Westlake Village · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Westlake Village
Westlake Village sets its own limits on fences and on pools and equipment in rear yards, and bans some home businesses. Fences over 42 inches need a permit.
Key points
- Fence height: In Residential Zones, Westlake Village limits fences, walls and hedges to 42 inches in front and street side setbacks and 6 feet elsewhere.
- Pools and equipment: Westlake Village sets distance limits for swimming pools and ground-mounted pool and air-conditioning equipment in a required rear yard.
- Banned businesses: Westlake Village does not allow some home businesses, such as auto repair, barber services, carpentry, welding, medical offices and firearm sales.
Each rule below is marked Westlake Village code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Westlake Village code In Residential Zones, Westlake Village limits fences, walls and hedges to 42 inches in front and street side setbacks and 6 feet elsewhere.
All 5 Westlake Village rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
| Maximum height |
|
|---|---|
| Side and rear setback |
|
Running a business from home
Westlake Village code Westlake Village does not allow some home businesses, such as auto repair, barber services, carpentry, welding, medical offices and firearm sales.
All 8 Westlake Village rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Westlake Village code The panel array may not exceed the maximum legal building height in the Zoning Ordinance. No structure or plants may shade more than 10% of a neighbor's solar collector area.
All 5 Westlake Village rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Tree removal
Westlake Village code Not exempt, but the Director may approve the permit administratively without a public hearing. Not exempt, but the Director may approve the permit administratively without a public hearing.
All 6 Westlake Village rules on tree removal, with the code text →
Building on a hillside
Westlake Village code A detailed soils and geologic report must come with each grading permit application. No manufactured slope may be more than 30 feet high between terraces or benches.
All 5 Westlake Village rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →
Park and impact fees for new homes
| Exemptions |
|
|---|
Noise and construction hours
Westlake Village code 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
All 6 Westlake Village rules on noise and construction hours, 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 |
Group homes and residential care
| Where allowed |
|
|---|
Parking spaces required for homes
Westlake Village code "Covered space" means an enclosed garage. "Covered space" means an enclosed garage or carport.
All 5 Westlake Village rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| False alarm fees |
|
|---|---|
| False alarms before a fee |
|
Signs on homes
Westlake Village code 1 temporary sign per office or measure, from 35 days before the ballot submission deadline through 2 days after it. 1 temporary sign per office or measure, from 35 days before the ballot submission deadline through 2 days after it.
All 4 Westlake Village rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| Where carts are kept |
|
|---|
Other Westlake Village rules on this
Westlake Village's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Animals allowed on a home lot (Ch. 9.23)
- Urban lot splits with two units (SB 9) (§ 10.1.050) — single-family zones only
- No outdoor RV storage in single-family zones (§ 9.5.050)
- No outdoor RV storage in planned developments (§ 9.6.050)
- Floodplain management (Ch. 8.5)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How big can a shed or accessory building be in Westlake Village?
Westlake Village sets distance limits for swimming pools and ground-mounted pool and air-conditioning equipment in a required rear yard.
Can I run a family child care home in Westlake Village?
California law sets this for every city, including Westlake Village: 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)).
Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Westlake Village?
Westlake Village's code: Allowed in any zone that allows residential uses. (§ 9.46.020).
Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Westlake Village?
Westlake Village's code: The service charge is set by City Council resolution. (Third and each later false alarm within a calendar year.) (§ 4.10.060); The first 2 false alarms in a calendar year carry no charge. The service charge applies from the third. (§ 4.10.060).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Westlake Village?
Westlake Village's code: Keep containers on the premises at a location not visible from the public street. (§ 5.3.200).
General information, not legal advice.
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