Off-grid site report
Tulare County, CA
36.3281, -119.3868 · 308 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Tulare County, CA, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.
The local rulesTulare County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyTulare County RMA administers a countywide zoning ordinance (No. 352) with zones like R-A, AE, TPZ, and RC; allowed land use depends entirely on parcel zone, and the county is updating ag/residential zoning text. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedRMA states RVs and travel trailers do not qualify as legal ADUs; HUD manufactured homes may work as detached ADUs if zoning/building requirements are met. Long-term RV occupancy on raw land is not confirmed as permitted. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedRMA requires a permit for nearly all construction, alteration, repair, or demolition of structures, with limited exemptions like small sheds under 120 sq ft. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedRMA and Environmental Health jointly regulate OWTS and require permits for most septic construction or repair work; the City of Visalia regulates OWTS separately under its own standards. Composting toilet rules are not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Tulare County-specific greywater ordinance was found; state Plumbing Code baseline appears to apply, but county additions are not confirmed.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Tulare County ordinance restricting rainwater catchment was found in official sources; state baseline applies, county specifics not confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedTulare County Environmental Health requires a permit for well construction, destruction, or inactivation countywide, done by a C-57 licensed contractor, with one-year permit validity; areas under a Groundwater Sustainability Agency face additional SGMA-driven requirements. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo dedicated county rule addresses off-grid living directly; occupancy is tied indirectly to building permit sign-off for electrical and plumbing systems, per RMA's code compliance authority. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,634 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 11 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,386 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Kaweah Delta Medical Center - 5.1 mi
- Fire station
Visalia Fire Station 55 & Fire Training Center - 1.9 mi
- Hardware store
General Industrial Automation Supply - 0.2 mi
- Grocery
Save Mart - 2.3 mi
From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.
Plan this spot
These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 93227).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Tulare County, CA?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.