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

Moorpark's Zoning Ordinance, codified in Municipal Code Title 17, establishes the framework governing fences and walls throughout the city. The Zoning Ordinance sets maximum heights based on yard location, proximity to streets, and zoning district. These standards work in conjunction with the California Building Code as locally adopted by the City to determine when a building permit is required. For the great majority of residential fence projects — a standard 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 Ordinance height and location standards before any construction begins. A fence later found to violate the Zoning Ordinance may be required to be modified or removed at the property owner's expense, along with any applicable penalty fees. Pre-application consultation with the Building and Safety Division or the Community Development Department is strongly encouraged to avoid costly corrections after construction.

Masonry construction is subject to elevated requirements. 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 seismic design requirements applicable to the Moorpark area in Ventura County. Any fence or wall — regardless of material, whether wood, wrought iron, aluminum, vinyl, or masonry — that exceeds 6 feet in height requires a full building permit. Height is measured from the lowest adjacent finished grade, which means a fence or wall placed on top of a retaining wall may be evaluated based on its combined height and could require a permit even if the fence panel itself measures under 6 feet.

Moorpark does not impose a mandatory minimum setback for fences from the property line, but placement of a fence along or near a common boundary carries legal implications under California Civil Code Section 841. Property owners are encouraged to confirm the precise location of their property boundaries — preferably through a California-licensed land surveyor — before installing any fence intended to sit on or near the property line. Barbed wire and electrically charged fencing are prohibited on residential properties in all zones. Clear sight triangles at driveway approaches and street intersections must be maintained per City Engineer standards. For questions prior to submitting a permit application, contact the Building and Safety Division at (805) 517-6257 or the Community Development Department at (805) 517-6251.