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California County
Trinity County, California
The Trinity Alps and California's most inaccessible county - from Trinity County's distinction as the most remote county in California without a railroad or commercial airport (and one of the few California counties never served by either) to the Trinity Alps Wilderness (150,000 acres of granite peaks, glacial lakes, and deep river canyons forming one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the Pacific Northwest), Weaverville's Joss House (the oldest continuously used Chinese Taoist temple in California, built 1874 and preserving the heritage of the Chinese miners who built the Gold Rush economy) and Trinity Lake's recreation amid the wilderness.
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Office: Trinity County OES – (530) 623-1218 | trinitycounty.org
Alert System: Trinity County Alert; CA Alert; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Weaverville Community Center; school facilities; contact OES
FEMA Region: Region 9
Notes: Northwestern California mountain wilderness county; Weaverville is county seat; Trinity Alps (some of California’s most rugged and remote wilderness); wildfire risk (extreme – Shasta-Trinity National Forest is one of the most fire-prone in California; multiple large fires in recent decades); earthquake risk; severe winter weather; Trinity River (one of California’s major salmon rivers); Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity NRA; very remote; no commercial air service; California’s cannabis country (part of the Emerald Triangle – Trinity has significant cannabis production)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Trinity County Public Works – (530) 623-1218
Notes: Hwy 299 (east-west through Weaverville – connecting Redding to Eureka through the Trinity Alps; a spectacular but very challenging mountain highway that is one of California’s most remote state highways); Hwy 3 (south to Yreka); Hwy 36 (east to Red Bluff); Trinity County has NO north-south state highway – Hwy 299 is the only through-route; extreme isolation; winter closures common; Redding 50 miles east; Eureka 130 miles west
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Trinity County Planning – (530) 623-1218
Services: County permits; Weaverville, Hayfork, Lewiston, Douglas City have separate county-administered permits
Notes: No incorporated cities in Trinity County; cannabis cultivation permits are a major component of Trinity County permit activity; mining claims; cabins and remote property development; Weaverville modest growth; very limited development overall
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Trinity County Veterans Services – (530) 623-1218
VA Medical: VA Redding CBOC (Shasta County – 50 miles east); Sacramento VA (very distant)
Services: Basic benefits claims assistance; very limited local resources
Notes: Extremely remote county; Redding VA CBOC is the most accessible facility; very small county population; telehealth important
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Trinity County Library – (530) 623-1373 | trinitycountylibrary.org
Branches: Weaverville, Hayfork, Lewiston, Mad River, Burnt Ranch, Hyampom
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; Trinity Alps and mountain heritage; cannabis history emerging
Notes: Multi-branch library serving California’s most geographically remote counties; all branches are critical internet access points in an area with very limited broadband; the Weaverville branch serves the county seat; remote mountain community heritage (Gold Rush, mining, lumber) reflected in collections
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Trinity Alps Wilderness (500,000+ acres – one of California’s premier wilderness areas; over 600 lakes; stunning granite peaks; spectacular hiking and backpacking; Stuart Fork, Canyon Creek, Swift Creek trails are legendary among California backpackers; some of the finest high-country scenery in the state); Trinity Lake (Clair Engle Lake – Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity NRA; beautiful mountain reservoir; boating; camping; fishing; houseboat rentals; surrounded by the Trinity Alps); Weaverville Historic District (one of the finest preserved Chinese community sites from the Gold Rush – Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park; the Joss House is the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California; 1874; beautifully preserved; one of California’s most significant Chinese American heritage sites); Trinity River (salmon and steelhead fishing – one of California’s finest wild salmonid rivers; Trinity River Restoration Program); Coffee Creek area; Hayfork
Notes: The Trinity Alps Wilderness is one of California’s true wilderness treasures – vast, wild, and offering some of the finest high-country backpacking in the state; its combination of granite peaks, pristine lakes, and diverse ecosystems makes it among the most ecologically rich wilderness areas in California; Weaverville’s Joss House is one of California’s most extraordinary historical sites – a preserved 1874 Chinese temple still in use, representing the Chinese community’s profound contribution to the Gold Rush; the Trinity River’s wild salmon and steelhead draw anglers who prize its remoteness and productivity; the river’s restoration (flow regime modification from Trinity Dam releases) is one of California’s most significant fisheries restoration programs
Notes: Very remote county; USFS and USGS maps are primary; Trinity Alps Wilderness trail mapping through USFS; Trinity River flow monitoring maps; cannabis cultivation permit mapping important post-legalization
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Trinity County Animal Control – (530) 623-1218; Trinity County Humane Society
Services: Very basic animal control; wildlife management through CDFW; bear management
Notes: Wildlife-rich county; black bears are common; mountain lions; Pacific fisher (one of the rarest mammals in California – old-growth dependent); northern spotted owl; Trinity River salmon and steelhead; cannabis cultivation creates animal welfare issues (guard dogs; illegal pesticide use that kills wildlife)
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Trinity County Public Works – (530) 623-1218; very limited transfer stations
Environmental: California SWRCB; North Coast RWQCB; USFS (Shasta-Trinity NF – dominant land manager); Bureau of Reclamation (Trinity Dam; Trinity River Restoration Program); NOAA/NMFS (Trinity River salmon restoration); cannabis cultivation environmental impacts (water diversion; pesticides)
Notes: Trinity River Restoration Program is one of California’s most significant fisheries restoration efforts; since 1992 (and accelerated since 2000), the program has increased water releases from Trinity Dam into the Trinity River (water that had been diverted to the Central Valley via the Carr Powerhouse) to restore coho salmon and steelhead habitat; the restoration is working – salmon numbers have improved significantly; the trade-off (less water for Central Valley agriculture) has been one of California’s most contested water allocation decisions; cannabis cultivation in Trinity County (both legal and illegal) has created significant environmental challenges – diversion of small streams during summer low-flow periods threatens salmon and steelhead in tributary streams; illegal pesticide use (rodenticides targeting rodents that damage crops – banned in California but used on illegal grows) is causing significant predator mortality (owls, raptors, Pacific fisher, mountain lion) throughout the Emerald Triangle; the USFS, CDFW, and Trinity County are working to reduce illegal grow impacts on the watershed; Trinity Alps Wilderness protection is essential for watershed integrity – the wilderness designation prohibits roads and logging within the wilderness boundary, creating some of the finest watershed protection in California
About Trinity County
Trinity County is California’s most physically isolated county – no railroad has ever served it, no commercial airport exists within its borders, and the county’s rugged Klamath Mountain terrain has limited road access to a handful of mountain highways that close periodically in winter.
Weaverville (the county seat, population ~3,600) is a remarkably intact Gold Rush community in the upper Trinity River valley – the Joss House State Historic Park preserves a Taoist temple built in 1874 by Chinese miners and continuously in use for religious services ever since. The temple’s brass fixtures, altars, and ceremonial objects document the deep Chinese presence in the California Gold Rush economy that mainstream Gold Rush history has often overlooked.
Trinity Lake (Clair Engle Lake) – a Bureau of Reclamation reservoir on the Trinity River – is the largest reservoir entirely within Trinity County. The reservoir provides recreation in a remote mountain setting, though the Trinity River diversion (which exports most of the Trinity watershed’s water to the Sacramento Valley) has been controversial for its impacts on downstream salmon runs.
The Trinity Alps Wilderness – 150,000 acres of granite peaks reaching 8,000+ feet – is one of California’s most spectacular backcountry destinations, with clear glacial lakes, challenging trails, and minimal visitor pressure due to the difficulty of access.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
The Trinity County Assessor at 11 Court Street, Weaverville, CA 96093, phone 530-623-1257, assesses under Proposition 13 rules. No CA estate tax.
Courts & Legal
Trinity County Superior Court at 11 Court Street, Weaverville, CA 96093, phone 530-623-1208, 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)
11 Court St., Weaverville, CA 96093
(530) 623-1215
County Clerk
(530) 623-1215
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Trinity County Superior Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Trinity County Historical Society, Weaverville, 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
Trinity County Superior Court 11 Court Street, Weaverville, CA 96093 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
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 Trinity 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
101 Tom Bell Rd., Weaverville, CA 96093
(530) 623-2611
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) 623-8200
Medi-Cal
(800) 300-1506
Tribal Health
Nor-Rel-Muk Wintu Nation; Trinity Alps Tribal Community
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Trinity County Health and Human Services – (530) 623-1265
Services: Basic public health services; immunizations; WIC; environmental health; vital records; behavioral health; cannabis industry health monitoring
Hospital: Trinity Hospital (Weaverville) – (530) 623-5541; very small critical access hospital; Redding hospitals for major care; helicopter evacuation for serious emergencies
Notes: Very small critical access hospital; Redding for specialty care; behavioral health challenges in isolated mountain community; cannabis industry worker health; very limited local healthcare resources; methamphetamine and opioid challenges in rural communities
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Editorial Trust
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Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Weaverville
Population: 13,000
Area: 3,208 sq mi
Established: 1850
Tier: 4
Public Records
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