Tulare County, CA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA), Permit Center / Building & Code Compliance

Street address

Government Plaza (RMA Headquarters), 5961 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93277; permit center branch office in Porterville at 346 N. Porter Road

Phone

(559) 624-7000 (Permit Center/planner inquiries); (559) 624-7104 (inspection requests)

Coverage

County permits are for unincorporated Tulare County projects (for example, county ADU plans are offered for use in unincorporated areas and city residents are directed to city governments).

Online portal

Citizen Self Service (CSS)

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Tulare County

By law, building permits and inspections are required for new construction, additions, remodeling, and most repairs or alterations.

Scope of work

Permit?

One-story detached buildings under 120 sq ft

Exempt

Fences 6 ft or shorter

Exempt

Oil derricks

Exempt

Movable cases, counters, or partitions under 5 ft 9 in

Exempt

Retaining walls under 4 ft when not carrying extra load or hazardous liquids

Exempt

Small water tanks, certain walkways or platforms, painting, wallpaper or finish work, temporary movie or theater sets, specific window awning limits, and other minor categories listed in the county FAQ

Exempt

Exempt One-story detached buildings under 120 sq ft
Exempt Fences 6 ft or shorter
Exempt Oil derricks
Exempt Movable cases, counters, or partitions under 5 ft 9 in
Exempt Retaining walls under 4 ft when not carrying extra load or hazardous liquids
Exempt Small water tanks, certain walkways or platforms, painting, wallpaper or finish work, temporary movie or theater sets, specific window awning limits, and other minor categories listed in the county FAQ

Note: Even when a building permit is not required, plumbing, electrical, or mechanical permits can still be required, and exemptions do not eliminate other code requirements.

Required documents

3 plot plans (buildings, well/septic, setbacks, APN)
2 complete sets of building plans (foundation, framing, floor plan, elevations, roof plan, cross sections, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, engineering, Title-24 energy calculations)
Additional driveway or road plans in State Responsibility Area

Building code: 2025 California Building Codes (Administrative, Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Fire, etc.); permit review uses county-adopted California Building Codes.
Permit validity: Not clearly stated on available county pages.
Owner-builder: Only the property owner or a licensed contractor can be issued a permit; homeowners may obtain permits but become Contractor of Record.
Contractor requirements: Contractors applying through CSS must have their license verified by Building staff.

Source: Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA), Permit Center / Building & Code Compliance ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No publicly posted standard permit-processing-time SLA was found. Permit-related help pages repeatedly direct applicants to call Permit Center for schedule, cost, and status details.

01

Confirm project eligibility early by speaking with an RMA planner. Call (559) 624-7000.
02

Start permit application in the CSS portal: create an account, verify email, and submit project details and location.
03

For full permits, upload required site plan, construction plans, engineering, and energy calculations.
04

Submit required plans and plansets, including plot plans and complete building plans.
05

Pay required permit and scope-related fees, then request inspections.
06

Do not start work until the permit is issued; the permit holder requests inspections and provides approved plans on site.

Typical processing time: No publicly posted standard permit-processing-time SLA was found. Permit-related help pages repeatedly direct applicants to call Permit Center for schedule, cost, and status details.

Source: Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA), Permit Center / Building & Code Compliance ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Tulare County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$154.00 minimum submittal fee for most building permit submittals.

Plan check fee

Building permit schedule includes separate plan check and inspection charges per project class.

Permit fee formula

Published fee schedule uses project- and scope-based fees, including permit-type tiers and an SB1473 Building Standards Administration Special fee that increases by $1.00 per $25,000 valuation band above $100,000.

Reinspection fee

Schedule includes reinspection and per-interval inspection charges.

County contact sources mention payment by check or credit card, with card convenience fee references in FAQ context; call for current details.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

TCPermits (online)
(559) 624-7104 (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Inspection request information also appears as 24/7 phone availability, with some county pages noting same-day routing windows depending on time of call.
Inspection hours: Permit Center service hours shown as Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Typical sequence: Typical sequence: permit issued, permit holder requests inspections, work for each phase is completed before inspection request, conditions from other departments are satisfied, and final inspection must be passed before occupancy.

Source: Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA), Permit Center / Building & Code Compliance ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Tulare County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Tulare County, CA? ▸

By law, building permits and inspections are required for new construction, additions, remodeling, and most repairs or alterations.

02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Tulare County, CA? ▸

Building permit fees in unincorporated Tulare County, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $154.00 minimum submittal fee for most building permit submittals.. Fees are calculated as: Published fee schedule uses project- and scope-based fees, including permit-type tiers and an SB1473 Building Standards Administration Special fee that increases by $1.00 per $25,000 valuation band above $100,000.. Plan check fee: Building permit schedule includes separate plan check and inspection charges per project class..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Tulare County, CA? ▸

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Tulare County, CA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm project eligibility early by speaking with an RMA planner. Call (559) 624-7000. 2. Start permit application in the CSS portal: create an account, verify email, and submit project details and location. 3. For full permits, upload required site plan, construction plans, engineering, and energy calculations. 4. Submit required plans and plansets, including plot plans and complete building plans. 5. Pay required permit and scope-related fees, then request inspections. 6. Do not start work until the permit is issued; the permit holder requests inspections and provides approved plans on site.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Tulare County, CA? ▸

Building permit processing times in unincorporated Tulare County, CA typically run No publicly posted standard permit-processing-time SLA was found. Permit-related help pages repeatedly direct applicants to call Permit Center for schedule, cost, and status details.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Tulare County, CA? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Tulare County, CA. The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached buildings under 120 sq ft; Fences 6 ft or shorter; Oil derricks; Movable cases, counters, or partitions under 5 ft 9 in; Retaining walls under 4 ft when not carrying extra load or hazardous liquids; Small water tanks, certain walkways or platforms, painting, wallpaper or finish work, temporary movie or theater sets, specific window awning limits, and other minor categories listed in the county FAQ. Note: Even when a building permit is not required, plumbing, electrical, or mechanical permits can still be required, and exemptions do not eliminate other code requirements. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Tulare County, CA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Tulare County, CA via: TCPermits, (559) 624-7104. Inspection request information also appears as 24/7 phone availability, with some county pages noting same-day routing windows depending on time of call..

last verified April 2026 source Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA), Permit Center / Building & Code Compliance ↗ entry id permits/california/tulare/unincorporated

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA), Permit Center / Building & Code Compliance before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Tulare County