Oakley · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Oakley

Oakley sets fence heights by yard, lot type and fence style, and limits all accessory structures on a lot to 500 square feet or 40% lot coverage, whichever is greater. Its home-business rule covers home-based firearms sales.

Ask about building on your lot in Oakley See coverage

Key points

Fence heights: Front-setback fences are limited to 3 feet if closed and 4 1/2 feet if open on standard lots; side and rear fences, 7 feet.
Accessory height: Accessory structures inside a required yard are limited to 15 feet; those fully outside all required yards may be taller under zoning rules.
Firearms sales: Oakley has a rule on home-based firearms sales for licenses, certificates and permits obtained after June 1, 2011.

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

Fences and walls

Oakley code Front-setback fences are limited to 3 feet if closed and 4 1/2 feet if open on standard lots; side and rear fences, 7 feet.

All 7 Oakley rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Oakley code Accessory structures inside a required yard are limited to 15 feet; those fully outside all required yards may be taller under zoning rules.

All 6 Oakley rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Oakley code What Oakley's code adds
Businesses not allowed	home-based firearms sales Applies: licenses, certificates and permits were obtained after June 1, 2011 § 5.11.016 · code text Home-based firearms sales are prohibited if the above-mentioned licenses, certificates and permits were obtained after June 1, 2011.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Oakley code What Oakley's code adds
EV charger permit	The city issues a building permit when the application meets the application and checklist requirements; forms are online. Applies: Applies to EV charging station installations. § 7.16.030 · code text An application that satisfies the application and checklist requirements will be considered complete, and the City will issue a building permit.
Solar height and setbacks	The panel array may not exceed the maximum legal building height. Applies: Required for a small residential rooftop solar system to qualify for expedited review. § 7.2.116 · code text A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the authority having jurisdiction.
Solar permit process	Apply in person, by mail, or electronically (email, internet, or fax), with the permit processing and inspection fees. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 7.2.116 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the City’s building division by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal, together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. Only one inspection. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 7.2.116 · code text For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only one inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner and may include a consolidated inspection by the Building Official and Fire Chief. Administrative approval and all required permits once the application is complete and meets the checklist. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop energy systems. § 7.2.116 · code text Upon confirmation by the Building Official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the Building Official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.

Tree removal

Oakley code What Oakley's code adds
Protected trees	California native oaks at least 50 inches around (15.6 inches diameter), measured 4.5 feet above grade. Applies: Applies on all properties in Oakley, regardless of location or health; covers the listed native oak species, such as Valley Oak and Coast Live Oak. § 9.1.1112 · code text A California native oak (Valley Oak – Quercus lobata; Leather Oak – Quercus durata; California Black Oak – Quercus kelloggii; Canyon Live Oak – Quercus chrysolepis; Interior Live Oak – Quercus wislizenii; Island Oak – Quercus tomentella; Engelmann Oak – Quercus engelmanni; Coast Live Oak – Quercus agrifolia) that measures at least fifty (50) inches in circumference (fifteen and six-tenths (15.6) inches diameter) at four and one-half feet above grade, regardless of location or health; Other tree species at least 50 inches around, measured 4.5 feet above grade. Applies: On undeveloped or public property, in the right-of-way, or on private property the Director finds benefits neighboring properties too. § 9.1.1112 · code text A tree of a species other than a California native oak that measures at least fifty (50) inches in circumference at four and one-half feet above grade and is either on an undeveloped property, located on public property or within the right-of-way, or located on private property and is found to provide benefits to the subject property as well as neighboring properties, subject to determination by the Director.

Building in a flood zone

Oakley code A floodplain permit is needed before construction, before grading or building permits are issued, and before development starts. No encroachment unless a registered professional engineer certifies no flood level increase during the base flood.

All 6 Oakley rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →

Grading and erosion control

Oakley code Each grading or paving permit needs an interim erosion-control plan. Each grading or paving permit needs a final erosion-control plan.

All 6 Oakley rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Oakley code What Oakley's code adds
How the park fee is set	Equal to the Park Land Acquisition part of the Park Impact Fee, set by resolution. Applies: Fees paid instead of land dedication by subdivisions under the Quimby Act. § 9.2.210 · code text such fees shall be equal to the applicable Park Land Acquisition element of the Park Impact Fee for development subject to the Quimby Act, as set forth by resolution duly adopted by the City as from time to time amended.
Parkland per 1,000 residents	5 acres per 1,000 people. Applies: Land dedication or in-lieu fees for subdivisions. § 9.2.208 · code text The park area of the City is determined to be 5 acres per 1,000 people, or .005 acres per person.

Family child care homes

CA state law California law
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)

Group homes and residential care

Oakley code At least one parking space is required for every 2 residents. Treated as a residential use, subject only to the rules for other permitted residential uses of the same housing type.

All 3 Oakley rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Oakley code Audible alarms must turn off automatically no more than 20 minutes after they start. A fee set in the City's Master Fee Schedule applies. It rises with each false alarm after the third.

All 3 Oakley rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Oakley code At most 4 square feet, and 1 sign per property. Temporary on-site real estate signs offering a single property for sale or rent do not need a sign permit.

All 8 Oakley rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Oakley code What Oakley's code adds
Required collection service	Owners must subscribe with the City franchise hauler for collection and disposal of solid waste, recyclable materials, or organic materials § 4.20.302 · code text Every owner of a premises located within the City that generates solid waste, recyclable materials, or organic materials shall subscribe with the City franchise hauler for the collection and disposal of such material.

Other Oakley rules on this

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

Oversized vehicles and trailers on residential streets (Ch. 6.1, Art. 4) — on public streets in residential areas
Noise rules (Ch. 4.2, Art. 2)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Oakley?

Oakley has a rule on home-based firearms sales for licenses, certificates and permits obtained after June 1, 2011.

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

Oakley's code: Apply in person, by mail, or electronically (email, internet, or fax), with the permit processing and inspection fees. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review.) (§ 7.2.116); The city issues a building permit when the application meets the application and checklist requirements; forms are online. (Applies to EV charging station installations.) (§ 7.16.030).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Oakley?

Oakley's code: California native oaks at least 50 inches around (15.6 inches diameter), measured 4.5 feet above grade. (Applies on all properties in Oakley, regardless of location or health; covers the listed native oak species, such as Valley Oak and Coast Live Oak.) (§ 9.1.1112); Other tree species at least 50 inches around, measured 4.5 feet above grade. (On undeveloped or public property, in the right-of-way, or on private property the Director finds benefits neighboring properties too.) (§ 9.1.1112).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Oakley?

Oakley's code: Equal to the Park Land Acquisition part of the Park Impact Fee, set by resolution. (Fees paid instead of land dedication by subdivisions under the Quimby Act.) (§ 9.2.210); 5 acres per 1,000 people. (Land dedication or in-lieu fees for subdivisions.) (§ 9.2.208).

Can I run a family child care home in Oakley?

California law sets this for every city, including Oakley: 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)).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Oakley?

Oakley's code: Owners must subscribe with the City franchise hauler for collection and disposal of solid waste, recyclable materials, or organic materials (§ 4.20.302).

General information, not legal advice.

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