorporated-area services.
Starting point
Start with the county layer.
County offices are the usual first stop for records, taxes, courts, elections, public health, social services, sheriff services, and unincorporated-area routing.
Cities inside the county can still control city permits, local code, utilities, business licenses, and city-specific rules.
2025 population
209,211
Land area
1,636.511 sq mi
Water area
40.62 sq mi
Directory notes
Local layers to keep on the same page.
Property, taxes, and records
For assessed value, exemptions, ownership records, recording, and tax bills, county offices are usually the starting layer.
Unincorporated land
If an address is outside city limits, county planning, building, environmental health, fire, or public works may handle local permits and code work.
Courts, services, and alerts
Superior court, sheriff, elections, social services, emergency alerts, and health offices often start at the county level.
Practical notes
Office, map, permit, and paperwork notes for Butte County
Place note · Home and property · Reviewed July 6, 2026
Chico trash service is built around three carts
Chico residential trash service uses garbage, recycling, and organics carts, with large items and hazardous waste handled through separate hauler or drop-off paths.
Place note · Home and property · Reviewed July 4, 2026
Chico building permits use online plans and eTRAKiT
Chico's Building Division points people to online plan submittal and eTRAKiT for permit work, with a separate lane for encroachment work in the public right-of-way.
Place note · Rules and licenses · Reviewed July 4, 2026
Chico business licenses can touch home or downtown rules
Chico businesses inside city limits need a current business license, and home-based or downtown businesses may have added planning or district steps.
Place note · Home and property · Reviewed July 3, 2026
Chico sewer billing is separate from the Cal Water bill
Chico sewer customers may receive a separate city sewer bill through Util360, while water account changes still begin with Cal Water.
Almanac notes
Stories and local context near Butte County
Place note · History and culture
Chico has a yo-yo museum with a giant working Big-Yo
The National Yo-Yo Museum in downtown Chico holds a large public yo-yo display, contest history, memorabilia, club activity, and Big-Yo, a 256-pound working wooden yo-yo.
Place note · History and culture
Bidwell Mansion is now part of Chico's recovery story
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park honors John and Annie Bidwell, but the park is closed after the December 2024 fire while State Parks works on what comes next.
Place note · History and culture
Gridley's museum sits inside an old bank building
Gridley's museum uses the 1909 Veatch Building to tell the story of a Butte County farm town rooted in orchards, rice, local business, and Main Street memory.
Place note · History and culture
Paradise Depot Museum keeps the ridge railroad story close
Paradise Depot Museum carries the story of the Butte County Rail Road, logging, produce shipping, and the old route that later became a trail.
Place note · History and culture
Biggs shows why rice works in the Sacramento Valley
The Rice Experiment Station near Biggs connects a small Butte County city to rice breeding, valley water, farm research, seed work, and a crop many Californians do not expect.
Place note · History and culture
Oroville's Chinese Temple keeps Gold Rush community history close
Oroville's Chinese Temple is a city-owned museum and active worship place tied to Chinese community history in Northern California's Gold Rush era.
Place note · Outdoors
Bidwell Park gives Chico two very different kinds of green space
Bidwell Park in Chico stretches nearly 11 miles, with flatter shaded Lower Park and rougher Upper Park foothill terrain along Big Chico Creek.
Place note · Outdoors
Lake Oroville gives Butte County a big Feather River water day
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area has a major reservoir, dam views, boating, trails, camping, swimming, fishing, and Feather River history.