Bolthole Index

Kings County, California

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Lemoore, California

Lemoore, California directs building approvals and online applications through its Building Division, while city zoning governs development inside city limits.12 In Kings County, septic systems remain under county Environmental Health administration and state oversight.3 Lemoore limits RV habitation on private property to 7 days without a temporary habitation permit, with a qualifying employee-housing exception.4

At a glance

Building approvals
City Building Division; online applications1
Zoning
City zoning applies throughout Lemoore city limits2
Septic
Kings County Environmental Health; confirm parcel eligibility and sewer requirements3
RV living
7-day limit without temporary habitation permit; qualifying employee housing excepted4
Residential lots
AR minimum 40,000 square feet; RLD minimum 5,000 square feet56
Accessory dwellings
Permitted in listed base districts, subject to additional ADU regulations7
Owner-builder
Conditional California contractor-license exemption; building approvals still need separate review81
Wells
Local authorization before construction, modification or destruction9

Who to call

Building permits

City of Lemoore Building Division

Building applications, plan submissions and building inspections inside Lemoore city limits

559-924-6744 Ext. 730

711 W Cinnamon Drive Lemoore, CA 93245

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

City of Lemoore Community Development

City planning and zoning inquiries

559-924-6744

711 W Cinnamon Drive Lemoore, CA 93245

Septic permits

Kings County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services

County onsite wastewater administration; ask about septic and domestic wells at a Lemoore address

(559) 584-1411

460 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA 93230

Floodplain permits

City of Lemoore Public Works Department

City infrastructure questions; contact the Public Works Director about floodplain development approval

559-924-6744 Ext. 744

711 W Cinnamon Dr Lemoore CA 93245

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Lemoore means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Lemoore, CA?

Lemoore’s Building Division says approvals are required for new structures and for work including patios, storage buildings, carports, air-conditioning replacements and re-roofing.1 Ask the Building Division to identify the building permit and submittals for your proposed work before construction begins.1

Lemoore’s published building fee schedule lists new residential construction up to 2,000 square feet at $0.76 per square foot; above that threshold, the fee is $1,533.18 plus $0.38 per square foot above 2,000.10 Single-project plan checking is listed at 65% of the building permit fee, and work performed without required permitting carries doubled permit fees.10 Request a project-specific estimate rather than treating the listed building fee as the entire development budget.

Who issues building permits in Lemoore, and how do you apply?

Contact the City of Lemoore Building Division for building applications and inspections; the city’s building permit technician is listed at 559-924-6744 Ext. 730.1 Lemoore uses its Building Permit and Inspection Portal for paperless building applications and plan submissions.1 The city also publishes a Building Permit Application and an Owner Builder Letter.1

Use the city’s online portal to schedule inspections; requests must arrive by 4:30 pm for scheduling on the following business day.1 For parcel zoning and planning questions, contact Lemoore Community Development, which administers the city’s building and planning functions.11 Ask each office which approvals your project needs and whether any review must be completed before the building application.

Does Lemoore have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Lemoore’s zoning title applies to all land uses, structures, subdivisions and development within city limits.2 The residential districts include AR, RVLD, RLD, RN, RLMD, RMD and RHD, with development standards tied to the district.12

For single-family residential development, Lemoore’s AR district has a minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet, while RLD has a minimum of 5,000 square feet.56 RLD’s listed setbacks include a 25-foot front yard, 5-foot interior side yard, 10-foot street side yard and generally a 10-foot rear yard; additional provisions address garages, street-abutting rear yards, building stories and landscape buffers.13 RLD’s listed maximum building height is 35 feet.14 Ask Community Development to review the actual parcel and proposed footprint rather than applying another district’s minimums.11

How do septic permits and wells work inside Lemoore?

Kings County administers onsite wastewater systems through county Environmental Health under an approved Local Agency Management Program, with State Water Board policy and regional oversight still applying.3 Contact Kings County Environmental Health Services at (559) 584-1411 about a proposed septic system at a Lemoore address.15 New and replacement systems follow the applicable onsite-wastewater permitting framework; properly functioning existing systems are treated differently.16

We could not confirm Lemoore’s new-home sewer-connection or availability-distance rule; ask city Public Works about service availability and county Environmental Health about whether onsite treatment is eligible for the parcel.1715 California requires local authorization before a water well is constructed, modified or destroyed, and well construction must be performed by a licensed well-drilling contractor.9 Ask county Environmental Health to identify the applicable local well process before commissioning drilling.15

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Lemoore?

Lemoore does not provide an open-ended private-property RV habitation allowance: occupancy beyond 7 days requires a temporary 7-day habitation permit from the Police Department, unless the qualifying employee-housing exception applies.4 Separate RV storage conditions do not establish permission to use the vehicle as a permanent home.4 Ask the Police Department how the temporary habitation provision applies before planning to live in an RV while building.4

Lemoore allows accessory dwelling units in listed base zoning districts, subject to additional ADU regulations.7 That conditional ADU pathway does not settle whether a particular tiny home qualifies for occupancy; we could not confirm a city rule specifically addressing tiny-home occupancy. Ask Community Development about the proposed use and the Building Division about the construction and occupancy approvals for the actual structure.111

Building a home in Lemoore: what should you check, in order?

  1. Confirm that the parcel lies inside Lemoore city limits and ask Community Development to identify the zoning district and allowed use; city zoning applies within that boundary.211
  2. Have Community Development review lot dimensions and the proposed footprint against the district’s development standards before finalizing the design.1211
  3. Ask city Public Works about water and sewer service and flood exposure; Lemoore’s Public Works Director administers development permits in special flood-hazard areas.1718 For a proposed onsite wastewater system, contact county Environmental Health.3
  4. Submit the city building application and plans through Lemoore’s online portal, then arrange building inspections through that portal.1

For land outside city limits, use the Kings County guide for the county’s unincorporated-area building rules.19 California’s owner-builder contractor-license exemption is conditional; ask the Building Division how to document your role without assuming that the exemption removes building approvals.81

Watch-outs

  • Lemoore’s RV storage provisions and RV habitation limits are separate; storing an RV does not establish permanent residential occupancy permission.4
  • Lemoore’s special flood-hazard development approval is administered by the Public Works Director; ask about that review before committing to a site design.18
  • We could not confirm Lemoore’s certificate-of-occupancy requirement or minimum dwelling floor area; ask the Building Division and Community Development before selecting a small-home design.111

Sources

  1. City of Lemoore Building Division (lemoore.gov)
  2. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Lemoore), quoted and re-checked
  3. Local Agency Management Programs (LAMPS) for On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS), quoted and re-checked
  4. 6-8-3: Private Property—Parking and Storage of Recreational Vehicles Prohibited (Lemoore), quoted and re-checked
  5. 9-5A-4: General Zoning District Development Standards (Lemoore), quoted and re-checked
  6. 9-5A-4: General Zoning District Development Standards (Lemoore), quoted and re-checked
  7. 9-4B-2: Allowed Uses and Required Entitlements; Base Zoning Districts (Lemoore), quoted and re-checked
  8. California Business and Professions Code section 7044 (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Well Standards (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Lemoore Building Permit Fees (Lemoore), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Lemoore Community Development (lemoore.gov)
  12. 9-5A-4: General Zoning District Development Standards (Lemoore), quoted and re-checked
  13. 9-5A-4: General Zoning District Development Standards (Lemoore), quoted and re-checked
  14. 9-5A-4: General Zoning District Development Standards (Lemoore), quoted and re-checked
  15. Kings County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services (kcdph.com)
  16. Onsite Waste Water Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  17. City of Lemoore Public Works Department (lemoore.gov)
  18. 8-8-3: Administration—Flood Damage Prevention (Lemoore), quoted and re-checked
  19. Kings County - Building Ordinance (2026 county census)

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Lemoore

Lemoore’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    All land uses, structures, subdivisions, and development within the city of Lemoore.

    • The zoning title applies within city limits.
    “This title applies to all land uses, structures, subdivisions, and development within the city of Lemoore”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Base zoning districts within Lemoore city limits.

    • Published residential districts include AR, RVLD, RLD, RN, RLMD, RMD, and RHD.
    • The same standards section separately identifies office, commercial, industrial, and special-purpose districts.
    “DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS [...] AR | RVLD | RLD | RN | RLMD | RMD | RHD”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles on private property inside Lemoore city limits.

    • Human habitation or occupancy is limited to seven days unless a temporary seven-day habitation permit is obtained from the police department.
    • Employee housing complying with Health and Safety Code section 17008 is excepted.
    • Separate storage rules allow one RV at a single-family residence subject to dimensional, location, registration, operability, and other conditions.

    maximum habitation without permit: 7 days (Temporary 7-day habitation permit or qualifying Employee Housing)

    “The recreational vehicle or boat shall not be used for human habitation or occupancy for longer than seven (7) days when it is located on private property unless a temporary (7-day) habitation permit has been obtained from the police department or as is consistent with Employee Housing as defined within Section 9-4A-5 and which meets the requirements under Health and Safety Code section 17008.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units in Lemoore base zoning districts.

    • The allowed-use table marks accessory dwelling units as permitted in the listed base districts.
    • Additional regulations apply under section 9-4D-12.
    “Dwelling, accessory unit 3 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | N | N | N | N | N | P | P | N | N | N | N | N”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision design inside Lemoore city limits.

    • Proposed lots must comply with applicable general-plan and zoning minimum lot-area, frontage, width, and depth requirements.
    • All lots must have frontage on a public or private street.
    • Generally maximum block length is 500 feet; single-family blocks may be 600 feet, or 750 feet with mid-block pedestrian connections.

    general maximum block length: 500 feet (600 feet for single-family uses; 750 feet when mid-block pedestrian connections are provided)

    “Proposed lots shall comply with the minimum lot area requirements, where applicable, for the underlying property as described in the general plan and zoning code. [...] All lots shall have frontage on a public or private street. [...] Generally, maximum block length shall be 500 feet; except [...] Blocks with single-family residential uses may be up to 600 feet long, or up to 750 feet long when mid-block pedestrian connections are provided.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in areas of special flood hazard inside Lemoore city limits.

    • The public works director administers and enforces the chapter by granting or denying development permits.
    • Permit review includes satisfaction of chapter requirements, required state and federal permits, site safety, floodway carrying-capacity impacts, and required map revisions.
    • The cumulative effect of development may not increase base-flood water-surface elevation more than one foot at any point within the city.

    maximum cumulative increase in base-flood water-surface elevation: <= 1 foot

    “The public works director is hereby appointed to administer, implement, and enforce this chapter by granting or denying development permits in accord with its provisions. [...] The proposed development does not adversely affect the carrying capacity of areas where base flood elevations have been determined but a floodway has not been designated. This means that the cumulative effect of the proposed development when combined with all other existing and anticipated development will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot (1') at any point within the city of Lemoore.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    City building permits and inspections inside Lemoore city limits.

    • Fee schedule states it is effective July 1, 2025.
    • New residential projects above 2,000 square feet use a base fee plus a per-square-foot charge.
    • Work done without required permitting has doubled permit fees.

    new residential up to 2000 square feet: 0.76 USD per square foot · new residential above 2000 square feet base fee: 1533.18 USD (plus $0.38 per square foot above 2,000 square feet) · minimum fee for residential remodels and additions: 140 USD · plan check single project: 65 percent of building permit fee · work done without required permitting: 2 times permit fees

    “New Residential up to 2,000 sq ft $0.76 per sq ft [...] New Residential above 2,000 sq ft $1,533.18 +$0.38 per sq ft above 2,000 [...] * Minimum Fee $140 [...] Single Project 65% of Building Permit Fee [...] Work done without required permitting Permit Fees Doubled”

Rules another office applies inside Lemoore

Lemoore does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family residential development in the AR residential zoning district within Lemoore city limits.

    • The table also states no minimum site area per dwelling unit in AR; the lot-size minimum is distinct from site area per dwelling unit.

    minimum lot size: 40000 square feet

    “Lot size, minimum (square feet) | 40,000 | 10,000 | 5,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 2,000”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family residential development in the RLD residential zoning district within Lemoore city limits.
      “AR | RVLD | RLD | RN | RLMD | RMD | RHD [...] Lot size, minimum (square feet) | 40,000 | 10,000 | 5,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 2,000”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family residential development in RLD within Lemoore city limits.

    • RLD minimums shown include 25-foot front yard, 5-foot interior side yard, 10-foot street side yard, generally 10-foot rear yard, and 20-foot rear setback when abutting a street.
    • Front-facing garage setback is 20 feet; side-load garage setback is 15 feet; porch setback is 12 feet.
    • Additional notes include story, height, arterial/collector landscape-buffer, and urban-rural-edge provisions.

    front yard: 25 feet · interior side yard: 5 feet · street side yard: 10 feet · rear yard: 10 feet (generally)

    “Generally 2,12 | 60' | 25' | 15' | 15' | 15' | 15' | 15' [...] Interior side | 15' | 10' | 5' | 5' | 5' | 10' | 10' [...] Street side 12 | 25' | 15' | 10' | 10' | 10' | 15' | 15' [...] Generally | 10' 4 | 10' 4 | 10' 4 | 10' 4 | 10' | 10' | 10'”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Residential development in AR within Lemoore city limits.

    • The table's residential district sequence is AR, RVLD, RLD, RN, RLMD, RMD, RHD.

    maximum building height: 40 feet

    “Height, maximum | 40' | 40' | 35' | 35' | 35' | 45' | 60'”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Lemoore or Kings County directly.

  • Building permit — Building work inside Lemoore city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders undertaking construction inside Lemoore city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Lemoore city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling floor-area minimums inside Lemoore city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Residential development inside Lemoore city limits.
12 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Lemoore publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Kings County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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