Tulare County, CA Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Chapter 27 of the Ordinance Code (Flood Damage Prevention) applies only to "all areas of special flood hazards within the jurisdiction of the County of Tulare" under Section 7-27-1015, meaning it governs unincorporated land only; a Visalia, Tulare, Porterville or Dinuba address falls under that city's own flood code, not the county's. The special flood hazard areas are based on the Flood Insurance Study for Tulare County dated September 29, 1986, and its accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps, kept on file at the County Public Works Department, per Section 7-27-1020.

Before any construction or development starts in one of those zones, Section 7-27-1090 requires a Building Permit obtained under Chapter 15 of the Ordinance Code, with an application showing spot ground elevations at building corners and 20-foot intervals (or one-foot contours), the location of water supply and sewer utilities, the base flood elevation if available, the location of any regulatory floodway, and the proposed elevation of the lowest floor in relation to mean sea level. The Planning and Development Director and Public Works Director are jointly appointed as Floodplain Administrators under Section 7-27-1095 to grant or deny these permits.

Section 7-27-1025 further states that no structure or land may be constructed, located, extended, converted or altered without full compliance with these regulations and the California Building Code, and that violating any requirement is a misdemeanor; the Public Works Director may take lawful action to prevent or remedy a violation. Any structure not in full compliance is separately declared a public nuisance under Section 7-27-1370.