Ventura County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Ventura County

Ventura County's code applies only in unincorporated areas. It sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home occupations, with separate fence rules for the coastal zone and Old Town Saticoy.

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Key points

Coastal fences: In the coastal zone, Ventura County limits fences to 6 feet, and to 3 feet in a required setback next to a street.
Accessory structures: In the coastal zone, Ventura County limits detached non-living accessory structures in interior side or rear setbacks to 15 feet.
Home businesses: Ventura County allows only household members to work in a home business, which needs a Zoning Clearance.

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

Ventura County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Ventura County have their own codes and their own pages.

Fences and walls

Ventura County code In the coastal zone, Ventura County limits fences to 6 feet, and to 3 feet in a required setback next to a street.

All 6 Ventura County rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Ventura County code In the coastal zone, Ventura County limits detached non-living accessory structures in interior side or rear setbacks to 15 feet.

All 8 Ventura County rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Ventura County code Ventura County allows only household members to work in a home business, which needs a Zoning Clearance.

All 8 Ventura County rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Ventura County code Allowed on residential, agricultural or open space lots. Screened by a fence, wall or similar structure, or by landscaping.

All 4 Ventura County rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Ventura County code A Zoning Clearance is required. A Planned Development Permit is required.

All 4 Ventura County rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Tree removal

Ventura County code Tree emergencies are exempt. Dead limbs or roots may be pruned or trimmed without a Tree Permit.

All 8 Ventura County rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Ventura County code What Ventura County's code adds
Setback from property lines	At least 3 feet from rear and interior side lot lines. Applies: Not in any front or street-side setback; unincorporated coastal zone. § 8175-4.16 · code text Swimming pools, spas, hot tubs and similar structures may be constructed to within three (3) feet of rear and interior side lot lines, provided that they do not intrude into any front or street-side setback.

Pets, chickens and bees

Ventura County code Yes; at most 2 beehives. Yes; at most 3 beehives.

All 8 Ventura County rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Building in a flood zone

Ventura County code What Ventura County's code adds
Floodplain permit	A floodplain development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. § 5604-3 · code text A floodplain development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development, including manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 5603-2.
Building in a floodway	No new construction or development, including fill, unless all development combined raises base flood level no more than 1 foot. Applies: In FIRM Zones A1-30 and AE, until a regulatory floodway is adopted; the limit applies anywhere in unincorporated county areas. § 5605-6 · code text Until a regulatory floodway is adopted, no new construction, substantial development, or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within FIRM Zones A1-30 and AE, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one (1) foot at any point within the unincorporated areas of Ventura County. No fill, new construction or other development unless a civil engineer certifies no flood level increase; no new homes. Applies: Within an adopted regulatory floodway; a registered civil engineer must certify it. § 5605-6 · code text Encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, are prohibited within an adopted regulatory floodway unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment will not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge. Placement of new residential structiures within the adopted regulatory floodway is prohibited.
Height of the lowest floor	1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in FIRM AE, AH and A1-30 zones. § 5605-1 · code text In FIRM AE, AH, A1-30 Zones, elevated one (1) foot above the base flood elevation. 1 foot above the FIRM depth number, measured from the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with a FIRM depth number. § 5605-1 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height one (1) foot above the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two (2) feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. At least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an AO zone with no FIRM depth number. § 5605-1 · code text In an AO zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height one (1) foot above the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least two (2) feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is specified. 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in an unnumbered A zone, with no base flood elevation on the FIRM. § 5605-1 · code text In a FIRM A Zone, without BFE's specified on the FIRM [unnumbered A Zone], elevated one (1) foot above the base flood elevation, as determined under Section 5604-2(c).

Noise and construction hours

Ventura County code What Ventura County's code adds
Quiet hours	9 p.m. to 7 a.m. Applies: Residential zones; no loud noise heard 50 feet from the source's property line, or 50 feet from a source in the street. § 6299-1 · code text No person shall create within any residential zone of the County of Ventura any loud or raucous noise which is audible to the human ear during the hours of 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. of the following day, at a distance of 50 feet from the property line of the noise source or 50 feet from any such noise source if the noise source is in a public right-of-way.

Outdoor lighting

Ventura County code Lights off from 10:00 p.m. until sunrise, or until no one is outside, whichever is later. Security lights may stay on all night.

All 12 Ventura County rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →

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)

Parking spaces required for homes

Ventura County code Required parking spaces must be covered. Must be covered.

All 8 Ventura County rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Ventura County code What Ventura County's code adds
Election and other noncommercial signs	No sign face over 32 sq ft; all temporary signs on one owner's lot together at most 96 sq ft. Applies: Temporary political signs on private property. § 8110-6.8.1 · code text No temporary political sign face shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area. Remove within 10 days after the election. The sponsor registers them with the Planning Division and gets each owner's consent. Applies: Temporary political signs. § 8110-6.8.2 · code text that within ten (10) days after the election all political signs shall be removed

Historic homes

Ventura County code Get a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Cultural Heritage Board before work or permits, or file and wait. A Certificate of Review is needed for a permit that affects exterior character-defining features or integrity (not for demolition).

All 5 Ventura County rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Ventura County rules on this

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

Garage and yard sale day limits (§ 8107-1.11)
Grading and brush removal standards (§ 8175-5.17) — coastal zone only
Traffic impact mitigation fee (§ 8601-2)
Sheriff and fire facilities fees (Div. 3, Ch. 2) — sheriff fee only where the station is overextended

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Ventura County?

Ventura County's code: At least 3 feet from rear and interior side lot lines. (Not in any front or street-side setback; unincorporated coastal zone.) (§ 8175-4.16).

What are the rules for building in a Ventura County flood zone?

Ventura County's code: A floodplain development permit is needed before any construction or development, including manufactured homes, in a special flood hazard area. (§ 5604-3); 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in FIRM AE, AH and A1-30 zones.) (§ 5605-1).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Ventura County?

Ventura County's code: 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Residential zones; no loud noise heard 50 feet from the source's property line, or 50 feet from a source in the street.) (§ 6299-1).

Can I run a family child care home in Ventura County?

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

What signs may I put up at my home in Ventura County?

Ventura County's code: No sign face over 32 sq ft; all temporary signs on one owner's lot together at most 96 sq ft. (Temporary political signs on private property.) (§ 8110-6.8.1); Remove within 10 days after the election. The sponsor registers them with the Planning Division and gets each owner's consent. (Temporary political signs.) (§ 8110-6.8.2).

General information, not legal advice.

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