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

At a glance

Building permit

Required in unincorporated Tulare County; issued by the RMA Permit Center¹²

Zoning

Yes, every unincorporated parcel has a zoning designation³

Septic permit

Environmental Health and the RMA share regulatory responsibility⁴⁵

Septic-friendly soils

6.4% of soils are rated “not limited” for conventional drain fields; site evaluation still matters⁶

Owner-builder exemption

Conditional contractor-licensing exemption; building permits and inspections still required⁷⁸

RV as a residence

Not allowed on private property outside an approved location⁹

Tiny home on wheels

Generally not approved for permanent residence; qualifying site-built, modular or manufactured tiny homes can be¹⁰¹¹

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

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

Unincorporated Tulare County requires a building permit before constructing a new residence; additions, remodeling and most repairs or alterations also require building permits¹²¹. The permit holder must request building inspections, keep the permit and approved plans on site, meet other departments’ conditions, and obtain final Building/Zoning Inspector approval before occupancy¹³¹⁴. Applications must comply with the 2025 California Building Codes¹⁵. A homeowner obtaining a Tulare County building permit as an owner-builder becomes the contractor of record; the licensing exemption leaves building permits and inspections in place⁷. An Agricultural Exempt Structure without electricity, plumbing or gas still needs a building permit, though simplified review and fewer inspections may apply; residential use requires separate approval¹⁶. A Certificate of Occupancy is generally required for new commercial buildings, changes in occupancy and certain remodeled spaces in unincorporated Tulare County; ask the Permit Center whether your project qualifies¹⁷.

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.². 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 appointment¹⁸. 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 budget¹⁹. 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 Administrators²⁰. Inside Porterville and Woodlake, city offices handle building permits; Environmental Health’s septic jurisdiction still reaches city properties²¹²²⁴.

Does Tulare County have zoning?

Every unincorporated Tulare County parcel has a zoning designation governing uses, lot size and setbacks; the county publishes district rules and an adopted zoning map³²³. County zoning applies outside incorporated cities, which administer their own zoning processes²⁴. R-A and R-1 main buildings generally need at least 6,000 square feet of lot area per family, subject to stated exceptions²⁵²⁶. R-A and R-1 front and rear yards generally require 25% of lot depth but need not exceed 25 feet; interior side yards require 10% of lot width, at least 3 feet, but need not exceed 5 feet, with frontage and corner-lot exceptions²⁷²⁸. Newly created AE-10 and AE-20 parcels generally require at least 10 and 20 acres respectively, with exceptions; these are parcel-creation standards, not dwelling floor-area minimums²⁹³⁰. Both agricultural districts require 25-foot front/rear and 10-foot side yards, with greater road setbacks where applicable³¹³². Visalia, Porterville, Dinuba, Farmersville, Exeter and Woodlake administer their own zoning; Environmental Health still regulates city septic systems^{3334353637384}.

How do septic permits work in Tulare County?

Most construction, installation and repair work on an on-site wastewater treatment system (OWTS, commonly called septic) requires a permit in Tulare County; the county septic FAQ directs permit-requirement questions to the RMA⁵. Environmental Health and the RMA share regulation of OWTS design, installation, operation and liquid-waste dispersal, with Environmental Health regulating septic systems inside incorporated cities too⁴. Only 6.4% of Tulare County soils are rated “not limited” for a conventional drain field; that does not make septic impossible elsewhere, but supports arranging a site evaluation and allowing for an engineered design⁶. We could not confirm a universal septic inspection schedule or all exceptions; ask Environmental Health which inspections your project needs³⁹. Off-grid sanitation is not a blanket exemption: laundry, washing and bathing wastewater generally must enter the OWTS, while Plumbing Code provisions allow graywater use under conditions; ask the RMA Building Department about your proposal⁴⁰.

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

Living in an RV or travel trailer on private property in unincorporated Tulare County is prohibited outside approved locations such as campgrounds or RV parks; contact the Permit Center before placing or occupying one⁹. A tiny home on wheels is typically treated as an RV and is generally not approved for permanent residence under a standard residential building permit¹¹. A site-built tiny home can qualify if it meets the California Building Code, a modular tiny home can qualify on a permanent foundation, and a manufactured tiny home can qualify with HUD certification, an approved permanent foundation, and zoning and building compliance¹⁰. A manufactured home can serve as a primary residence in unincorporated Tulare County when installation meets zoning, building and foundation requirements; replacing an existing manufactured or mobile home also requires a building permit⁴¹. In residential zoning districts the home must be 10 years old or newer, while in agricultural districts an older home may qualify after a pre-installation inspection and an Investigation Permit⁴². An ADU requires an existing or proposed primary home, adequate water and wastewater service, compliant setbacks, an allowed district, and applicable fire and access approvals; an RV cannot qualify as an ADU⁴³⁴⁴.

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

1. Confirm the parcel's zoning designation and permitted uses with the RMA before you design or buy³.
2. Apply for a full building permit at the RMA Permit Center with a site plan, construction plans, engineering calculations and energy calculations; the minimum submittal fee is $154 for most projects²¹⁸.
3. If you will act as owner-builder, review California's contractor-licensing exemption and its sale and occupancy limits; the exemption does not remove permit, inspection or zoning requirements⁸.
4. If the parcel lacks sewer service, coordinate the septic design and permit with Environmental Health and the RMA, and arrange a site evaluation early because only 6.4% of soils rate “not limited” for conventional drain fields, without assuming other soils cannot support septic⁴⁶.
5. Get an Environmental Health permit before constructing, destroying or inactivating a well anywhere in Tulare County, and use a contractor with a valid C-57 license⁴⁵.
6. Obtain an encroachment permit before work in a county road right-of-way; work in a state highway right-of-way requires a Caltrans encroachment permit⁴⁶⁴⁷.
7. Request each required building inspection, and do not occupy the building until the Building/Zoning Inspector gives final approval⁴⁸.

What should you check before buying land in Tulare County?

Before buying unincorporated Tulare County land, confirm the parcel’s zoning with the RMA: minimum lot size, setbacks and allowed uses vary by district³. Only 6.4% of county soils rate “not limited” for conventional drain fields; that is a reason to evaluate the site, not proof that other parcels cannot support septic⁶. Environmental Health requires a permit for well construction, destruction or inactivation anywhere in Tulare County, and all well work requires a licensed C-57 contractor⁴⁵. County-owned water and sewer service is available only in some unincorporated areas through designated County Service Areas⁴⁹. About 50.9% of county land is federal, and 32.7% has slopes of 15% or less⁵⁰⁵¹. Annual precipitation averages 21.1 inches, with severe drought in 43.1% of years⁵²⁵³. Farmland averages $15,617 per acre, typical home value is $365,579, and the effective property tax rate is about 0.7%, with a median annual bill of $2,213^54555657.

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 rental⁵⁸.
• 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 answer⁵⁸.

Sources

1. Permit Center Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
2. Tulare County RMA Permit Center, Building Department (tularecounty.ca.gov)
3. Zoning Information, quoted and re-checked
4. Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
5. Liquid Waste (Septic System) FAQ's, quoted and re-checked
6. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
7. Permit Center Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
8. California Business and Professions Code Section 7044, quoted and re-checked
9. Permit Center Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
10. Permit Center Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
11. Manufactured Homes, Mobile Homes, & Tiny Homes, quoted and re-checked
12. Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
13. tularecounty.ca.gov, quoted and re-checked
14. Building Department, quoted and re-checked
15. Building Department, quoted and re-checked
16. Agricultural Structure, quoted and re-checked
17. Permit Center Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
18. What is the permit process?, quoted and re-checked
19. Permit Center Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
20. Chapter 8. Flood Damage Prevention, quoted and re-checked
21. Porterville: City of Porterville Starting a Business Guide (Tulare County), quoted and re-checked
22. Woodlake: About - City of Woodlake (Tulare County), quoted and re-checked
23. Tulare County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
24. Business Opportunities in Tulare County, quoted and re-checked
25. R-A Rural Residential Zone, quoted and re-checked
26. R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone (Chapter 3 Section 6), quoted and re-checked
27. R-A Rural Residential Zone, quoted and re-checked
28. R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone (Chapter 3 Section 6), quoted and re-checked
29. Tulare County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
30. Tulare County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
31. Tulare County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
32. Tulare County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
33. Visalia: Title 17 Zoning (Tulare County), quoted and re-checked
34. Porterville: 201.03: Development Regulations (Tulare County), quoted and re-checked
35. Dinuba: City of Dinuba Municipal Code Table of Contents (Tulare County), quoted and re-checked
36. Farmersville: Farmersville Municipal Code § 17.40.020, Table 1—Permitted uses (Tulare County), quoted and re-checked
37. Exeter: Planning and Development (Tulare County), quoted and re-checked
38. Woodlake: Planning & Building - City of Woodlake (Tulare County), quoted and re-checked
39. Tulare County Environmental Health Division (tularecountyeh.org)
40. Liquid Waste (Septic System) FAQ's, quoted and re-checked
41. Permit Center Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
42. Manufactured Homes, Mobile Homes, & Tiny Homes, quoted and re-checked
43. Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), quoted and re-checked
44. Permit Center Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
45. Water Wells, quoted and re-checked
46. Encroachment Permits, quoted and re-checked
47. Encroachment Permits | Caltrans (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
48. tularecounty.ca.gov, quoted and re-checked
49. Water & Sewer Services, quoted and re-checked
50. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
51. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
52. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
53. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
54. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
55. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
56. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
57. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
58. Zoning Information (2026 county census)

Written October 12, 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.