Thousand Oaks, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-A/R-E/R-O/R-1/R-2 base height
- 25 feet
- Max with 15-ft side yards
- 35 feet (3 stories max)
- C-1/C-2/C-3 commercial
- 35 feet
- C-4 commercial
- 75 feet
- M-1/M-2 manufacturing
- 35 feet
- Affordable housing bonus (R-3/R-P-D)
- up to 45 feet w/ 20%+ affordable units
Summary
Thousand Oaks caps building height by zone: single-family homes in most residential zones (R-A, R-E, R-O, R-1, R-2) are limited to 25 feet, with a possible 10-foot bonus for homes with generous 15-foot side yards, capped at three stories. Commercial buildings are limited to 35 feet in the C-1/C-2/C-3 zones, but the C-4 zone allows up to 75 feet.
In the R-A, R-E, R-O, R-1, and R-2 Zones, except as described herein, no main building or structure shall exceed twenty-five (25') feet in height. The maximum height may be increased by not more than ten (10') feet provided that each such dwelling has two (2) side yards of not less than fifteen (15') feet each, but such dwellings shall in no event exceed three (3) stories. ... In the C-1, C-2, and C-3 Zones, no building or structure shall exceed thirty-five (35') feet in height. ... In the C-4 Zone, no building or structure shall exceed seventy-five (75') feet in height.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-78: 2026 S-78 Supplement contains: Current city legislation passed through March 31, 2026).
Full Breakdown
The height limit applies to the main building or structure on a residential lot, measured under the definitions in TOMC Section 9-4.202. Homeowners who want to build taller than 25 feet can only do so if both side yards are at least 15 feet wide, and even then the home cannot exceed three stories. Multi-family buildings in the R-3 and R-P-D zones can reach 35 feet, or up to 45 feet if at least 20% of the units are affordable to very-low and low-income households. Manufacturing zones (M-1, M-2) share the 35-foot commercial cap, and the City's Height Limit Overlay Zone (H) can waive these limits case by case.
Violations & Fines
The code doesn't spell out a fine schedule in this section; a structure built over the height limit is a zoning violation that can block issuance of a certificate of occupancy or trigger a code-enforcement order to modify or remove the noncompliant portion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a three-story house on a standard R-1 lot?
Are there exceptions for rooftop equipment or antennas?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thousand Oaks
California rules heatmap·Compare Thousand Oaks to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle structure height limits.