Homesteading in California
Explore 58 counties and state-level regulations for homesteaders in California.
California uses a Hybrid water rights system , enforces statewide IRC building codes , and requires a carry permit. The effective property tax rate is 0.71%.
State Regulations
Water Rights
System: Hybrid
Dual system combining riparian and prior appropriation rights. The State Water Resources Control Board administers appropriative permits. Groundwater managed under SGMA.
Statute: Cal. Water Code § 100 et seq.; Cal. Water Code § 10720 (SGMA)
Building Codes
Statewide IRC: Yes (statewide)
California Building Standards Code (Title 24) applies statewide and is mandatory. Residential code based on IRC with extensive state amendments including CALGreen.
Statute: Cal. Health & Safety Code § 18901 et seq.
Gun Laws
Open Carry: No
Constitutional Carry: No
Firearm Safety Certificate required for purchase. Concealed carry requires a license from the county sheriff. Open carry of firearms is prohibited.
Statute: Cal. Penal Code § 26150; Cal. Penal Code § 26350; Cal. Penal Code § 31615
Right to Farm
Protected: Yes
Protects agricultural operations from being declared a nuisance if the operation existed for at least three years. Counties may establish local agricultural preserve zones under the Williamson Act.
Statute: Cal. Civ. Code § 3482.5
Counties in California
58 counties · Click column headers to sort
| County | Population | Median Home | Property Tax | Growing Days | Overall Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | 1,663,823 | $999,200 | $7,622 | 99 | Very High |
| Alpine County | 1,515 | $463,900 | $3,481 | 94 | Very Low |
| Amador County | 40,577 | $409,600 | $2,814 | 95 | Relatively Low |
| Butte County | 213,605 | $371,600 | $2,599 | 89 | Relatively Moderate |
| Calaveras County | 45,674 | $404,200 | $2,933 | 96 | Relatively Moderate |
| Colusa County | 21,811 | $360,100 | $2,342 | 92 | Relatively Moderate |
| Contra Costa County | 1,162,648 | $787,300 | $6,654 | 98 | Very High |
| Del Norte County | 27,462 | $282,500 | $1,826 | 79 | Relatively High |
| El Dorado County | 191,713 | $597,600 | $4,223 | 94 | Relatively Moderate |
| Fresno County | 1,008,280 | $338,200 | $2,605 | 103 | Relatively High |
| Glenn County | 28,657 | $295,400 | $2,110 | 90 | Relatively Low |
| Humboldt County | 136,132 | $386,000 | $2,622 | 84 | Relatively High |
| Imperial County | 179,578 | $256,000 | $2,217 | 122 | Relatively High |
| Inyo County | 18,829 | $325,900 | $2,215 | 104 | Relatively Low |
| Kern County | 906,883 | $282,800 | $2,712 | 110 | Relatively High |
| Kings County | 152,515 | $281,400 | $2,182 | 106 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lake County | 68,024 | $291,300 | $2,026 | 92 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lassen County | 31,873 | $233,100 | $1,660 | 84 | Relatively Low |
| Los Angeles County | 9,936,690 | $732,200 | $5,124 | 116 | Very High |
| Madera County | 157,243 | $340,300 | $2,395 | 101 | Relatively High |
| Marin County | 260,485 | $1,291,800 | $10,001 | 97 | Relatively High |
| Mariposa County | 17,130 | $335,900 | $2,174 | 99 | Relatively Moderate |
| Mendocino County | 91,145 | $463,700 | $3,207 | 90 | Relatively High |
| Merced County | 282,290 | $342,300 | $2,328 | 101 | Relatively High |
| Modoc County | 8,651 | $184,900 | $1,425 | 80 | Very Low |
| Mono County | 13,219 | $496,800 | $3,399 | 98 | Relatively Low |
| Monterey County | 437,609 | $683,700 | $4,494 | 106 | Relatively High |
| Napa County | 137,384 | $794,500 | $5,545 | 95 | Relatively High |
| Nevada County | 102,322 | $559,700 | $4,151 | 91 | Relatively Moderate |
| Orange County | 3,175,227 | $862,900 | $5,822 | 118 | Very High |
| Placer County | 406,608 | $627,100 | $5,333 | 92 | Relatively Moderate |
| Plumas County | 19,650 | $310,100 | $2,102 | 88 | Relatively Moderate |
| Riverside County | 2,429,487 | $462,900 | $3,959 | 118 | Very High |
| Sacramento County | 1,579,211 | $465,900 | $3,575 | 95 | Relatively High |
| San Benito County | 64,753 | $703,200 | $5,803 | 104 | Relatively Moderate |
| San Bernardino County | 2,180,563 | $438,000 | $3,151 | 112 | Very High |
| San Diego County | 3,289,701 | $725,200 | $5,214 | 122 | Very High |
| San Francisco County | 851,036 | $1,348,700 | $8,835 | 98 | Very High |
| San Joaquin County | 779,445 | $462,000 | $3,571 | 98 | Relatively High |
| San Luis Obispo County | 281,712 | $726,700 | $5,066 | 110 | Relatively High |
| San Mateo County | 754,250 | $1,441,300 | $8,637 | 100 | Relatively High |
| Santa Barbara County | 445,213 | $714,800 | $4,669 | 114 | Relatively High |
| Santa Clara County | 1,916,831 | $1,316,800 | $9,252 | 101 | Very High |
| Santa Cruz County | 268,571 | $951,300 | $6,011 | 102 | Relatively High |
| Shasta County | 181,852 | $327,500 | $2,331 | 84 | Relatively Moderate |
| Sierra County | 2,916 | $289,400 | $2,428 | 90 | Very Low |
| Siskiyou County | 44,049 | $260,200 | $1,763 | 80 | Relatively Moderate |
| Solano County | 450,995 | $549,100 | $4,203 | 96 | Relatively High |
| Sonoma County | 488,436 | $748,500 | $5,333 | 95 | Relatively High |
| Stanislaus County | 552,063 | $393,300 | $2,852 | 99 | Relatively High |
| Sutter County | 99,101 | $375,400 | $3,047 | 92 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tehama County | 65,484 | $290,400 | $1,808 | 87 | Relatively Moderate |
| Trinity County | 15,889 | $326,200 | $1,793 | 84 | Relatively Low |
| Tulare County | 473,446 | $280,900 | $2,053 | 106 | Relatively High |
| Tuolumne County | 54,993 | $377,700 | $2,570 | 97 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ventura County | 842,009 | $719,100 | $5,112 | 115 | Relatively High |
| Yolo County | 217,141 | $555,200 | $4,280 | 94 | Relatively Moderate |
| Yuba County | 81,705 | $350,600 | $2,731 | 91 | Relatively Low |
Compare counties with your priorities
Use our interactive Location Finder to score and rank counties in California based on what matters most to you.
Open Location Finder for California