Visalia · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Visalia

Visalia sets its own limits on accessory structures in single-family zones and on home businesses. Rear-yard coverage depends on how many sides of a structure are enclosed.

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Key points

Accessory structures: In R-S single-family zones, Visalia limits accessory structures in the required rear yard to 12 feet, at least 3 feet from any lot line.
Home businesses: Visalia allows no customers at a home business and residents only as workers, and requires a home occupation permit before a business license.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Visalia code What Visalia's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 12 feet. Applies: For accessory structures in the required rear yard in R-S single-family residential zones. § 17.12.100 · code text Accessory structures not exceeding twelve (12) feet may be located in the required rear yard but not closer than three feet to any lot line provided that not more than twenty (20) percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side and not more than forty (40) percent may be covered by structures enclosed on only one side.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 20% of the required rear yard. Applies: In R-S zones, for structures enclosed on more than 1 side. § 17.12.100 · code text not more than twenty (20) percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side No more than 40% of the required rear yard. Applies: In R-S zones, for structures enclosed on only 1 side. § 17.12.100 · code text not more than forty (40) percent may be covered by structures enclosed on only one side.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from any lot line. Applies: In R-S zones, for accessory structures up to 12 feet tall in the required rear yard. § 17.12.100 · code text Accessory structures not exceeding twelve (12) feet may be located in the required rear yard but not closer than three feet to any lot line provided that not more than twenty (20) percent of the area of the required rear yard shall be covered by structures enclosed on more than one side and not more than forty (40) percent may be covered by structures enclosed on only one side.

Running a business from home

Visalia code What Visalia's code adds
Customer visits	No customers may come to the home for any business transaction. § 17.32.030 · code text In order to limit commercial traffic in neighborhoods, no customers may come to your residence for any business transaction.
Employees	Only residents. No one else may be employed or subcontracted on the premises. § 17.32.030 · code text No person, other than a resident of the dwelling, shall be employed or subcontracted on the premises in the conduct of a home occupation;
Permit	A home occupation permit from planning staff, before any business license is issued. § 17.32.030 · code text A home occupation may be permitted by issuance of a home occupation permit by the planning department staff in accordance with the following regulations and no business license shall be issued beforehand:
Businesses not allowed	businesses that involve the storage or use of pesticides § 17.32.030 · code text The home occupation shall not involve the storage or use of pesticides;

Solar panels and EV chargers

Visalia code What Visalia's code adds
EV charger permit	All needed permits are issued when the application meets the city checklist, all laws and health and safety standards. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations; the station may not be energized until approval is granted. § 15.90.040 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Electronic submittal is allowed, and electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to EV charging station permit applications. § 15.90.040 · code text the Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.
Solar permit process	Submit by email, online or fax; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar permit applicants. § 15.80.050 · code text Electronic submittal of the required permits application and documents by email, the internet, or facsimile shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.
Review time	The building permit is issued the same day. Applies: Over-the-counter small residential rooftop solar applications, after administrative, nondiscretionary review of a complete application; only 1 inspection is required. § 15.80.060 · code text The building department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications The permit is issued within 1 to 3 business days. Applies: Applies to electronic applications for small residential rooftop solar systems. § 15.80.060 · code text or within one (1) to three (3) business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application

Swimming pools

Visalia code Barriers may not be climbable. Vertical members may be no more than 4 inches apart.

All 11 Visalia rules on swimming pools, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Pets, chickens and bees

Visalia code What Visalia's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 100 racing, homing or sporting pigeons per lot. Applies: Applies to these pigeons kept as household pets. § 17.32.270 · code text The number of racing, homing or sporting pigeons shall not cumulatively exceed one hundred (100) per parcel. No more than 4 cats and dogs combined over 4 months old. § 6.12.010 · code text No person shall keep, harbor or maintain upon his premises within the city more than a total of four cats and/or dogs combined over the age of four months unless said person comes within one of the following conditions: A 5th cat or dog for up to 30 days. Applies: Only with a reasonable showing of need to the animal control officer. § 6.12.010 · code text Upon reasonable showing of necessity to the animal control officer, a person may be permitted to keep a fifth cat or dog for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days;
Coop setback	Lofts at least 10 feet from homes on the site and 25 feet from any neighboring lot's buildable area. Applies: Applies to lofts for racing, homing or sporting pigeons. § 17.32.270 · code text The loft shall be setback a minimum distance of ten feet from residential structures on the site, to provide adequate distance for clean and sanitary loft maintenance, and a minimum distance of twenty- five (25) feet from the buildable area of any adjacent parcel.
Permit	A permit from the planning and building division is required. Applies: Applies to keeping racing, homing or sporting pigeons as household pets. § 17.32.290 · code text The keeping of racing, homing or sporting pigeons, in accordance with the limitations specified in Section 17.32.270, may be permitted upon issuance of a permit by the planning and building division.

Other Visalia rules on this

Visalia's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Oak tree removal permits and protection (Ch. 12.24) — oak trees only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

In R-S single-family zones, Visalia limits accessory structures in the required rear yard to 12 feet, at least 3 feet from any lot line.

Can I run a business from my home in Visalia?

Visalia allows no customers at a home business and residents only as workers, and requires a home occupation permit before a business license.

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

Visalia's code: All needed permits are issued when the application meets the city checklist, all laws and health and safety standards. (Applies to EV charging stations; the station may not be energized until approval is granted.) (§ 15.90.040); Electronic submittal is allowed, and electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to EV charging station permit applications.) (§ 15.90.040).

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

Visalia's code: No more than 100 racing, homing or sporting pigeons per lot. (Applies to these pigeons kept as household pets.) (§ 17.32.270); Lofts at least 10 feet from homes on the site and 25 feet from any neighboring lot's buildable area. (Applies to lofts for racing, homing or sporting pigeons.) (§ 17.32.270).

General information, not legal advice.

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Visalia Municipal Code — full text

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Buying & selling in Visalia

Visalia overview