Thousand Oaks · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks sets its own limits on accessory buildings in R Zones and on home businesses. Estate lots of 5 acres or more in the R-A, R-E, R-O and R-1 Zones are exempt from the accessory building area limits.

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Key points

Accessory buildings: In R Zones, Thousand Oaks limits an accessory building, not counting ADUs, to 600 square feet and 50% of the main building's footprint.
Total floor area: In R Zones, all accessory buildings on a lot together, not counting ADUs, are limited to 100% of the main building's footprint.
Home businesses: Thousand Oaks home businesses need a permit; at most 4 visitors a day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and one employee at a time.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Thousand Oaks code What Thousand Oaks's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than 600 square feet of floor area. Applies: Accessory buildings in all R zones, not counting accessory dwelling units. § 9-4.2509.5 · code text Accessory buildings, excluding any secondary residential accessory dwelling units authorized by Article 45, in all R Zones shall not have a floor area in excess of six hundred (600) square feet No more than 50% of the footprint of the main building. Applies: Each accessory building in any R zone, unless allowed by a planned development permit (RPD, HPD) or administrative approval (R-A, R-E, R-O, R-1, R-2). § 9-4.2509.5 · code text nor shall any accessory building in any R Zone have a floor area in excess of fifty (50%) percent of the footprint of the principal or main building unless otherwise authorized as part of a residential planned development permit in the RPD and HPD zones or subject to the approval of an Administrative Approval in the R-A, R-E, R-O, R-1 and R-2 Zones in accordance with Section 9-4.2815. Total floor area no more than 100% of the main building's footprint. Applies: All accessory buildings on one lot in any R zone, not counting accessory dwelling units. § 9-4.2509.5 · code text Cumulative floor area of accessory buildings in any R Zone exclusive of accessory dwelling units pursuant to Article 45 shall not exceed one hundred (100%) percent of the footprint of the principal or main building on a single lot or parcel of land. Exempt from the size limits for accessory buildings. Applies: Estate lots of 5 acres or more in R-A, R-E, R-O and R-1 zones; ADU size limits still apply. § 9-4.2509.5 · code text Estate lots in the R-A, R-E, R-O and R-1 Zones which are five (5) acres in size or greater shall be considered exempt from area requirements for accessory buildings except for area requirements applicable to accessory dwelling units pursuant to Article 45.

Running a business from home

Thousand Oaks code What Thousand Oaks's code adds
Customer visits	No more than 4 visitors or customers a day. Applies: Only between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Students for lessons or tutoring have their own limit: 2 at a time, 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. § 9-4.2518 · code text No more than four (4) visitors or customers a day shall be allowed in connection with the home occupation and may only be present between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., except as provided in subsection (ii). No more than 2 students on the premises at the same time. Applies: Music lessons, tutoring or other instruction; only between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. § 9-4.2518 · code text No more than two (2) students shall be allowed on the premises at the same time for music lessons, tutoring, or other instructional purposes and may only be present between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Up to 8 students at the same time, once a week. Applies: Group instruction. § 9-4.2518 · code text However, group instruction of up to eight (8) students at the same time shall be allowed once a week.
Employees	No more than 2 employees per day who do not live in the home. Applies: Present only between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. § 9-4.2518 · code text A maximum of two (2) employees per day, not occupants of the residence and only during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., shall be allowed at the residence. No more than 1 employee at the home at a time. § 9-4.2518 · code text No more than one employee shall be allowed at the residence at a time.
Permit	Yes. A home occupation permit from the Community Development Director is required. § 9-4.2518 · code text A home occupation permit shall be issued if the Community Development Director determines that such use complies with the following criteria:

Lot splits under SB 9

Thousand Oaks code 2 lots of about equal area; one lot may not be smaller than 40% of the original lot area. A standard is waived only as far as needed to allow 2 units of up to 800 square feet each.

All 15 Thousand Oaks rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Thousand Oaks code What Thousand Oaks's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	Panels must not exceed the zone's maximum legal building height to qualify for expedited review. Applies: Applies to small rooftop solar systems on a single-family or duplex home. § 8-1.25 · code text A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height within the zone in which it is located as defined by Chapter 4 of Title 9 of this Code.
Solar permit process	Administrative approval with all permits when complete and meeting the checklist; 1 inspection; apply in person, by mail or electronically. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems that meet the checklist. § 8-1.25 · code text The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the Building Division of the Community Development Department by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees.

Tree removal

Thousand Oaks code What Thousand Oaks's code adds
Exemptions	Trees damaged by natural disasters and found dangerous by listed officials; the city must be told promptly. Applies: Applies to landmark trees. § 9-4.4304 · code text Trees damaged by thunderstorms, windstorms, floods, earthquakes, fires, or other natural disasters and determined to be dangerous by a peace officer, fireman, civil defense official, or code enforcement officer in their official capacity. The Community Development Department shall be promptly noticed of the nature of the emergency and action taken; Removal needed while firefighters are actively fighting a fire. Applies: Applies to landmark trees. § 9-4.4304 · code text When removal is determined necessary by fire department personnel actively engaged in fighting a fire; Trees on an occupied single-family home lot smaller than 2 acres. Applies: Exempt from the landmark tree permit only; the oak tree permit rule is separate. § 9-4.4304 · code text Trees within the property boundaries of an occupied single-family detached dwelling; provided, that the parcel in question is smaller than two (2) acres;
Permit to remove	Yes, an oak tree permit is required. Applies: Applies to oak trees on public or private property in the City. § 9-4.4204 · code text No person shall cut, remove, encroach into the protected zone, or relocate any oak tree on any public or private property within the City, unless a valid oak tree permit has been issued by the City pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the oak tree preservation and protection guidelines. Yes, a landmark tree permit is required. Applies: Applies to landmark trees on public or private property in the City. § 9-4.4304 · code text No person shall cut, remove, encroach into the protected zone, or relocate any landmark tree on any public or private property within the City unless a valid landmark tree permit has been issued by the City pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
Protected trees	Oak trees. § 9-4.4204 · code text No person shall cut, remove, encroach into the protected zone, or relocate any oak tree on any public or private property within the City, unless a valid oak tree permit has been issued by the City pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the oak tree preservation and protection guidelines.

Pets, chickens and bees

Thousand Oaks code What Thousand Oaks's code adds
Large animals	Livestock must be at least 40 feet from any dwelling except the owner's, and from schools and religious facilities. Applies: Each horse or other large animal needs at least 200 square feet of corral; no more than 600 square feet is required. § 6-1.101 · code text No livestock shall be housed, kept, or confined within forty (40’) feet of any habitable dwelling, religious facility, school, or other place of human habitation except the dwelling of the owner thereof.

Other Thousand Oaks rules on this

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

Oversized vehicle street parking and permits (§ 4-3.424) — public streets only

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Thousand Oaks?

In R Zones, Thousand Oaks limits an accessory building, not counting ADUs, to 600 square feet and 50% of the main building's footprint. In R Zones, all accessory buildings on a lot together, not counting ADUs, are limited to 100% of the main building's footprint.

Can I run a business from my home in Thousand Oaks?

Thousand Oaks home businesses need a permit; at most 4 visitors a day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and one employee at a time.

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

Thousand Oaks's code: Panels must not exceed the zone's maximum legal building height to qualify for expedited review. (Applies to small rooftop solar systems on a single-family or duplex home.) (§ 8-1.25); Administrative approval with all permits when complete and meeting the checklist; 1 inspection; apply in person, by mail or electronically. (Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems that meet the checklist.) (§ 8-1.25).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Thousand Oaks?

Thousand Oaks's code: Trees damaged by natural disasters and found dangerous by listed officials; the city must be told promptly. (Applies to landmark trees.) (§ 9-4.4304); Removal needed while firefighters are actively fighting a fire. (Applies to landmark trees.) (§ 9-4.4304).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Thousand Oaks?

Thousand Oaks's code: Livestock must be at least 40 feet from any dwelling except the owner's, and from schools and religious facilities. (Each horse or other large animal needs at least 200 square feet of corral; no more than 600 square feet is required.) (§ 6-1.101).

General information, not legal advice.

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Thousand Oaks Municipal Code — full text

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