Butte County

Butte County is located in northern California, covering approximately 1,677 square miles in the Sacramento Valley and adjacent foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Butte County seat is Oroville, situated along the Feather River. As of recent estimates, Butte County has a population of approximately 219,000 residents. Butte County was established in 1850, one of California's original 27 counties, and is named after the Sutter Buttes, though those are actually located in neighboring Sutter County. Major cities include Chico, the largest city and home to California State University, Chico; Oroville; Paradise; and Gridley. Butte County is known for the Oroville Dam, the tallest dam in the United States at 770 feet, and Lake Oroville, a major recreation area. Butte County experienced the devastating Camp Fire in November 2018, which destroyed the town of Paradise and became California's deadliest wildfire. Butte County's geography ranges from valley floor at approximately 100 feet elevation to Sierra foothills exceeding 7,000 feet. Butte County Recorder-Clerk is located at 155 Nelson Avenue, Oroville, CA 95965. Butte County Assessor's Office operates at 25 County Center Drive, Suite 110, Oroville, CA 95965. Butte County Clerk-Recorder handles vital records, elections, and property documents. Agriculture, education, healthcare, and government constitute major economic sectors. Bidwell Park in Chico is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States, covering over 3,670 acres.

• Butte County is known for the Oroville Dam, the tallest dam in the United States at 770 feet, and Lake Oroville, a major recreation area.
• Butte County's geography ranges from valley floor at approximately 100 feet elevation to Sierra foothills exceeding 7,000 feet.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• The facility houses both male and female inmates and provides booking information including charges, bail amounts, and projected release dates.
• Requests for arrest records can be submitted to the Sheriff's Office in person, by mail, or through written request.
• Mugshots and booking photos are generally available through the online inmate search system or by specific request to the Sheriff's Records Division.
• Processing fees may apply for extensive record searches or certified copies.

Criminal Records

Criminal records in Butte County, CA are maintained by local law enforcement agencies and the court system. Background checks are typically obtained through state-level repositories or authorized vendors. For an authoritative source, see Records | Butte County, CA.

Arrest Records

Arrest records in Butte County, CA are public under most state public-records laws unless sealed or expunged by a court. They are maintained by the arresting agency, primarily the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

Jail & Inmate Records

The Butte County jail is operated by the County Sheriff's Office and houses pretrial detainees and short-sentence inmates. Inmate locator tools allow public searches by name or booking number.

• Look up current inmates and booking information at Butte County Inmate Lookup, Jail Roster.
• Sheriff's Office: Butte County Sheriff's Department | State of California - Department of Justice .
• The bond and bail process allows release of detainees under conditions set by the court; inquiries about recently arrested individuals can be directed to the jail's administrative office.

• Remote access to case information is provided free of charge for basic searches, though detailed documents may require fees.
• Copy fees are typically $0.50 per page for standard documents, with certified copies at $25 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page.
• Traffic citations and infractions are processed through both locations.
• Small claims cases under $10,000 are filed with the Superior Court.
• The court accepts online payments for certain fees and fines.

• The Assessor provides a free online parcel viewer and property information search accessible through buttecounty.net/assessor, allowing searches by parcel number (APN), owner name, or property address.
• Certified copies of recorded documents cost $1 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page, plus applicable notary fees.
• The Recorder-Clerk accepts document recordings in person and by mail, with recording fees set by state statute.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Marriage licenses are issued by Butte County Clerk-Recorder and cost $35-$91 depending on whether couples complete premarital counseling.
• Online ordering for vital records may be available through VitalChek or Butte County's authorized vendor, though in-person and mail requests are always accepted.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• The Secretary of State Business Programs Division handles entity formations, annual statements, and agent of service of process designations.
• The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) issues seller's permits and resale certificates for businesses collecting sales tax.
• Butte County Development Services Department at 7 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965, processes building permits, land use applications, zoning compliance, and environmental review for unincorporated areas.