This page is for people searching for well drilling and pump repair in Visalia and the surrounding Tulare County communities. Rather than create a thin page for every town, we put the useful planning notes in one place. These are general observations, not rules, so confirm details with the city, county, and water provider that apply to your address. We do not name or endorse particular companies. When you request quotes, tell us the nearest town and your ZIP code.
What applies everywhere in the county
- City water or private well. Homes inside city limits are often on a water utility, and wells are most common on rural parcels, small farms, and in unincorporated communities. If a public water system is available at your property line, ask what a connection would cost before you drill.
- Depth. A USGS study of the Tulare, Kaweah, and Tule basin area reported that domestic wells there are typically drilled to roughly 150 to 500 feet, and depth varies a lot by location. See the well drilling cost guide.
- Permits. Well construction in unincorporated Tulare County falls under Chapter 13 of the county ordinance code. Ask the county Environmental Health Division what applies. See choosing a well driller.
- Dry wells. If yours has gone dry, start with dry well help in Tulare County. Which groundwater agency covers your property can affect what assistance is available.
Visalia
Visalia is the Tulare County seat and the largest city in the area. Many homes inside the city are connected to a water utility (California Water Service operates the Visalia system), so well work here is mostly on parcels at the edge of town and in the surrounding countryside. Rural and edge-of-town parcels outside the city limits are handled under the county’s well rules, so check which jurisdiction your address falls in.
Tulare
Tulare is a city south of Visalia. Wells here are mostly on rural parcels, dairies, and farms outside the city and on properties without city service. County notices show recent replacement-well projects in the countryside near Tulare. Ask about setbacks from septic systems and animal enclosures, since those have affected where replacement wells can go.
Exeter and Farmersville
Exeter, east of Visalia, and Farmersville, southeast of Visalia, are neighboring cities only a few miles apart. Rural homes and farms around both towns often use private wells. Ask your contractor about the groundwater agency and local conditions around your parcel.
Woodlake and Ivanhoe
Woodlake is a city northeast of Visalia, and Ivanhoe is an unincorporated community between Visalia and Woodlake. Rural parcels around both are often on private wells. Ivanhoe is unincorporated, so county rather than city offices handle questions about well permits there.
Lindsay and Porterville
Lindsay and Porterville are cities in the southeast part of the county. East Porterville, an unincorporated community next to Porterville, drew attention in the 2014 to 2017 drought, when many homes with shallow private wells ran dry; news reports say the area’s emergency water project connected many of those homes to Porterville’s water system. If your home is near an existing public water line, ask whether a connection is possible before you spend on a new well.
Dinuba and Goshen
Dinuba is a city in the northern part of Tulare County, northwest of Visalia. Goshen is an unincorporated community west of Visalia, near Highway 99. For parcels outside Dinuba’s city limits and for Goshen, county rules cover well permits. Distance from Visalia matters when you compare companies, since some serve outlying communities routinely and some travel less. Ask about travel charges and who handles warranty visits.
Rural Tulare County
Many properties sit outside any city, on acreage or farm roads. Rural parcels may rely on private wells and septic systems, and distance between the well, septic leach lines, and animal enclosures matters for permits. Tell the driller where everything is. Not sure where the line falls? Submit a request with your address or ZIP code. For costs, see the cost guide, and for pump problems, the pump repair guide. En español: pozos de agua en Visalia.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work outside the towns listed?
Yes, you can submit any Tulare County location. Tell us where the property is and we will see whether a provider who serves that area is available.
Does the town change the well?
The town affects who serves it, travel, and which city, county, or water district office handles questions. The well itself depends on your parcel, the local groundwater, and the driller.
Who do I ask about well permits?
Start with the Tulare County Environmental Health Division, which county notices identify as handling well permit requirements. If your property is inside a city, also ask the city whether it has its own requirements.