Thousand Oaks, CA

Thousand Oaks regulates noise through its municipal code and general nuisance provisions. Quiet hours run from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Noise audible from 50 feet or more from any residence during quiet hours may be cited. The city also restricts amplified sound, barking dogs, and other disturbances under its nuisance framework.

Thousand Oaks restricts construction activities to 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday. No construction is permitted on Sundays or federal holidays. These restrictions apply to all construction equipment within city limits.

Thousand Oaks permits short-term rentals with significant restrictions. STRs are prohibited in certain residential zones. Where allowed, operators must obtain a city STR Permit, a county Business License Tax Certificate, and a TOT Registration Certificate. Maximum occupancy is 10 persons. Operators must carry $500,000 in liability insurance and maintain a 30-minute complaint response time.

Thousand Oaks requires a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax on all stays of 30 days or less. Operators must register with the Finance Department, file monthly returns, and remit tax by the last day of the following month. A Business Tax Certificate is also required.

Thousand Oaks falls under Ventura County Fire Department jurisdiction. Recreational fires must be no more than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, with a 25-foot setback from structures for open fires or 15 feet for approved containers. Gas fire pits are exempt from burn bans. In wildland fire areas (much of Thousand Oaks), a California Campfire Permit is required.

Open burning for vegetation disposal is prohibited in Thousand Oaks. The city adopted new fire ordinances in December 2025 requiring a Zone Zero 5-foot non-combustible buffer around structures. Property owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space in Wildland-Urban Interface areas. VCFD standards are more restrictive than state law.

Thousand Oaks prohibits overnight parking on posted residential streets between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM without a city-issued permit. Commercial vehicles over 12,000 lbs GVWR are banned from residential streets. Transportation Center parking is limited to 72 hours.

Thousand Oaks allows oversized vehicle street parking only with a permit valid for up to 5 consecutive days. RVs may park in driveways for up to 30 days, in side yards with a 3-foot setback, or in backyards with a 20-foot setback. Vehicles for sale on posted streets are prohibited.

Thousand Oaks allows chickens on R-1 zoned properties with a Farm Animal Permit. Animal housing must maintain a 40-foot setback from neighboring structures. The city adopts LA County Title 10 animal regulations by reference. Roosters are not explicitly banned but are effectively restricted by setback and noise rules.

Dogs in Thousand Oaks must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet on public property. All dogs 4 months and older require a license through LA County Animal Care & Control. License fees are $20 for spayed/neutered dogs and $60 for intact dogs. Leash violations can result in $100-$1,000 citations.

Thousand Oaks limits fences to 6 feet in side and rear yards and 3 feet in front yards. No building permit is needed for fences under 6 feet. Noise attenuation fences up to 9 feet may be approved along rear property lines. Smooth vinyl and untreated cinderblock are generally prohibited.

Running a home business in Thousand Oaks requires a Home Occupation Permit and a Business Tax Certificate. Up to 2 non-resident employees per day are allowed (1 at a time, 8 AM-8 PM only). Maximum 4 customers per day. No outdoor storage, no signage, and no more than 1 commercial vehicle on premises.

Thousand Oaks — the "City of Trees" — strictly protects all oak species with trunks over 2 inches in diameter. A Protected Tree Permit is required for removal, and an Oak Tree Permit is needed to prune live tissue. The protected zone extends 5 feet beyond the canopy edge or 15 feet from the trunk. Unauthorized removal can result in severe penalties.