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Community guide · Alta Sierra
Alta Sierra, Grass Valley: Fire Station, Schools and Utilities
Alta Sierra is served by Nevada County Consolidated Fire District Station 89 on Tammy Way, sits in unincorporated Nevada County, and has utilities that vary by parcel. Some homes are on district water and others on private wells; septic systems are common. School assignment depends on the address, so check the district boundaries for any specific home before you buy.
Fire protection
Nevada County Consolidated Fire District’s Station 89, at 11833 Tammy Way, serves the Alta Sierra area, including the airport. It is staffed around the clock and houses a Type III engine, the kind built for wildland firefighting. For preparedness, the Alta Sierra Neighborhood Alliance organizes Firewise work by zone and a Defensible Space Assistance Program for residents who need help clearing their property.
Schools
Elementary school districts in south Nevada County follow boundaries that do not line up neatly with neighborhood names, so confirm the assignment for an exact address. South county elementary districts include the Pleasant Ridge Union School District, which enrolled 1,510 students in 2025-26; use the district boundary lookup for a specific address. High school students attend the Nevada Joint Union High School District, whose Bear River High School (opened 1986) is on Magnolia Road across from Lake of the Pines.
Water and septic
- Water: depends on the lot. Ask the seller for the water bill or well records, and confirm service with Nevada Irrigation District if the home is on district water.
- Wells: order a lab water test and a flow test during escrow.
- Septic: request the county septic file and as-built through Nevada County Environmental Health, and have the system inspected.
Local government and contacts
| Need | Who handles it |
|---|---|
| Permits, zoning, septic records | Nevada County Community Development Agency / Environmental Health, 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City, (530) 265-1222 |
| Property tax assessments | Nevada County Assessor, (530) 265-1232 |
| Architectural review under recorded restrictions | Alta Sierra Property Owners Association, (530) 231-7755 |
| Community events and fire preparedness | Alta Sierra Neighborhood Alliance |
Frequently asked questions
What fire station covers Alta Sierra in Grass Valley?
Nevada County Consolidated Fire District Station 89, at 11833 Tammy Way, serves the Alta Sierra area.
What school district is Alta Sierra in?
It depends on the address. Elementary assignment follows district boundaries such as those of the Pleasant Ridge Union School District, and high school students are in the Nevada Joint Union High School District. Confirm boundaries for a specific home.
Do Alta Sierra homes have wells or public water?
Both exist. Water source varies by parcel, so confirm it for each property and test any private well during escrow.
Who do I contact for septic records in Alta Sierra?
Nevada County Environmental Health keeps septic records. Submit a public records request for the parcel.
Sources
- Nevada County Consolidated Fire: Station 89
- CA Dept. of Education: Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary
- Bear River High School
- Nevada County: Septic System
- Alta Sierra Neighborhood Alliance
Information current as of September 16, 2026. General information only, not legal, tax or lending advice.
