Westlake Village · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Westlake Village

Westlake Village sets its own limits on fences and on pools and equipment in rear yards, and bans some home businesses. Fences over 42 inches need a permit.

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Key points

Fence height: In Residential Zones, Westlake Village limits fences, walls and hedges to 42 inches in front and street side setbacks and 6 feet elsewhere.
Pools and equipment: Westlake Village sets distance limits for swimming pools and ground-mounted pool and air-conditioning equipment in a required rear yard.
Banned businesses: Westlake Village does not allow some home businesses, such as auto repair, barber services, carpentry, welding, medical offices and firearm sales.

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

Fences and walls

Westlake Village code What Westlake Village's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 6 feet, seen from either side. Applies: For fences, walls (not retaining walls) and hedges. In residential zones, 42 inches in front and street side yard setbacks. § 9.14.050 · code text No fence, wall (other than retaining walls), or hedge shall be higher than six (6) feet when viewed from either side. No more than 6 feet, measured from the adjacent property. Applies: For the part of a wall that holds back earth. § 9.14.050 · code text When a portion of a wall is deigned to retain earth, the maximum height of said wall shall not exceed six (6) feet when measured from the adjacent property.
Front yard height	No more than 42 inches. Applies: In residential zones, for fences, walls, hedges and view obstructions in any front yard setback. § 9.14.050 · code text In Residential Zones, fences, walls, hedges, or obstructions to view shall not exceed forty-two (42) inches in height in any front yard or side yard setback area abutting a street.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 42 inches. Applies: In residential zones, in a side yard setback next to a street. § 9.14.050 · code text In Residential Zones, fences, walls, hedges, or obstructions to view shall not exceed forty-two (42) inches in height in any front yard or side yard setback area abutting a street.
Permit	Yes, a fence permit for any fence or wall over 42 inches. Applies: Approved by the Planning Director and City Manager, unless the City Council already approved it in a development permit. § 9.14.050 · code text No person shall erect or construct a fence or wall exceeding forty-two (42) inches in height within the City without first obtaining approval of a fence permit from the Planning Director and City Manager, unless said fence or wall has been previously authorized by the City Council as part of an approved development permit.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Westlake Village code What Westlake Village's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 6 feet, measured from the base of the unit. Applies: For ground-mounted air conditioners and pool pumps, heaters, filters and fans in a required rear yard. § 9.14.040 · code text such structures or equipment do not exceed a height of six (6) feet measured from the base of the unit.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any lot line. Applies: For swimming pools in a required rear yard. § 9.14.040 · code text A swimming pool is permitted in a required rear yard, no closer than five (5) feet to any lot line. At least 2½ feet from any lot line. Applies: For ground-mounted air conditioners and pool pumps, heaters, filters and fans in a required rear yard. § 9.14.040 · code text such structures or equipment are not closer than two and one-half (2½) feet to any lot line

Running a business from home

Westlake Village code What Westlake Village's code adds
Businesses not allowed	Industrial uses § 9.28.030 · code text 1. Industrial uses. Automotive repair (body or mechanical), upholstery and painting § 9.28.030 · code text 2. Automotive repair (body or mechanical), upholstery and painting. Barber and beauty services § 9.28.030 · code text 3. Barber and beauty services. Carpentry and cabinet making § 9.28.030 · code text 4. Carpentry and cabinet making. Welding and machining § 9.28.030 · code text 5. Welding and machining. Medical offices, clinics and laboratories, including psychologists, chiropractors and dentists § 9.28.030 · code text 6. Medical offices, clinics and laboratories, including, but not limited to, psychologists, chiropractors and dentists. Adult businesses, including massage parlors and the making of adult movies § 9.28.030 · code text 7. Adult businesses, including massage parlors and the making of adult movies. Sale of firearms, including engaging in activities as a gun dealer § 9.28.030 · code text 8. Sale of firearms, including engaging in activities as a "gun dealer," as defined in Section 6.3.005 of this Code.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Westlake Village code What Westlake Village's code adds
Solar height and setbacks	The panel array may not exceed the maximum legal building height in the Zoning Ordinance. Applies: Required to qualify for expedited permits as a small residential rooftop solar system. § 8.9.070 · code text The solar panel or module array shall not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined in the Zoning Ordinance. No structure or plants may shade more than 10% of a neighbor's solar collector area. Applies: Applies in residential zones. § 9.15.060 · code text No building, wall, fence, or other structure shall be constructed or modified in a residential zone, and no vegetation may be placed or allowed to grow so as to obstruct more than ten percent of the absorption area of a solar energy system on a neighboring lot at any time.
Solar permit process	Expedited permit; apply in person or online through the electronic submittal system. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems that meet all the expedited-permit criteria. § 8.9.030 · code text The application for a permit shall meet the requirements of Building Code Section 106.4 and may be submitted in person or electronically through the online submittal system maintained by the Building Official. A combined solar permit may cover all building and electrical work; plumbing needs a separate permit if required. Applies: Applies to solar panel (photovoltaic) systems. § 8.9.040 · code text A combined solar energy permit may be issued for photovoltaic systems, which will include all building and electrical work, however a separate plumbing permit, if needed, will be required.
Review time	Plan check is done within 1 to 3 business days. Applies: Starts when a complete small residential rooftop solar application is received. § 8.9.030 · code text Upon receipt of a complete small residential rooftop solar energy system application, plan check review will be completed within one to three (3) business days.

Tree removal

Westlake Village code What Westlake Village's code adds
Exemptions	Not exempt, but the Director may approve the permit administratively without a public hearing. Applies: Pruning live branches over 4 inches across, when a qualified arborist finds it will not harm the tree's health. § 9.21.060 · code text If proposed trimming or pruning of a protected tree consists of cutting live branches over four (4) inches in diameter but the proposed cuts will not adversely impact the health of the tree, as determined by a qualified arborist, the Director may approve such a request administratively without a public hearing. Not exempt, but the Director may approve the permit administratively without a public hearing. Applies: Work in the protected zone that a qualified arborist finds will not harm the tree's health. § 9.21.060 · code text Additionally, if a proposed encroachment into the protected zone of a tree will not adversely impact the health of the tree, as determined by a qualified arborist, the Director may approve such a request administratively without a public hearing.
Permit to remove	Yes, a protected tree permit approved by the City Council. Applies: Any protected tree on any lot in the City, except as the code otherwise provides. § 9.21.050 · code text Except as otherwise provided in Sections 9.21.040 and 9.21.060, no person shall alter, destroy, disfigure, remove, relocate, or otherwise damage on any protected tree on any lot or parcel of land within the City, unless a protected tree permit is approved by the City Council in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
Replacement trees	On-site replacement trees may be required. Applies: If the City Council finds it appropriate for a removed protected tree. § 9.21.090 · code text On-site replacement of a removed protected tree may be required, if deemed appropriate by the City Council, with trees of a suitable type, size, number, and at an appropriate location. Generally at least a 24-inch box, at 1 to 4 new trees per protected tree removed. Applies: Guidance when the City Council requires on-site replacement. § 9.21.090 · code text In general, replacement trees should be at least a twenty-four (24) inch box, or larger, and should be placed at an appropriate ratio of one (1) to four (4) new trees for each protected tree removed. Off-site replacement may be required. Applies: When on-site replacement is not feasible and the City Council finds mitigation appropriate. § 9.21.090 · code text If on-site replacement of a removed protected tree cannot feasibly be provided, and the City Council determines that mitigation is appropriate, off-site replacement may be required.

Other Westlake Village rules on this

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

Animals allowed on a home lot (Ch. 9.23)
Urban lot splits with two units (SB 9) (§ 10.1.050) — single-family zones only
No outdoor RV storage in single-family zones (§ 9.5.050)
No outdoor RV storage in planned developments (§ 9.6.050)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Westlake Village?

In Residential Zones, Westlake Village limits fences, walls and hedges to 42 inches in front and street side setbacks and 6 feet elsewhere.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Westlake Village?

Westlake Village sets distance limits for swimming pools and ground-mounted pool and air-conditioning equipment in a required rear yard.

Can I run a business from my home in Westlake Village?

Westlake Village does not allow some home businesses, such as auto repair, barber services, carpentry, welding, medical offices and firearm sales.

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

Westlake Village's code: The panel array may not exceed the maximum legal building height in the Zoning Ordinance. (Required to qualify for expedited permits as a small residential rooftop solar system.) (§ 8.9.070); No structure or plants may shade more than 10% of a neighbor's solar collector area. (Applies in residential zones.) (§ 9.15.060).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Westlake Village?

Westlake Village's code: Not exempt, but the Director may approve the permit administratively without a public hearing. (Pruning live branches over 4 inches across, when a qualified arborist finds it will not harm the tree's health.) (§ 9.21.060); Not exempt, but the Director may approve the permit administratively without a public hearing. (Work in the protected zone that a qualified arborist finds will not harm the tree's health.) (§ 9.21.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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