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Planning Department

Show All Answers

1. What is the parcel zoning and APN?

See the Plumas County GIS Map Portal for primary zoning, APN (Assessor Parcel Number), and combining zones in addition to more such as planning area boundaries, planned development designations, airport safety zones, fire districts, water/sewer districts, snow load, supervisorial districts, school districts, hospital districts, and cemetery districts. 

2. Where else can I find the parcel APN?

Plumas County Accessor Parcel Numbers (APN) and situs addresses can be found on the Plumas County Parcel Quest.

3. Can I build a second unit on my parcel?

Provided building requirements can be met, all single-family residentially zoned parcels (2-R, 3-R, and 7-R) can have one primary dwelling unit (no square footage requirement) and one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) of no more than 1,200 square feet and one additional detached dwelling unit on any parcel of twice or more the minimum lot area. 

Multiple-family residential zoned parcels can also have ADUs. 

All parcels zoned S-1, S-3, R-10, and R-20, are allowed one primary dwelling unit; including an attached additional quarters for living and sleeping purposes (defined as no more than 30% of the primary dwelling unit floor area, excluding garages and carports), and one guest house of no more than 1,200 square feet, and one additional detached dwelling unit on any parcel of twice or more the minimum lot area.

4. Does the parcel have any combining zones?

*Flood Plain Combing Zone (FP) regulates development to achieve reasonable safety from flood hazards.

*Special Plan Combining Zone (SP) (DRA, ScA, ScR, HA, HB) administers design review areas, scenic areas, special plan-historical areas, and designated historical buildings.

*Mobile Home Combining Zone (MH) provides for the installation of manufactured homes and commercial coaches on support systems.

*Business Exclusion Combining Zone (BX) - precludes or excludes businesses in the context of the use of land, dwelling units, or appurtenant structures.

*Farm Animal Combining Zone (F) - provides for animal husbandry (large and small).

*Limited Combining Zone (Ltd) - permits and mitigates uses that have the potential to have significant adverse social, economic, or environmental effects, and to implement the General Plan Diagram Directive for industrial areas.

5. Can I have chickens?

If the zoning district (e.g., “S-1” “S-3” “R-10” “R-20”) allows “Small animal husbandry” defined as, care and raising of hoofless livestock for the personal use of residents of the property and 4-H market projects.

OR Follow the Backyard Chicken Ordinance (Title 9, Planning and Zoning, Chapter 2 Zoning, Article 43) in Single-Family Residential Zones (2-R, 3-R, 7-R). 

OR If the parcel has a Farm Animal Combining Zone (F).

6. Can I have horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats…?

If the zoning district (e.g., “S-3” “R-10” “R-20”) allows “Large animal husbandry” defined as, the care and raising of hoofed livestock for the personal use of residents of the property, 4-H market and breeding projects, except horses, cows, and pigs, and the care and raising of horses, cows, and pigs at the ratio of two (2) animals with their young (one year old or less) for the first acre of property and one additional animal for each additional one-half (½) acre. Horses, cows, or pigs may not be kept on parcels smaller than one acre. 

OR If the parcel has a Farm Animal Combining Zone (F). 

OR If it’s a 4-H market project requiring a no-fee special use permit (in certain zoning districts).

7. When do I need a special use permit?

Refer to Title 9, Planning and Zoning, Chapter 2 Zoning, Articles 13 through Article 34 for the zoning districts and see “Uses” Sec. to understand what “shall be permitted” and what is “subject to the issuance of a special use permit.”

8. How are uses defined?

Refer to Title 9, Planning and Zoning, Chapter 2 Zoning, Article 2 Definitions, for specifically defined words (note, words, and phrases used in Chapter 2 Zoning which are not defined are defined by common usage).

9. How do I obtain a special use permit?

The fee is $1,231, is processed by Planning staff, and goes before the Zoning Administrator (Planning Director).

10. How do you combine two or more parcels into one parcel?

Fee is $202 and is called an Owner Initiated Merger (Plumas County Code Sec. 9-3.1001).

11. How do you move property lines to reconfigure parcel boundaries?

Fee is $1,131 + $62/lot and is called a Lot Line Adjustment (Plumas County Code Sec. 9-2.1281 through Sec. 9-2.1284).

12. I have two APNs. How do I know if I have two legal sellable parcels?

APNs exist only for identification of property for County assessor / tax collector purposes. APNs are not legitimate legal descriptions for a deed or other conveyance such as a deed of trust. Just because there are multiple APNs does not necessarily mean there are all legal sellable parcels. County Planning can process (and record) a Certificate of Compliance (Fee $1,009 per resultant parcel) per the Subdivision Map Act to determine legal parcels.

13. Does the County have PUD conditions on file?

Yes, call the Planning Department, for Planned Unit Development (PUD) conditions of approval (COAs). 

14. Does the County have HOA CC&Rs on file?

No, the County does not have information on private individual Homeowners Associations for CC&Rs. Refer to a title report.

15. Where can I find recorded maps?

Visit the County Engineering Department webpage for parcel maps, subdivision maps, records of surveys, assessor map books, and more. To request copies of maps and other large format documents, go to the online portal to submit copy and scan requests.

16. Where can I find FEMA floodplain maps?

Go to https://www.plumascounty.us/2295/FEMA-Flood-Insurance-Rate-Maps-Informati or the FEMA FIRM portal at: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home and search by address.

17. Where do I find planning applications?

Go to the Planning Department page. Also provided are other handouts, zoning information, a fee schedule, and Public Record Act Request form. 

18. I need to call Caltrans for an encroachment permit issue, who should I call?

John Yolton at 530-215-8549

john.yolton@dot.ca.gov

19. I need to call HCD to start a mobilehome / RV park, who should I call?

Lou Turold at 707-492-2028

Louis.Turold@hcd.ca.gov

20. I need to call CAL FIRE Lassen Modoc-Unit, who should I call?

Jonathan Pangburn, Plumas Area Forester, CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc Unit 

Serving Plumas County P.O. Box F (171 Lawrence St.) Quincy, CA 95971

530-283-9322 office / 530-521-8654 cell Jonathan.Pangburn@fire.ca.gov

21. What is required by AB 38 (2019)?

On or after July 1, 2021, when selling a residential property (real estate transaction) in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) documentation (disclosure) of a compliant (Public Resource Code Sec. 4291) Defensible Space Inspection (DSI) is required. See CAL FIRE viewer to determine FHSZ: https://egis.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ

22. Where do I find the Minimum Fire Safe Regulations?

As of April 1, 2023, the California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources, Division 1.5 Department of Forestry, Chapter 7 - Fire Protection, Subchapter 2 State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations, Articles 1-5 have been updated viewed here for the latest regulations: https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs

23. How do I know if the parcel is in a Firewise community?

Go to the Plumas County Fire Safe Council website at: https://www.plumasfiresafe.org/firewise-usa.html there are 26 total Firewise communities in Plumas County.

24. Does being in a Firewise community help with obtaining fire insurance?

Maybe, go to the CA Department of Insurance Commissioner website to view a list of insurers currently offering based on community wildfire mitigation: https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/03-res/Insurers-Currently-Offering-Discounts.cfm

25. Where are wedding venues allowed?

Wedding venues are considered a “Place of assembly” use in most zoning districts (may require a special use permit). 

OR In “AP” and “GA” agricultural zones Title 9 Planning and Zoning, Chapter 2 Zoning, Article 44 Commercial Social Event, Limited applies where administrative use permit (19 or fewer events per year with no more than 250 guests) or special use permit (20+ events per year) standards are defined to regulate the operation of a limited commercial social event while protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the community.

26. How do I know if the parcel is in a Williamson Act Contract?

Generally, parcel zoned “AP” or Agricultural Preserve are in Williamson Act Contract, but not always. Call the Planning Department to inquire. The purpose of the AP zone is to provide land use regulations consistent with the intent of the Plumas County Williamson Act program for agricultural preserves. The Williamson Act, also known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, enables local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use.  In return, landowners receive property tax assessments which are much lower than normal because they are based upon farming and open space uses as opposed to full market value.

27. Am I allowed to camp in an RV on the property?

Camping is permitted on private land (non-commercial/not a campground) for no more than 120 days in a calendar year if all aspects of the County health regulations are met and subject to the concurrence of the property owner. After 17 consecutive days proper health and sanitation is required (e.g., RV hook up for well and septic). Note, the number of RVs used for camping may be at least one (1) and otherwise shall not exceed the number of dwelling units and additional quarters and the guest house permitted on the property by the zoning, less the number thereof on the property.

*Camping is prohibited countywide in Single-Family Residential Zones (2-R, 3-R, 7-R), Multiple-Family Residential Zone (M-R), Core Commercial Zone (C-1), Periphery Commercial Zone (C-2), Convenience Commercial Zone (C-3), Recreation-Open Space Zone (Rec-OS), Open Space Zone (OS), and Lake Zone (L).

*Camping is allowed countywide in Suburban (S-1), Secondary Suburban (S-3), Rural (R-10), Rural (R-20), Recreation Commercial (R-C), Recreation (Rec-P, Rec-1, Rec-3, Rec-10, Rec-20), Heavy Industrial (I-1), Light Industrial (I-2), Agricultural Preserve (AP), General Agriculture (GA), Timberland Production (TPZ), General Forest (GF), and Mining (M).

28. Can I live year-round in a tiny home on wheels?

No, a tiny home on wheels is considered an RV in Plumas County. See above “camping” rules for RVs.