Butte County · Land use · Horses and stables
Where is keeping horses allowed in Butte County?
In Butte County, keeping horses is allowed in 9 base zones (TM, TPZ, RC, FR, FCR and 4 more), needs a permit in 6 (LDR, MDR, MHDR, HDR, VHDR and 1 more, all with a condition) and not allowed in 11 (Butte County use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: TM, TPZ, RC, FR, FCR, RR, RCR, VLDR and 1 more
- Needs a permit: LDR, MDR, MHDR, HDR, VHDR and MU
- Not allowed: GC, NC, CC, REC, SE, LI, GI, HI and 3 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 keeping horses can go
Butte County's code calls this use “Stables, Private”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| TM Timber Mountain | Allowed | § 24-16 |
| TPZ Timber Production | Allowed | § 24-16 |
| RC | 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 | § 24-19 |
| VLDCR Very Low Density Country Residential | Allowed | § 24-19 |
| LDR Low Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit — see note Note 14: Permitted only on parcels of four (4) acres or larger. | § 24-19 |
| MDR Medium Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit — see note Note 14: Permitted only on parcels of four (4) acres or larger. | § 24-19 |
| MHDR Medium High Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit — see note Note 14: Permitted only on parcels of four (4) acres or larger. | § 24-19 |
| HDR High Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit — see note Note 14: Permitted only on parcels of four (4) acres or larger. | § 24-19 |
| VHDR Very High Density Residential | Needs a minor use permit — see note Note 14: Permitted only on parcels of four (4) acres or larger. | § 24-19 |
| MU Mixed Use | Needs an administrative permit — 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 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Section 24-158 Animal keeping.
- 'Stables, Semiprivate': AG P[3], AS P[3], TM P, TPZ M[4], FR to RCR P[3], VLDR M[3], VLDCR M, REC M, MU A[4], others no. 'Stables, Commercial' is commercial (C in AG, AS, TM, FR to RCR; P in CC).
- 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 keeping horses in the LDR zone in Butte County?
Only with a minor use permit. Butte County's use table lists it that way in LDR (Low Density Residential) (§ 24-19). The code adds a condition: “Permitted only on parcels of four (4) acres or larger.”
Can I have keeping horses in the GC zone in Butte County?
No. Butte County's use table does not allow it in GC (General Commercial) (§ 24-22).
Can I have keeping horses in the TM zone in Butte County?
Yes. Butte County's use table lists it as allowed in TM (Timber Mountain) (§ 24-16).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about keeping horses at an address in Butte County
Ask GoCodebook what the zoning at a specific address allows and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question