Ojai Driveway Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

The City of Ojai Municipal Code and the Ventura County-administered zoning regulations applicable within city limits regulate where and how vehicles may be parked on private residential property. All vehicle parking on residential lots must occur on an approved paved surface — concrete, asphalt, or permeable pavers meeting city standards. Parking on grass, bare dirt, or landscaped areas is prohibited. Any expansion of paved driveway area requires a building permit and must comply with lot coverage, setback, and stormwater drainage requirements. Vehicles parked in driveways may not overhang the public sidewalk, which would obstruct pedestrian access and potentially violate ADA requirements on Ojai's historic streets.

Ojai's downtown grid and older residential neighborhoods feature many streets that are narrower than modern municipal standards. Some streets in the Ojai Valley lack curbs or have minimal shoulder width, making clear and unobstructed driveways essential for emergency vehicle access. The Ventura County Fire Department has identified fire apparatus access as a critical concern in Ojai's VHFHSZ designation, and blocked or partially obstructed driveways can impede evacuation and fire suppression during wildfire events — a lesson reinforced by the 2017 Thomas Fire evacuation.

Inoperable, dismantled, or unregistered vehicles visible from the public right-of-way constitute a nuisance under the municipal code and applicable California Vehicle Code provisions. Such vehicles must be stored inside an enclosed garage or behind a solid fence or wall that screens them from public view. Tarp-covered vehicles visible from the street generally do not satisfy the screening requirement. Garage spaces designated as required parking under the zoning code must retain their vehicle-parking function; converting a garage to living space without proper permits and replacement parking is a violation. Code compliance matters within Ojai are handled through Ventura County Code Compliance at (805) 654-2455.