What are the location and hours of the Planning Division?

The Planning Customer Service Counter is open from 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Mondays through Thursdays, and from 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM, on Fridays (closed holidays). We are located inside City Hall at 2929 Tapo Canyon Road, or you may contact us at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org.

Please note that an appointment will be required in order to submit a formal Planning application. Please call (805) 583-6769 or visit the Planning Customer Service Counter to schedule an appointment.

How do I find out if I am in a flood zone?

The Planning Division can help determine if your structure, including your home, is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (often referred to as the “flood zone”) as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Please call the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org for assistance.

You may also visit the City’s Flood Zone Information Page for more information, including flood insurance requirements, potential removal from the flood zone, and links to additional resources.

How many dogs and cats can I have at my home? What other types of animals are allowed?

A total of four domestic dogs, cats, and/or Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs may be kept on one residential lot. Other domestic creatures that are neither farm animals nor exotic/wild animals, including domestic mice and rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles, tropical fish, canaries, birds of the Psittacine or Columbiforme families (i.e., parakeets, parrots, pigeons, and doves) may also be kept at your home, so long as they are not maintained for commercial purposes and do not exceed a total of six animals (fish being exempt).

For additional information, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org.

For farm animals, please refer to the FAQ “Can I keep chickens or other farm animals on my residential property?” below.

Can I keep chickens or other farm animals on my residential property?

In order to maintain farm animals on a parcel, your property must be located within an Animal Overlay Zone.

The Animal (A) Overlay Zone allows all farm animals, including chickens, to be kept on a parcel. There are two other more restrictive Animal Overlays.

The Limited (L) Overlay Zone allows only limited types of farm animals, namely burros, Columbiformes, donkeys, ducks, goats, horses, llamas, mules, ponies, and rabbits.

The Horse (H) Overlay allows only burros, donkeys, horses, mules, and ponies to be kept on a parcel.

The keeping of farm animals must comply with specific quantity, density, and setback standards established by the Development Code – please refer to SVMC 9-44.060 “Animal Keeping”. To find out if your property is zoned for farm animals, please refer to the City Zoning Maps.

For more information regarding the City’s farm animal-keeping standards, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org.

How high can my property line wall or fence be?

Please refer to the Residential Fences and Walls Exhibit and ”Height and Location Requirements for Fences, Walls, and Hedges” to find out the maximum height(s) allowed for your property line wall, fence, or hedge. You may also visit the Planning Division, and a Planner will help determine your options based on your individual property.

Please note that, if you plan to alter, replace, or build a new property line wall/fence, you will first need to prepare a plot plan (refer to Sample Plot Plan and Minimum Setbacks) showing the location, type, and height of your proposed wall or fence, and bring it to the Planning Division. If your property line wall/fence is along an arterial street or adjacent to a commercial/industrial zone, you may be able to have a wall/fence up to eight feet high. If all requirements and standards are met, we will issue you a Zoning Clearance.

If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org.

For most residential fences and walls, a Building Permit is not required. However, if you are planning to build a garden wall over 6 feet in height or a retaining wall, a Building Permit may also be required. Please check with the Building Permit Counter at (805) 583-6723 for more information.

Where can I park my RV or trailer on my residential property?

Please refer to Oversized Vehicle & Trailer Parking Restrictions and Uncovered Parking Areas on Single-Family Lots to find out where you can park motor vehicles or trailers on your property, as well as the requirements for parking RVs or trailers on the street.

For more information about parking on your property, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org.

For more information regarding parking your RV or trailer on the street, contact the Simi Valley Police Department at (805) 583-6921.

How do I find out the zoning of a property?

You can determine the zoning for a property by checking the City Zoning Maps or by contacting the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org.

Can I subdivide my property?

You may be able to subdivide your residential property if it is at least twice the minimum lot size for the zone in which your parcel is located. For example, most single-family homes are located in a Residential Medium Zone, which has a minimum lot size of 8,000 square feet. Thus, in this particular zone, a property that has a total lot size of at least 16,000 square feet could potentially be subdivided, subject to meeting other requirements.

Please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org to help you determine whether your property meets the minimum size requirement and any other subdivision criteria that may apply.

For subdividing of land related to development, please refer to Land Development.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree from my property?

A Tree Removal Permit is required for the proposed removal of any protected tree(s), defined as: “All historic trees, all mature native oak trees, or any matures trees which are associated with a proposal of urban development, are located on a vacant parcel, or are located on developed properties.” However, with the exception of mature native oak trees and historic trees, removing a tree from the private yard of a single-family dwelling does not require City approval.

For additional information about tree removal, including permit requirements, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org.

Trees located in the public right-of-way (parkway trees) may not be removed without approval from the Public Works Department. Please call the Public Works Counter at (805) 583-6400 for more information.

Where exactly is my property line?

It is important to note that the most accurate way to determine the exact location of your property line is to have your property surveyed by a licensed professional. However, there are other resources you can use to help determine your property line’s location. For instance, you can access the Assessor’s Parcel Map for your property by visiting the Ventura County Assessor’s Office website and entering your Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN). The Assessor’s Parcel Map will show the dimensions of your property lines. With this information, you may be able to locate fixed points from which you can measure (such as a street marker). You may also want to check your deed for a description of your property’s measurements and boundaries in words.

In addition, you may visit the City’s Public Works Department at City Hall and ask to review any maps available for your neighborhood and street that would be helpful in determining your property lines. Please call the Public Works Counter at (805) 583-6786 for more information.

How can I find out about current or new residential, commercial, and industrial projects in the City of Simi Valley?

You may find out about current or new development in the City by accessing our Development Summaries page. The Development Summaries, updated on a quarterly basis, provide a comprehensive list of commercial, wireless telecommunications, industrial, and residential projects in review, recently approved, or under construction as of the end of the time period specified. Projects can be located by using the Map Number in the first column and referring to the corresponding map in the document.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org.

Do I need a business license from the City?

If you are starting a new business or conducting business in the City of Simi Valley, you are required to obtain a Business Tax Certificate. You may apply for a Business Tax Certificate (BTC) by following the instructions on our dedicated Business Tax webpage. The Planning Division will check to see if your proposed business is an allowed use within the zoning district you would like to locate your business.

The business tax fee is based on your annual gross receipts. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact SimiValley@hdlgov.com or by phone at (805) 850-1521, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (PST).

If you plan to operate your business out of a residence, you will need a Home Occupation Permit from the Planning Division prior to applying for a BTC.  The permit places common sense limits on home-based businesses that are appropriate for residential zones; for example, home-based businesses cannot store hazardous materials.  Please familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations governing Home Occupations by downloading our brochure. You can then apply online for a Home Occupation Permit, using our Online Permit Submittal Instructions for guidance. If you have any questions, please call the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769. You will receive a decision or a request for further information typically within 14 days.

Please refer to How to Open a Small Business in the City of Simi Valley for more information.

How many signs are allowed for my business?

Please refer to our Temporary and Permanent Signs page for City standards and requirements relating to your proposed signage, including the type, number, size, and location(s) allowed.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org.

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