Maybe the bathroom in your farmhouse has been patched more often than remodeled, or the kitchen in your foothill home still has its original layout. If the house sits in an unincorporated community, the County’s Resource Management Agency, not a city hall, reviews the permit and inspects the work.

Who covers unincorporated Tulare County

The RMA Permit Center is the central point of entry for permits the agency administers. It is in the Government Plaza building at 5961 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia, and the main line is (559) 624-7000. The Permit Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and you can schedule an appointment online to meet with RMA staff. Its building permits cover unincorporated communities such as:

• Three Rivers, Springville, and Lemon Cove

• Goshen, Ivanhoe, Cutler, Orosi, London, and Traver

• Pixley, Tipton, Earlimart, Strathmore, and Terra Bella

If your home is inside a city, confirm with that city which office handles the address. Our guides for Visalia and the City of Tulare cover two of them.

The County’s own list for kitchens and baths

The RMA’s page on additions, remodels, and home improvements says a permit is generally required for projects that involve:

• Kitchen or bathroom remodels with plumbing, electrical, or structural work

• Water heater replacement

• Plumbing changes and electrical work

• Window or door replacements that require structural modifications

• Heating and air conditioning, and electrical panel upgrades

The same page says painting, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, and other cosmetic improvements generally do not need a permit, provided they do not involve structural, plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems. Panel upgrades, HVAC, and gas work belong to licensed electrical, mechanical, and plumbing trades; when a remodel calls for any of them, that part is reviewed at the in-home consultation.

Plans and documents the RMA asks for

Depending on scope, the County lists floor plans showing existing and proposed layouts, structural details, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical plans, and Title 24 energy compliance documentation. Some projects also need structural or truss calculations, manufacturer specifications, or fire district approval. Before you apply, the RMA suggests reviewing your home and property, including previous permits or unpermitted work, since either can affect the application.

From application to final approval

1. Prepare the forms, plans, and supporting documents for your project type.

2. Submit through the County’s Citizen Self Service portal, where you can upload documents, track status, and message staff.

3. Plan review checks the project against codes, zoning, and other agency requirements, and you respond to any comments.

4. The permit is issued once reviews are complete and fees are paid; amounts are in the County’s Schedule of Fees.

5. Inspections are requested online or through the County’s inspection phone system at (559) 624-7055, and the project is complete after final approval.

Project pages, forms, and contact details are on the RMA building permits page.

Records, plans, and the cost of skipping permits

Most permit statuses can be checked in the portal. Copies of approved building plans are another matter: the County notes that architectural plans may be protected intellectual property and may require written permission from the designer before release. Other permit records may be available through a public records request.

Tulare County is plain about unpermitted work. It can bring a stop-work order, additional fees, delays, or code enforcement, and the work may need to be exposed, inspected, corrected, or removed before it is approved. The same work often surfaces when a property sells, which is a poor time to discover it.

Owner-builders in rural areas

CSLB cautions that if your workers are injured, or your subcontractors are unlicensed or uninsured and get hurt, you could be asked to pay through your homeowner’s insurance or face lawsuits. It also warns about unlicensed people who offer to guide owners through the owner-builder process for a consulting fee, saying they are breaking the law. CSLB covers both points on its page about owner-builder risks.

Remodeling in Tulare County with All American

Tulare County falls within the area All American serves, and a quick ZIP code check in the estimator confirms a specific address. Which permits your home needs is settled at the free in-home consultation, after we see the rooms. See our Tulare County remodeling page, browse the permit guides for other jurisdictions, or start with the bathroom estimator for a planning range.