Moorpark Driveway Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

The Moorpark Municipal Code and Zoning Ordinance collectively govern where and how vehicles may be parked or stored on private residential property within the city. All vehicle parking on a residential lot must occur on a solid, approved paved surface — concrete or asphalt — that was either included in the original permitted development or that has been added through a separately issued building permit. Parking on grass, dirt, gravel, decomposed granite, or other unpaved surfaces is prohibited. Any informal or unpermitted expansion of a paved parking area beyond the original approved driveway footprint requires a building permit and must be constructed to city engineering standards, including adequate stormwater drainage management to prevent runoff onto adjacent properties or into the public street. A vehicle parked in a residential driveway may not project across the property line over the public sidewalk or into the public right-of-way; doing so blocks pedestrian access and creates a safety hazard that can also draw a citation under the California Vehicle Code.

Moorpark's code enforcement provisions prohibit the open storage of inoperable, unregistered, or substantially dismantled vehicles on residential property where they are visible from a public street, sidewalk, alley, or adjacent property. A vehicle is generally treated as an inoperable nuisance if it lacks current California DMV registration or displays expired registration tabs, is missing essential mechanical components such as an engine, transmission, wheels, or body panels, or is actively undergoing disassembly in an unsheltered location visible to the public. Such vehicles must be stored inside a fully enclosed, permitted garage structure, or alternatively stored behind a solid opaque fence of sufficient height to completely screen the vehicle from view from public vantage points. A vehicle covered with a tarp but still visually prominent from the street or sidewalk does not satisfy Moorpark's screening requirement. The Code Compliance Division initiates enforcement with a written notice of violation and provides a compliance deadline before escalating to administrative citations. For service and questions, contact the Code Compliance Division at (805) 517-6232 or codecompliance@moorparkca.gov.

Under the Moorpark Zoning Ordinance, garages built as required off-street parking must retain their function as usable parking spaces. Converting an attached or detached garage to a bedroom, home office, recreation room, media room, or dedicated storage space without first obtaining the required permits and providing equivalent replacement covered parking is a zoning violation in Moorpark. California state law does allow garage conversions to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) under specific statutory conditions, but those conversions still require building permits, design review, and compliance with all applicable ADU development standards, including any applicable replacement parking provisions for the primary residence. Residents with questions about driveway expansion, on-property vehicle storage, or garage conversion eligibility should contact the Moorpark Community Development Department before commencing any work.