Fence Regulations in Tulare, CA (2026)
6 verified fence regulations for Tulare, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Tulare Municipal Code § 10.16.160 caps fences at 4 feet in the required front yard (and street-side yard of corner lots) and 7 feet in side/rear yards. Walls taller than 7 feet require Planning Commission approval, typically only granted to mitigate noise impacts identified in the Tulare General Plan.
Fence height limits in Tulare
Some RestrictionsPermit Requirements
A building/zoning permit is generally required in the City of Tulare for fences over 6 feet or for masonry/retaining walls; pool barrier fences must meet the California Building Code. Standard residential fences at the height limit may be permit-exempt.
Fences: Permits
Some RestrictionsNeighbor Fence Rules
Tulare does not have a city-level shared-fence ordinance — California Civil Code § 841 (the Good Neighbor Fence Act) governs. Adjoining owners are presumed to share equally in the reasonable cost of building, maintaining, or replacing a boundary fence, after 30 days' written notice.
Shared boundary fences and neighbor disputes
Some RestrictionsRetaining Walls
Tulare follows the California Building Code: retaining walls 4 feet or less in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) are exempt from a building permit — unless they support a surcharge or impound Class I, II, or III-A liquids. Walls over 4 feet require engineered plans and a building permit.
Retaining wall permit thresholds
Some RestrictionsPool Barriers
Tulare Municipal Code § 10.16.160 sets a 5-foot minimum pool fence height; California Health & Safety Code § 115922 (Swimming Pool Safety Act) imposes the stricter standard of a 60-inch barrier plus at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention safety features for any new or remodeled residential pool or spa.
Pool fence and barrier requirements
Heavy RestrictionsApproved Materials
Tulare Municipal Code § 10.16.160 specifies that front-yard fences must have a see-through top foot (wrought iron or similar). Masonry fences over 3 feet require engineered footings and a building permit; any fence over 7 feet requires engineered post footings and a permit regardless of material.
Fence materials and permit thresholds
Some RestrictionsLooking for Tulare County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tulare city rules.
Fence Regulations in Tulare County →