CDP
Magalia
Magalia is a community name the Census tracks. It helps you name the place, but it usually is not city hall. Start with the county layer unless an official local district says otherwise.
Starting point
Start with the county unless an official district says otherwise.
A Census-designated place is a useful local name, but it usually does not have its own city hall. For permits, records, taxes, courts, and many services, begin with the county layer.
Special districts, utilities, schools, fire agencies, parks, water agencies, coastal rules, and state maps can still control a specific issue.
2025 population
Not available
Land area
14.027 sq mi
Water area
0.176 sq mi
Directory notes
Local layers to keep on the same page.
Treat this as a community name.
A CDP can be real and useful on the ground, but it normally does not mean there is a city hall for permits, rent rules, business licenses, or local code.
Start with the county.
Butte County is the county layer shown in the Census place-county reference data.
Watch for districts.
Water, sewer, fire, school, parks, utilities, coast, wildfire, and special taxes can still belong to a district or state agency.
County layer
County shown for Magalia
Practical notes
Office, map, permit, and paperwork notes for Magalia
County layer · Home and property · Reviewed July 6, 2026
Chico trash service is built around three carts
Chico residential trash service uses garbage, recycling, and organics carts, with large items and hazardous waste handled through separate hauler or drop-off paths.
County layer · Home and property · Reviewed July 4, 2026
Chico building permits use online plans and eTRAKiT
Chico's Building Division points people to online plan submittal and eTRAKiT for permit work, with a separate lane for encroachment work in the public right-of-way.
County layer · Rules and licenses · Reviewed July 4, 2026
Chico business licenses can touch home or downtown rules
Chico businesses inside city limits need a current business license, and home-based or downtown businesses may have added planning or district steps.
County layer · Home and property · Reviewed July 3, 2026
Chico sewer billing is separate from the Cal Water bill
Chico sewer customers may receive a separate city sewer bill through Util360, while water account changes still begin with Cal Water.
Almanac notes
Stories and local context near Magalia
County layer · History and culture
Chico has a yo-yo museum with a giant working Big-Yo
The National Yo-Yo Museum in downtown Chico holds a large public yo-yo display, contest history, memorabilia, club activity, and Big-Yo, a 256-pound working wooden yo-yo.
County layer · History and culture
Bidwell Mansion is now part of Chico's recovery story
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park honors John and Annie Bidwell, but the park is closed after the December 2024 fire while State Parks works on what comes next.
County layer · History and culture
Gridley's museum sits inside an old bank building
Gridley's museum uses the 1909 Veatch Building to tell the story of a Butte County farm town rooted in orchards, rice, local business, and Main Street memory.
County layer · History and culture
Paradise Depot Museum keeps the ridge railroad story close
Paradise Depot Museum carries the story of the Butte County Rail Road, logging, produce shipping, and the old route that later became a trail.
County layer · History and culture
Biggs shows why rice works in the Sacramento Valley
The Rice Experiment Station near Biggs connects a small Butte County city to rice breeding, valley water, farm research, seed work, and a crop many Californians do not expect.
County layer · History and culture
Oroville's Chinese Temple keeps Gold Rush community history close
Oroville's Chinese Temple is a city-owned museum and active worship place tied to Chinese community history in Northern California's Gold Rush era.
County layer · Outdoors
Bidwell Park gives Chico two very different kinds of green space
Bidwell Park in Chico stretches nearly 11 miles, with flatter shaded Lower Park and rougher Upper Park foothill terrain along Big Chico Creek.
County layer · Outdoors
Lake Oroville gives Butte County a big Feather River water day
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area has a major reservoir, dam views, boating, trails, camping, swimming, fishing, and Feather River history.