Thousand Oaks · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks sets its own limits on accessory buildings in R Zones and on home businesses. Estate lots of 5 acres or more in the R-A, R-E, R-O and R-1 Zones are exempt from the accessory building area limits.
Key points
- Accessory buildings: In R Zones, Thousand Oaks limits an accessory building, not counting ADUs, to 600 square feet and 50% of the main building's footprint.
- Total floor area: In R Zones, all accessory buildings on a lot together, not counting ADUs, are limited to 100% of the main building's footprint.
- Home businesses: Thousand Oaks home businesses need a permit; at most 4 visitors a day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and one employee at a time.
Each rule below is marked Thousand Oaks code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Thousand Oaks code In R Zones, Thousand Oaks limits an accessory building, not counting ADUs, to 600 square feet and 50% of the main building's footprint. In R Zones, all accessory buildings on a lot together, not counting ADUs, are limited to 100% of the main building's footprint.
All 4 Thousand Oaks rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Thousand Oaks code Thousand Oaks home businesses need a permit; at most 4 visitors a day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and one employee at a time.
All 6 Thousand Oaks rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Lot splits under SB 9
Thousand Oaks code 2 lots of about equal area; one lot may not be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. A standard is waived only as far as needed to allow 2 units of up to 800 square feet each.
All 15 Thousand Oaks rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
| Solar height and setbacks |
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|---|---|
| Solar permit process |
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Tree removal
Thousand Oaks code Trees damaged by natural disasters and found dangerous by listed officials; the city must be told promptly. Removal needed while firefighters are actively fighting a fire.
All 6 Thousand Oaks rules on tree removal, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
| Large animals |
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Grading and erosion control
| Grading without a permit |
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|---|---|
| Rainy-season limits |
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Building on a hillside
Thousand Oaks code A certified soil report and geological report from a state-registered civil engineer or geologist. No grading except under a hillside planned development permit.
All 12 Thousand Oaks rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
| Leaf blowers and equipment |
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Garage and yard sales
Thousand Oaks code Daylight hours only. No longer than 2 consecutive weekends or 72 hours, whichever is less.
All 6 Thousand Oaks rules on garage and yard sales, with the code text →
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 |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Thousand Oaks code Individually sold inclusionary units stay affordable 45 years from initial occupancy. Rented inclusionary units stay affordable while the property has residential use, but at least 55 years from initial occupancy.
All 11 Thousand Oaks rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Signs on homes
Thousand Oaks code Up to 12 square feet and 6 feet visible height. One per candidate or ballot position per parcel side. Up to 12 square feet and 6 feet visible height. One per candidate or issue per parcel.
All 3 Thousand Oaks rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
Thousand Oaks code Residential customers must use only the containers the exclusive franchise contractor provides for source-separated solid waste, organic waste and recyclables. Containers must be out of public view before 8:00 a.m. the day after they are serviced.
All 4 Thousand Oaks rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Historic homes
Thousand Oaks code A Certificate of Appropriateness is required. A Certificate of Appropriateness is required.
All 4 Thousand Oaks rules on historic homes, with the code text →
Other Thousand Oaks rules on this
Thousand Oaks's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Oversized vehicle street parking and permits (§ 4-3.424) — public streets only
- Flood hazard reduction standards (Sec. 4-7.05)
- Police facilities fee on new development (Ch. 8-2)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Thousand Oaks?
Thousand Oaks's code: Administrative approval with all permits when complete and meeting the checklist; 1 inspection; apply in person, by mail or electronically. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems that meet the checklist.) (§ 8-1.25).
What are the grading rules in Thousand Oaks?
Thousand Oaks's code: Excavation of no more than fifty (50) cubic yards, or less than two feet deep, or that does not create a cut slope that is both higher than five feet and steeper than 2 to 1; fill less than one foot deep on ground flatter than 5 to 1, or less than three feet deep, not supporting structures, not over fifty (50) cubic yards per lot and not blocking a drainage course; excavation for basements, footings, retaining walls or swimming pools under a valid building permit (Not for cut slopes in areas of adverse geological conditions; fill made from excavated material, or an excavation left with an unsupported height over five feet, is not exempt) (§ 7-3.07); November 1 to April 15: no grading over 250 cubic yards may start if the City Engineer finds it unsafe. (Any single grading site under permit; temporary erosion control devices must be in place by November 1.) (§ 7-3.09).
What are the noise rules and construction hours in Thousand Oaks?
Thousand Oaks's code: No lawn mowers, blowers, edgers, riding tractors or other loud machines or tools from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (In residential zones, or commercial zones where the noise can be heard from inhabited residential property.) (§ 5-21.02).
Can I run a family child care home in Thousand Oaks?
California law sets this for every city, including Thousand Oaks: 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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