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California County
Alpine County, California
California's least populous county in the high Sierra Nevada - from Markleeville's hot springs and the Death Ride (Tour of the California Alps, the most demanding recreational cycling event in North America - 15,000 feet of climbing across five mountain passes in a single day) to Kirkwood Mountain Resort's exceptional snowfall, the Mokelumne Wilderness, and a county of 1,200 permanent residents covering 739 square miles of granite peaks, alpine meadows, and volcanic formations at elevations between 4,000 and 11,000 feet.
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Office: Alpine County OES – (530) 694-2146 | alpinecountyca.gov
Alert System: Nixle; CA Alert; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Markleeville Community Center; contact county OES
FEMA Region: Region 9
Notes: California’s least populous county (~1,100 residents); Markleeville is county seat; Sierra Nevada high country (7,000+ ft elevation); earthquake risk (Walker Lane seismic zone); severe winter storms and avalanche risk; Ebbetts Pass (Highway 4) and Monitor Pass (Highway 89) close seasonally; wildfire risk; county has very limited emergency management resources; California OES provides significant support
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Alpine County Public Works – (530) 694-2146
CalTrans: Hwy 4 (Ebbetts Pass – closed in winter) and Hwy 89 (Monitor Pass – closed in winter) are the main scenic routes
Notes: Alpine County is one of the most remote and least accessible counties in California; two of the main highways close seasonally; Hwy 88 (Carson Pass) at the north edge is the most reliable year-round route; the county’s mountain access creates significant seasonal isolation; nearest significant communities are Gardnerville, NV (20 miles east) and South Lake Tahoe (30 miles north)
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Alpine County Planning – (530) 694-2146
Services: County-wide building permits; no incorporated municipalities (no city governments in Alpine County)
Notes: Alpine County has no incorporated cities – the county government serves all residents directly; very limited construction activity; most development is vacation cabins and ranch improvements; strict environmental standards in the high Sierra
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Alpine County Veterans Services – (530) 694-2146
VA Medical: VA Reno, NV (nearest); Sacramento VA (longer drive)
Services: Basic benefits claims assistance; very limited local resources
Notes: Extremely remote county; VA access in either Nevada or Sacramento requires significant travel; very small veteran population
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Alpine County Library – (530) 694-2120
Address: 270 Laramie St, Markleeville, CA 96120
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; small but beloved community library
Notes: Alpine County Library is one of the smallest county libraries in California; it serves a deeply rural community and is an important community gathering place; the library is noted for its cozy character and personalized service
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Carson River (excellent trout fishing – East Fork of the Carson River in Markleeville is a designated Wild Trout stream); Grover Hot Springs State Park – parks.ca.gov | (530) 694-2248 (beautiful hot springs park near Markleeville; popular year-round; camping; natural hot pools); Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway (one of California’s most spectacular mountain drives); Monitor Pass Scenic Byway; Lake Alpine (camping; fishing); Mokelumne Wilderness; Disaster Peak Wilderness; Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (covers most of county); snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in winter; Turtle Rock Park (county park); Alpine County Museum (Markleeville – local history)
Notes: Alpine County is a spectacular mountain wilderness destination; Grover Hot Springs is uniquely positioned – natural hot mineral pools in a beautiful valley surrounded by pines and peaks; the East Fork Carson River’s Wild Trout designation means catch-and-release fly fishing for large rainbow and brown trout; Ebbetts Pass road (when open) is one of the most dramatic mountain drives in California; the Mokelumne Wilderness is genuine remote backcountry; the county’s tiny population means extraordinary solitude in spectacular scenery
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Limited; California GIS Open Data; USGS topographic maps (essential); CalFire mapping
Notes: Very small county with minimal GIS infrastructure; USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF maintains detailed maps of National Forest lands (majority of county); USGS topo maps are the primary navigation resource
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Alpine County Animal Control – (530) 694-2146
Services: Very basic animal control; wildlife management through CDFW
Notes: Minimal formal animal services; wildlife management (bears, mountain lions, deer, wild horses) through CDFW; ranching community manages livestock
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Alpine County – (530) 694-2146; transfer station
Recycling: Limited rural programs; Markleeville transfer station handles basic recycling
Environmental: California SWRCB and RWQCB; USFS (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF); California State Parks (Grover Hot Springs); Lahontan RWQCB; Carson River watershed; Great Basin hydrologic system
Notes: Alpine County sits at the headwaters of the Carson River – water quality protection is critical for downstream Nevada communities and the Great Basin ecosystem; Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest manages the vast majority of county land and drives most environmental management activity; the high Sierra ecosystem’s sensitivity requires careful management; the Carson River’s crossing from California to Nevada involves interstate water compact obligations; very limited development means relatively light environmental management demands
About Alpine County
Alpine County is the least populated county in California and one of the least populated counties in the United States – fewer than 1,200 permanent residents in 739 square miles of high Sierra Nevada terrain along the California-Nevada border.
Markleeville (the county seat, population ~200) is a genuine frontier community – a handful of buildings including the Alpine Hotel (1862), the courthouse, and the Cutthroat Saloon constitute the downtown of California’s least populous county seat. The Grover Hot Springs State Park nearby provides natural hot spring soaking in a mountain meadow at 5,900 feet elevation.
The Death Ride – Tour of the California Alps – is Alpine County’s most celebrated annual event. Each July, thousands of cyclists attempt to complete 129 miles and 15,000 feet of climbing across five Sierra Nevada passes. The event draws cyclists from around the world to a county that has fewer permanent residents than most apartment buildings.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort – just across the Amador County line but served largely through Alpine County infrastructure – receives among the heaviest snowfall of any California ski resort, with an average snowpack exceeding 500 inches annually.
The Mokelumne Wilderness covers a significant portion of the county’s backcountry – a roadless granite wilderness of peaks, lakes, and river canyons accessible only by trail.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
The Alpine County Assessor at 99 Water Street, Markleeville, CA 96120, phone 530-694-2283, assesses under Proposition 13 rules. Appeal to the Alpine County Assessment Appeals Board. No CA estate tax.
Courts & Legal
Alpine County Superior Court at 99 Water Street, Markleeville, CA 96120, phone 530-694-2281, handles all county court functions including probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK-RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses)
99 Water St., Markleeville, CA 96120
(530) 694-2281
County Clerk
(530) 694-2281
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Alpine County Superior Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Alpine County Historical Society, c/o Alpine County Museum, Markleeville, CA
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Alpine County Superior Court
Alpine County Courthouse, 14777 State Route 89, Markleeville, CA 96120 (mailing: P.O. Box 518, Markleeville, CA 96120) (530) 694-2113 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Alpine County is California’s least populous county – the smallest courthouse of any county in this project so far – so expect a small, personal office rather than a large clerk’s department.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
California recently increased its small-estate thresholds substantially, so check this first – more estates now qualify to skip full probate than in past years.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates with personal property valued at $208,850 or less (for deaths on or after April 1, 2025; holds through March 31, 2028). No court filing needed – present the signed affidavit directly to the bank or institution holding the property. Must wait at least 40 days after the death, and no probate proceeding can already be pending.
Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property, Primary Residence – for a decedent’s primary California residence valued at $750,000 or less (Judicial Council Form DE-310). Requires a 40-day wait, notice to heirs, and a probate referee appraisal.
Affidavit for Real Property of Small Value – for other (non-primary-residence) California real property valued at $69,625 or less (Form DE-305). Requires a 6-month wait.
Formal Probate – required when the estate exceeds these thresholds. California typically uses the Independent Administration of Estates Act (IAEA), letting the personal representative handle most matters without a court hearing for each step.
California is a community property state – a surviving spouse already owns their half of community property, and can often use a simplified Spousal Property Petition (Form DE-221) instead.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 40 days after the death.
Confirm total qualifying California personal property (excluding trust assets, joint tenancy, POD/TOD accounts, and beneficiary-designated accounts) is $208,850 or less, using date-of-death values.
Complete the affidavit under Probate Code § 13100.
Present it with a certified death certificate directly to the bank or institution – no court filing required. Collecting property this way makes you personally liable for the decedent’s unsecured debts up to the value received (Prob. Code § 13109).
IF USING THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE PETITION OR SMALL REAL PROPERTY AFFIDAVIT
Confirm the property qualifies and the applicable waiting period has passed (40 days for the primary-residence petition; 6 months for the small real property affidavit).
File the petition (Form DE-310) or affidavit (Form DE-305) with the Alpine County Superior Court.
A probate referee appraises the property; heirs receive notice.
Once approved, the property transfers without full probate administration.
If formal probate is required
Deliver the original will (if any) to the court clerk within 30 days of learning of the death (Prob. Code § 8200).
File a Petition for Probate (Form DE-111) to admit the will and request appointment as personal representative.
The court issues Letters Testamentary (Form DE-150) or Letters of Administration.
If Independent Administration authority is granted, the personal representative can act on most matters without separate court hearings.
Notice to creditors and an inventory/appraisal (with a probate referee) follow, along with payment of debts and taxes.
The estate closes with a final petition for distribution.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit / real property affidavits: no court filing fee for the personal-property affidavit; filing fees apply to the DE-310 primary-residence petition and DE-305 small real property affidavit.
Formal probate filing fee: several hundred dollars, varying somewhat by county.
Personal representative and attorney compensation: statutory fee schedule based on estate size (Prob. Code §§ 10800–10810) – a percentage that declines as the estate grows.
No California state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
7 School St., Markleeville, CA 96120
(530) 694-2231
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CA Voter Registration
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(530) 694-2235
Medi-Cal
(800) 300-1506
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Alpine County Public Health – (530) 694-2146
Services: Basic public health services; immunizations; WIC (limited); vital records; environmental health
Hospital: No local hospital; Barton Memorial Hospital (South Lake Tahoe) and Carson Valley Medical Center (Gardnerville, NV) serve county
Notes: Alpine County has no hospital; medical emergencies typically require helicopter evacuation or transport to South Lake Tahoe or Gardnerville; the county’s remoteness makes healthcare access extremely challenging; the small population and limited resources make public health services very basic
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Markleeville
Population: 1,100
Area: 743 sq mi
Established: 1864
Tier: 4
Public Records
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