Development Services

Colusa County’s Development Services Department consists of the Planning, Building, Environmental Health, Code Compliance, and Water Resources divisions. The Board of Supervisors have combined these functions into a single agency in order to help facilitate the delivery of the highest level of customer service to the County’s residents and businesses in support of agricultural activities and economic development.

WHAT'S NEW

Maxwell Community Plan and Development Agreement with Sites Project Authority for the development and operation of the Sites Reservoir Project - Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors Public Hearings in October 2025

On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the Planning Commission reviewed the Maxwell Community Plan and adopted Resolution No. 25-06 recommending that the Board of Supervisors approve the Maxwell Community Plan. The Planning Commission's recommendation to approve the Maxwell Community Plan will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for action on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 9:30 am. Please visit the Maxwell Community Plan webpage for more information.

Additionally, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 25-07 recommending that the Board of Supervisors adopt an Ordinance approving a Development Agreement with the Sites Project Authority for the development and operation of the Sites Reservoir. The Planning Commission's recommendation to approve the proposed Development Agreement will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for action on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 9:30 am.

Click here for Domestic Well Outage Resources and information regarding the Colusa County Emergency Domestic Well Program.

Functions

The primary functions of the department include:

Planning

Current planning, which includes processing and analyzing land use entitlements, tentative maps, and lot line adjustments
Long-range planning, which includes updating and creating county plans, drafting Zoning Code ordinances, and drafting General Plan resolutions
Housing Element - Adopted June 30, 2020

Building

Building administration, which includes processing building permits, conducting site inspections, and enforcing building codes

Environmental Health

The application of public health laws regarding Retail Food Safety, Cottage Food Operations, Septic Systems, and Small Water Systems, as well as others through permitting and inspection activities.
Hazardous Materials & Waste (CUPA)
- Hazardous Materials Area Plan, 2018 Update (PDF)
- Agricultural Operations Hazardous Materials Survey
Colusa County Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) (PDF)

Water Resources

Implementation of the Colusa County Groundwater Management Plan.
Support of County related issues of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
Involved in various other water-related activities like Sites Reservoir Outreach.

Natural Resources

Review of Public Land Issues
Wildland Fire Hazard Mitigation Efforts
Surface Mining and Reclamation
Flood Hazard Mitigation Support

Airport Land Use Commission

The Community Development Department staff provides staff support to the County’s Airport Land Use Commission.
Staff reviews all projects within the Colusa County’s Airport’s Influence Area to determine which projects require review by the Airport Land Use Commission.
Staff processes development projects to the Airport Land Use Commission for consistency review against the Colusa County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan.

Code Compliance

Receive complaints - Complaint Form (PDF) or Online Complaint Form
Investigate complaints to determine whether a violation of County Code exists.

Click Here for the Online Permit Portal - This allows applicants to apply for permits, track their application status, to request inspections, and communicate directly with the County staff processing their permits through an easy to use web-based interface. Any computer or mobile device connected to the internet can access the County's Online Permit Portal.