Butte County Jail Visiting Schedule: Start Times by Housing Unit (Male & Female Units)

Butte County Jail assigns visiting start times by housing unit or pod - there's no single "visiting hours" window that works for everyone. Your start time depends on where the person is housed, and male and female units have separate schedules. One update: as of April 3, 2023, masks are no longer required for visitation under the California Department of Public Health masking framework.

Some housing areas have more than one start time, split by specific cell ranges. Overflow areas get their own times too - including a Main Jail Overflow listing that covers both male and female inmates.

Male housing start times vary by pod. A Pod, for example, lists two start times: 3:45 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. Two different groups in the same pod may have different windows.

B Pod shows how the schedule breaks down by cell range. Cells 65–68 and 73–76 start at 8:15 a.m., while cells 69–72 and 77–80 start at 9:00 a.m. Not sure which group applies? Get the exact cell number before planning your visit.

C Pod works the same way. Cells 49–52 and 57–60 are listed at 12:45 p.m.; cells 53–56 and 61–64 are at 1:30 p.m. Those 45 minutes matter - showing up at the wrong time can mean missing the visit entirely.

Some pods list two start times without specifying cell ranges. F Pod, for instance, shows 11:15 a.m. or 12:00 p.m.

Overflow areas have their own times. West Facility Overflow is listed at 5:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Main Jail Overflow shows 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. - and that listing applies to both male and female inmates.

Female housing also runs by unit. R6 and R7 both share a 9:45 a.m. start time on the posted schedule.

W units show how times can vary within the same letter group. W1 is listed at 9:00 a.m., while W2 and W6 are at 8:15 a.m. Make sure you're using the correct unit number - not just "W."

Dorm housing can have multiple start times too. North Dorm (female) lists 1:45 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. - confirm which applies before you go.

If your loved one is in overflow housing, check that line on the schedule. Main Jail Overflow is listed at 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. for both male and female inmates.

Each inmate gets two 45-minute in-person visits per week. Visiting happens on Saturdays and Sundays, so plan your weekend around your unit's start time.

Have a felony conviction? Don't assume you can just show up. Butte County Jail requires prior written permission from the Jail Administrator for convicted felons to enter the premises.

1. Fill out the Application for Visiting Approval - this is the form used when a visit is denied and approval is needed.
2. Mail the application to the Operations Lieutenant - submit it to Operations Lt. J. Agurkis, Butte County Jail, 5 Gillick Way, Oroville, CA 95966.
3. Don’t rely on a verbal request - the form states verbal requests will not be considered.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Confirm your loved one’s housing unit/pod and match it to the correct start time (for example, A Pod can be 3:45 p.m. or 4:30 p.m.).
• ✓ If the schedule splits a pod by cell range (like B Pod and C Pod), verify the exact cell range so you don’t show up for the wrong start time.
• ✓ If they’re in an overflow area, use the overflow line (West Facility Overflow is 5:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.; Main Jail Overflow is 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.).
• ✓ For female housing, double-check the unit number (for example, R6/R7 are 9:45 a.m.; W1 is 9:00 a.m.; W2/W6 are 8:15 a.m.; North Dorm is 1:45 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.).
• ✓ Plan to arrive with enough buffer to check in and be ready at your assigned start time.

With only two 45-minute visits per week - both on weekends - treat your start time like an appointment. Arriving early gives you the best chance of using the full 45 minutes instead of losing time to check-in delays.