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California · Northern California · #355 Most Populous County in the US
Shasta County, California
Gateway to California's north - from Redding's Sundial Bridge and the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area to Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River, the Sacramento River Trail, and the conservative political identity that has made Shasta County central to California's long-running political fault lines. Property tax, courts, public records, and senior services for Shasta County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Shasta County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Shasta County OES – (530) 225-5711 | shastacounty.gov/oes
Alert System: Shasta County Alert; CA Alert; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Shasta District Fairgrounds (Anderson); school facilities; contact OES
FEMA Region: Region 9
Notes: North-central California mountain county; Redding is county seat and California’s northernmost significant city; wildfire risk (EXTREME – 2018 Carr Fire killed 8, destroyed 1,604 structures in Redding and nearby communities; the fire created a fire tornado unprecedented in California history – a pyrotornadic vortex with winds over 165 mph; Redding is one of California’s most fire-threatened cities); earthquake risk; extreme summer heat in Redding (110°F+); Shasta Dam and Lake Shasta (one of the tallest and most important dams in California – Central Valley Project cornerstone); Whiskeytown NRA; Sacramento River headwaters
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Shasta County Public Works – (530) 225-5661
Transit: RABA (Redding Area Bus Authority) – (530) 241-2877 | ci.redding.ca.us/transit; limited service; very auto-dependent
Airport: Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) – United service (San Francisco); Sacramento International (SMF – 165 miles south) for more connections
Notes: I-5 (the West Coast’s main north-south highway – through Redding; massive truck traffic); SR-44 (to Lassen Volcanic NP); SR-299 (east to Alturas and west to Eureka – important cross-country corridor); I-5 through Redding is the main north-south artery; Redding is a major highway and commercial hub for far-northern California; the city sits at the junction of I-5 and SR-299 making it the “Gateway to the North State”
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Shasta County Resource Management – (530) 225-5532 | shastacounty.gov
Services: County permits; Redding (active, separate), Anderson, Shasta Lake City have separate permits
Notes: Redding is one of the more active building markets in inland Northern California; post-Carr Fire rebuilding (significant ongoing activity); commercial development along I-5 and SR-299; retirement community construction; Shasta Dam-related federal infrastructure through Bureau of Reclamation
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Shasta County Veterans Services – (530) 225-5616
VA Medical: VA Redding CBOC – (530) 246-5772 (local outpatient access); VA Northern California (Mather/Sacramento – 165 miles south); VA Reno also accessible for some residents
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment; Redding CBOC provides local access
Notes: Redding VA CBOC provides significant local outpatient services; Sacramento VA accessible but distant; large veteran and military retiree community in Redding; active VSO chapters; Carr Fire displaced many veterans
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Shasta Public Libraries – (530) 245-7491 | shastalibraries.org; Redding Branch and multiple county branches
Branches: Redding, Anderson, Burney, Fall River Mills, Shasta Lake
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy, North State history, children’s programs; Carr Fire recovery resources
Notes: Library system serves a geographically large county; Redding branch is the most active; Burney and Fall River Mills serve the remote plateau communities; the Carr Fire community recovery efforts used the library as a resource center; genealogy collections reflect the deep pioneer and mining heritage of the North State
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
State Parks: Shasta State Historic Park (Old Shasta – ghost town remnants of California’s most important Gold Rush staging area; courthouse ruins with impressive brick arches; excellent museum); McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park (one of California’s most spectacular waterfalls – President Teddy Roosevelt called it the “eighth wonder of the world”; 129-foot falls fed by underground springs maintain a constant flow year-round; the flow rarely changes regardless of drought; extraordinary)
Federal: Shasta Lake and Shasta Dam (Bureau of Reclamation; Shasta Lake is the largest reservoir in California by capacity; surrounded by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest; water recreation; Sacramento River Arm, McCloud River Arm, Pit River Arm; houseboat rentals; trout fishing); Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (Whiskytown Lake – NPS; water recreation; swimming; hiking; historic gold dredge; the 2018 Carr Fire burned through the Whiskeytown area extensively); Lassen Volcanic National Park accessible via SR-44
City: Sundial Bridge (Redding – a spectacular cable-stayed pedestrian bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava that functions as a sundial; it is one of the finest examples of bridge architecture in the Western US; the bridge over the Sacramento River is Redding’s most celebrated attraction; it opened 2004 and has transformed Redding’s identity); Turtle Bay Exploration Park (Redding – natural science museum and arboretum adjacent to the Sundial Bridge; excellent exhibits; butterfly house)
Notes: The Sundial Bridge is Redding’s architectural masterpiece – Santiago Calatrava’s translucent-decked cable-stayed bridge is one of the most beautiful pedestrian bridges in the US and is a functioning sundial (accurate to within one minute); it has transformed downtown Redding and draws visitors from across California; McArthur-Burney Falls (thundering spring-fed waterfalls that maintain spectacular flow even in the driest years) is one of Northern California’s most beloved destinations; Shasta Lake’s scale and the dramatic landscape of the Trinity Alps and Mount Shasta visible from its shores creates an extraordinary setting
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Shasta County GIS – shastacounty.gov; CalFire fire hazard maps; Bureau of Reclamation Shasta Dam/Lake maps; USGS volcanic hazard maps (Mount Shasta – Siskiyou County but visible and relevant); Carr Fire perimeter and damage maps; Whiskeytown NRA maps
Notes: County GIS; Carr Fire damage mapping was critical for rebuilding coordination; Shasta Lake level monitoring; wildfire hazard severity zone maps (entire county is at high to extreme risk); Carr Fire pyrotornado study area mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Shasta County Animal Regulation – (530) 225-5787; Redding Animal Shelter; North Valley Animal Disaster Group (NVADG) – the nationally recognized animal disaster response organization based in Butte County with Shasta operations
Notes: NVADG’s animal disaster response protocols (developed after repeated Northern California wildfire disasters) have been adopted nationally; the Carr Fire’s animal rescue operations were heroic; black bear and mountain lion encounters are increasing in wildland-urban interface; bald eagle nesting at Shasta Lake; osprey colonies on the Sacramento River; condor occasionally range into the North State
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Shasta County Waste Management – (530) 225-5710; Redding city sanitation
Recycling: CalRecycle compliance; growing programs reflecting North State population
Environmental: California SWRCB; Central Valley RWQCB (Sacramento River system); Bureau of Reclamation (Shasta Dam – the cornerstone of the Central Valley Project; provides water to Central Valley agriculture and municipal users; the dam also generates hydroelectric power and provides flood control); CalFire; USFS (Shasta-Trinity NF); Mount Shasta (Siskiyou County – headwaters of the Sacramento River; iconic dormant volcano)
Notes: Shasta Dam and Lake Shasta are among California’s most critical water infrastructure – the dam stores the equivalent of 4.5 million acre-feet of water and is the cornerstone of the Central Valley Project; proposals to raise Shasta Dam by 18.5 feet (to increase storage capacity) have been controversial and legally challenged for decades (affecting the McCloud River’s free-flowing Wild and Scenic status and Winnemem Wintu Tribal sacred sites); the Sacramento River below Shasta Dam supports winter-run Chinook salmon (federally endangered) – the coldest water in the dam’s deep layers is released to keep the river cold enough for salmon; climate change (reducing Sierra snowpack and increasing water temperatures) is threatening winter-run salmon survival; the Carr Fire’s pyrotornado was one of the most extraordinary and terrifying meteorological phenomena in California history – a fire-generated vortex with winds exceeding 165 mph created by the extreme energy of the fire; wildfire management in the North State requires massive USFS prescribed burn and fuel management programs
About Shasta County
Shasta County is a northern California county and the 355th most populous in the United States, covering 3,786 square miles of the upper Sacramento River valley from the Central Valley floor north to the volcanic peaks of Mount Shasta and Lassen.
Redding (population ~93,000, the county seat) is northern California’s largest city and the commercial hub for a vast rural hinterland. The city is known architecturally for the Sundial Bridge (2004, designed by Santiago Calatrava) – a pedestrian bridge over the Sacramento River whose single 217-foot pylon casts a shadow that serves as a functioning sundial, one of the most striking pieces of public architecture in California.
Shasta Dam – on the Sacramento River north of Redding – is the second-tallest dam in the United States (602 feet) and one of the most important infrastructure projects in California water history, completed in 1945 to provide irrigation water to the Central Valley and flood control for the Sacramento River basin. Lake Shasta behind the dam is one of California’s most popular water recreation destinations.
The Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area encompasses three reservoirs and hundreds of thousands of acres of national forest and wilderness surrounding Redding, providing extraordinary outdoor recreation within minutes of the city.
Shasta County has become increasingly prominent in California’s political geography – a county with strongly conservative politics in a liberal state, it has been associated with the State of Jefferson separatist movement (which advocates creating a 51st state from northern California and southern Oregon) and with confrontational politics regarding state COVID-19 policies.
Caldor Fire (2021) and other major wildfires have affected the county and surrounding areas, highlighting the persistent wildfire risk that affects all of northern California.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
California’s Proposition 13 caps annual assessed value increases at 2% until a change of ownership triggers reassessment.
The appeal process: File with the Shasta County Assessment Appeals Board at 1450 Court Street, Suite 208B, Redding, CA 96001, phone 530-225-5785. General filing period: July 2 through November 30 (or within 60 days of reassessment notice). California has no estate tax.
OWNWELL CTA: Shasta County Assessment Appeals Board: July 2–November 30. Redding appreciation from remote worker and retiree migration. No CA estate tax. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Shasta County Assessment Appeals Board: July 2–November 30. Redding appreciation from remote worker and retiree migration. No CA estate tax. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
Superior Court (Probate): The Shasta County Superior Court at 1500 Court Street, Redding, CA 96001, phone 530-245-6789, handles probate, estate administration, guardianships, and all civil and criminal matters.
County Clerk-Recorder: The Shasta County Clerk-Recorder at 1450 Court Street, Suite 208, phone 530-225-5678, maintains real property records and vital records. Land records searchable online.
Senior Services
The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, Aging and Disability Services at 2645 Breslauer Way, Redding, CA 96001, phone 530-225-5616, serves the county’s senior population with in-home services, caregiver support, nutrition programs, and transportation. Dignity Health Mercy Medical Center Redding and Shasta Regional Medical Center provide significant geriatric care.
Recommended
Assisted living, memory care, and independent living across Shasta County - from Redding and Shasta Lake City to Anderson, Palo Cedro, and the Sacramento River communities.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK-RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses)
1450 Court St., Suite 208, Redding, CA 96001
(530) 225-5671
County Clerk
(530) 225-5730
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Shasta County Superior Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Shasta County Genealogical Society, Redding, 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
Shasta County Superior Court 1500 Court Street, Redding, CA 96001 (530) 245-6789 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
The county opened a new $170 million, 166,887-square-foot courthouse at 1515 Court Street in 2023, replacing the previous 1956 building – the address above reflects the current facility.
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 Shasta 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
1525 Court St., Redding, CA 96001
(530) 245-6000
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) 225-5800
Medi-Cal
(800) 300-1506
Tribal Health
Wintu Tribe; Pit River Tribe; Shasta Tribe
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Shasta County Health and Human Services – (530) 225-5252 | shastacounty.gov/hhsa
Services: Immunizations, WIC, STI testing, environmental health, vital records, restaurant inspections; behavioral health; Carr Fire trauma recovery; extreme heat public health
Hospital: Mercy Medical Center Redding (Dignity Health) – (530) 225-6000; Shasta Regional Medical Center – (530) 244-5400; major regional hospitals serving Northern California
Notes: Redding has strong hospital infrastructure for a city its size; Mercy Medical Center and Shasta Regional serve a very large geographic region extending into Siskiyou, Trinity, Modoc, and Tehama Counties; Carr Fire mental health recovery is ongoing; extreme heat mortality prevention important in Redding (which is one of California’s hottest cities in summer); Redding has significant methamphetamine and opioid crisis challenges; behavioral health demand is high
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