Camarillo Permit Requirements Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Camarillo Municipal Code Title 19 (Zoning) establishes the framework governing fences and walls throughout the city, setting maximum heights based on yard location, street adjacency, and zoning district. These zoning standards work in conjunction with the California Building Code as locally adopted by the City to determine when a building permit is separately required. For the majority of standard residential fence projects — a wood or vinyl privacy fence installed in a side or rear yard that does not exceed 6 feet in height — no building permit is required from the Building and Safety Division. However, the fence must still conform to all applicable Zoning Code height and setback standards before construction begins. Property owners who install a fence later found to violate the Zoning Code may be required to modify or remove it at their own expense and may be assessed penalty fees for the violation. Contacting the Community Development Department before breaking ground is the most effective way to avoid costly corrections after the fact.

Masonry construction triggers elevated requirements in Camarillo. Concrete block, brick, stone, and stucco-over-block walls exceeding 3 feet in exposed height — measured from the lowest adjacent finished grade — require a building permit application accompanied by engineered structural drawings stamped by a California-licensed structural engineer. The engineering must demonstrate that footings and reinforcement comply with the seismic design category applicable to Camarillo's location in Ventura County. Any fence or wall of any material — including wood, wrought iron, aluminum, vinyl, or masonry — that exceeds 6 feet in height requires a full building permit regardless of material type. Height is measured from the lowest adjacent finished grade, which means a fence installed on top of a retaining wall may require a permit based on the combined height even if the fence structure itself measures under 6 feet.

Camarillo does not mandate a minimum setback for fences from the property line, but fences placed along or near a common boundary have legal implications governed by California Civil Code Section 841. Owners are encouraged to confirm the precise property boundary location — ideally through a licensed land surveyor — before installing any fence intended to sit on or near the boundary line. Barbed wire, razor wire, and electrically charged fencing are prohibited on residential properties. Sight-triangle clearance at driveways and street intersections must be maintained in accordance with City Engineer standards. For pre-application guidance, contact the Camarillo Community Development Department at (805) 388-5360.