Tulare County, CA Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2022 California Plumbing Code
- Based on
- 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code
- Inspecting official
- Resource Management Agency Director
- Well conflict rule
- County Chapter 13 controls over Plumbing Code
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under § 125
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Tulare County only
Summary
Tulare County adopts the 2022 California Plumbing Code, based on the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, for all unincorporated territory under Ordinance Code § 7-15-1565. Well-location rules in Chapter 13 override the plumbing code where they conflict, and unpermitted plumbing work is a misdemeanor under § 7-15-1600.
Except as otherwise provided in this Article, the code entitled 2022 California Plumbing Code, based on the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, found in Title 24, California Code of Regulations, Part 5, together with appendices thereto, as published by the International Code Council, as adopted and modified by the State Building Standards Code by the State Building Standards Commission pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 17922, and as amended by the provisions of this Ordinance Code, is hereby referred to, adopted and made a part of this Article with the same effect as if fully set forth herein and is hereby adopted as the Plumbing Code of the County of Tulare, and all the provisions thereof shall apply to all of the unincorporated territory of the County of Tulare.
Full Breakdown
Section 7-15-1565 adopts the 2022 California Plumbing Code, found in Title 24, Part 5 of the California Code of Regulations and based on the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code, as the Plumbing Code of the County of Tulare, applicable to all unincorporated territory. ' Section 7-15-1575 carves out an exception: where the Plumbing Code's minimum distance rules for wells conflict with the county's own well-location standards in Part IV, Chapter 13 (commencing at § 4-13-1000), the county's well chapter controls. Section 7-15-1590 limits the Article's application to buildings and structures already subject to the California Building Code, though an otherwise-exempt owner who voluntarily applies for a plumbing permit becomes bound by the Plumbing Code and this Article from that point forward.
Permit, inspection and appeal fees are set by Board of Supervisors resolution under § 7-15-1585. As with all of Chapter 15, this Article reaches only the unincorporated area; plumbing work inside Visalia, Tulare, Porterville or Dinuba is permitted by that city.
Violations & Fines
Installing, removing, altering, repairing or replacing plumbing, gas or drainage piping, fixtures, or water heating and treating equipment in violation of the adopted Plumbing Code or Article 11 is a misdemeanor under § 7-15-1600, punishable under § 125 of the Ordinance Code, with a separate offense charged for each day the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plumbing code applies in unincorporated Tulare County?
Does a private well change the plumbing rules?
What is the penalty for plumbing work without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tulare County
California rules heatmap·Compare Tulare County to another location·View the California building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.