102 local rules on file · Pop. 531 · Tulare County
Showing ordinances that apply to Allensworth, CA
Allensworth is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 531 in Tulare County, California. Because Allensworth is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Tulare County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Tulare County may have different rules.
Unincorporated Tulare County does not have an ordinance setting specific permitted construction hours. Construction noise is governed by the general 65 dB boundary limit (Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b)), the Public Nuisance Ordinance (4-01-1070), and General Plan Noise Element planning standards rather than a fixed start/stop time.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no leaf blower ordinance. Equipment noise falls under the general 65 dB boundary limit (Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b)) and the public nuisance standard (4-01-1070). Statewide, California AB 1346 and the CARB Small Off-Road Engine rule bar the sale of new gas leaf blowers from model year 2024.
Unincorporated Tulare County's Social Host Ordinance (Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b)) prohibits sound from amplified sound devices from exceeding 65 decibels at the property boundary. 'Amplified sound device' is defined broadly in Section 5-01-1210(j) to include loudspeakers, PA systems, car audio, radios, and players.
The County's enforceable numeric limit is 65 decibels at the property boundary for amplified and excessive noise (Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b)). The General Plan Noise Element adds planning standards of 60 dB Ldn/CNEL outdoor and 45 dB interior, with 50/40 dB(A) hourly Leq caps for new sources in foothill areas.
Outdoor music at parties and gatherings in unincorporated Tulare County is governed by the Social Host Ordinance (Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b)), which caps amplified and non-amplified party noise at 65 dB at the property boundary. Non-amplified sounds like shouting, group chanting, and acoustic instruments are also covered.
Industrial and stationary-source noise is controlled through the County General Plan Noise Element and discretionary land-use permits. New noise-generating industrial or commercial uses may not exceed 60 dB Ldn/CNEL at residential boundaries (Policy 4.B.1); foothill areas add 50/40 dB(A) hourly Leq limits (Policy 4.B.2).
Unincorporated Tulare County does not regulate aircraft noise. The County General Plan Noise Element states that aircraft operations are preempted by federal and state regulation and 'generally may not be addressed by a local noise control ordinance.' Aircraft noise is handled by the FAA and through airport land-use planning.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no single bright-line nighttime curfew. Instead, the Social Host Ordinance (Ordinance Code Section 5-01-1215(b)) caps amplified and excessive noise at 65 decibels at the property boundary, and the Public Nuisance Ordinance (Section 4-01-1070) bars noise offensive to the senses that disturbs a neighborhood.
Unincorporated Tulare County prohibits animal noise as a public nuisance. Ordinance Code Section 4-07-3300 bars owners from permitting an animal to disturb a neighborhood by barking, howling, or other noise, and the definition in Section 4-07-1400 treats chronic loud noise over 15 minutes per incident as an Animal Nuisance.
Engine, motorcycle, and dirt bike noise are 'excessive noise sources' capped at 65 dB at the property boundary under Ordinance Code 5-01-1215(b). Off-road vehicle use near homes is restricted by Ordinance Code 4-23-1000. On public roads, California Vehicle Code Sections 27150-27151 (mufflers) control.
Unincorporated Tulare County has NO short-term rental land-use permit. The Board of Supervisors rejected a proposed STR ordinance 3-2 on July 9, 2024. The only mandatory step is registering with the Tax Collector for a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate, which the Code states does not constitute a permit.
Every operator of a short-term residential rental in unincorporated Tulare County must register with the Treasurer-Tax Collector before or within 30 days of starting business. The Tax Collector issues a free Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate within 10 days, which must be prominently displayed at the property.
Unincorporated Tulare County charges a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on rent for stays of 30 consecutive days or less, including short-term residential rentals. Operators collect it from guests and file quarterly returns. There is no separate STR permit fee because no STR permit exists.
Unincorporated Tulare County sets no STR-specific occupancy cap. The proposed ordinance that would have limited occupants by number of bedrooms was rejected 3-2 on July 9, 2024. Occupancy is governed only by general building/zoning standards and nuisance rules, not by a dedicated STR maximum.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no STR-specific noise ordinance. A proposed STR noise rule was rejected 3-2 on July 9, 2024. STR noise is handled through the County's Public Nuisance Ordinance (Part IV, Chapter 1), California Civil Code section 3479, and Sheriff enforcement of disturbing-the-peace law.
Unincorporated Tulare County imposes no primary-residence requirement on short-term rentals. With no STR ordinance adopted (proposal rejected 3-2 on July 9, 2024), non-owner-occupied and investor-owned whole-home rentals are not prohibited by any STR-specific rule; only TOT and general zoning apply.
Unincorporated Tulare County does not require an on-site or on-call host for short-term rentals. The proposed ordinance, which would have required contact-information signage at each property, was rejected 3-2 on July 9, 2024. No host-presence or local-contact mandate is in force.
Unincorporated Tulare County imposes no annual cap on short-term rental nights. With the STR ordinance rejected 3-2 on July 9, 2024, there is no limit on how many nights or days per year a property may be rented. The only day-count threshold in the code is a 15-day TOT registration trigger.
Unincorporated Tulare County does not require liability insurance for short-term rentals. The proposed STR ordinance, which would have introduced operating conditions, was rejected 3-2 on July 9, 2024. No proof-of-insurance condition exists in the County code for STRs.
There is no STR-specific parking rule in unincorporated Tulare County. The proposed ordinance, which would have required guest vehicles to park on the rental property and not on the street, was rejected 3-2 on July 9, 2024. Parking is governed only by general traffic and nuisance rules.
In unincorporated Tulare County, all fireworks are banned in the foothill/mountain State Responsibility Area. Only safe-and-sane fireworks are allowed on the valley floor (Local Responsibility Area), sold by permitted nonprofits during a short window around July 4. Dangerous fireworks are banned countywide. Violations are misdemeanors.
Outdoor burning of waste, rubbish, and trash is prohibited in unincorporated Tulare County. Residential yard-waste burning is generally not allowed under San Joaquin Valley air rules. In the foothills/mountains (State Responsibility Area), permitted residential and agricultural burning requires a CAL FIRE burn permit, a permissive burn day, and is suspended during fire season.
Tulare County's Fire Hazardous Weeds and Rubbish Ordinance (Chapter 4-11) declares dry weeds, grass, and combustible rubbish a public nuisance. Owners must abate them; the County Fire Chief can order abatement and, if ignored, clear the property and bill the owner via a tax lien. State law (PRC 4291) requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures.
Backyard recreational fires in unincorporated Tulare County follow the adopted 2022 California Fire Code: a wood or charcoal fire for cooking or warmth, kept small, at least 25 feet from anything combustible, attended at all times. Burning trash, rubbish, or yard waste in a backyard fire is prohibited, and the fire official can order any hazardous fire put out.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no separate smoke-alarm ordinance; requirements come from the adopted 2022 California Building/Residential Code and state law. Smoke alarms are required in each sleeping room, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of a dwelling, plus carbon monoxide alarms. The Tulare County Building (Resource Management) division enforces these at construction, sale, and remodel.
Propane (LP-gas) storage in unincorporated Tulare County is governed by the adopted 2022 California Fire Code (Chapter 61) and NFPA 58, enforced by the Tulare County Fire Chief. Small home cylinders are generally exempt, but larger tanks and aggregate storage trigger permit, clearance, and protection requirements. Permits are required for amounts above code thresholds.
Much of unincorporated Tulare County's foothills and mountains is a Cal Fire State Responsibility Area with high and very-high Fire Hazard Severity Zones — the 2020 SQF Complex (Castle) Fire burned this terrain. New CAL FIRE hazard maps reached the county in March 2025. Properties in these zones face 100-foot defensible space, ignition-resistant building standards, and hazard disclosure requirements.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no separate fire-pit ordinance; rules come from the adopted 2022 California Fire Code (Section 307). Recreational fires must be at least 25 feet from anything combustible, and portable outdoor fireplaces at least 15 feet. Burning trash or rubbish in a fire pit is prohibited.
Unincorporated Tulare County declares abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on private or public property a public nuisance under County Code Chapter 4-9, enacted under California Vehicle Code 22660-22664. The County may abate and remove them and assess administrative and removal costs against the property owner.
Building a new driveway approach onto a County-maintained road in unincorporated Tulare County requires an encroachment permit from the Resource Management Agency. Any work within the County road right-of-way must be permitted, with insurance and bond requirements. On-street, the California Vehicle Code prohibits blocking driveways.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no blanket size-based street-parking ban, but County Code 3-03-1015 prohibits parking commercial vehicles rated 10,000 pounds GVWR or more on posted roads. All vehicles, including oversized RVs and trailers, are limited to 72 hours of street storage under County Code 3-03-1000.
Unincorporated Tulare County has an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations under County Ordinance Code Chapter 7-32 (Ord. No. 3618, effective 12-29-2022), adopted to comply with California Government Code Section 65850.7. Complete applications meeting health and safety standards cannot be denied.
In unincorporated Tulare County, loading zones are designated by curb color under County Code 3-03-1126: yellow indicates a loading zone for freight or passengers, and white indicates a passenger-loading or postal-mail zone. Only the Director of Transportation may establish these markings, and parking contrary to them is unlawful.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no special county ordinance creating extra rules for parking RVs, boats, or trailers on residential streets. They are treated like any other vehicle: the general 72-hour street-storage limit (County Code 3-03-1000) applies, and storage on private property is governed by the County Zoning Ordinance.
Unincorporated Tulare County does not have a general overnight (e.g., 2 a.m.-5 a.m.) on-street parking ban. The main limit is the 72-hour street-storage rule in County Code 3-03-1000. Overnight parking can still be barred on specific roads or hours by Board resolution under Section 3-03-1125, marked with signs or curb paint.
Unincorporated Tulare County restricts parking of heavy commercial vehicles only on roads posted with signs. County Code 3-03-1015 makes it unlawful to stop, park, or leave standing a commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more on signed streets, with exceptions for deliveries, construction, and utility work (3-03-1020).
In unincorporated Tulare County, on-street parking is governed by County Ordinance Code Chapter 3 (Standing, Stopping and Parking) layered on the California Vehicle Code. The County can restrict parking on specific roads by Board resolution, marked with signs or painted curbs, and prohibits storing vehicles on streets beyond 72 hours.
Curb colors in unincorporated Tulare County are set by County Code 3-03-1126: red = no stopping/standing/parking; yellow = freight or passenger loading; white = passenger loading or postal mail; green = limited-time parking as posted; blue = disabled parking. Only the Director of Transportation may paint curbs, and parking against the markings is unlawful.
In unincorporated Tulare County, the Zoning Ordinance (Ord. 352) allows a fence or wall up to 6 feet high along side or rear lot lines. Fences in a required front yard are limited to 3.5 feet. Heights above these are governed by the County code and the California Building Code.
Tulare County's Zoning Ordinance sets fence height and placement but does not address cost-sharing between neighbors. Shared boundary fences in California are governed by the statewide Good Neighbor Fence Act (Civil Code Section 841), which presumes adjoining owners share equally in reasonable fence costs after 30 days' written notice.
Retaining walls in unincorporated Tulare County follow the adopted California Building Code. Under CBC Section 105.2, a building permit is not required for a retaining wall not over 4 feet high measured from the bottom of the footing to the top, unless it supports a surcharge. Taller walls require a permit.
Beyond general height limits, Tulare County's Zoning Ordinance imposes specific fence requirements in certain situations: commercial off-street parking lots abutting residential zones must be screened by a solid 6-foot fence or wall, and swimming pools must be enclosed by a barrier meeting building-code standards.
Tulare County's Zoning Ordinance does not prohibit common residential fence materials such as wood, vinyl, chain-link, or masonry. The only material-specific rules in County code apply to swimming-pool barriers and to required solid screening walls. General construction quality is governed by the adopted California Building Code.
Tulare County has adopted the 2022 California Building Code for its unincorporated areas. Under CBC Section 105.2, a building permit is not required for fences not over 7 feet high. Fences over 7 feet, and retaining walls over 4 feet, require a permit from the County RMA.
Common fence materials are permitted in unincorporated Tulare County. The Zoning Ordinance speaks of 'a fence or wall' without a material list, so wood, vinyl, chain-link, masonry, and iron are all generally allowed. Material-specific standards appear only for solid screening walls and swimming-pool barriers.
Beekeeping in Tulare County is regulated through apiary law, not the animal control code. Under California Food and Agricultural Code Sections 29040 onward, anyone keeping bees must register with the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner, which administers registration through the statewide BeeWhere program.
Tulare County Ordinance Code Section 4-07-5100 makes it an infraction to let livestock or equine animals stray off the owner's property, with exceptions for supervised movement along roads, lawfully fenced consenting property, and designated open range. Owners are liable for the county's capture costs.
Under Tulare County Ordinance Code Section 4-07-4005, the maximum number of adult dogs allowed on any lot without a kennel permit is four. Keeping five to twenty-five adult dogs requires a kennel permit. The code sets no specific numeric limit on cats.
Tulare County's animal control code regulates cats lightly. Chapter 4-7 defines "Cat" and addresses feral animals but imposes no county cat license, no per-household cat limit, and no leash or at-large rule for cats. Spay/neuter and general care provisions still apply.
Tulare County's animal control code does not contain a general wildlife-feeding ban. The controlling rule is California state regulation: Title 14, Section 251.3 of the California Code of Regulations prohibits knowingly feeding big-game mammals such as deer, enforced by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Tulare County does not use the word "hoarding," but it controls animal overcrowding through enforceable limits: a four-adult-dog cap without a kennel permit (Section 4-07-4005), kennel and minimum-care standards, and dangerous-animal and humane-care provisions, backed by California's animal-cruelty laws.
In unincorporated Tulare County, a dog off its owner's property must be on a leash no longer than eight feet, per Ordinance Code Section 4-07-5000. Limited exceptions cover law-enforcement work, training and competition, herding livestock, lawful hunting, and designated leash-free areas.
Tulare County's animal code does not ban or single out any dog breed. Instead, Section 4-07-6000 regulates dogs by behavior, classifying animals as "Potentially Dangerous" or "Vicious" based on conduct. There is no breed-specific legislation for unincorporated Tulare County.
Tulare County's animal control code (Chapter 4-7) treats fowl and common farm animals as livestock and domestic animals rather than banning them. The main duty is containment: under Section 4-07-5100, owners must keep livestock from straying off their property. Zoning rules also apply by district.
Tulare County's code defines "Exotic Animal" and "Wild Animal" by reference to California Fish and Game Code Sections 2116 and 2118, leaving exotic and wild species to state law and CDFW permitting. Common reptiles such as snakes, iguanas, and turtles are recognized as keepable pets.
Unincorporated Tulare County sets no uniform residential grass-height limit. Instead, Part IV, Chapter 11 (Fire Hazardous Weeds and Rubbish) lets the County Fire Chief declare overgrown grass a public nuisance when it creates a fire hazard, with mowed fuelbreaks required under the County's Hazard Abatement Program.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no general tree-removal or heritage-tree permit ordinance and no oak-woodland conservation ordinance. Removing trees on private rural property is largely unregulated, except where fire-clearance rules apply, the tree is in the road right-of-way, or removal is part of a discretionary development project subject to General Plan habitat policies.
Unincorporated Tulare County adopted its own Water Efficient Landscaping ordinance (Part VII, Chapter 31) in lieu of the State model, requiring a landscape documentation package for new development. Customers of County-run water systems also face staged outdoor-watering restrictions. Statewide SWRCB rules apply on top of these.
Tulare County has no specific ordinance restricting residential rainwater harvesting. Capturing rooftop rainwater for outdoor, non-potable use in rain barrels or cisterns is allowed under California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012, which exempts such use from the State Water Board's water-rights permit requirement.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no ordinance banning artificial turf, and California Civil Code sec. 4735 prevents HOAs from prohibiting drought-tolerant or artificial-turf landscaping. New state law (AB 1572) also phases out irrigation of nonfunctional natural turf with potable water - which can push owners toward turf alternatives.
Unincorporated Tulare County does not mandate native plants, but its Water Efficient Landscaping ordinance (Part VII, Chapter 31) promotes xeriscape and water-efficient planting for new development. The State's MWELO framework similarly encourages natives and climate-appropriate species and caps residential turf area.
Residential composting in unincorporated Tulare County is shaped mainly by California's SB 1383 organic-waste recycling law, in effect since January 1, 2022. Jurisdictions must provide organics collection, but backyard (on-site) composting is an allowed way for residents to manage their own organic waste.
Part IV, Chapter 11 of the Tulare County Ordinance Code declares weeds, grass, rank growths, and combustible rubbish that create a fire hazard on private property in the unincorporated county a public nuisance, abatable by the County Fire Chief at the owner's expense after notice.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no general tree-trimming permit for private trees, but fire-safety clearance applies: Part IV, Chapter 11 covers fire-hazard vegetation, and California PRC sec. 4291 requires limbing and clearing within defensible space in State Responsibility Areas. Trees in the County road right-of-way require an encroachment permit.
In unincorporated Tulare County, a building permit from the Resource Management Agency (RMA) is generally required to construct a swimming pool or spa. The County administers building permits under the adopted California Building Standards Codes. Small prefabricated above-ground pools are exempt from the building permit itself, but separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits still apply.
Pool barrier requirements in unincorporated Tulare County follow California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code 115922-115929), which the County enforces through its adopted building code. New or remodeled pools and spas at single-family homes must include at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention features, and an isolation enclosure must be at least 60 inches high.
Hot tubs and spas in unincorporated Tulare County are permitted through the RMA under the adopted building code. A new or remodeled spa generally triggers the California Swimming Pool Safety Act barrier and suction-outlet requirements. A self-contained spa or hot tub with a listed safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 is treated separately from full pool-barrier rules.
Unincorporated Tulare County exempts small prefabricated above-ground pools from the building permit. Per RMA's FAQ, a prefab pool accessory to a single-family (R-3) home with walls entirely above grade and a capacity not exceeding 5,000 gallons does not need a building permit, but separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits still apply, and state pool-safety rules still govern.
Pool safety in unincorporated Tulare County follows the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (HSC 115920-115929), enforced through the County's adopted building code. Beyond the barrier requirement, state law mandates anti-entrapment suction outlets on new pools and spas, and requires at least two of seven drowning-prevention features verified at RMA final inspection.
A home occupation in unincorporated Tulare County must comply with the home-occupation standards of the County Zoning Ordinance (No. 352). The use must be incidental and secondary to the residence, limit non-resident employees and household-incompatible equipment, and avoid commercial signage. Compliance and any required clearance are handled by the RMA Planning Division.
Signage for home occupations in unincorporated Tulare County is tightly limited by the County Zoning Ordinance (No. 352). A home occupation must not change the residential character of the property, which restricts outward commercial signage. Sign rules are administered by the RMA Planning Division, and any commercial sign generally requires zoning review or a permit.
Cottage food operations in unincorporated Tulare County follow the California Homemade Food Act (Health & Safety Code 113758, AB-1616). County Environmental Health registers Class A operations and permits/inspects Class B operations. State law treats compliant cottage food as an allowed home activity: Class A is capped at $75,000 and Class B at $150,000 in gross annual sales.
Family day care homes in unincorporated Tulare County are governed by California state law, which preempts local zoning. Under the Child Day Care Act (HSC 1597 et seq.; SB 234), small and large (up to 14 children) family day care homes are a residential use by right. The County cannot require a use permit or business license for one.
Home occupations in unincorporated Tulare County are regulated by the County Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 352, codified in the Tulare County Ordinance Code). A home occupation must be clearly incidental and secondary to the residential use of the dwelling and must not change the residential character of the property. The RMA Planning Division administers zoning compliance.
Home occupations in unincorporated Tulare County must not generate traffic, parking demand or deliveries beyond what is normal for a residence; significant customer visits can disqualify the use.
Carports in unincorporated Tulare County are accessory structures regulated under the County Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 352) and the California Building Code. A carport needs a building permit and zoning clearance from the Resource Management Agency and must meet its zone's setback, height, and lot-coverage rules. Converting a carport to an ADU triggers no replacement-parking requirement.
A tiny home on a permanent foundation in unincorporated Tulare County is typically permitted as an accessory dwelling unit under the County Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 352) and state ADU law. A movable tiny house on wheels is regulated as a recreational vehicle and generally cannot be used as a permanent residence. The Resource Management Agency issues permits.
In unincorporated Tulare County, ADUs and junior ADUs are ministerially permitted in residential and most agricultural-residential zones. California ADU law (Gov. Code 66310-66342) preempts local rules: HCD warned in October 2025 that the County's 2019 ADU ordinance may be outdated, in which case state standards apply directly.
Converting a garage to living space in unincorporated Tulare County is most often done as an accessory dwelling unit. California ADU law (Gov. Code 66310-66342) lets garage conversions proceed ministerially and bars the County from requiring replacement of demolished off-street parking. Any conversion still needs a building permit from the Resource Management Agency.
Sheds and other detached accessory structures in unincorporated Tulare County are regulated as accessory buildings under the County Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 352) and the California Building Code. Building permits and zoning setbacks are administered by the Resource Management Agency (RMA); small one-story sheds may be exempt from a building permit but still must meet yard and setback rules.
Outdoor barbecuing with propane or charcoal is allowed in unincorporated Tulare County and is not separately licensed for ordinary home use. Rules come from the adopted 2022 California Fire Code: keep grills a safe distance from combustibles, and in multi-family/attached settings the Fire Code restricts where open-flame grills and propane cylinders may be used and stored.
Backyard smokers (wood, pellet, charcoal, or propane) are allowed in unincorporated Tulare County for home cooking with no special permit. They are treated as cooking devices under the adopted 2022 California Fire Code, not as open burning, so the trash-burning prohibition does not apply. Keep them clear of combustibles and watch for smoke-nuisance and wildfire-season restrictions.
Setbacks in unincorporated Tulare County are set by zone in the Zoning Ordinance (Ord. 352). In R-1 and R-A residential zones, the front and rear yards are each 25% of lot depth (need not exceed 25 feet) and the side yard is 10% of lot width (minimum 3 feet, need not exceed 5 feet).
In the R-1 and R-A residential zones of unincorporated Tulare County, buildings are limited to 2.5 stories and 35 feet to the uppermost part of the roof. The Zoning Ordinance allows narrow exceptions - an extra 10 feet for homes with two 15-foot side yards, and taller limits for certain public buildings.
The Tulare County Zoning Ordinance controls buildable area through minimum lot size and required yards rather than a single maximum lot-coverage percentage. In R-1 and R-A zones, the minimum lot area is 6,000 square feet per family, and accessory buildings may occupy no more than 25% of a required rear yard.
In unincorporated Tulare County, visual blight is a public nuisance under the Public Nuisance Ordinance (County Code Chapter 4-1). Accumulated junk, trash, debris, scrap, inoperable vehicles, and abandoned appliances on a property can be ordered abated, with costs liened against the parcel if the owner does not comply.
In unincorporated Tulare County, every occupied premises must have fly-tight, waterproof, covered garbage cans (or an approved fly-tight pit) that are emptied weekly. County Code section 4-03-1130 requires cans to be removed from the street within 24 hours after emptying, and they may not be left in a County or public right-of-way.
Unincorporated Tulare County does not have a stand-alone vacant-lot ordinance, but vacant parcels are covered by the Public Nuisance Ordinance (Ch. 4-1) and the Fire Hazardous Weeds and Rubbish Ordinance (Ch. 4-11). Owners must keep lots free of accumulated junk, illegally dumped waste, attractive nuisances, and fire-hazard weeds and rubbish.
Unincorporated Tulare County regulates weeds by fire hazard, not by a fixed inch-height. County Code Chapter 4-11 declares weeds, grass, rank growth and combustible rubbish that create a fire hazard a public nuisance. The County Fire Chief can order abatement, and uncorrected hazards become an infraction with abatement costs liened to the parcel.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no fetched stand-alone garage-sale ordinance setting a permit fee or a fixed number of sale days. Occasional residential yard sales are treated as an incidental residential use; sales must not create blight, dumping, or signs that become a public nuisance under County Code Chapter 4-1.
Unincorporated Tulare County uses an exclusive franchise-hauler system. County Code section 4-03-1150 requires the owner of every occupied premises to subscribe to and use regularly scheduled collection with the County franchise hauler. The Board of Supervisors sets the rates, and cans must be emptied weekly.
In unincorporated Tulare County, County Code section 4-03-1130 requires garbage cans to be removed from the street within 24 hours after emptying and bars placing them in a County or other public right-of-way. Cans must be fly-tight, waterproof and covered, and emptied weekly.
Unincorporated Tulare County requires franchise haulers to provide bulky-item service. Under County Code section 4-03-1147, the hauler must schedule on-call bulk-waste pickup upon a customer's request, and section 4-03-1146 requires Community Cleanups at least twice a year, with a goal of diverting 50% of collected materials.
Unincorporated Tulare County requires source separation of recyclables. County Code Chapter 4-3, Article 13 (implementing California SB 1383 and AB 1826) enrolls single-family, multifamily and commercial generators in three-cart service: recyclables go in the blue container only, and contaminating a cart is unlawful.
Unincorporated Tulare County mandates organic-waste recycling under County Code Chapter 4-3, Article 13, which implements California SB 1383. Single-family and commercial generators must subscribe to green-container organics service and put food scraps and yard waste in the green cart; food waste in the trash is prohibited.
Political signs on private property in unincorporated Tulare County are governed by the County Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 352) and California law. Posting campaign signs on County property, poles, trees, or structures is prohibited by County Code section 2-09-1005. Along state highways, temporary political signs must follow Business and Professions Code section 5405.3.
Tulare County does not publish a dedicated garage-sale-sign ordinance. Temporary garage-sale and directional signs in unincorporated areas are limited by the County Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 352) sign standards, and County Code section 2-09-1005 prohibits attaching them to poles, trees, or any County property. Off-premise signs near state highways are restricted by the Outdoor Advertising Act.
Unincorporated Tulare County does not have a standalone dark-sky ordinance, but its General Plan 2030 sets outdoor-lighting policy. Policy LU-7.19 requires lighting in residential areas and along County roads to be designed so artificial light does not reflect into adjacent natural or open-space areas unless required for public safety, and the County implements this through land-development standards.
Unincorporated Tulare County controls light trespass through General Plan policies and nuisance enforcement rather than a numeric light-trespass ordinance. Policy LU-7.18 requires park and recreation lighting to avoid nuisance light and glare spillage onto adjoining homes, and LU-7.19 limits light reflecting into adjacent areas. Glare and spillover are addressed as project conditions and potential nuisances.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Tulare County ordinances.