Tulare · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Tulare

Tulare sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and corner location, and accessory limits depend on the zone.

Ask about building on your lot in Tulare See coverage

Key points

Fence height: In the R-1 zone, Tulare limits fences to 4 feet, top 1 foot see-through, in front and corner street side yards; 7 feet elsewhere.
Accessory structures: In medium and high density residential zones, Tulare limits accessory structures in required rear or side setbacks to 20 feet and 300 square feet.
Home businesses: Tulare requires a home occupation permit and does not allow some businesses in residential zones, such as hair salons, vehicle repair and pet grooming.

Each rule below is marked Tulare code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

Tulare code What Tulare's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 4 feet; the top 1 foot must be see-through. Applies: R-1 zone corner lots, in the 25-by-25-foot triangle at the street corner. § 10.14.160 · code text On corner lots, a fence may not exceed four feet in height in the street corner area of the parcel formed by a right triangle with the right angle at the street corner property lines and its right-angle sides measuring 25 feet.
Front yard height	No more than 4 feet; the top 1 foot must be see-through, such as wrought iron. Applies: R-1 zone; required front yard and the street side yard of a corner lot. § 10.14.160 · code text Fences, walls, and hedges shall not exceed four feet in height in a required front yard and in the street side yard of a corner lot, provided that the top one foot shall be of a see-through material such as wrought iron. Hedges up to 3 feet. Applies: R-1 zone; required front yard. § 10.14.160 · code text Hedges up to three feet tall are also permitted in a required front yard.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 7 feet. Applies: R-1 zone; rear and side yards and other areas outside the required front yard. § 10.14.160 · code text Fences and walls shall not exceed seven feet in height in any rear or side yard or other areas outside a required front yard.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Tulare code What Tulare's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 80 feet. Applies: Agricultural accessory structures, such as barns, in the agriculture and rural residential zones only. § 10.36.120 · code text Maximum height: 80 feet. No more than 20 feet. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback, in medium and high density residential zones. § 10.16.110 · code text The maximum height shall be 20 feet.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 300 square feet of floor area. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback, in medium and high density residential zones. § 10.16.110 · code text The floor area shall be a maximum of 300 square feet.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from the rear lot line. Applies: Agricultural accessory structures up to 12 feet tall, in the agriculture and rural residential zones. § 10.36.120 · code text In the case where the accessory structure will not exceed 12 feet in height, the rear yard setback shall be three feet. At least 3 feet from the side lot line. Applies: Agricultural accessory structures up to 12 feet tall, in the agriculture and rural residential zones. § 10.36.120 · code text side yard setback shall be three feet. Walls at least 3 feet from the rear and side lot lines. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback, in medium and high density residential zones. § 10.16.110 · code text The walls shall be at least three feet from the rear and side lot lines. Roof eaves at least 2 feet from the rear and side lot lines. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback, in medium and high density residential zones. § 10.16.110 · code text The roof eaves shall be at least two feet from the rear and side lot lines. Walls at least 5 feet from the rear and side lot lines. Applies: Accessory structures in a required rear or side setback, in the rural residential zone. § 10.10.110 · code text The walls shall be at least five feet from the rear and side lot lines.

Running a business from home

Tulare code What Tulare's code adds
Permit	Yes. A home occupation permit approved by the Director. § 10.78.050 · code text Following a review of a home occupation application, the Director shall take action on the home occupation. The Director can approve subject to the conditions listed in § 10.78.040, or deny the home occupation permit.
Businesses not allowed	Barbershop, hair salon, nail care, massage therapy, or day spa; commercial photography studio; organized instruction or school of music or dance; fortune telling; kennel or animal boarding; laboratory, general or medical; mini-warehouse or self-storage facility; motor vehicle repair or service, minor or major; medical, dental, or optometry office; pet grooming; large appliance or equipment repair shop; specialty construction or trade service where construction activities take place at the site; tattooing or body art; and any other use determined by the Director to be not incidental nor compatible with residential activities Applies: residential zones § 10.78.030 · code text The following uses are, without limitation, examples of land uses that are not incidental to nor compatible with residential activities in residential zones and are prohibited as home occupations:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Tulare code What Tulare's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the adopted checklist. Applies: EV charging stations; the charger may not be turned on until the city approves. § 4.04.120 · code text Consistent with Cal. Gov’t Code § 65850.7, the Building Official shall implement an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review. Applications may be submitted electronically; electronic signatures are accepted instead of a wet signature. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 4.04.120 · code text Consistent with Cal. Gov’t Code § 65850.7, the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this section and associated supporting documentation.
Solar permit process	Apply in person, by mail or electronically, with any required fees; only 1 inspection is required. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 4.96.030 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's building division by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. Administrative approval and all required permits once the complete application meets the checklist. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 4.96.030 · code text Upon confirmation by the Building Official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the Building Official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.

Tree removal

Tulare code What Tulare's code adds
Exemptions	Emergency destruction, removal or pruning of a heritage tree is allowed. Applies: Applies to heritage trees under the code's emergency provision. § 8.52.120 · code text Exceptions to this section are to be found in § 8.52.050 which provides for emergency destruction, removal or pruning of a heritage tree.

Swimming pools

Tulare code What Tulare's code adds
Pool barrier	No openings larger than 3 inches when all gates are closed. Applies: Applies to fences and walls around a pool. § 10.60.230 · code text Such fences shall be substantial and shall be constructed so there are no openings greater than three inches when all gates are closed. The pool fence or wall must be built and approved by the building inspector before the pool is filled. § 10.60.230 · code text No swimming pool shall be filled with water until the enclosing fence or wall has been constructed and approved by the building inspector.
Barrier height	At least 5 feet high. § 10.60.230 · code text Fences and walls used to enclose a swimming pool shall have a minimum height of five feet.
Gates	Gates must be self-closing and self-latching. Applies: Applies to gates 5 feet wide or less. § 10.60.230 · code text All gates, five feet or less in width, in enclosing fences shall be self-closing and self-latching. Gates must have a way to latch closed. Applies: Applies to gates wider than 5 feet. § 10.60.230 · code text All gates greater than five feet in width shall be provided with a means of latching said gate closed. Latches must be at least 4 feet above grade. Applies: Applies to all latches on gates in pool fences. § 10.60.230 · code text All latches on gates in enclosing fences shall be a minimum of four feet above grade.
Setback from property lines	At least 3 feet from any property line. Applies: Applies to new below-ground pools. § 10.60.230 · code text New below-ground swimming pools shall be constructed at least three feet from any property line.

Pets, chickens and bees

Tulare code What Tulare's code adds
Large animals	Equine animals and livestock need a written permit from the Animal Services Manager and may not roam onto others' property. § 6.12.330 · code text No person shall keep or maintain within the city, without a permit in writing issued by the Animal Services Manager, any equine or livestock.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Tulare?

In the R-1 zone, Tulare limits fences to 4 feet, top 1 foot see-through, in front and corner street side yards; 7 feet elsewhere.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Tulare?

In medium and high density residential zones, Tulare limits accessory structures in required rear or side setbacks to 20 feet and 300 square feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Tulare?

Tulare requires a home occupation permit and does not allow some businesses in residential zones, such as hair salons, vehicle repair and pet grooming.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Tulare?

Tulare's code: The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the adopted checklist. (EV charging stations; the charger may not be turned on until the city approves.) (§ 4.04.120); Applications may be submitted electronically; electronic signatures are accepted instead of a wet signature. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 4.04.120).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Tulare?

Tulare's code: Emergency destruction, removal or pruning of a heritage tree is allowed. (Applies to heritage trees under the code's emergency provision.) (§ 8.52.120).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Tulare?

Tulare's code: No openings larger than 3 inches when all gates are closed. (Applies to fences and walls around a pool.) (§ 10.60.230); At least 5 feet high. (§ 10.60.230).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Tulare?

Tulare's code: Equine animals and livestock need a written permit from the Animal Services Manager and may not roam onto others' property. (§ 6.12.330).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Tulare property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Tulare

Tulare Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Tulare

Buying & selling in Tulare

Tulare overview