Oakdale · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Oakdale
Oakdale sets its own fence heights, accessory-building limits and home-business rules. Fence limits depend on the yard and on clear vision areas at driveways.
Key points
- Fence height: Oakdale limits fences to 3 ft in front and exterior side yards and 8 ft in interior side and rear yards.
- Accessory buildings: City rule: accessory buildings taller than 15 ft or 1 story must meet normal setbacks; coverage of required side and rear yards: 30%.
- Home businesses: Oakdale home businesses need a permit and business license, may use 25% of all buildings and draw up to 10 trips a day.
Each rule below is marked Oakdale code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Oakdale code Oakdale limits fences to 3 ft in front and exterior side yards and 8 ft in interior side and rear yards.
All 5 Oakdale rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Oakdale code City rule: accessory buildings taller than 15 ft or 1 story must meet normal setbacks; coverage of required side and rear yards: 30%.
All 7 Oakdale rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Oakdale code Oakdale home businesses need a permit and business license, may use 25% of all buildings and draw up to 10 trips a day.
All 4 Oakdale rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
| Parking on the street |
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Solar panels and EV chargers
Oakdale code Applications are accepted electronically, including electronic signatures. Administrative approval without discretionary planning review, limited to a health and safety check.
All 4 Oakdale rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Tree removal
Oakdale code No permit fee, but the permit is still required. Staff may approve removing only immature oaks, or oaks dead or diseased beyond correction; healthy mature oaks go to Council.
Pets, chickens and bees
Oakdale code Yes, up to 6 hens. 15 feet from the rear and side property lines.
All 5 Oakdale rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Oakdale code 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; no construction on Sundays and holidays.
All 5 Oakdale rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Garage and yard sales
| Sales per year |
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|---|---|
| Signs |
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Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| Local rules | Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Other Oakdale rules on this
Oakdale's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Building in a flood hazard zone (§ 36-4)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the garage sale rules in Oakdale?
Oakdale's code: No more than 3 per calendar year. (Per household.) (§ 16-20); Signs only during sale hours, and they must meet the city's sign rules. (§ 16-20).
Can I run a family child care home in Oakdale?
California law sets this for every city, including Oakdale: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).
General information, not legal advice.
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Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.
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