CDP
Dales
Dales is a Census-designated community in Tehama County covering about 0.645 square miles. It is not an incorporated city. County offices usually handle local government work, while utilities and special districts can follow their own boundaries.
Starting point
Start with the county unless an official district says otherwise.
A Census-designated place is a recognized local name, but it usually does not have its own city hall. For permits, records, taxes, and many services, begin with the county.
What changes the answer: Special districts, utilities, schools, fire agencies, parks, water agencies, coastal rules, and state maps can still control a specific issue.
Countywide story
Sacramento River Bend is Tehama County's quiet outdoor spine
Sacramento River Bend near Red Bluff gives Tehama County a river, oak, wildlife, and trail anchor that feels specific to the northern Sacramento Valley.
Read the local noteCounty and district offices
Start with the task in front of you.
Dales is a Census-designated place, not an incorporated city. Start with Tehama County; utilities and special districts can still have their own boundaries.
- Property Open the property-tax guide
Assessed value, exemptions, tax bills, and appeals
Tehama County assessor handles value and exemptions. The clerk of the board handles a formal value appeal. The tax collector handles the bill, payment, and penalties.
- Records Open the records guide
Deeds, birth and death records, marriage records, and name changes
Tehama County recorder is the usual office for deeds and many public records. Vital-record access depends on the record and year. A legal name change or divorce decree can involve Superior Court.
- Property work Open local-office help
Building permits, ADUs, zoning, code, water, and septic
Start with Tehama County planning or building. Water, sewer, fire, and other special districts may have a separate approval.
- Housing Open rent and housing help
Rent rules, repairs, notices, and eviction papers
Start with a local rent, housing, or code office if one serves the address. Court papers go to the Superior Court self-help path, and the deadline on the papers keeps running.
- Household help Open the benefits guide
CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, General Assistance, and IHSS
Tehama County social-services agency is the main local office. Coverage, food, cash aid, and in-home support remain separate programs with separate notices.
- Public health Open health and benefits help
Vaccines, disease reporting, health records, and local health programs
Tehama County public health is the local health jurisdiction. Health coverage and benefits still use separate programs and offices.
- Business Open the business guide
Business setup, seller's permits, local licenses, and regulated work
State filings and tax accounts do not replace county zoning, licensing, building, fire, or health approvals for the address.
- Neighborhood services Open local-office help
Potholes, streetlights, graffiti, trash, and service requests
Start with Tehama County for county-maintained roads and services. Caltrans, utilities, transit systems, waste haulers, and special districts can own separate reporting paths.
- School and care Open the school and care guide
School enrollment, student records, and child-care checks
The school district handles assignment and records. County offices can help with some family services, while the state licenses child-care facilities.
- Parking Open parking help
Residential, guest, overnight, and local parking permits
A local parking permit is separate from a citation, moving ticket, and toll notice. Match the permit to the address, vehicle, district, or parking facility.
- Tickets Open ticket help
Traffic court, parking citations, and toll notices
Tehama County Superior Court handles traffic court matters. A city or issuing agency handles parking. The toll operator handles toll notices.
- Safety Open emergency checks
Emergency alerts, evacuations, smoke, roads, and power
Use the county or city alert system for local warnings. Follow the local emergency office for evacuation wording, then check the matching state fire, smoke, road, or utility update.
Official county links
Open the office that handles the task.
The county links below come from California statewide directories and official county corrections. Property and recorder links open the state directory because several county offices can share one task.
Tehama County
City, county, and district responsibilities
The place name, county, and service districts do different jobs.
Dales is a real community name. It does not create a city government. The county and local districts divide the public work for the address.
The community name is not city hall
Dales is what the Census calls a census-designated place. It normally has no mayor, city council, or city permit desk. Start with Tehama County for county work.
The county handles most local government work
County planning and building usually handle an address outside a city. The county also handles property value, tax bills, records, elections, health, and many aid programs.
Services may come from separate districts
Water, sewer, fire, schools, parks, roads, trash, and power can follow lines that do not match the place name. Check the bill, parcel, or district map before assuming the county provides the service.
Practical notes
Office, map, permit, and paperwork notes for Dales
Start with the responsible office
The local rules still have a clear first stop.
Start with Tehama County for permits, records, taxes, and many public services. Then check the serving utility or special district when the issue follows a service boundary.
Stories & Notes
Stories and local context in Tehama County
County place story · History and culture
Corning's olive story started with a railroad town and a stubborn tree
Corning began with the railroad in 1882, then grew into the Olive City through Warren Woodson, Sevillano olives, table olives, prunes, walnuts, and almonds.
County place story · Outdoors
Bumpass Hell shows Lassen's volcano story still steaming
Bumpass Hell is the largest hydrothermal area in Lassen Volcanic National Park, with steam, boiling pools, and a trail that often stays closed until midsummer.
County place story · History and culture
Tehama keeps early county and river history close
Tehama sits by the Sacramento River with a first-county-courthouse marker, an old railroad bridge story, and practical river awareness built into daily life.
County place story · History and culture
Red Bluff Round-Up turns spring rodeo into a valley tradition
Red Bluff Round-Up grew from Tehama County fair and rodeo roots into one of the far north's best-known spring events.
- 2025 population
- Not available
- Land area
- 0.645 sq mi
- Water area
- 0.008 sq mi