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

The Thousand Oaks Municipal Code and the city's Zoning Ordinance collectively regulate vehicle parking and storage on private residential property. All vehicle parking on a residential lot must occur on a solid, paved surface — concrete or asphalt — that was either original to the approved development or added with a proper building permit. Parking on grass, dirt, gravel, or landscaped areas is prohibited. Any informal expansion of paved parking area on a residential lot requires a building permit and must be constructed to city engineering standards, including proper drainage. A vehicle parked on a driveway may not project over the public sidewalk or into the public right-of-way, as this creates an accessibility obstacle and a safety hazard for pedestrians.

The city's code enforcement provisions prohibit the storage of inoperable, unregistered, or substantially dismantled vehicles in open view on residential property. A vehicle that lacks current California DMV registration, has expired tags for an extended period, is missing major components such as an engine or wheels, or is in a state of active disassembly is considered a nuisance vehicle. Such vehicles must be stored inside an enclosed, permitted garage or behind a solid, opaque fence that fully screens them from public view from any street, sidewalk, or adjoining property. A vehicle covered with a tarp that remains visible from the street generally does not satisfy the screening requirement under the city's code.

Garages must retain their functionality as vehicle parking spaces as required by the zoning ordinance. Converting an attached or detached garage to habitable living space, a workshop, or storage without a permit and provision of equivalent replacement parking is a code violation. California state law permits garage conversions to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) under specific circumstances, but these conversions require building permits and design review. Residents with questions about driveway expansions, garage conversions, or vehicle storage compliance should contact the Thousand Oaks Community Development Department at (805) 449-2300.