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California County
Siskiyou County, California
Mount Shasta's spiritual magnetism and the Klamath River's wild salmon - from Mount Shasta (14,179 feet, the most isolated major volcano in the Cascades and one of the most spiritually significant peaks in California - a New Age pilgrimage destination drawing tens of thousands annually who believe the mountain harbors spiritual energy, Lemurian civilizations, and supernatural phenomena) to the Klamath River's historic salmon runs (decimated by dams now being removed in the largest dam removal project in US history), the Marble Mountain Wilderness, and one of California's most volcanically dramatic northern counties where Cascades, Klamath Mountains, and Modoc Plateau converge.
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Office: Siskiyou County OES – (530) 842-8065 | co.siskiyou.ca.us
Alert System: Siskiyou County Alert; CA Alert; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Siskiyou County Fairgrounds (Yreka); school facilities; contact OES
FEMA Region: Region 9
Notes: California’s northernmost county; Yreka is county seat; Mount Shasta (14,179 ft – California’s most iconic volcanic peak; dormant but potentially active; one of the most photographed mountains in the US) is in this county; wildfire risk (extreme – Klamath and other mountains; 2008 Shasta Complex; ongoing extreme risk); earthquake risk; severe winter weather (county receives heavy snow); Klamath River; Klamath River Dam Removal Project (completed 2024 – largest dam removal in US history, restoring salmon to the river); Oregon border; Trinity Alps accessible
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Siskiyou County Public Works – (530) 842-8250
Transit: STAGE (Siskiyou Transit and General Express) – (530) 842-8295; very limited service; primarily auto-dependent
Airport: Siskiyou County Airport (SIY – Montague; general aviation); Medford-Jackson County Airport (MFR – Oregon; 60 miles north – nearest commercial service)
Notes: I-5 runs north-south through Yreka (the only major north-south route through far northern California and into Oregon); SR-89 (Mount Shasta and McCloud area); SR-3 (connects Yreka to Fort Jones and Weed to Etna); US-97 (northeast to Klamath Falls, Oregon); very remote county; Medford, Oregon is the nearest commercial airport; I-5 through this county has significant Siskiyou Pass winter closures (major truck route closure during storms)
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Siskiyou County Planning – (530) 842-8016
Services: County permits; Yreka, Mount Shasta (city), Weed, Dunsmuir, McCloud, Dorris, Fort Jones, Etna, Montague, Tulelake, Tennant have separate permits
Notes: Very limited development; timber industry structures; Mount Shasta City has significant new age/spiritual tourism development; Klamath River dam removal creates some restoration-related construction; very rural remote county
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Siskiyou County Veterans Services – (530) 842-8065
VA Medical: VA Reno, NV; VA Sacramento (very distant); Redding VA CBOC accessible
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare; very limited local resources
Notes: Extremely remote county; Redding VA CBOC is the closest accessible outpatient facility; VA access requires significant travel; telehealth critical for this remote community
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Siskiyou County Library – (530) 842-4695 | siskiyoulibrary.us
Branches: Yreka, Mount Shasta, Weed, Dunsmuir, Dorris, Etna, Fort Jones, McCloud
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; Mount Shasta heritage materials; Klamath River heritage; Trinity Alps information
Notes: Multi-branch library system serving California’s northernmost county; Mount Shasta City branch serves the new age/spiritual community that has grown up around the mountain; Klamath River dam removal history materials; diverse communities from cattle ranching to spiritual seekers reflected in collections
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Mount Shasta (14,179 ft – one of California’s most iconic and spiritually significant mountains; a dormant stratovolcano of extraordinary beauty; visible for 100+ miles; prominent in Native American spiritual traditions; popular mountain climbing; summit attempts by thousands annually; Black Butte volcanic plug; McCloud River Falls; Castle Crags State Park (dramatic granite spires adjacent to the Sacramento River canyon; one of California’s most striking geological formations)); Lava Beds National Monument (shared with Modoc County – see Modoc County file); Klamath River (dam removal completed 2024 – restoring salmon runs after decades; the entire Klamath River restoration is the largest river restoration project in US history); Castle Crags State Park; McCloud River (one of California’s finest trout streams – cold spring-fed tributary of the Sacramento; access restricted but excellent fishing); Scott Valley (lovely remote agricultural valley – cattle ranching and small farms; the Etna Brewing Company – the oldest craft brewery in the western US, established 1872)
Notes: Mount Shasta is California’s most iconic and spiritually significant peak – the mountain has inspired spiritual movements, metaphysical traditions, and outdoor adventurers for generations; the Shasta region has a disproportionate number of spiritual communities and New Age settlers who have been drawn by the mountain’s energy (or reputation for energy); Mount Shasta is climbed by thousands each year – it is one of the most-climbed glaciated peaks in the US; Castle Crags’ dramatic granite towers rising above I-5 are one of the most striking natural features visible from an Interstate highway; the Klamath River dam removal (completed 2024) is one of the most significant environmental restoration events in US history – restoring 420 miles of salmon habitat; the Etna Brewing Company’s 1872 founding makes it one of the oldest operating craft breweries in the western United States
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Siskiyou County GIS – co.siskiyou.ca.us; USGS Mount Shasta volcanic hazard maps; Klamath River dam removal monitoring maps; CalFire maps; USFS Klamath NF and Shasta-Trinity NF maps
Notes: County GIS; Mount Shasta volcanic hazard mapping (USGS – the volcano is potentially active); Klamath River dam removal monitoring GIS (tracking salmon recovery); wildfire hazard zone maps; Trinity Alps wilderness mapping; Oregon border coordination mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Siskiyou County Animal Control – (530) 842-8065; Siskiyou Humane Society
Notes: The Klamath River salmon recovery following dam removal is the most significant wildlife story in Siskiyou County’s recent history; Chinook and Coho salmon are returning to spawning habitat that has been blocked for decades; monitoring of salmon return is ongoing through CDFW, USFWS, and tribal agencies; Mount Shasta-area black bears; mountain lions; elk management through CDFW; California Spotted owl habitat in the forests
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Siskiyou County Public Works – (530) 842-8250; Yreka city sanitation; multiple small facilities
Environmental: California SWRCB; North Coast RWQCB (Klamath River system); USFS (Klamath, Shasta-Trinity, and Modoc National Forests cover most of the county); NOAA (Klamath River salmon recovery); USGS (Mount Shasta volcanic monitoring); Bureau of Reclamation (formerly – Klamath River dams now removed); Winnemem Wintu Tribal environmental coordination; Shasta-Trinity irrigation districts
Notes: The Klamath River dam removal (completion of the Iron Gate, Copco 1, Copco 2, and J.C. Boyle dams in Oregon and California, completed in 2024) is the defining environmental event in Siskiyou County history; the removal has exposed significant sediment stored behind the dams – sediment management downstream has required careful coordination; early salmon monitoring shows fish beginning to move upstream into habitat not used in decades; the Karuk, Yurok, and Klamath Tribes have been the driving force behind dam removal after decades of advocacy; their traditional fisheries, cultural practices, and food sovereignty depended on salmon recovery; Mount Shasta’s hydrology is unusual – the mountain is essentially a giant water tower whose snowfields and glaciers (shrinking with climate change) feed the Sacramento and McCloud Rivers; groundwater from Mount Shasta’s flanks emerges as springs throughout the surrounding region; Siskiyou County’s wildfires are increasingly large and severe – the Klamath River Canyon and surrounding mountains create extreme fire behavior; climate change is reducing snowpack which historically dampened fire conditions in the spring and early summer
About Siskiyou County
Siskiyou County is far Northern California’s volcanic and wilderness county – a vast, sparsely populated landscape where multiple mountain ranges, two major river systems, and the Cascade volcanic arc converge at the Oregon border.
Yreka (the county seat, population ~7,500) is a Gold Rush city on Yreka Creek – one of the earliest and richest placer gold discoveries in Northern California was made here in 1851. The downtown’s 19th-century commercial buildings and the historic Siskiyou County Courthouse (1857) preserve the Gold Rush character.
Mount Shasta (the city, population ~3,000) sits at the base of its namesake volcano and has become one of California’s most unusual small cities – a significant New Age spiritual community has developed around beliefs in the mountain’s supernatural properties, with crystal shops, healing centers, and alternative communities drawing visitors who regard the mountain as one of the world’s principal energy vortexes.
The Klamath River dam removal project – the largest dam removal in US history – began in 2023 with the demolition of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River system. The project is expected to restore salmon runs to hundreds of miles of spawning habitat previously blocked for over a century.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
The Siskiyou County Assessor at 311 Fourth Street, Room 108, Yreka, CA 96097, phone 530-842-8036, assesses under Proposition 13 rules. No CA estate tax.
Courts & Legal
Siskiyou County Superior Court at 311 Fourth Street, Yreka, CA 96097, phone 530-842-8004, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK-RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses)
311 4th St., Yreka, CA 96097
(530) 842-8014
County Clerk
(530) 842-8014
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Siskiyou County Superior Court, including the Dorris branch (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Siskiyou County Genealogical Society, Yreka, 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
Siskiyou County Superior Court 311 Fourth Street, Yreka, CA 96097 (530) 842-8182 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
A branch court also serves Dorris (324 N. Pine Street, Dorris, CA 96023) in the northern part of the county.
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 Siskiyou 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
305 Butte St., Yreka, CA 96097
(530) 842-8300
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) 842-6100
Medi-Cal
(800) 300-1506
Tribal Health
Karuk Tribe; Shasta Indian Nation; Klamath Tribe (Oregon border)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Siskiyou County Health Department – (530) 841-2700
Services: Immunizations, WIC, STI testing, environmental health, vital records; behavioral health; dam removal environmental health monitoring
Hospital: Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta (Dignity Health) – (530) 926-6111; Fairchild Medical Center (Yreka) – (530) 842-4121; two small critical access hospitals
Notes: Two small hospitals serve this large remote county; Medford (Oregon) and Redding hospitals for major care; behavioral health challenges in isolated communities; meth crisis significant in some communities; Klamath River dam removal water quality monitoring for community health; very limited specialty care locally
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Yreka
Population: 43,000
Area: 6,347 sq mi
Established: 1852
Tier: 3
Public Records
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