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Oakdale · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Oakdale

Oakdale sets its own fence heights, accessory-building limits and home-business rules. Fence limits depend on the yard and on clear vision areas at driveways.

Key points

  • Fence height: Oakdale limits fences to 3 ft in front and exterior side yards and 8 ft in interior side and rear yards.
  • Accessory buildings: City rule: accessory buildings taller than 15 ft or 1 story must meet normal setbacks; coverage of required side and rear yards: 30%.
  • Home businesses: Oakdale home businesses need a permit and business license, may use 25% of all buildings and draw up to 10 trips a day.

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

Fences and walls

Oakdale code What Oakdale's code adds
Corner visibility
  • Keep the space between 3 and 8 feet high clear in the sight triangles at driveways.
    Applies: All zoning districts; both sides of a driveway that meets a public street; height measured from the top of curb.
    § 36-18.28 · code text
    Within both triangles on either side of the driveway the area between three (3) and eight (8) feet in height as measured from the top of the curb adjacent to the driveway shall be clear of vision obstructions.
Front yard height
  • Fences, hedges and walls up to 3 feet tall can extend to the property line.
    Applies: Front yard and street side yard, but never closer than 30 feet to the street center line.
    § 36-18.28 · code text
    Fences, hedges, walls, and screen plantings not exceeding three (3) feet in height may extend to the property line in the front yard and to the property line in the exterior side yard, but in no case closer than thirty (30) feet from the center line of the street.
  • Fences, hedges and walls can be up to 8 feet tall.
    Applies: Front yard area behind the building setback lines.
    § 36-18.28 · code text
    Fences, hedges, walls, and screen plantings not exceeding eight (8) feet in height may occupy any interior side yard and/or rear yard, and in the front yard and/or exterior side yard area situated behind the building setback lines.
Side and rear yard height
  • Fences, hedges and walls can be up to 8 feet tall.
    Applies: Interior side yards and rear yards.
    § 36-18.28 · code text
    Fences, hedges, walls, and screen plantings not exceeding eight (8) feet in height may occupy any interior side yard and/or rear yard, and in the front yard and/or exterior side yard area situated behind the building setback lines.
Permit
  • Site Plan Review approval is required.
    Applies: Fences, hedges, walls and screen plantings over 8 feet tall.
    § 36-18.28 · code text
    Fences, hedges, walls, and screen plantings exceeding eight (8) feet in height may be erected subject to obtaining Site Plan Review approval pursuant to § 36-19.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Oakdale code What Oakdale's code adds
Maximum height
  • Single-story accessory buildings can be at most 15 feet tall.
    Applies: Taller or 2-story accessory buildings must meet the normal district setbacks.
    § 36-18.27 · code text
    All other single-story accessory buildings may be constructed no closer than five (5) feet from the rear and interior side-yard lot line with a maximum height of fifteen (15) feet.
Size or lot coverage
  • Accessory buildings can cover at most 30% of the required side and rear yard.
    § 36-18.27 · code text
    Accessory buildings shall not occupy more than thirty (30%) percent of the required side and rear yard.
Side and rear setback
  • At least 3 feet from rear and interior side lot lines.
    Applies: Accessory buildings no taller than 9 feet at the outer building line.
    § 36-18.27 · code text
    An accessory building not exceeding a maximum height of nine (9) feet at the exterior building line may be constructed no closer than three (3) feet from the rear and interior side-yard lot lines
  • At least 5 feet from rear and interior side lot lines.
    Applies: All other single-story accessory buildings.
    § 36-18.27 · code text
    All other single-story accessory buildings may be constructed no closer than five (5) feet from the rear and interior side-yard lot line with a maximum height of fifteen (15) feet.
  • Must meet the normal building setbacks for the zoning district.
    Applies: Accessory buildings taller than 15 feet or more than 1 story.
    § 36-18.27 · code text
    An accessory building greater than fifteen (15) feet in height, or more than one-story, shall meet normal building setbacks for that zoning district where situated and shall not exceed the applicable building height limits as specified in that district.
  • At least 10 feet from the street side property line.
    Applies: Corner lots with a side yard facing a street; main and accessory buildings.
    § 36-18.27 · code text
    corner lots with an exterior side yard facing a street are required to hold a ten (10) foot exterior side yard setback from the property line for primary and accessory buildings.
Distance from the house
  • At least 5 feet from any other building on the lot.
    Applies: Any accessory building; it must also be on the rear half of the lot.
    § 36-18.27 · code text
    Any accessory building shall be located at least five (5) feet from any building on the lot and shall be situated on the rear-half of the lot.

Running a business from home

Oakdale code What Oakdale's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 25% of all buildings on the property.
    Applies: Building space used for the home business.
    § 36-18.21 · code text
    The business shall be conducted entirely within buildings designed and built for normal residential use; not more than twenty-five (25) percent of all buildings on the property shall be devoted to the home occupation; and there shall be no outside activity, storage or display.
Customer visits
  • No more than 10 trips per day.
    Applies: Traffic from clients and off-site employees in any 24-hour period.
    § 36-18.21 · code text
    In no case shall client and/or off-site employee generated traffic exceed ten (10) trips per day in any given twenty-four (24) hour time period.
Permit
  • A Home Occupation Permit and a business license are required.
    Applies: Businesses run from a home within city limits.
    § 36-18.21 · code text
    All businesses conducted within the City limits and from a dwelling shall comply with the licensing requirements for businesses in the City.
Businesses not allowed
  • Vehicle painting, repair and/or body and fender work
    § 36-18.21 · code text
    Vehicle painting, repair and/or body and fender work shall be prohibited.

RV and boat parking

Oakdale code What Oakdale's code adds
Parking on the street
  • No more than 2 hours on a public street.
    Applies: Oversize vehicles: RVs, trailers, or over 22 feet long, 7 feet wide or 7 1/2 feet high; loading, service work or police permit excepted.
    § 18-44 · code text
    No person shall park or let stand any oversize vehicle, whether or not attached to a trailer or other device, on a public street for more than two hours except while loading or unloading property unless additional time is reasonably necessary to complete such work;
  • No more than 2 hours on a public street.
    Applies: Personal watercraft and boats of any size, on or off a trailer; except while loading or unloading or with a permit.
    § 18-44 · code text
    Notwithstanding Subsections (a) or (b) above, no personal watercraft, commonly known as jet skis, wet bikes or sea-doos, or boat, regardless of size, whether on or off a trailer, shall be parked or left standing on a public street for more than two (2) hours, except while same is being loaded or unloaded.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Oakdale code What Oakdale's code adds
EV charger permit
  • Applications are accepted electronically, including electronic signatures.
    § 7-99 · code text
    The city shall accept EVCS permit applications electronically, including electronic signatures.
  • Administrative approval without discretionary planning review, limited to a health and safety check.
    Applies: Applies to EV charging projects that meet the checklist.
    § 7-99 · code text
    EVCS projects that satisfy the checklist may be approved administratively, without discretionary planning review, limited strictly to health and safety evaluation under applicable building codes.
Solar permit process
  • Expedited administrative, nondiscretionary review; one inspection, scheduled within 2 business days of a request.
    Applies: Applies to rooftop solar systems that meet the approved checklist and standard plan.
    § 7-85 · code text
    For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan, the Building Division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within three business days.
Review time
  • The permit is issued within 3 business days.
    Applies: Applies when the application meets the approved checklist and standard plan.
    § 7-85 · code text
    For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan, the Building Division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within three business days.

Tree removal

Oakdale code What Oakdale's code adds
Exemptions
  • No permit fee, but the permit is still required.
    Applies: Applies to existing homes or existing development not proposing new construction.
    § 36-28.4 · code text
    The permit fee will not apply to existing residential dwellings or existing development not proposing new construction.
Permit to remove
  • Staff may approve removing only immature oaks, or oaks dead or diseased beyond correction; healthy mature oaks go to Council.
    Applies: Applies to oak trees.
    § 36-28.4 · code text
    The only oak trees whose removal the City Manager or his or her authorized designee is authorized to permit, are trees that are of less than mature size or which are, in the City Manager's or his or her authorized designee's findings, clearly dead or diseased beyond correction.
  • Yes, a permit is required.
    Applies: Applies to any oak tree or significant tree on private property.
    § 36-28.3 · code text
    No person shall destroy or remove any oak tree or significant tree growing on private or public property within the City limits of the City without a permit.
Replacement trees
  • 1-2 trees in 24-inch boxes, each at least 1-1/2 inch trunk caliper, or 3-5 plantings in 15-gallon containers.
    Applies: A permit condition; replacements substitute for removed trees. The plantings are of an appropriate species.
    § 36-28.4 · code text
    a condition requiring tree replacement provisions that generally include one to two (1-2) twenty-four (24) inch box trees (providing one-and-one-half (1-1/2) inch minimum trunk caliper measurement) or three to five (3-5) fifteen (15) gallon plantings of an appropriate species to be planted in a suitable location as substitutes for removed trees
  • The applicant posts a bond so replacement trees are established and maintained for 2 growing seasons.
    Applies: Applies to tree removal permits with replacement trees.
    § 36-28.4 · code text
    the applicant shall be required to post a tree planting performance bond or security to ensure that replacement trees are properly established and maintained for two (2) growing seasons.

Pets, chickens and bees

Oakdale code What Oakdale's code adds
Chickens
  • Yes, up to 6 hens.
    Applies: Domesticated fowl, hens only.
    § 4-18 · code text
    Domesticated fowl (hens only) limited to a total of six birds;
Coop setback
  • 15 feet from the rear and side property lines.
    Applies: Applies to pens or other shelters for animals or fowl.
    § 4-18 · code text
    Pens or other quarters for animals or fowl shall be kept or maintained only at a distance of fifteen feet from the rear property line and fifteen feet from the side property line.
Large animals
  • 1 horse, cow, sheep, or goat on a parcel of at least 1/2 acre, plus 1 per extra 1/2 acre.
    Applies: Applies to parcels of at least 1/2 acre.
    § 4-18 · code text
    One horse, or one cow, or one sheep, or one goat on a parcel containing no less than one-half acre and one such animal for each additional one-half acre;
Permit
  • A permit is needed to keep pigeons.
    Applies: Applies to more than 6 pigeons; the chief of police or designee may grant the permit.
    § 4-18 · code text
    More than six pigeons when a permit has been obtained pursuant to § 4-25 of this Code.
Pet limit
  • No more than 3 dogs or 3 cats over 4 months old without a kennel license.
    Applies: Applies in or around any dwelling.
    § 4-18.1 · code text
    It is unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or maintain in or about any dwelling more than three dogs or three cats which are over the age of four months unless the owner has obtained a kennel license under the provisions of this Code.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Oakdale?

Oakdale limits fences to 3 ft in front and exterior side yards and 8 ft in interior side and rear yards.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Oakdale?

City rule: accessory buildings taller than 15 ft or 1 story must meet normal setbacks; coverage of required side and rear yards: 30%.

Can I run a business from my home in Oakdale?

Oakdale home businesses need a permit and business license, may use 25% of all buildings and draw up to 10 trips a day.

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

Oakdale's code: No more than 2 hours on a public street. (Oversize vehicles: RVs, trailers, or over 22 feet long, 7 feet wide or 7 1/2 feet high; loading, service work or police permit excepted.) (§ 18-44); No more than 2 hours on a public street. (Personal watercraft and boats of any size, on or off a trailer; except while loading or unloading or with a permit.) (§ 18-44).

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

Oakdale's code: Applications are accepted electronically, including electronic signatures. (§ 7-99); Administrative approval without discretionary planning review, limited to a health and safety check. (Applies to EV charging projects that meet the checklist.) (§ 7-99).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Oakdale?

Oakdale's code: No permit fee, but the permit is still required. (Applies to existing homes or existing development not proposing new construction.) (§ 36-28.4); Staff may approve removing only immature oaks, or oaks dead or diseased beyond correction; healthy mature oaks go to Council. (Applies to oak trees.) (§ 36-28.4).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Oakdale?

Oakdale's code: Yes, up to 6 hens. (Domesticated fowl, hens only.) (§ 4-18); 15 feet from the rear and side property lines. (Applies to pens or other shelters for animals or fowl.) (§ 4-18).

General information, not legal advice.

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