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Yuba County, California

Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 21% of Yuba County's mapped land, a higher share than 71% of US counties. A shallow water table limits basements on 5%.

None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 27 flood losses here since 2016. 42% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1986.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

21%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

5%

high water table: limits basements

0%

in drought, October 13, 2026

42%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Yuba County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)20.7%
High water table (limits basements)4.6%
Septic fields very limited77.7%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)4.5%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)21.4%
Mapped soil412,829 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: expansive clay
San Joaquin13%n/a
Sobrante9%n/a
Sites8%n/a
Auburn7%n/a
Redding4%n/a
Surnuf3%n/a
Sutter County: 41%Butte County: 31%Nevada County: 2%Placer County: 7%Colusa County: 55%Sierra County: 5%Yolo County: 44%El Dorado County: 1%Yuba County SutterButteNevadaPlacerColusaSierraYoloEl DoradoYuba
Yuba County (heavy outline) and nearby counties, shaded by expansive clay share.under 10%10-25%25-40%40-60%60%+

How we count · survey areas CA618 (2025-09-03), CA713 (2025-09-03)

What the numbers mean here

Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 4.5% by land area here, and 21% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 21% of the mapped land.

Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 35.15 in, 3.01 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 38.16 in.

USDA rates 78% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

Drought

0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. No part of the county was in drought in the last 52 weeks.

October 21, 2025Share of area in drought, weeklyOctober 13, 2026
Category, October 13, 2026Share of county
D0 abnormally dry or worse100%
D1 moderate drought or worse0%
D2 severe or worse0%
D3 extreme or worse0%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

27 flood losses since 2016, $350,580 paid. The worst year was 2017, with 8.

YearFlood losses
20166
20178
20181
20194
20200
20211
20220
20233
20242
20251
2026 to date1

Rain

Average year, 1991-202038.16 in
12 months to August 202635.15 in (-3.01)
202536.57 in (-1.59)
Wettest year since 18951983: 69.30 in
Driest year since 18952013: 11.15 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at HARRY L ENGLEBRIGHT DAM (5 mi away)11.1

Homes

Housing units30,661
Median year built1986
Built before 198042%
Built 2000 or later36%
Owner-occupied64%
Median value, owner-occupied$412,300
Single-family detached71%

What repairs cost

Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.

WorkRangeSource
Foundation repair, US $2,200 to $8,200 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Pier-and-beam repair, US $2,000 to $15,000 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Foundation inspection, US $300 to $600 Fixr, January 31, 2025

Nearby counties

PlaceDistanceExpansive clayHigh water table
Sutter County, CA 25 mi 41% 37%
Butte County, CA 31 mi 31% 27%
Nevada County, CA 32 mi 2% 1%
Placer County, CA 36 mi 7% 4%
Colusa County, CA 48 mi 55% 37%
Sierra County, CA 49 mi 5% 9%
Yolo County, CA 51 mi 44% 23%
El Dorado County, CA 55 mi 1% 2%

Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 3, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status