Pop. 141,384 · Tulare County
Visalia's STR ordinance addresses parking requirements. Operators must ensure adequate parking for guests to avoid impacting neighbors.
Visalia requires STR operators to collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on all short-term stays. The city charges TOT on rentals of 30 days or less.
Since December 6, 2023, every short-term rental in Visalia must hold a city-issued STR permit, a Business Tax Certificate, and operate only in the habitable interior of a primary dwelling. Garages, ADUs, RVs, tents and other accessory structures are prohibited as STRs.
Visalia requires every short-term rental operator to submit proof of insurance covering the STR use as part of the permit application under MC 17.32.166. The city does not publish a fixed dollar minimum, so operators should confirm acceptable coverage with the Community Development Department before applying.
Visalia caps overnight STR occupancy at two persons per bedroom plus one. A studio is limited to 3 guests; a 4-bedroom STR to 9; a 6-bedroom STR to 13. Weddings, parties, receptions and other assemblies separate from lodging are prohibited.
Visalia STRs have mandatory quiet hours: no outdoor activity (pools, hot tubs, courts, play equipment) between 10 PM and 6 AM, and no amplified or reproduced sound audible from outside between 7 PM and 6 AM. The owner must abate disturbances immediately.
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 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.
Visalia requires vehicles to be parked on improved surfaces. Parking on unimproved areas like grass or dirt in residential zones is prohibited.
Visalia Municipal Code 10.16.210 prohibits parking commercial vehicles with an unladen weight over 5,000 pounds in residential districts, except briefly for loading or unloading.
Visalia has no blanket citywide overnight parking ban, but Visalia Municipal Code 10.16.190 authorizes the City Manager to post 'all-night parking prohibited' zones, and downtown public lots and parking structures have their own posted hours.
Visalia prohibits parking any vehicle on a public street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours, and recent 2024 amendments now require vehicles to be moved at least 1,000 feet to count as a relocation.
RVs, travel trailers, and boats cannot be stored on a Visalia public street under the 72-hour rule, and a December 2024 amendment added stiff penalties and a 1,000-foot relocation requirement; living in a parked RV is separately banned citywide.
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.
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.
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.
Visalia Municipal Code section 15.40.020 requires a 'no fee' permit from the City Building Department before any fence is erected, altered, or moved. The Fence Ordinance applies to all fences in the city that are six feet or less in height; taller walls and fences are regulated under the California Building Code.
Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.36 allows fences to be built of any generally acceptable material in residential zones, but barbed wire and electrically charged fences are specifically prohibited in R-A, R-1, and R-M zones. Commercial frontage fences and required buffer walls have additional material standards.
Visalia zoning permits standard residential fence materials (wood, vinyl, masonry, ornamental metal, chain link). Barbed wire, razor wire and electrified fencing are generally prohibited in residential zones.
California law does not require neighbor consent to build a fence, but fences must be within property lines. California's Good Neighbor Fence Act may require shared costs for boundary fences.
Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.36 caps residential fences, walls, and hedges at 7 feet in height in side and rear yards. Within a required front yard or street-side yard on a corner or cul-de-sac lot, the limit drops to 3 feet (or 4 feet if the top foot is at least 50% open in R-A zones).
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.
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act in Health and Safety Code Section 115920 mandates statewide drowning prevention barriers around residential pools, with cities prohibited from adopting weaker standards.
Above-ground pools in Visalia must meet the same safety barrier requirements as in-ground pools. Pools over 18 inches deep require barriers.
Visalia requires all residential pools to have safety barriers per California Building Code. Fences must be at least 60 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates.
Visalia enforces California pool safety laws including barrier requirements, anti-entrapment drains, and permit/inspection requirements for construction.
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.
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.
Visalia limits construction noise in residential areas to daytime hours. Construction activities are generally permitted between 7 AM and 7 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays.
Visalia regulates noise under Municipal Code Section 8.36. The city establishes exterior and interior noise level standards with stricter limits during nighttime hours in residential areas.
Visalia prohibits dogs that bark excessively and disturb neighbors. Animal Control investigates complaints and may cite owners of persistently barking dogs.
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.
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.
Visalia requires dogs to be on a leash or under direct control when off the owner's property. Dogs running at large are subject to impoundment.
Visalia's official Animal Services Licensing page requires every dog and cat over four months of age residing in the city to be licensed but does not publish a numeric per-household pet limit; California Food and Agricultural Code section 30951 establishes the underlying state license/identification requirement.
Under Visalia Municipal Code section 17.12.020, livestock keeping (excluding pigs) is permitted in the R-1-20 zone subject to a cap of two cows, two horses, four sheep, or four goats per site on smaller parcels; keeping is generally not allowed in standard residential zones, and the Visalia City Council declined to expand backyard-chicken allowances in May 2023.
Visalia has no breed-specific dog ordinance because California Food and Agricultural Code section 31683 prohibits cities from regulating any specific dog breed under their dangerous-dog programs; the only narrow exception, in Health and Safety Code section 122331, permits breed-specific mandatory spay-or-neuter and breeding-permit programs (which Visalia has not enacted).
Visalia allows beekeeping subject to conditions on hive placement and management. Bees must not create a nuisance for neighbors.
Visalia and California state law restrict ownership of many exotic animals. Permits are required for certain species and many dangerous wild animals are prohibited.
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.
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.
Visalia treats carports as accessory structures under Title 17 zoning. Most accessory structures must observe the same front, side, and rear setbacks as the main dwelling, but carports receive a special allowance: they may be located on a side property line and as close as 5 feet from the rear property line, subject to review by the Planning Director.
California Government Code §65852.2(a)(6) prohibits using ADUs and JADUs as short-term rentals of fewer than 30 days. Visalia goes further: VMC §17.32.166 (effective December 6, 2023) expressly prohibits ADUs, garages, tents, camper trailers, RVs, and other exterior structures from being used as short-term rentals or as bedrooms within an STR. Long-term rentals of 30+ days are permitted with no additional Visalia license requirement for the ADU itself.
Visalia reviews ADU applications ministerially under Visalia Municipal Code (VMC) Chapter 17.32, Article 2 (Accessory Dwelling Units), consistent with California Government Code §65852.2. No public hearing or discretionary review is required for compliant applications. Plan review is conducted locally by the Community Development Department; the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) sets statewide minimum standards but does not review individual Visalia permits.
Visalia cannot charge impact fees on ADUs under 750 square feet under California Government Code §65852.2(f)(3)(A), which preempts local fee schedules. For ADUs 750 sf and larger, impact fees must be charged proportionally to the size of the primary dwelling. Visalia's standard impact fees fund streets, parks, fire, and public facilities and are collected at building permit issuance.
Under California AB 587 (codified at Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6)), Visalia could not impose owner-occupancy requirements on ADUs permitted between January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2025. AB 976 (2023) made the prohibition permanent, so Visalia may not require owner-occupancy on any ADU permitted on or after January 1, 2020. Junior ADUs (JADUs) still require owner-occupancy of either the primary unit or the JADU under Gov. Code §65852.22.
Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 17.14 (adopted by City Council on January 21, 2025) regulates ADUs ministerially under California Gov. Code 66310-66342, allowing attached or detached units up to 1,200 sq ft and 16 ft tall (18 ft near transit or on multi-family parcels), with 4 ft side and rear setbacks. Owner-occupancy is not required.
Visalia MC section 17.12.020 permits accessory structures on R-1 single-family lots, including storehouses, garden structures, greenhouses, recreation rooms, and hobby shops. California Building Code Section 105.2 (Title 24, Part 2) exempts one-story detached tool/storage sheds 120 sq ft or less from building permits, but Visalia zoning setbacks and the 35-foot R-1 height cap still apply.
Visalia MC section 17.14.060(B) recognizes a stand-alone garage converted into an ADU as a Detached ADU, and 17.14.080(C)(1)(c) waives off-street parking for ADUs that are part of an existing primary residence or existing accessory structure. Section 17.14.080(C)(4) further provides that if a garage is demolished or converted in conjunction with an ADU, replacement parking is not required.
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.
Backyard recreational burning is constrained by VMC Chapter 8.44 (open burning) and the 2022 California Fire Code adopted at VMC 8.20.010. Wood-fueled recreational fires must comply with California Fire Code §307 setbacks (25 ft from a structure; 15 ft for portable outdoor fireplaces), and SJVAPCD's Check Before You Burn rules govern residential wood burning November-February.
Under VMC Chapter 8.56, Visalia Fire's Prevention Division enforces weed and debris abatement on vacant and developed parcels. Grass and weeds must be kept under 3 inches; failure to comply leads to administrative fees and city abatement at the owner's expense, becoming a lien on the property.
Visalia permits California State Fire Marshal-approved Safe and Sane fireworks (those bearing the official Fire Marshal seal). Any firework that flies, darts, or explodes is illegal; first-offense fines for illegal fireworks start at $2,000.
Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 8.44 prohibits most open burning. Burning of trash, plastic, demolition material, treated wood, and most cut vegetation is banned, and any allowed burn must comply with the California Fire Code and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District rules.
Residential fire pits in Visalia must follow California Fire Code §307 setbacks (25 ft open recreational fire; 15 ft portable outdoor fireplace) and VMC 8.44 prohibitions on unsupervised, roaring, or smoke-nuisance fires. Fires are banned in Visalia parks except in designated charcoal BBQ grills for cooking (VMC 12.32.105).
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.
Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 8.56 (Property Maintenance) governs weeds, overgrowth, junk, and trash on private property. Complaints are taken by the Visalia Fire Department Prevention Division's 24-hour hotline at 559-713-4207, after which Fire Prevention inspects and pursues abatement under Chapter 8.56.
Visalia does not publish a single numeric grass-height limit, but Chapter 8.56 of the Visalia Municipal Code (Property Maintenance) treats overgrown weeds, grass, and rubbish on private property as a public nuisance and the Visalia Fire Department Prevention Division enforces it via a 24-hour hotline (559-713-4207). Stage 2 watering restrictions (Ch. 13.20) limit how often residential lawns can be irrigated, so most homes keep grass short by necessity.
Under Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 12.20 (Street Tree Ordinance), the adjoining property owner is responsible for watering and trimming the street tree in front of their property and must keep it pruned to at least 14 feet over any street or alley and at least 8 feet over any parkway or sidewalk. All street trees must be pruned to ANSI A300 standards, and 'topping' (severe cutback of limbs larger than three inches inside the canopy) is prohibited without authorization from the Director of Public Works.
Visalia operates under a permanent Stage 2 Water Alert: sprinkler irrigation is allowed only twice a week (Wednesday/Sunday for even-numbered addresses, Tuesday/Saturday for odd) between March 1 and November 30, only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., and is banned entirely Mondays/Thursdays/Fridays. All sprinkler watering is prohibited city-wide from December 1 through the end of February each year.
Under Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 12.24 - as amended August 4, 2025 by Ordinance No. 2025-06 - any person who wants to destroy or remove an oak tree on public property with a trunk diameter of 18 inches or greater (measured at 4.5 feet above the root crown) must first apply to the City and obtain a removal permit; the application is free. The 2025 amendment removed the permit requirement for oak trees on private property, but pruning oak limbs 10 inches or greater in diameter still requires advance Intent-to-Prune notice from public agencies.
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.
Visalia restricts customer visits to home-based businesses. Home occupations should not generate traffic beyond normal residential levels.
Visalia allows home occupations in residential zones under specific conditions. The business must be secondary to residential use with no visible exterior changes.
Visalia prohibits exterior business signage for home occupations in residential areas. The property must maintain a residential appearance.
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.
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.
Visalia does not regulate decorative lawn ornaments, statuary, or year-round yard decorations on private property. VMC Chapter 8.40 (Nuisances) requires yards to be free of debris, junk vehicles, and other genuinely blighting conditions, but ornamental items in good repair are permitted. Front-yard structures over height limits in the Development Code are subject to accessory structure rules in VMC Title 17. HOA architectural review committees impose the most common restrictions in master-planned communities.
Visalia distinguishes between residential holiday inflatables and commercial inflatables. Residential holiday inflatables on private property are treated as exempt holiday decorations under VMC Chapter 17.48. Commercial inflatable portable signs, however, may only be displayed on Saturdays and Sundays under VMC §17.48.110, and air-activated graphics and blimps designed to attract attention are prohibited in all zoning districts under VMC §17.48.040.
Visalia does not have a specific ordinance regulating residential holiday light displays. Display dates, brightness, and decorative content are not regulated by the City. VMC §17.48 (Signs) expressly exempts holiday and cultural observance decorations, including strings of lights, from sign permit requirements provided they do not include commercial advertising. General noise and nuisance provisions still apply if amplified music or glare creates a disturbance.
Visalia does not have a specific ordinance regulating backyard smokers or wood-fired ovens by time of day. Use is governed by VMC §8.44.050 (Outdoor cooking fires), the general nuisance provisions of VMC Chapter 8.40 (Nuisances), the City's noise standards, and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) Rule 4901, which restricts residential wood burning on declared 'No Burn' days during November through February — although cooking appliances are generally exempt.
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Visalia require building, electrical, plumbing, and gas permits issued by the Visalia Building Safety Division under VMC Title 8 (Buildings) and VMC Title 16, which adopt the California Building Code, California Electrical Code, California Plumbing Code, and California Mechanical Code. Portable propane grills sitting on an existing patio do not require permits.
Visalia enforces the California Fire Code (CFC) as adopted in VMC Chapter 8.20 (California Fire Code) and regulates outdoor cooking fires under VMC §8.44.050. Under CFC §308.1.4 (the California amended version of IFC §308.1.4), charcoal grills and open-flame cooking devices may not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction at multi-family buildings. Single- and two-family dwellings, sprinklered buildings, and small disposable 1-lb LPG cylinders are exempted.
Visalia participates in the NFIP and regulates development in FEMA flood zones. Properties in the floodplain must meet elevation requirements and obtain floodplain development permits.
The California Coastal Act, Public Resources Code sections 30000 through 30900, requires Coastal Development Permits for nearly all work in the coastal zone and gives the Coastal Commission appeal jurisdiction over local decisions.
California Water Code sections 13260 and 13383 implement the federal Clean Water Act through statewide MS4 NPDES permits issued by the State and Regional Water Boards, binding all municipal stormwater dischargers uniformly.
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.
Unincorporated Tulare County has no general tree-removal permit ordinance, no heritage-tree program, and no oak-woodland conservation ordinance. Permits arise only for trees in the County road right-of-way (encroachment permit) or where tree retention is a condition of a discretionary development permit under General Plan habitat policies.
California provides statewide protections for native oak woodlands and heritage trees through CEQA review, Public Resources Code, and Forest Practice Rules that apply uniformly.
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.
Commercial drone operations in California follow uniform federal rules under 14 CFR Part 107 plus statewide California provisions in Civil Code 1708.8 and Public Utilities Code 21401, with local rules limited to ground-based regulation.
Recreational drone flight in California is governed primarily by FAA regulations under 14 CFR Part 107 and 49 USC 44809, with state-level rules added by Civil Code 1708.8 and Government Code 853 applying uniformly statewide.
California sets a statewide minimum wage floor under Labor Code 1182.12, currently $16.50 per hour for all employers as of 2025. Local governments are not preempted and may set higher minimums; many cities exceed the state rate substantially.
California's Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act under Labor Code 245-249 mandates paid sick leave for nearly all employees statewide. SB 616 (2023) raised the minimum to 40 hours or five days annually effective January 2024, applying universally.
California regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant standards, preempting local variations on issuance criteria and qualifications.
California preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However, local governments retain limited authority over discharge, sensitive places, and zoning of gun businesses.
California broadly prohibits open carry of firearms statewide under Penal Code 25850 (loaded firearms in public) and Penal Code 26350 (open carry of unloaded handguns). The prohibition applies uniformly across all California cities and counties without local variation.
California prohibits carrying loaded firearms in vehicles statewide under Penal Code 25400 and 25850. Unloaded handguns transported in private vehicles must be in a locked container or the vehicle's locked trunk; long guns must be unloaded but need not be locked.
California Retail Food Code (Health and Safety Code 113700-114437) sets uniform mobile food facility permit, equipment, and food safety standards enforced by counties statewide.
California's Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946) preempts most local bans on sidewalk vending, allowing only objective health, safety, and welfare regulations.
California HOAs may levy regular and special assessments, charge late fees and interest, record liens, and ultimately foreclose on delinquent owners under the Davis-Stirling Act. State law (Civil Code sections 5650-5740) caps fees and interest and imposes strict notice steps and a delinquency threshold before any foreclosure may proceed.
California tightly regulates HOA governance. The Common Interest Development Open Meeting Act (Civil Code 4900-4955) governs board meetings and member access, sections 5100-5145 mandate secret-ballot elections with independent inspectors, and sections 5200-5240 give members broad rights to inspect association records.
California HOAs enforce recorded CC&Rs and architectural rules, but Civil Code section 4765 requires architectural decisions to be fair, reasonable, and in good faith, and sections 5900-5965 require internal dispute resolution plus an attempt at alternative dispute resolution before most enforcement lawsuits can be filed.
California HOAs may fine members for rule violations, but only under a published schedule of fines and after strict due-process steps. Civil Code section 5855 requires written notice and a hearing before any monetary penalty, and section 5725 bars fines from becoming a foreclosable lien on the home.
California overrides HOA governing documents on several owner protections. The Davis-Stirling Act and related Civil Code sections bar HOAs from prohibiting solar systems, U.S. flag displays, drought-tolerant landscaping, EV charging stations, and most noncommercial signs, even where local city rules are silent.
California prohibits state and local governments from requiring private employers to use the federal E-Verify system except where federal law mandates it, under Government Code 7285.1 and 7285.3. The restriction applies uniformly to every California city and county.
The California Values Act (SB 54, 2017) codified at Government Code 7284-7284.12 limits state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It applies uniformly to every California agency and bars participation in most civil immigration enforcement.
California evictions run through the unlawful detainer process. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 1161, nonpayment requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit (excluding weekends and holidays), and lease violations require a 3-day notice to cure or quit. No-fault terminations of covered tenancies require 30, 60, or 90 days. Self-help lockouts are illegal.
California landlords must keep rentals fit to live in. Civil Code §§ 1941 and 1941.1, reinforced by Green v. Superior Court, imply a warranty of habitability covering plumbing, heat, water, electricity, and sanitation. If repairs fail after notice, a tenant may repair and deduct up to one month's rent under § 1942 or withhold rent.
Civil Code 1946.2 requires landlords statewide to have just cause to terminate tenancies of qualifying tenants who have lived in a covered unit at least 12 months.
California Civil Code § 1954 limits when a landlord may enter a rented home. Except in emergencies, abandonment, or with tenant consent, the landlord must give reasonable written notice (24 hours is presumed reasonable) and may enter only during normal business hours, for specific permitted reasons such as repairs, inspections, or showings.
California sets no fixed dollar or percentage cap on rent late fees, but a late fee in a residential lease is treated as liquidated damages. Under Civil Code § 1671, such a fee is valid only if it reasonably estimates the landlord's actual loss from late payment; arbitrary penalty fees are unenforceable.
To end a California month-to-month tenancy, a tenant gives 30 days' written notice. A landlord gives 30 days if the tenant has lived there under a year, or 60 days if a year or more, under Civ. Code § 1946.1. AB 1482 requires just cause after 12 months; military and DV tenants may exit early.
California limits annual rent increases statewide to 5% plus the local change in the cost of living, capped at 10%, under the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB-1482). It also lets cities and counties enact their own stricter rent-control ordinances, subject to the limits of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.
California requires written notice before raising a month-to-month tenant's rent. Under Civ. Code § 827, increases of 10% or less in 12 months need 30 days' notice; increases above 10% need 90 days' notice. AB 1482 separately caps yearly increases on covered units.
As of July 1, 2024, California landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of whether the unit is furnished. The deposit, minus any lawful deductions, must be returned with an itemized statement within 21 days after move-out, or the landlord risks penalties of up to twice the deposit.
California adverse possession requires five years of continuous, open, hostile possession AND payment of all property taxes during that period under Code of Civil Procedure § 325. A squatter or trespasser who has not paid taxes gains no ownership and can be removed by unlawful detainer, ejectment, or a police trespass action.
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act), Government Code 51200-51297.4, allows landowners to enter contracts with counties restricting land to agricultural use for ten-year minimum terms in exchange for reduced property tax assessment based on farming income.
The California Right to Farm Act under Civil Code 3482.5 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits brought by neighbors who moved in after farming began. The law applies statewide and limits both private and local government nuisance actions.
California prohibits grocery stores and large retailers from providing single-use plastic carryout bags under Public Resources Code 42280-42288, enacted by SB 270 (2014) and ratified as Proposition 67 in 2016. Recycled paper or reusable bags require a 10-cent minimum charge.
California restricts expanded polystyrene food containers statewide through SB 54 (2022) packaging requirements under Public Resources Code 42040-42081. The law mandates that polystyrene foodware achieve 25 percent recycling by 2025 or face statewide sales prohibition.
California Public Resources Code 42270-42273, enacted by AB 1884 (2018), prohibits full-service restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless requested by the customer. The on-request rule applies uniformly to dine-in restaurants statewide.
Civil Code section 714 voids HOA covenants and rules that prohibit or unreasonably restrict residential solar energy systems, preempting private and local restrictions.
California's Solar Rights Act and the SolarAPP+ mandate (SB 379) require expedited permit review of small residential solar systems, preempting restrictive local processes.
California prohibits sale of tobacco and vapor products to anyone under 21 statewide under Business and Professions Code 22958, enacted by SBX2-7 in 2016. The Tobacco 21 standard applies uniformly across all California jurisdictions.
California bans retail sale of most flavored tobacco products statewide under Health and Safety Code 104559.5, enacted by SB 793 (2020) and upheld by voters via Proposition 31 in November 2022. The ban applies uniformly to all California retailers.
California requires statewide licensing of tobacco and vape retailers under the STAKE Act and the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act. Business and Professions Code 22970 establishes uniform retailer licensing, while local governments may adopt stricter rules.