Butte County · Land use · Church or place of worship
Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in Butte County?
In Butte County, a church or other place of worship is allowed in 5 base zones (GC, NC, CC, MU and RBP, 1 with a condition), needs a permit in 15 (AG, AS, TM, FR, FCR and 10 more) and not allowed in 8 (Butte County use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: GC, NC, CC, MU and RBP
- Needs a permit: AG, AS, TM, FR, FCR, RR, RCR, VLDR and 7 more
- Not allowed: TPZ, RC, VLDCR, REC, SE, GI, HI and AIR
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Butte County Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a church or other place of worship can go
Butte County's code calls this use “Religious Facilities”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| GC General Commercial | Allowed | § 24-22 |
| NC Neighborhood Commercial | Allowed | § 24-22 |
| CC Community Commercial | Allowed | § 24-22 |
| MU Mixed Use | Allowed | § 24-22 |
| RBP | Allowed — see note Note 4: Square footage shall not exceed one (1) percent of the floor area of a parcel or the total floor area of the entire research and business park. Uses may be developed only after twenty-five (25) percent of the approved research and business park floor area is built out, unless the use is operated by and included in the building of a primary permitted use. | § 24-29 |
| AG Agriculture | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-13 |
| AS | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-13 |
| TM Timber Mountain | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-16 |
| FR Foothill Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-19 |
| FCR Foothill Country Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-19 |
| RR Rural Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-19 |
| RCR Rural Country Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-19 |
| VLDR Very Low Density Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-19 |
| LDR Low Density Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-19 |
| MDR Medium Density Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-19 |
| MHDR Medium High Density Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-19 |
| HDR High Density Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-19 |
| VHDR Very High Density Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-19 |
| LI Light Industrial | Needs a minor use permit | § 24-26 |
| PB | Needs a conditional use permit | § 24-29 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
- Not covered here: PD (Planned Development) zone: follows General Plan designation, no use table; Overlay zones such as the Unique Agriculture Overlay Zone (named in S3 note 11). Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Butte County
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the AG zone in Butte County?
Only with a conditional use permit. Butte County's use table lists it that way in AG (Agriculture) (§ 24-13).
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the TPZ zone in Butte County?
No. Butte County's use table does not allow it in TPZ (Timber Production) (§ 24-16).
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the GC zone in Butte County?
Yes. Butte County's use table lists it as allowed in GC (General Commercial) (§ 24-22).
General information, not legal advice.
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