Tulare County, CA Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements (2026)

Tulare County does not run a standalone fence-permit program; instead, fence permitting follows the building code it has adopted. Ordinance Code Section 7-15-1066 adopts the 2022 California Building Code (CBC) for all unincorporated territory (Ord. No. 3618, effective 12-29-2022), and Section 7-15-1067 makes the Resource Management Agency Director responsible for enforcing it. CBC Section 105.2 ('Work exempt from permit') lists 'Fences not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high' as exempt, so an ordinary residential fence at or below 7 feet generally needs no building permit. Item 4 of the same section exempts 'Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.' A permit exemption does not waive zoning rules: the fence must still comply with the height and location limits in Section 15 of the Zoning Ordinance (6 feet along side/rear lot lines; 3.5 feet in a required front yard). Always confirm current requirements with the Tulare County RMA Building Division before construction, since pool-barrier fences and electrified or barbed-wire fences may carry separate requirements.