FAQs

Cities and Counties control the way buildings are used in their jurisdictions in order to protect neighborhoods, encourage good development practices, and support property values. The Town of Paradise restricts certain business activities to buildings that have the correct structure for the activity.

Cities and Counties control the way buildings are used in their jurisdictions in order to protect neighborhoods, encourage good development practices, and support property values. The Town of Paradise restricts certain business activities to buildings that have the correct structure for the activity.

You should check with the Town of Paradise Building and Onsite Septic Departments BEFORE:

• Starting a new business
• Remodeling an existing building
• Constructing a new building
• Moving into a new building

The Town of Paradise Building Department also provides information to comply with the California Building Code, as well as the California Disabled Access requirements.

A Building Permit is required in most cases when you plan to make physical or cosmetic changes (electrical, mechanical, or plumbing installations or alterations) to the interior or exterior of the building you plan to occupy or if you are constructing a new building. A Building Permit is required when there is a change in the use of an existing space, such as putting a restaurant in what was a retail space.When a permit is required plans should be submitted for Plan Review and a Building Permit issued before starting any construction or remodeling. During the course of construction or remodeling, building inspectors are required to inspect the work performed.

Before going to any public agency you should have an exact address for the proposed business. Having accurate site location is crucial for receiving the correct zoning and onsite septic information and for filing various documents and permits.  Private mailbox addresses are for mailing purposes only and cannot be used as a business address.

• Home Based Businesses
• Residential rental properties with two or more units (this is considered a Home Based Business)
• Businesses that are required to obtain a special business license
• Financial Institutions that pay the Bank and Corporation Tax to the State
• Tax-exempt religious organizations 

Burn season runs from the fall as approved by the Fire Chief through May of the following year. Beginning July 1st of the current year, a new permit will be required for burning. The permit will remain valid during burn season until June 30th of the following year. Along with a valid permit, citizens must contact Butte County Air Quality Management District to ensure that it is a permissible burn day; if burning is suspended due to fire hazard or air quality reasons it will be reflected in the recording.  See the “Burn Information & Permit” link for specific guidelines, burn dates, and to purchase a permit online with a credit card.  The cost of a Residential burn permit is $25.00, Fuel Reduction burn permit is $54.91.

The Chipper Program is administered by Butte Fire Safe Council through grant funding. The program is free, provided you meet the requirements. For more information, visit their website at https://buttefiresafe.net/chipper-program/.

Homeowners insurance companies frequently request that individuals provide the Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating or the ISO Public Protection Classification which gauges the fire protection capability of your local jurisdiction.  The entire Town of Paradise is currently an ISO-2/2X.

As one might imagine, there is both a cost and a liability involved in dispatching fire staff to reach high, out of the way smoke detectors.  Citizens are encouraged to make arrangements with a family member, friend, or contractor to maintain personal fire safety equipment. 

Please note that a regular 9-Volt battery operated smoke detector has an 8 to10 year life span.  Effective July 2014, when purchasing a smoke detector it should have a date stamp on it, and an encased lithium or long-life battery in it designed to last up to 10 years; when the smoke detector beeps, a new unit needs to be purchased.

Police

Over the past six years Paradise Police have been stretched extremely thin.  The department needs adequate staffing in several critical areas in order to keep pace with changes in crime patterns.  There are currently 4 frozen Police Officer positions and 2 Sergeant Positions.  Statistically, crime in our area is increasing.  The Department’s Police cars average 9.7 years old, which is beyond the recommended service life.  Public safety remains a top priority in the allocation of general funds, however without additional revenues, services and vehicle replacement will be affected.

Fire

Town of Paradise Fire Stations are aging and need many serious repairs.  First response fire engines are 6, 12, and 13 years old and reserve engines are over 20 years old.   Without additional monies, there are no funds available for replacement. 

Road Maintenance

The Town has about 100 miles of roads to maintain.  Bringing all roads to an acceptable condition would cost about $32 million dollars.  Obviously, the current budget does not come close to allowing the Town to address even the most critical needs.  New tax revenue money coupled with State and Federal Grant funding would allow the Town to implement an improvement plan to bring roads closer to an acceptable standard over time.

Animal Control

Measure N passed by voters in 2004 funds about $131,000 a year toward Animal Control and Shelter Services.  To bring staffing levels and Shelter hours back to an adequate level, an additional $40,000 a year is needed.

Facilities

Town of Paradise facilities have grown old, deteriorated and in some cases are unsafe.  The great recession of the last few years has impacted the Town’s budget, making it impossible to fund needed repairs and upgrades to aging facilities, while still maintaining critical services for the community. 

Not much!  The average household would pay less than $30-$50 per year during the six year duration of the sales tax.  A sales tax does not overly burden Paradise residents, non Paradise residents who use Town services, such as roads, would also contribute. On a $100 taxable purchase, this would add on only 50 cents for the shopper.  Here is an example of how an average family’s bill would change if Measure C is approved:

A local sales tax would apply to the same goods and services and be subject to the existing State sales tax on tangible personal property.  For example, furniture, cars, giftware, toys, antiques and clothing would be subject to the tax.  Items that are exempt from the sales tax include most groceries and prescription medicine. 

No.  By default, the search results will show matches for any word within the phrase.  In this example, you would receive results for all web pages and documents that contained either the word alarm or the word permit or both.

In order to search on an exact phrase, enclose your search phrase in quotations.  The search results for "alarm permit" will show matches for that exact phrase.

There are no building permits required for fences; however, there are limits to height and placement. A solid fence up to 6’ in height above grade can be installed along property lines that do not front a street. For the property line(s) that front a street, any portion of a solid fence within the street setback (typically 50’ from centerline of a public road and 30’ from centerline of a private road) can only be 4’ in height. Open chain link and/or wrought iron fences up to 6’ in height can extend into the street setback area. Only noncombustible fencing materials are allowed within 5' of a structure. No fence can be installed within a private road easement without written consent from ALL property owners who have legal right to that easement.

Under the residential and community services regulations, a small family day care with six or fewer children under the age of 10 (including the children who reside at the residence) is a permitted use. Caring for seven to fourteen children is a regulated use subject to the issuance of a Large Family Day Care Home permit, state licensing, and limited to specific zoning districts.

In most residential zoning districts the keeping of anything more than cats, dogs, or two hens and two rabbits requires a Town-approved permit for “Animal Production/Livestock” which is based on acreage. To determine if your property qualifies for livestock animals, please contact Planning Division staff.

Generally, the residential zoning districts potentially allow for a “Secondary Dwelling” (750 sq ft or less) with the issuance of a planning permit contingent on meeting minimum development standards for things such as wastewater and casinofire protection. For two full-size dwellings, or a “Two-Family Residence”, typically a certain level of use permit is necessary which may require a public hearing. For more details please contact Planning Division staff.