Ojai · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Ojai

Ojai sets its own fence heights and its own list of businesses not allowed as home occupations. New or replacement fences need a zoning clearance.

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Key points

Fence height: City rule: fences are limited to 4 ft in front setbacks, 6 ft in side and rear setbacks, and 3 ft at intersections.
Home businesses: City rule: home occupations may not include vehicle repair, animal grooming or breeding, medical offices, massage parlors or mini-storage.

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

Fences and walls

Ojai code What Ojai's code adds
Corner visibility	Fences can be at most 3 feet tall. Applies: In intersection visibility areas where alleys, streets and driveways meet. § 10-2.805 · code text At intersections of alleys, streets, and driveways within intersection visibility areas; see Section 10-2.803 (Height measurement and exceptions), Figures 3-2 and 3-2a \| 3 ft.
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Anywhere other than front setbacks, side and rear setbacks, and intersection visibility areas. § 10-2.805 · code text At any other location \| 6 ft.
Front yard height	Fences can be at most 4 feet tall. Applies: Front setbacks. § 10-2.805 · code text Front setbacks \| 4 ft. Front setback fences can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Only temporary, with written Director approval by zoning clearance, for public safety, buffering conflicting uses, or keeping dogs and other animals in. § 10-2.805 · code text additional height in the front setback, up to six feet is necessary, on a defined, term limited temporary basis, to protect public health and safety, to buffer adjacent conflicting land uses, or to ensure safety and preservation of the public's peace and welfare by ensuring safe confinement of dogs and other animals present on the property.
Side and rear yard height	Fences can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: Rear and side setbacks. § 10-2.805 · code text Rear and side setbacks \| 6 ft. Total height can be at most 7 feet, measured from the higher side. Applies: Where neighboring parcels differ in ground level by 2 feet or more. § 10-2.805 · code text provided no fence, wall, or screen shall exceed a total height of seven feet measured from the higher side of the fence, wall, or screen.
Permit	Yes. A zoning clearance is required. Applies: New or replacement fences, walls or screening. § 10-2.805 · code text The determination shall be provided as part of the Zoning Clearance permitting process for new fences, walls, and screening provided in Sections 10-2.803 (Height measurement and exceptions), 10-2.804 (Setback measurement and exceptions), and this section. A minor variance or a variance is required. Applies: To build a fence, wall or screen over 7 feet, measured from the higher side. § 10-2.805 · code text In order to build a fence, wall, or screen higher than this allotted height, a minor variance (Title 10, Chapter 2, Article 25 (Minor Variances)) or variance (Title 10, Chapter 2, Article 26 (Variances)) would first be required.

Running a business from home

Ojai code What Ojai's code adds
Businesses not allowed	Adult business; businesses which entail the harboring, training, breeding, raising, or grooming of dogs, cats, or other animals on the premises; carpentry and cabinet making; dance club/night club; fortune telling (Psychic); massage parlor; medical and dental offices, clinics, and laboratories; mini-storage; plant nursery; vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery, automobile detailing and painting (mobile minor repair or detailing at the customer's location is not prohibited); visitor serving accommodations; welding and machining; other uses determined by the Director not to be incidental to or compatible with residential activities § 10-2.2104 · code text The following list presents example commercial uses that are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities, are suitable only in nonresidential zoning districts, and are therefore prohibited:

Solar panels and EV chargers

Ojai code What Ojai's code adds
EV charger permit	The Building Official issues all needed permits when the application meets the city checklist; electronic applications and signatures accepted. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations; the station may not be energized or used until the city approves it. § 9-16.03 · code text The Building Official shall implement an expedited and streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review.

Tree removal

Ojai code What Ojai's code adds
Protected trees	All existing oak, sycamore, heritage, and other mature trees. § 10-2.1218 · code text All existing oak, sycamore, heritage, and other mature trees are considered significant aesthetic, ecological, and historical resources and shall be preserved in compliance with Title 4, Chapter 11 (Preservation, Cutting, and Removal of Oak, Sycamore, Heritage and Other Designated Mature Trees).

Swimming pools

Ojai code What Ojai's code adds
Pool barrier	No openings, holes, or gaps larger than 4 inches in any direction. Applies: Applies to outdoor pool enclosures, except doors and gates. § 9-2.08 · code text Every outdoor swimming pool shall be completely surrounded by a fence or wall not less than five feet in height, which shall be so constructed as not to have openings, holes, or gaps larger that four inches in any dimension, except for doors and gates. The space between pickets may be no more than 4 inches. Applies: Applies to picket fences. § 9-2.08 · code text If a picket fence is erected or maintained, the vertical dimension between pickets shall not exceed four inches. An enclosure must be provided and maintained. Applies: Applies to outdoor pools holding water more than 10 inches below grade. § 9-2.08 · code text No person in possession of land within the City upon which is situated an outdoor swimming pool having a depth of more than 10 inches of water below the grade shall fail to provide and maintain such enclosure as required by this section.
Barrier height	At least 5 feet high. Applies: Applies to the fence or wall completely surrounding an outdoor pool. § 9-2.08 · code text Every outdoor swimming pool shall be completely surrounded by a fence or wall not less than five feet in height, which shall be so constructed as not to have openings, holes, or gaps larger that four inches in any dimension, except for doors and gates.
Gates	Gates and doors must self-close and self-latch, and stay securely closed when not in use. Applies: Applies to doors and gates through the enclosure; house doors forming part of it are exempt. § 9-2.08 · code text A gates or doors opening through such enclosure shall be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device for keeping the gate or door securely closed at all times when not in actual use, except that the door of any dwelling which forms a part of the enclosure need not be so equipped.

Pets, chickens and bees

Ojai code What Ojai's code adds
Bees	Yes, no more than 1 hive. Applies: Applies to lots under 5,000 square feet. § 4-25.04 · code text No more than one hive shall be maintained on lots having less than 5,000 square feet in area. Yes, no more than 2 hives. Applies: Applies to lots of at least 5,000 but less than 10,000 square feet. § 4-25.04 · code text On lots having at least 5,000 but less than 10,000 square feet in area, no more than two hives shall be maintained. Yes, no more than 1 hive for each 5,000 square feet of additional lot area. Applies: Applies to lots over 10,000 square feet. § 4-25.04 · code text On lots having more than 10,000 square feet in area, no more than one hive shall be maintained for each 5,000 square feet of additional lot area. Hives at least 20 feet from any public street, sidewalk or thoroughfare, and at least 5 feet from property lines. § 4-25.04 · code text Hives shall not be placed within 20 lineal feet of any public street, sidewalk, or other public thoroughfare.
Large animals	Livestock may not roam on others' private property without permission, or on city streets or public places. § 5-4.306 · code text It is unlawful for any person owning, harboring, or controlling any livestock to permit such livestock to run at large upon the private property of another, without the permission of the person owning or occupying such private property, or upon the streets or public places of the City.
Permit	Registration with the County Agricultural Commissioner is required. Applies: Applies to each honey bee colony. § 4-25.03 · code text Each colony shall be registered with the County Agricultural Commissioner and kept in compliance with all State regulations governing bee management and honey production as provided in Division 13 of the California Food and Agriculture Code, Section 29000 et seq.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Ojai?

City rule: fences are limited to 4 ft in front setbacks, 6 ft in side and rear setbacks, and 3 ft at intersections.

Can I run a business from my home in Ojai?

City rule: home occupations may not include vehicle repair, animal grooming or breeding, medical offices, massage parlors or mini-storage.

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

Ojai's code: The Building Official issues all needed permits when the application meets the city checklist; electronic applications and signatures accepted. (Applies to EV charging stations; the station may not be energized or used until the city approves it.) (§ 9-16.03).

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

Ojai's code: All existing oak, sycamore, heritage, and other mature trees. (§ 10-2.1218).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Ojai?

Ojai's code: No openings, holes, or gaps larger than 4 inches in any direction. (Applies to outdoor pool enclosures, except doors and gates.) (§ 9-2.08); The space between pickets may be no more than 4 inches. (Applies to picket fences.) (§ 9-2.08).

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

Ojai's code: Yes, no more than 1 hive. (Applies to lots under 5,000 square feet.) (§ 4-25.04); Yes, no more than 2 hives. (Applies to lots of at least 5,000 but less than 10,000 square feet.) (§ 4-25.04).

General information, not legal advice.

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