Thousand Oaks Permit Requirements Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Title 9 (Zoning) establishes the framework governing fences and walls throughout the city, setting maximum heights based on yard location, proximity to streets, and zoning district. These zoning rules work together with the California Building Code as locally adopted by the City to determine when a building permit is required. For the majority of residential fence projects — a standard wood or vinyl privacy fence in a side or rear yard that does not exceed 6 feet in height — no building permit is required from the Building & Safety Division. However, every fence must still conform to all applicable Zoning Code height and location standards before construction begins. Property owners who install a fence that is later found to violate the Zoning Code may be required to modify or remove it at their own expense, plus pay penalty fees. Calling the Building & Safety Division or the Planning Division before breaking ground is the best way to avoid costly corrections after the fact.

Masonry construction triggers elevated requirements. Concrete block, brick, stone, and stucco-over-block walls exceeding 3 feet in exposed height — measured from the lowest adjacent finished grade — require a building permit application accompanied by engineered structural drawings stamped by a California-licensed structural engineer. The engineering must demonstrate that footings and reinforcement are adequate for the seismic design category applicable to the Thousand Oaks area. Any fence or wall of any material — wood, wrought iron, aluminum, vinyl, or masonry — that exceeds 6 feet in height requires a full building permit regardless of material type. Height is measured from the lowest adjacent finished grade, meaning a fence or wall installed atop a retaining wall may require a permit based on the combined height even if the fence structure itself measures under 6 feet.

Thousand Oaks does not mandate a minimum setback for fences from the property line, but fences placed along or near a common boundary line carry legal implications governed by California Civil Code Section 841. Owners are encouraged to confirm the precise property boundary location — ideally through a licensed land surveyor — before installing any fence intended to sit on or near the property line. Barbed wire and electrically charged fencing are prohibited on residential properties in all zones. Sight triangle clearance at driveways and street intersections must be maintained per the City Engineer's standards. For pre-application questions, contact Thousand Oaks Building & Safety at (805) 449-2490 or the Planning Division at (805) 449-2490.