Moorpark · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Moorpark

Moorpark sets its own fence and wall heights for open space, agricultural and residential zones. Limits depend on the yard, grade differences, noise needs and sight lines at driveways.

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Key points

Fence height: Moorpark limits fences in open space, agricultural and residential zones to 6 ft; in front yards the top 3 ft must be open.
Higher walls: City rule: walls may reach 10 ft where neighboring lots differ in grade or, with director approval, for noise attenuation.

Each rule below is marked Moorpark code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

Moorpark code What Moorpark's code adds
Corner visibility	No higher than 3 feet within 15 feet of where a driveway meets the street right-of-way. Applies: Walls, fences or landscaping next to a driveway, street or sidewalk. Tree canopy at least 8 feet up; Caltrans visibility standards may apply. § 17.24.030 · code text A wall or fence or landscape area adjacent to a driveway or street or public sidewalk providing vehicular access to an abutting lot or street shall not exceed three feet in height within 15 feet of the intersection of the driveway and the street right-of-way and/or shall comply with Caltrans design standards for site visibility as adopted by the city.
Height anywhere on the lot	No higher than 6 feet, except as the code allows. Applies: Open space, agricultural and residential zones. § 17.24.030 · code text A wall, fence, retaining wall or any combination thereof, shall not exceed six feet in height except as herein provided. No more than 10 feet from the lower grade to the top of the fence. Applies: A shared property line fence or wall with a grade difference; height is measured from the higher finished grade. § 17.24.030 · code text Where there is a grade difference between two properties that share a common property line fence/wall, the fence/wall height shall be measured from the highest finish grade, provided that the distance from the lower grade to the top of the fence shall not exceed 10 feet. Up to 10 feet, if the community development director allows it. Applies: Where needed to reduce noise from arterial streets or other noise sources. § 17.24.030 · code text A wall or fence up to 10 feet in height may be allowed by the community development director where necessary for noise attenuation from arterial streets or other noise sources.
Front yard height	Up to 6 feet. Applies: Required front yard, open space, agricultural and residential zones; top 3 feet at least 75% open, except retaining or noise walls. § 17.24.030 · code text Fences and walls may be allowed in required front yard area up to six feet in height; however, the last three feet of the fence or wall shall be constructed of visually open and decorative fencing (at least 75% open, see below), unless the wall is a retaining wall or additional height is approved for noise attenuation purposes. Up to 6 feet. Applies: Front setbacks in downtown plan R-1/R-2 areas and a listed area near Los Angeles Avenue; the top 2 feet must be at least 75% open. § 17.24.030 · code text Within the R-1 and R-2 areas of the downtown specific plan and in the area north of Los Angeles Avenue between Moorpark Avenue and Spring Road south of High Street, fences and walls may be allowed in the required front yard setback area up to six feet in height; however, the last two feet of the fence or wall shall be constructed of visually open and decorative fencing (at least 75% open, see below), unless the wall is a retaining wall or additional height is approved for noise attenuation purposes.
Side and rear yard height	A solid wall or fence up to 6 feet high. Applies: Along interior side or rear lot lines in open space, agricultural and residential zones; not into a required front yard. § 17.24.030 · code text A solid wall or fence not more than six feet in height may be maintained along the interior side or rear lot lines, provided, that such wall or fence does not extend into a required front yard except for noise attenuation as required by the city and as provided in this chapter.
Permit	An administrative permit may allow up to 2 more feet of visual height. Applies: Rear or street side lines next to an arterial or collector road, using a durable metal open trellis. § 17.24.030 · code text With the approval of an administrative permit, walls or fences located along the rear or street side property lines, which are adjacent to an arterial or collector road, may be allowed to increase the visual wall/fence height up to an additional two feet through the construction of a durable metal open trellis, so that vines may be planted throughout the trellis.

Lot splits under SB 9

Moorpark code What Moorpark's code adds
How the lot may be divided	2 lots of about equal area; neither may be smaller than 40% of the original lot. § 16.60.040 · code text In no instance shall a parcel be smaller than 40% of the lot area of the original parcel proposed for subdivision, or smaller than 1,200 square feet, whichever is greater.
Minimum new lot size	At least 1,200 square feet. Applies: Each new lot; whichever is greater of this and 40% of the original lot area. § 16.60.040 · code text In no instance shall a parcel be smaller than 40% of the lot area of the original parcel proposed for subdivision, or smaller than 1,200 square feet, whichever is greater.
Standards	At most 2 units per lot, counting ADUs and junior ADUs. Applies: A lot created through an urban lot split. § 16.60.070 · code text A maximum of two units may be located on a lot created through an urban lot split, inclusive of accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units. Any subdivision standard that would prevent 2 units of at least 800 square feet on either lot is waived. § 16.60.040 · code text The application of any subdivision standard that would physically prevent the development of two units of at least 800 square feet on either of the resulting parcels shall be waived. A direct access corridor or easement at least 10 feet wide. Applies: When the lots do not adjoin the public right-of-way. § 16.60.040 · code text A minimum 10 foot wide direct access corridor or easement shall be required when parcels do not adjoin the public right-of-way. Separate sewer, water and electric services. Applies: Lots created through an urban lot split. § 16.60.040 · code text Parcels created through an urban lot split shall have separate sewer, water and electrical utility services. Further subdivision is banned forever. Applies: Each lot created through an urban lot split. § 16.60.070 · code text Further subdivision of a parcel established through an urban lot split shall be prohibited. A restrictive covenant shall be recorded on each lot created through an urban lot split prohibiting further subdivision in perpetuity. Units must be rented or leased for terms longer than 30 days. Applies: Units created under the urban lot split chapter. § 16.60.070 · code text Units created pursuant to this chapter shall be rented or leased for a term longer than 30 days.
Owner occupancy	The applicant signs an affidavit to live in 1 unit as their main home for at least 3 years. Applies: Counted from approval of the lot split. Not required for a community land trust or qualified nonprofit corporation. § 16.60.070 · code text The applicant for an urban lot split shall sign an affidavit stating that they intend to occupy one of the dwelling units as their principal residence for a minimum of three years from the date of the approval of the urban lot split.

RV and boat parking

Moorpark code What Moorpark's code adds
Size limit	Vehicles over 19 ft long, 7 ft wide or 8 ft high may not park on council-designated streets. Applies: Only after notice is posted on the street. § 10.04.205 · code text which exceeds 19 feet in length, seven feet in width, or eight feet in height
Parking on the street	Oversized vehicles may not park or stand at any time. Applies: On public streets or highways the city council designates by resolution, once notice is posted. § 10.04.205 · code text No person shall park or leave standing any oversized vehicle, as further defined herein, upon any public street or highway in the city designated by city council resolution as subject to the provisions of this section, which designation shall become effective upon posting of notice of such prohibition

Solar panels and EV chargers

Moorpark code What Moorpark's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited building permit: same day over the counter, or 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications. Applies: A complete application meeting the approved checklist and standard plan, with no specific adverse public health or safety impact. § 15.21.050 · code text The building official shall issue a building permit on the same day for over the counter applications or within one to three business days for electronic applications
Solar permit process	Expedited, nondiscretionary review against a standard plan and checklist; electronic submittal and electronic signatures accepted. Applies: A complete application meeting the approved checklist and standard plan, with no specific adverse public health or safety impact. § 15.21.050 · code text The building official shall issue a building permit on the same day for over the counter applications or within one to three business days for electronic applications
Review time	Permit issued the same day. Applies: Over-the-counter applications. § 15.21.050 · code text The building official shall issue a building permit on the same day for over the counter applications Permit issued within 1 to 3 business days. Applies: Electronic applications. § 15.21.050 · code text within one to three business days for electronic applications

Swimming pools

Moorpark code No more than 2 inches between the ground and the bottom of the barrier. No more than 4 inches between the top of an above-ground pool and the bottom of a barrier on it.

All 16 Moorpark rules on swimming pools, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Other Moorpark rules on this

Moorpark's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Animal keeping standards (§ 17.28.030)
Permit to remove an oak, historic or mature tree (§ 12.12.070)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Moorpark?

Moorpark limits fences in open space, agricultural and residential zones to 6 ft; in front yards the top 3 ft must be open. City rule: walls may reach 10 ft where neighboring lots differ in grade or, with director approval, for noise attenuation.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Moorpark?

Moorpark's code: 2 lots of about equal area; neither may be smaller than 40% of the original lot. (§ 16.60.040); At least 1,200 square feet. (Each new lot; whichever is greater of this and 40% of the original lot area.) (§ 16.60.040).

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Moorpark?

Moorpark's code: Vehicles over 19 ft long, 7 ft wide or 8 ft high may not park on council-designated streets. (Only after notice is posted on the street.) (§ 10.04.205); Oversized vehicles may not park or stand at any time. (On public streets or highways the city council designates by resolution, once notice is posted.) (§ 10.04.205).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Moorpark?

Moorpark's code: Expedited building permit: same day over the counter, or 1 to 3 business days for electronic applications. (A complete application meeting the approved checklist and standard plan, with no specific adverse public health or safety impact.) (§ 15.21.050); Expedited, nondiscretionary review against a standard plan and checklist; electronic submittal and electronic signatures accepted. (A complete application meeting the approved checklist and standard plan, with no specific adverse public health or safety impact.) (§ 15.21.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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