Butte County · Land use · Growing crops
Where is growing crops (agriculture) allowed in Butte County?
In Butte County, growing crops (agriculture) is allowed in 24 base zones (AG, AS, TM, TPZ, FR and 19 more, 16 with a condition) and not allowed in 3 (Butte County use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: AG, AS, TM, TPZ, FR, FCR, RR, RCR and 16 more
- Not allowed: RC, PB 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 growing crops (agriculture) can go
Butte County's code calls this use “Crop Cultivation”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AG Agriculture | Allowed | § 24-13 |
| AS | Allowed | § 24-13 |
| TM Timber Mountain | Allowed | § 24-16 |
| TPZ Timber Production | Allowed | § 24-16 |
| FR Foothill Residential | Allowed | § 24-19 |
| FCR Foothill Country Residential | Allowed | § 24-19 |
| RR Rural Residential | Allowed | § 24-19 |
| RCR Rural Country Residential | Allowed | § 24-19 |
| VLDR Very Low Density Residential | Allowed — see note Note 15: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size, prior to subdivision and development with residential uses. | § 24-19 |
| VLDCR Very Low Density Country Residential | Allowed — see note Note 15: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size, prior to subdivision and development with residential uses. | § 24-19 |
| LDR Low Density Residential | Allowed — see note Note 15: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size, prior to subdivision and development with residential uses. | § 24-19 |
| MDR Medium Density Residential | Allowed — see note Note 15: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size, prior to subdivision and development with residential uses. | § 24-19 |
| MHDR Medium High Density Residential | Allowed — see note Note 15: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size, prior to subdivision and development with residential uses. | § 24-19 |
| HDR High Density Residential | Allowed — see note Note 15: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size, prior to subdivision and development with residential uses. | § 24-19 |
| VHDR Very High Density Residential | Allowed — see note Note 15: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size, prior to subdivision and development with residential uses. | § 24-19 |
| GC General Commercial | Allowed — see note Note 4: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size prior to subdivision and development with commercial uses. | § 24-22 |
| NC Neighborhood Commercial | Allowed — see note Note 4: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size prior to subdivision and development with commercial uses. | § 24-22 |
| CC Community Commercial | Allowed — see note Note 4: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size prior to subdivision and development with commercial uses. | § 24-22 |
| REC Recreation Commercial | Allowed — see note Note 4: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size prior to subdivision and development with commercial uses. | § 24-22 |
| SE Sports and Entertainment | Allowed — see note Note 4: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size prior to subdivision and development with commercial uses. | § 24-22 |
| MU Mixed Use | Allowed — see note Note 4: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size prior to subdivision and development with commercial uses. | § 24-22 |
| LI Light Industrial | Allowed — see note Note 4: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size prior to subdivision and development with industrial uses. | § 24-26 |
| GI General Industrial | Allowed — see note Note 4: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size prior to subdivision and development with industrial uses. | § 24-26 |
| HI Heavy Industrial | Allowed — see note Note 4: Permitted only as an interim use on parcels of one (1) acre or more in size prior to subdivision and development with industrial uses. | § 24-26 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- 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
HomeownersBuyersReal estate agentsSmall developers
Frequently asked questions
Can I have growing crops (agriculture) in the RC zone in Butte County?
No. Butte County's use table does not allow it in RC (§ 24-16).
Can I have growing crops (agriculture) in the AG zone in Butte County?
Yes. Butte County's use table lists it as allowed in AG (Agriculture) (§ 24-13).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about growing crops (agriculture) at an address in Butte County
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