Tulare County, CA Building Permits, Zoning & Septic Rules

Unincorporated Tulare County, California requires a building permit by law for new construction, additions, remodeling and most repairs, and the county's own Resource Management Agency (RMA) reviews and issues it¹. Every parcel in unincorporated Tulare County also carries a zoning designation that sets permitted uses, setbacks, lot size and development standards². Septic systems go through a third county office, the Environmental Health Division, working alongside the RMA on siting and land-use approval³.

At a glance

Building permit: Required in unincorporated Tulare County; issued by the RMA Permit Center¹⁴
Zoning: Yes, every unincorporated parcel is assigned one of 31 zone classes²⁵
Septic permit: Tulare County Environmental Health Division, alongside the RMA³⁶
Septic-friendly soils: Only 6.4% of soils are rated not severely limited for a conventional drain field⁷
Owner-builder exemption: Yes, under California's statewide owner-builder law, with conditions⁸⁹
RV as a residence: Not allowed on private property; RVs are permitted only in approved campgrounds or RV parks¹⁰
Tiny home on wheels: Not approved as a permanent residence under a standard residential building permit; a foundation-mounted tiny home can qualify instead¹¹¹²

Who to call

Building permits

Tulare County RMA Permit Center, Building Department

Building permits, plan review and inspections for unincorporated Tulare County

(559) 624-7000

Government Plaza (RMA Headquarters), 5961 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, California 93277

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

Tulare County RMA Permit Center, Planning Division

Zoning determinations, entitlements and land-use permits for unincorporated Tulare County, from the same RMA Permit Center that handles building permits

(559) 624-7000

Government Plaza (RMA Headquarters), 5961 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, California 93277

Online permits →

Septic permits

Tulare County Environmental Health Division

On-site wastewater treatment system (septic) permits, well construction oversight and liquid-waste regulation for Tulare County, working with the RMA on land-use approval

559-624-7400

5957 S. Mooney Blvd, Visalia, CA

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Tulare County, California?

Yes. By law, Tulare County's RMA requires permits and inspections for new construction, additions, remodeling and most repairs in unincorporated Tulare County¹. Statewide, California law backs this up directly: no building or structure may be erected, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved or demolished without a separate permit for that structure first being obtained from the building official¹³. All permit applications must comply with the 2025 California Building Codes, including the Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing and Energy codes under Title 24¹⁴. One narrow exception: an Agricultural Exempt Structure, a farm building with no electricity, plumbing or gas connections, still needs a building permit but generally qualifies for fewer inspections and a simplified review, and adding utilities later triggers full permitting¹⁵.

Who issues building permits in Tulare County, and how do you reach them?

The Tulare County RMA Permit Center, at Government Plaza on South Mooney Boulevard in Visalia, is the county's one-stop office for building permits, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.⁴. A full permit, covering demolition, room additions, alterations and new construction, requires a site plan, construction plans, engineering calculations and energy calculations, with a minimum submittal fee of $154 for most submittals; paying by credit card adds a 3.5% fee, and paying cash requires an appointment¹⁶. Fees vary beyond that minimum depending on permit type, project scope and how many other departments have to review the project, so ask the Permit Center for a project-specific estimate before you budget¹⁷. If your project touches a Special Flood Hazard Area, you'll need a building permit under the county's flood damage prevention ordinance before construction starts there too, administered jointly by the Planning and Public Works Directors as Floodplain Administrators¹⁸.

Does Tulare County have zoning?

Yes. Zoning determines how land may be used and developed within unincorporated Tulare County, and every property there is assigned a zoning designation that sets permitted uses, development standards, setbacks, lot size and other requirements². The county's Zoning Ordinance establishes 31 separate zone classes, from R-1 Single-Family Residential to AE-10 Exclusive Agricultural (10-acre minimum) and beyond, each governing height, bulk, yards and population density differently⁵. In the R-1 zone, for example, a lot needs at least 6,000 square feet per family, side yards run at least 10% of lot width (3 to 5 feet), and buildings are capped at two and a half stories or 35 feet¹⁹²⁰²¹. In the AE-10 Exclusive Agricultural zone, no resulting parcel from a land division may be smaller than 10 acres except for specific statutory exceptions, and structures cap out at 50 feet, though agricultural accessory structures like silos, barns and water tanks may exceed that if they don't intrude on an airport approach zone²²²³. Remember, this is unincorporated-county zoning only: Tulare County's eight incorporated cities, Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia and Woodlake, run their own separate zoning and permitting²⁴.

How do septic permits work in Tulare County?

Most work relating to the construction, installation and repair of an on-site wastewater treatment system (OWTS, commonly called septic) requires a permit in Tulare County²⁵. Both the RMA and the Environmental Health Division regulate septic here: EHD oversees design, installation, operation and the liquid-waste-dispersal side of subdivisions, parcel splits and lot line adjustments, while statewide California policy has the State Water Board and regional water boards overseeing the framework local agencies implement³²⁶. Soil conditions deserve real attention here: only about 6.4% of Tulare County's soils are rated by NRCS as free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, among the lowest shares in this guide series, so budget for a site evaluation and likely a nonstandard design⁷. We could not confirm a single universal inspection rule for septic construction from the county's own pages, beyond that inspectors review plans and assist with health standards, so confirm your project's specific inspection requirements directly with Environmental Health⁶. Graywater reuse is allowed only under specific Plumbing Code conditions, and Environmental Health directs anyone considering it to the RMA Building Department first²⁷.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Tulare County?

No, not as a full-time residence: recreational vehicles and travel trailers are designed for temporary occupancy and are generally permitted only in approved locations such as campgrounds or RV parks, not as housing on your own unincorporated Tulare County parcel¹⁰. This matches California's statewide default, too: RVs aren't intended for occupancy as permanent dwellings, and unless a local ordinance says otherwise, RV occupancy is generally limited to mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks²⁸. A tiny home on wheels (THOW) gets the same answer: it's typically classified as an RV rather than a manufactured home, so it's generally not approved as a permanent residence under a standard residential building permit¹¹. A tiny home can still work as a real, permanent residence in Tulare County if it's built differently: site-built and modular tiny homes must comply with the California Building Code and be on a permanent foundation, and a manufactured tiny home must carry a HUD certification label, sit on an approved permanent foundation, and meet zoning requirements; some tiny homes may also qualify as accessory dwelling units if they meet the state's ADU rules¹²²⁹. An ADU itself needs an existing or proposed primary residence on the lot, zoning that allows it, and adequate water and wastewater service; a detached ADU can run up to 1,200 square feet, and a junior ADU up to 500 square feet²⁹.

How do you build a home in Tulare County, step by step?

Confirm your parcel's zoning designation and permitted uses with the RMA before you design or buy, since every unincorporated parcel carries one of 31 zone classes with its own rules²⁵.
Apply for your full building permit at the RMA Permit Center in Government Plaza, with a site plan, construction plans, and engineering and energy calculations ready; the minimum submittal fee is $154 for most projects⁴¹⁶.
If you're building your own detached single-family home, use California's owner-builder exemption from contractor licensure, but note the limits: no more than four structures a year if sold using licensed subcontractors, and stricter rules if you're relying on the principal-residence exemption⁸⁹.
Apply to Tulare County Environmental Health for your septic permit if you're not on a sewer system, and expect a site evaluation given how much of the county's soil carries drain-field limitations⁶⁷.
Get a permit from the applicable local environmental health agency or water district before constructing, modifying or destroying a water well³⁰.
If your driveway or other work touches a Tulare County road right-of-way, get an approved encroachment permit before construction begins; work in a state highway right-of-way instead requires a Caltrans encroachment permit³¹³².
If any part of the site sits in a designated flood hazard area, get your floodplain building permit before construction starts there¹⁸.

What should you check before buying land in Tulare County?

Tulare County runs dry and hot: only about 21.1 inches of precipitation a year, with severe drought in roughly 43.1% of years, among the highest shares in this guide series, and mid-century projections of about 25.5 days a year at or above 100°F³³³⁴³⁵. About half the county, 50.9%, is federal land, reflecting Sequoia National Park and Sequoia National Forest within its borders, and only 32.7% of the county's land sits at 15% slope or less, so terrain varies sharply from valley floor to mountains³⁶³⁷. Farmland runs about $15,617 an acre and a typical home is valued around $365,579, with a comparatively low effective property tax rate near 0.7% and a median annual tax bill around $2,213³⁸³⁹⁴⁰⁴¹. Before you buy, confirm your parcel's specific zoning designation, since minimum lot size, setbacks and allowed uses vary widely across the county's 31 zone classes⁵. Check septic suitability early: with only 6.4% of soils rated free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, a standard system is the exception rather than the rule here⁷. Any land division has to clear California's Subdivision Map Act, generally requiring a parcel map unless waived by local ordinance, on top of the county's own 10-acre minimum in agricultural-exclusive zones like AE-10⁴²²². And check whether county-owned water or sewer service reaches the parcel: it's only sometimes available in unincorporated areas, through designated County Service Areas, not countywide⁴³.

Watch-outs

We could not confirm a current, adopted short-term-rental ordinance for unincorporated Tulare County; a proposed ordinance exists but isn't confirmed as adopted, so confirm current rules with the RMA before planning a rental².
We could not confirm a rule for temporary camping on private property in unincorporated Tulare County, or a minimum dwelling floor area or lot-coverage limit in the county's zoning ordinance; ask the RMA Permit Center directly for your specific district before assuming an answer².

Sources

Written September 28, 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.

How Tulare County scores

Seclusion35100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency36100% ev.

Admin Boringness40100% ev.

Durability37100% ev.

Property Autonomy56100% ev.

Carry Cost44100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$366kTypical home

0.7%Property tax

$15,617Land / acre

21.1"Annual rain

43.1% of yrsSevere drought

25.5 / yr (+14)Mid-century 100°F days

85.5 daysMid-century dry spell

2.13" (+5.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.11×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$1,074Home insurance / yr

3.2% / yrInsurance growth

1.34%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

77,832People within 30 min

2,727,822People within 2 hr

115,184Radius comparison (15 mi)

99.4People / sq mi

50.9%Federal land

32.7%Land at 15% slope or less

6.4%Septic soil without severe limits

160,128 acWorkable land screen

41.6%Wooded land

53.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac

54.9°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Tulare County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Tulare County rules

Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)
Building-code requirements administered by Tulare County for permit applications in the county's building-permit jurisdiction.
- By law, building permits and inspections are required for new construction, additions, and remodeling work.
- Most repairs or alterations require a building permit.
- A building permit should be obtained before construction begins.
- The permit must remain on site throughout the construction or modification phase, with County-approved plans available for inspections.
- All conditions from other departments must be met before final inspection.
- Buildings may not be occupied before final inspection approval by the Building/Zoning Inspector.
- All permit applications must comply with the 2025 California Building Codes, including Title 24 Parts 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12; the page identifies January 2026 errata for Parts 2 and 2.5.
building code edition: 2025 California Building Codes (The page identifies January 2026 errata for the 2025 California Building Code and California Residential Code.)
“All permit applications must comply with the provisions of the 2025 California Building Codes, which include the following:”
Building Department ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)
County zoning regulation of land use and development in unincorporated Tulare County.
- The source expressly scopes the rule to unincorporated Tulare County.
- Every property is assigned a zoning designation establishing permitted land uses, development standards, building setbacks, lot size, and allowable uses.
“Zoning determines how land may be used and developed within unincorporated Tulare County. Every property is assigned a zoning designation that establishes permitted land uses, development standards, and other requirements such as building setbacks, lot size, and allowable uses.”
Zoning Information ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Local zoningVaries (with conditions)
Aggregate local zoning across Tulare County: county zoning applies in unincorporated communities, while incorporated cities administer their own zoning processes.
- The county source identifies eight incorporated cities: Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, and Woodlake.
- The source states that incorporated cities have city-managed permitting and zoning.
- The county zoning source separately states that county zoning applies within unincorporated Tulare County.
“Tulare County includes unincorporated communities and eight incorporated cities—each with its own processes and opportunities. [...] City-managed permitting and zoning”
Business Opportunities in Tulare County ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)
Zoning districts and zoning-map classifications administered by Tulare County for unincorporated areas.
- The County publishes individual sections of its Zoning Ordinance in Adobe PDF format.
- The ordinance establishes 31 classes of zones, including R-A, MR, R-0, R-1, R-2, R-3, O, CO, P-O, P-1, AE, AE-10, AE-20, AE-40, AE-80, A-1, AF, TPZ, RC, C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1, M-2, AP, M, SC, SR, F-1, PD, F, and PC.
- The zoning map is adopted as part of the ordinance and zone boundaries govern land-use, building-height, yard, and related requirements.
- The ordinance's F-1 Primary Flood Plain Zone is used with the separate flood-damage-prevention regulations.
number of zone classes: 31 classes
“In order to classify, regulate, restrict and segregate the use of land and buildings, to regulate and restrict the height and bulk of buildings, to regulate the area of yards and other open spaces around buildings, and to regulate the density of population, thirty-one (31) classes of zones are hereby established to be known as follows:”
Tulare County Zoning Ordinance ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)
Main buildings in the R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone in unincorporated Tulare County.
- A lot with less area that was of record when the Ordinance became effective may be occupied by not more than one family.
minimum lot area per family: >= 6000 square feet (Pre-existing undersized lots may be occupied by not more than one family.)
“Every main building hereafter erected or structurally altered shall have a lot area of not less than six thousand (6,000) square feet per family. Provided, however, that where a lot has less area than herein required and was of record at the time this Ordinance became effective, said lot may be occupied by not more than one family.”
R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone (Chapter 3 Section 6) ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)
Buildings in the R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone in unincorporated Tulare County.
- Front and rear yards are capped at 25 feet; where 40 percent or more of frontage has buildings with an average front yard varying by no more than six feet, a new or structurally altered building may not project beyond the established average front yard line.
- Interior-lot side yards must be at least 10 percent of lot width, at least 3 feet, and need not exceed 5 feet.
- Reversed-corner lots have a street-side side-yard rule of at least 50 percent of the rear lot front-yard requirement; exceptions protect existing buildable width and permit accessory buildings where compliance is unreasonable.
front yard: 25% of lot depth, capped at 25 feet (Frontage averaging rule applies.) · side yard: 10% of lot width; minimum 3 feet; maximum 5 feet need not be exceeded (Reversed-corner lot rules apply.) · rear yard: 25% of lot depth, capped at 25 feet
“On interior lots there shall be a side yard on each side of a building of not less than ten (10) percent of the width of the lot, provided that such side yard shall be not less than three (3) feet and need not exceed five (5) feet in width.”
R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone (Chapter 3 Section 6) ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)
Buildings in the R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone in unincorporated Tulare County.
- The height limit is subject to exceptions in Sections 15 and 16 of the Ordinance.
maximum height: <= 35 feet (Exceptions in Sections 15 and 16; also limited to two and one-half stories.) · maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories (Exceptions in Sections 15 and 16.)
“Two and one-half (2-1/2) stories and not to exceed thirty-five (35) feet to uppermost part of roof, except as provided in Sections 15 and 16.”
R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone (Chapter 3 Section 6) ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- District specific (with conditions) — Structures in the AE-10 Exclusive Agricultural Zone in unincorporated Tulare County.
  “Not more than fifty (50) feet to the uppermost part of the roof except that water tanks, silos, granaries, wind machines, barns and other agricultural accessory structures may exceed fifty (50) feet in height provided they do not project into the landing or take-off zone, or other restricted areas of an airport, established pursuant to Sections 7-13-1000 - 7-13-1085 of the Ordinance Code of Tulare County.”
  AE-10 Exclusive Agricultural Zone 10 Acre Minimum (Chapter 3 Section 9.55) ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Living in an RVProhibited
Living in an RV or travel trailer as a residence on private property in unincorporated Tulare County.
- RVs and travel trailers are generally permitted only in approved locations, such as campgrounds or RV parks.
- The source describes the rule as applying to RV or travel-trailer occupancy on private property; it does not identify a specific approval process for private-property residential occupancy.
“No. Recreational vehicles (RVs) and travel trailers are designed for temporary occupancy and are generally permitted only in approved locations, such as campgrounds or RV parks.”
Manufactured Homes, Mobile Homes, & Tiny Homes ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Tiny homesAllowed (with conditions)
Site-built, modular, or manufactured tiny homes used as permanent residences in unincorporated Tulare County.
- Site-built tiny homes must comply with the California Building Code.
- Modular tiny homes must be installed on a permanent foundation and comply with the California Building Code.
- Manufactured tiny homes must be built to federal HUD Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, identified by a HUD certification label, installed on an approved permanent foundation, and comply with applicable zoning and building requirements.
- Some tiny homes may qualify as ADUs if they meet California ADU requirements and applicable building and zoning standards.
“A tiny home may qualify as a permanent residence when its construction and certification meet the applicable standards.”
Manufactured Homes, Mobile Homes, & Tiny Homes ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Prohibited — Permanent residential occupancy of tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) under a standard residential building permit in unincorporated Tulare County.
  “Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are typically built on a trailer chassis and are generally classified as recreational vehicles (RVs) rather than manufactured homes. Because they are designed for temporary occupancy, they are generally not approved for use as a permanent residence under a standard residential building permit.”
  Manufactured Homes, Mobile Homes, & Tiny Homes ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)
Accessory dwelling units on properties with an existing or proposed single-family or multifamily home in unincorporated Tulare County.
- The property must have an existing or proposed primary residence.
- The property’s zoning must allow an ADU.
- The ADU location must comply with zoning requirements, building setbacks, and building codes.
- Adequate water and wastewater service is required.
- Residential and agricultural zoning districts generally permit ADUs.
- A manufactured home built to HUD standards may be used as a detached ADU if applicable building and zoning requirements are met.
- Mobile homes over 10 years old may not be permitted in certain residential and commercial zoning districts.
- RVs and travel trailers do not qualify as legal ADUs.
- JADUs may be up to 500 square feet and require the owner to live in either the primary residence or the JADU.
- Detached ADUs may be up to 1,200 square feet; attached ADUs are generally limited to 50% of the primary home’s living area, with stated exceptions.
maximum JADU size: <= 500 square feet · maximum detached ADU size: <= 1200 square feet · attached ADU general size limit: <= 50 percent of primary home's living area (Attached ADUs may be up to 1,200 square feet if the primary residence exceeds 2,400 square feet.)
“ADUs are generally allowed on properties with an existing or proposed single-family or multi-family home. The location of the ADU must comply with applicable zoning requirements, building setbacks, and building codes. The property must also have adequate water and wastewater service. ADUs are generally permitted in residential and agricultural zoning districts.”
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Who permits septicMixed
Design, installation, operation, and land-use-related dispersal requirements for OWTS and non-discharging liquid waste systems in Tulare County.
- The County of Tulare RMA and EHD are identified as the regulatory agencies.
- The EHD regulates these elements within the various cities within Tulare County.
- The source does not separately identify a different administering authority for every incorporated city.
“the County of Tulare Resource Management Agency (RMA) and the Environmental Health Division (EHD) of the Health and Human Services Agency are the regulatory agencies”
Septic Systems ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Septic permitRequired
Construction, installation, and repair of OWTS in Tulare County.
- The source says most work requires a permit, so the statement does not establish that every category of OWTS work requires one.
- Permit requirements are directed to the Tulare County RMA.
“Most work relating to the construction, installation, and repair of an OWTS requires a permit.”
Liquid Waste (Septic System) FAQ's ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Use of graywater as an alternative to routing laundry, washing, or bathing wastewater into an OWTS.
- The source states that California Health and Safety Code section 5411 prohibits discharge of sewage or other waste in a manner resulting in contamination, pollution, or nuisance.
- The source states that Plumbing Code provisions allow graywater use only under certain conditions.
- The source directs applicants to contact the Tulare County RMA Building Department for more information.
“allow for the use of gray water under certain conditions.”
Liquid Waste (Septic System) FAQ's ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)
County-owned water and sewer services in designated County Service Areas serving portions of unincorporated Tulare County.
- The source says these services are only sometimes provided in unincorporated areas through designated CSAs.
- The listed systems are located within County Service Areas No. 1 or No. 2.
- The page does not establish a countywide mandatory connection requirement for every parcel.
“In Tulare County’s unincorporated areas, these services are sometimes provided through County-owned systems within designated County Service Areas (CSAs).”
Water & Sewer Services ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Agricultural exemptionConditional
Agricultural Exempt Structures in unincorporated Tulare County.
- The structure must be an agricultural building without electricity, plumbing, or gas connections.
- An agricultural exempt structure still requires a building permit, though it may qualify for fewer inspections and simplified review.
- If utilities are added later, additional permits and inspections are required.
- The structure may be used only for the agricultural purpose approved by the permit; residence or employee housing requires separate approval and compliance with applicable requirements.
utility connections: none (Adding utilities later triggers additional permits and inspections.) · building permit: required (Simplified review or fewer inspections may apply.)
“An Agricultural Exempt Structure is an agricultural building that does not include utility connections such as electricity, plumbing, or gas. These structures still require a building permit. However, because they do not contain utilities, they generally require fewer inspections and may qualify for a simplified review process. If utilities are added later, additional permits and inspections will be required.”
Agricultural Structure ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Subdivision and divisions of land in the AE-10 Exclusive Agricultural Zone in unincorporated Tulare County.
- No resulting parcel may contain less than ten acres except specified Section 15, Subsection D.2 transactions and use-permit exceptions for agricultural-related industries or services; pre-existing property under ten acres may be sold as a single unit; divisions must comply with Sections 7-01-1000 through 7-01-2855 of the Ordinance Code.
minimum resulting parcel size: >= 10 acres (Specified Section 15 transactions and use-permit exceptions apply.)
“No such land may be divided for any purpose if any one (1) parcel resulting from the division of land contains less than ten (10) acres; provided, however, that the transactions set forth in Subsection D.2 of Section 15 of this ordinance are not subject to this restriction.”
AE-10 Exclusive Agricultural Zone 10 Acre Minimum (Chapter 3 Section 9.55) ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Driveway accessLimited
Driveway construction or modification within a Tulare County-maintained road right-of-way.
- An approved encroachment permit is required before construction begins when work is within the County road right-of-way.
- The permit covers driveway construction or modifications and other work affecting County-maintained infrastructure.
- Additional information, insurance, bonds, traffic-control plans, inspections, permit conditions, and restoration requirements may apply depending on the project.
“Work within the County road right-of-way requires an approved encroachment permit before construction begins.”
Encroachment Permits ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Building in a floodplainRequired
Construction or development within any area of special flood hazard under Tulare County's flood damage prevention ordinance.
- A building permit must be obtained before construction or development begins in an area of special flood hazard.
- The application may require scaled plans showing the nature, location, dimensions, and elevation of the area, structures, fill, stored materials, and drainage facilities.
- Required information includes a site plan, proposed utility locations, available base flood elevation, regulatory floodway location if applicable, foundation details, lowest-floor elevation, certifications, and any watercourse alteration description.
- The Planning and Development Director and Public Works Director jointly administer the chapter as Floodplain Administrators.
- The ordinance states that conflicting requirements with another chapter, ordinance, easement, covenant, or deed restriction are governed by whichever imposes the more stringent restriction.
maximum cumulative base-flood water-surface increase: <= 1 foot (for review of proposed development in the area of special flood hazard) · minimum lowest-floor elevation in Zone A when no base flood elevation or depth number is provided: >= 2 feet above highest adjacent grade (alternatively 18 inches above the top of the curb across the front of the lot, or base flood elevation determined under Section 7-27-1100(b))
“A Building Permit shall be obtained in accordance with Chapter 15 of this Part before construction or development is commenced within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 7-27-1020 of this Chapter.”
Chapter 8. Flood Damage Prevention ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Permit feesVariable (with conditions)
County building permit fees for projects in unincorporated Tulare County.
- Fees vary by permit type, project scope, and required reviews or inspections.
- Additional fees may apply when other departments or agencies review the project.
- The County directs applicants to review the applicable fee schedule or contact the Permit Center.
“Permit fees vary depending on the permit type, project scope, and the reviews or inspections required. Additional fees may apply when other departments or agencies must review the project.”
Permit Center Frequently Asked Questions ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Full building permits, including residential demolition, room additions, alterations, and new construction in unincorporated Tulare County.
- Full permits require a site plan, construction plans, engineering calculations, and energy calculations.
- Applications may be submitted by mail, by appointment in person, or dropped off in the lobby.
- The minimum submittal fee is $154.00 for most submittals.
- Credit-card payment incurs a 3.5% fee.
- Cash payment requires an appointment.
minimum submittal fee: 154 USD (for most submittals) · credit-card payment fee: 3.5 percent
“Full Permits require a site plan, construction plans, engineering calculations, and energy calculations. Some examples include demolition of residential property, room additions, alterations to existing structures, and new construction.”
What is the permit process? ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026

California rules that apply here

Building permitRequired
Construction projects within the California Department of Health Care Access and Information Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development jurisdiction, including health-facility projects requiring HCAI review.
- Written plan approval must be issued before the building-permit application proceeds.
- The application must provide contractor information, Inspector of Record information, and a Testing Inspection and Observation program.
- The TIO program must be field-approved before approval and subsequent issuance of the building permit.
- This claim does not establish the permit rule for projects outside HCAI jurisdiction.
“Once a project receives written plan approval, a Building Permit application is submitted through the e-Services Portal.”
Building Permits & Construction Observation ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)
Exemption from California contractor-licensing chapter for an owner-builder who builds or improves a structure on the owner’s property; this does not itself establish exemption from local building permits, inspections, or other code requirements.
- For work personally performed by the owner or performed by the owner’s employees, none of the improvements may be intended or offered for sale, and employee compensation must be wages as their sole compensation.
- For work directly contracted to licensed trade contractors, the owner must directly contract with licensees duly licensed for the respective trades.
- For single-family residential structures under the licensed-contractor arrangement, no more than four structures may be intended or offered for sale in a calendar year; this limitation does not apply if the owner contracts with a general contractor for construction.
- For a homeowner improving a principal residence or its appurtenances, the work must be performed before sale, the homeowner must have actually resided in the residence for the 12 months before completion, and the homeowner must not have used this exemption on more than two structures more than once during any three-year period.
- A nonprofit corporation may qualify when assisting an owner-builder participating in a mutual self-help housing program.
- Sale or offering for sale within one year after completion creates a rebuttable presumption that the structure was undertaken for sale; sale or offering for sale of five or more structures within one year creates a conclusive presumption.
- This is a contractor-licensing exemption and should not be treated as a building-permit exemption.
single-family structures intended or offered for sale: <= 4 structures per calendar year (Does not apply if the owner contracts with a general contractor for construction.) · prior residence occupancy: >= 12 months before completion (Applies to the principal-residence homeowner exemption.) · owner-builder exemption use: <= 2 structures during any three-year period (The statute states the homeowner has not availed himself or herself of the exemption on more than two structures more than once during any three-year period.) · sale presumption period: 1 year after completion (Sale or offering for sale creates a rebuttable presumption; five or more structures creates a conclusive presumption.) · conclusive-presumption threshold: >= 5 structures within one year after completion (Structures sold or offered for sale by the owner-builder.)
“This chapter does not apply to any of the following: (1) An owner who builds or improves a structure on his or her property”
California Business and Professions Code Section 7044 ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Conditional — Property owners performing or arranging construction, alteration, repair, improvement, or remodeling work in Tulare County and elsewhere in California.
  “The owner directly contracts with licensees who are duly licensed to contract for the work of the respective trades involved in completing the project. [...] For projects involving single-family residential structures, no more than four of these structures are intended or offered for sale in a calendar year. This subparagraph shall not apply if the owner contracts with a general contractor for the construction.”
  Building Officials - Owner-Builder Overview ↗Re-checked Sep 24, 2026
- Conditional — Owners who build or improve structures on their own property, and homeowners improving their principal residence or appurtenances, subject to Business and Professions Code section 7044.
  “(a) This chapter does not apply to any of the following: (1) An owner who builds or improves a structure on his or her property”
  California Business and Professions Code Section 7044 ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
- Available (with conditions) — California contractor-licensing requirements for an owner who builds or improves a structure on the owner’s property; this is not stated as an exemption from building permits, inspections, or other code requirements.
  “This chapter does not apply to any of the following: (1) An owner who builds or improves a structure on his or her property”
  California Business and Professions Code section 7044 ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
InspectionsRequired
Construction projects within HCAI jurisdiction involving California health facilities.
- HCAI field personnel make periodic site visits.
- The Inspector of Record is responsible for continuous inspection of the work.
- The inspections address seismic, fire, life-safety, and other building-code requirements.
“The approved IOR with the required personal knowledge performs only those duties associated with the required continuous inspections”
HCAI Standard Project Process ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Required — California owner-builder projects addressed by the Contractors State License Board guidance.
  “Your project must pass codes and building inspections.”
  Owner-Builder Responsibilities ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Completed construction projects within HCAI jurisdiction involving California health facilities.
- The HCAI Compliance Officer issues the project-completion Substantial Compliance or Certificate of Occupancy once required conditions are met.
- The stated examples include delivery of all test reports to the Inspector of Record, clearance of outstanding items, and completion of the Testing, Inspection and Observation Program.
- Once construction is completed, the certificate of occupancy allows the owner to apply to the Department of Health Services for a license to operate the health facility.
“Issues the certificate of occupancy and/or construction final.”
HCAI Standard Project Process ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified
Efficiency units permitted by a California city, county, or city and county.
- The local jurisdiction must adopt an ordinance permitting the efficiency unit.
- Occupancy is limited to no more than two persons.
- The unit may have partial kitchen or bathroom facilities as specified by the local ordinance.
- All other applicable minimum standards under Health and Safety Code Part 1.5 continue to apply.
minimum floor area: >= 150 square feet · maximum occupancy: <= 2 persons
“Notwithstanding Sections 17922, 17958, and 17958.5, a city, county, or city and county may, by ordinance, permit efficiency units for occupancy by no more than two persons which have a minimum floor area of 150 square feet and which may also have partial kitchen or bathroom facilities, as specified by the ordinance.”
California Health and Safety Code Section 17958.1 ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
Camping on your landLimited
Camping in units operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation statewide.
- Camping is confined to areas designated for that purpose.
- Occupancy by the same persons, equipment, or vehicles is generally limited to 30 days in any calendar year in that unit.
- The Department may establish shorter or longer occupancy limits.
- When a shorter seasonal limit applies, the camper must vacate the campsite and may not reregister in the unit until 48 hours have expired, measured from 12:00 noon on the checkout day to 12:00 noon on the second day following.
- A district superintendent may permit one-night camping in a day-use area or portion of one, subject to Department-established fees and vehicle limitations; occupants must vacate by 9:00 a.m. the following morning.
- California State Parks' current reservation policy states that each campground has a consecutive-night limit, requires a 48-hour absence after that limit, and generally has a 30-night annual maximum, subject to individual park policies.
general annual occupancy limit: 30 days per calendar year per unit (The Department may establish shorter or longer limits of occupancy.) · return interval after shorter seasonal limit: 48 hours (Measured from 12:00 noon of the checkout day to 12:00 noon of the second day following.) · one-night camping in day-use area: 1 night (Only if permitted by the district superintendent; occupants must vacate by 9:00 a.m. the following morning.)
“Occupancy by the same persons, equipment, or vehicles of any camping facility is limited to a total of 30 days in any calendar year in that unit.”
California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Laws 2014 ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Allowed (with conditions) — Temporary camping in California special occupancy parks, including parks containing recreational vehicles, tents, or camping cabins.
  ““Special occupancy park” means a recreational vehicle park, temporary recreational vehicle park, incidental camping area, or tent camp.”
  What is a Mobilehome Park or Special Occupancy Park? ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)
Occupancy of manufactured homes inside or outside mobilehome parks in California.
- The manufactured home must satisfy applicable federal standards and California Manufactured Housing Act and Title 25 requirements.
- Installation and approval for occupancy are governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act.
- HCD or a local enforcement agency with assumed Mobilehome Parks Act authority is responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory construction and maintenance requirements.
- Local agency approvals may be necessary for the project.
minimum width for a new manufactured home: >= 8 body feet (The statutory definition also includes units at least 40 body feet in length.) · minimum erected floor area for a new manufactured home: >= 320 square feet
“MHs may be occupied outside or inside of mobilehome parks and installation and approval for occupancy is governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act (MPA), HSC Sections 18200, et seq., and Title 25, CCR Sections 1000, et seq.”
Information Bulletin 2016-01: Tiny Homes ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
Septic inspectionLimited
OWTS in a Tier 3 Advanced Protection Management Program with supplemental treatment components, including systems in specified impaired-water-body areas statewide.
- The requirement applies to OWTS in an Advanced Protection Management Program with supplemental treatment components.
- Ongoing monitoring must follow the OWTS operation and maintenance manual or occur more frequently if required by the local agency or Regional Water Board.
- Where telemetry is not possible, the owner or owner's agent must inspect at least monthly while the system is in use and notify the service provider at least quarterly of observed operating parameters.
- For systems designed to meet disinfection requirements, a service provider must inspect proper operation quarterly while the system is in use unless continuous telemetric monitoring is capable of assessing operation.
- Quarterly effluent sampling and certified-laboratory requirements apply to systems subject to the disinfection provisions.
inspection frequency where telemetry is not possible: per monthly (While the system is in use.) · inspection frequency for disinfection systems: per quarterly (While the system is in use, unless continuous telemetric monitoring is capable of assessing operation.)
“Where telemetry is not possible, the owner or owner’s agent shall inspect the system at least monthly while the system is in use as directed and instructed by a service provider and notify the service provider not less than quarterly of the observed operating parameters of the OWTS. [...] OWTS in an Advanced Protection Management Program designed to meet the disinfection requirements in Section 10.10 shall be inspected for proper operation quarterly while the system is in use by a service provider unless a telemetric monitoring system is capable of continuously assessing the operation of the disinfection system.”
2023 OWTS Policy ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Well permitRequired
Construction, modification, or destruction of water wells in California.
- The permit is obtained from the applicable local environmental health agency or local water district before construction, modification, or destruction.
- Local enforcing agencies may adopt ordinances that meet or exceed DWR Well Standards.
- If no local well ordinance is adopted, the local enforcing agency must enforce the Statewide Model Well Ordinance.
- Water wells supplying public water systems have additional State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water certification requirements.
- Water-well construction must be performed by a licensed C-57 Well Drilling Contractor.
“Well owners need to obtain permits from local environmental health agencies or local water districts before construction, modification, or destruction takes place.”
Well Standards ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Limited — Construction, alteration, maintenance, or destruction of water wells, monitoring wells, cathodic protection wells, and geothermal heat exchange wells in California.
  “Permitting and enforcement are carried out by the LEAs, such as the County Department of Environmental Health.”
  Well Standards ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
Campground & park staysLimited
Occupancy and use of manufactured homes and mobilehomes in California mobilehome parks and other locations subject to HCD jurisdiction.
- HCD administers titling and registration for manufactured homes and mobilehomes.
- HCD-inspected mobilehome parks are subject to health and safety enforcement where local government has not assumed enforcement.
- Manufactured/mobilehome park regulations address construction, use, maintenance, and occupancy.
- Separate local land-use, building, fire, health, and utility requirements may apply.
“MHs may be occupied outside or inside of mobilehome parks and installation and approval for occupancy is governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act (MPA), HSC Sections 18200, et seq., and Title 25, CCR Sections 1000, et seq.”
Manufactured & Mobilehomes ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
- Limited — RV and trailer camping at Silver Strand State Beach Campground in the San Diego Coast District.
  “Camping Stay Limits: Applies to persons, equipment, or vehicles and any combination thereof [...] Maximum stay of 30 days per calendar year [...] Maximum 7 consecutive days during peak season (May 15 – September 15) [...] Maximum 14 consecutive days during non-peak season”
  Silver Strand State Beach Campground Rules and Regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 9, 2026
- Limited — Occupancy and use of recreational vehicles in California special occupancy parks and designated RV sections of mobilehome parks.
  “Unless otherwise allowed by a local ordinance, RVs generally may be occupied only in mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks governed by the Mobilehome Parks Act”
  What is a Mobilehome Park or Special Occupancy Park? ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
county zoning authorityGeneral
California county legislative bodies' authority to adopt zoning ordinances regulating buildings, structures, land uses, lots, yards, open space, lot coverage, intensity of use, parking, loading, and setbacks within county jurisdiction, including unincorporated areas.
- The authority is exercised pursuant to Government Code Chapter 4, Zoning Regulations.
- The statute separately authorizes city legislative bodies; incorporated municipalities may exercise their own zoning authority.
- Government Code Section 65850 also lists authority to regulate signs and billboards, building and structure location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size, lot and open-space size and use, lot coverage, intensity of land use, offstreet parking and loading, and building setback lines.
- The cited section states it was amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 376, Sec. 1, effective January 1, 2018.
“The legislative body of any county or city may, pursuant to this chapter, adopt ordinances that do any of the following:”
California Government Code Section 65850 ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026
county building authorityGeneral
California counties administering and enforcing state building standards through county building departments, including residential construction in unincorporated areas.
- Each county must maintain building standards and state building regulations in the office of the building official responsible for administration and enforcement of state building standards.
- The statewide Title 24 standards apply subject to statutory exceptions and any authorized local amendments or local requirements.
- The cited HCD bulletin concerns the 2019 California Building Standards Code and its July 1, 2021 supplement; later code editions may supersede those particular edition dates.
“These codes shall be maintained in the office of the building official responsible for the administration and enforcement of state building standards”
Information Bulletin 2021-02: 2019 California Building Standards Code Supplement ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

Lot coverage — Lot coverage in unincorporated Tulare County.
Short-term rentals — Short-term rental use in unincorporated Tulare County.

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.

Water rights & wells in Tulare County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from California’s water agency.

Over-appropriated / declining

The aquifer here is over-appropriated and declining. A domestic well is usually still permit-exempt, but long-term supply is a genuine risk.

Household wellPermit required — restricted

California requires no STATE permit for a domestic well — wells are permitted by the county — but under SGMA a Groundwater Sustainability Agency can meter or restrict new wells in medium/high-priority and critically overdrafted basins, and Executive Order N-7-22 requires counties in those basins to get GSA verification that a new well is consistent with the Groundwater Sustainability Plan before permitting.

Limit: 2 acre-feet/year de minimis under SGMA (Water Code §10721(e)) — largely exempt from GSA metering/fees

California DWR / State Water Board — SGMA de minimis & EO N-7-22 Action 9 FAQ ↗

Kings Subbasin — Critically Overdraftedmajority of county
Kings River fan; adopted GSP with pumping reductions; new wells subject to GSA review/metering and EO N-7-22.
California DWR Bulletin 118 — Critically Overdrafted Basins ↗
Kaweah Subbasin — Critically Overdraftedmajority of county
Visalia area; SGMA intervention/probation risk; GSP pumping reductions; new wells subject to GSA review and EO N-7-22.
California DWR Bulletin 118 — Critically Overdrafted Basins ↗
Tule Subbasin — Critically Overdraftedmajority of county
Porterville–Tulare area; severe subsidence; SGMA intervention risk; new wells subject to GSA review and EO N-7-22.
California DWR Bulletin 118 — Critically Overdrafted Basins ↗

Hybrid state (appropriation + riparian). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the California state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Tulare County, California

Is Tulare County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Tulare County scores 43/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Watch-outs: about 77,832 people within a 30-minute drive and thin water margin (21.1″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Tulare County, California?

Tulare County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Tulare County Environmental Health Division (Health & Human Services Agency). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Tulare County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Tulare County is prohibited: Living in an RV or travel trailer as a residence on private property in unincorporated Tulare County. RVs and travel trailers are generally permitted only in approved locations, such as campgrounds or RV parks. The source describes the rule as applying to RV or travel-trailer occupancy on private property; it does not identify a specific approval process for private-property residential occupancy. A tiny home is allowed. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Tulare County, California?

Land in Tulare County runs about $15,617 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Tulare County?

Tulare County gets about 21.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 43.1% of years. On water rights, Tulare County lies in the Kings Subbasin — Critically Overdrafted — Kings River fan; adopted GSP with pumping reductions; new wells subject to GSA review/metering and EO N-7-22..

How remote is Tulare County?

A representative private-land location has about 77,832 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,727,822 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Tulare County, California

At a glance

Who to call

Do you need a building permit in Tulare County, California?

Who issues building permits in Tulare County, and how do you reach them?

Does Tulare County have zoning?

How do septic permits work in Tulare County?

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Tulare County?

How do you build a home in Tulare County, step by step?

What should you check before buying land in Tulare County?

Watch-outs

Sources

Tulare County in California

How Tulare County scores

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Parcel due diligence

Answers from the rulebook for Tulare County

Tulare County rules

California rules that apply here

Still unanswered

Water rights & wells in Tulare County

Living off-grid in Tulare County, California

Is Tulare County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Do you need a building permit in Tulare County, California?

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Tulare County?

How much does land cost in Tulare County, California?

What is the water situation in Tulare County?

How remote is Tulare County?

How Tulare compares in California