Butte County · Land use · Residential care home (7 or more)
Where is a residential care home for 7 or more people allowed in Butte County?
In Butte County, a residential care home for 7 or more people is needs a permit in 9 (VLDR, LDR, MDR, MHDR, HDR and 4 more, 1 with a condition) and not allowed in 19 (Butte County use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: VLDR, LDR, MDR, MHDR, HDR, VHDR, GC, MU and 1 more
- Not allowed: AG, AS, TM, TPZ, RC, FR, FCR, RR and 11 more
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 residential care home for 7 or more people can go
Butte County's code calls this use “Residential Care Homes, Large”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| VLDR Very Low Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit | § 24-19 |
| LDR Low Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit | § 24-19 |
| MDR Medium Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit | § 24-19 |
| MHDR Medium High Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit | § 24-19 |
| HDR High Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit | § 24-19 |
| VHDR Very High Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit | § 24-19 |
| GC General Commercial | Needs a minor use permit Code row: “Residential Care Home, Large” | § 24-22 |
| MU Mixed Use | Needs a conditional use permit Code row: “Residential Care Home, Large” | § 24-22 |
| RBP | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 3: Permitted only as an accessory use. The maximum number of units shall not exceed one (1) unit per acre of gross project area. | § 24-29 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- 'Residential Care Homes, Small' is a separate row (P in most residential zones).
- State law: A licensed care home for six or fewer residents is a residential use under state law (Health and Safety Code § 1566.3); this page covers larger homes.
- 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 residential care home for 7 or more people in the VLDR zone in Butte County?
Only with a minor use permit. Butte County's use table lists it that way in VLDR (Very Low Density Residential) (§ 24-19).
Can I have a residential care home for 7 or more people in the AG zone in Butte County?
No. Butte County's use table does not allow it in AG (Agriculture) (§ 24-13).
General information, not legal advice.
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