Peña's Landscape Services Inc.
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Service Areas

Ventura County, where we are based.

We are based in Simi Valley, and most of our projects are a short drive from home.

Ventura County ranges from coastal fog in Oxnard and Ventura to inland heat in Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks, with plenty of hillside lots and oak trees in between.

Request a Free Site Visit

Free on qualifying projects

Call the office(805) 797-3346 Text a photo
Finished backyard with fresh sod, a curved stamped patio and a planted block retaining wall
Stamped patio and sod · Thousand Oaks

What we plan for here

  • Clay soils that need a real base under patios and pavers
  • Hillside lots and the drainage that comes with them
  • Oak trees with city protection rules
  • HOA review in many planned neighborhoods
  • Very High fire hazard zones across the Conejo Valley and Simi Valley

City by city

Applies to every city below

  1. State code exempts a retaining wall up to 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing, unless it holds back a slope, driveway or structure. Unincorporated Ventura County requires a permit over 3 feet, measured from the lower finished grade, and cities can be stricter. Zoning height limits still apply.

    Verified Oct 2026Source: codes.iccsafe.org, rmadocs.venturacounty.gov (PDF)

  2. Many neighborhoods here have HOA architectural review. Plan time for it; we build to the approved plans. State law (Civil Code 4735) voids HOA rules that ban low-water plants or artificial turf, though HOAs can still set reasonable design standards.

    Verified Oct 2026Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

Ventura County

Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Moorpark and Simi Valley

In Simi Valley, an oak in your own backyard still needs a city permit to remove.

Water

Your water comes through a Calleguas Municipal Water District retailer, such as the City of Thousand Oaks, California American Water, Cal Water or Ventura County Waterworks.

Verified Oct 2026Source: calleguas.com

Rebates

SoCal WaterSmart (Metropolitan Water District) currently lists $2.00 per square foot for residential turf replacement, up to 5,000 square feet a year, plus $100 per tree for up to 5 trees. Funds must be reserved before work starts, and the work must be finished within 180 days.

Verified Oct 2026Source: socalwatersmart.com

Trees

Thousand Oaks protects every oak over 2 inches in diameter. Any work in an oak's protected zone, 5 feet beyond the canopy or 15 feet from the trunk, whichever is greater, needs a permit.

Verified Oct 2026Source: toaks.gov

Simi Valley: removing a native oak 5 inches or larger, measured 4.5 feet above the ground, needs a city Tree Removal Permit, even in a single-family backyard.

Verified Oct 2026Source: simivalley.org

Fire

Ventura County Fire Department. The 2025 state maps show 24,867 acres of Very High fire hazard zone in Thousand Oaks, 17,630 in Simi Valley and 6,376 in Moorpark. Since March 1, 2025, Ventura County Fire requires a 5-foot noncombustible zone around new buildings and additions.

Verified Oct 2026Source: State Fire Marshal maps (PDF), fire.venturacounty.gov

HOA and local notes

Thousand Oaks already bans watering non-functional turf on HOA common areas and commercial properties with drinking water. A waiver costs $306.

Verified Oct 2026Source: toaks.gov

Ventura County

Camarillo and Oxnard

Five water retailers in one city: in Camarillo, your bill decides your rebate.

Water

Camarillo has five water retailers: the City of Camarillo, Camrosa Water District, California American Water, Pleasant Valley Mutual and Crestview Mutual. All buy through Calleguas MWD. Oxnard customers are served by the City of Oxnard.

Verified Oct 2026Source: calleguas.com

Rebates

Camarillo: SoCal WaterSmart (Metropolitan Water District) currently lists $2.00 per square foot for residential turf replacement, up to 5,000 square feet a year, plus $100 per tree for up to 5 trees. Funds must be reserved before work starts, and the work must be finished within 180 days. Oxnard: the city's rebate page currently lists $3 per square foot for turf removal, subject to funding, plus $100 per tree for up to 5 trees, for homes and businesses.

Verified Oct 2026Source: socalwatersmart.com, oxnard.gov

Fire

Camarillo is served by Ventura County Fire (1,871 acres Very High in the 2025 maps). Oxnard has its own fire department and no Very High zone in the 2025 maps.

Verified Oct 2026Source: State Fire Marshal maps (PDF), fire.venturacounty.gov

Ventura County

Ventura and Ojai

In Ojai, landscape lighting has to be shielded and warm.

Water

Ventura Water (City of Ventura) and Casitas Municipal Water District, which now runs the Ojai water system. Neither is a Metropolitan Water District member, so SoCal WaterSmart rebates do not apply here.

Verified Oct 2026Source: mwdh2o.com, casitaswater.gov

Rebates

Ventura Water runs its own turf replacement incentive. Casitas lists smart irrigation controller rebates but no turf replacement rebate.

Verified Oct 2026Source: cityofventura.ca.gov, casitaswater.gov

Trees

Ojai protects oaks and sycamores 8 inches and up, any mature tree 12 inches and up, and heritage trees named by the City Council. Removing, relocating, or trenching, grading or building within the dripline needs a permit. Amendments are pending.

Verified Oct 2026Source: ojai.ca.gov

Permits

In the unincorporated Ojai Valley, county dark-sky rules call for fully shielded, downward-facing light fixtures, a warm color of 3,000K or lower, and no more than 850 lumens. The City of Ojai has its own exterior lighting standards.

Verified Oct 2026Source: rma.venturacounty.gov

Fire

Ventura has its own fire department (2,847 acres Very High in 2025). Ojai is in the Ventura County Fire district (1,675 acres Very High in 2025).

Verified Oct 2026Source: State Fire Marshal maps (PDF), fire.venturacounty.gov

We also work in Santa Paula, Fillmore and Port Hueneme. Call or text (805) 797-3346 and we will check the rules for your address.

Rules as of October 2026, from the sources linked on each card. Rebate funding and city rules change. We confirm what applies to your address before you commit to anything.

Work in this area

Work by area
Newly built curved split-face block retaining wall around a graded backyard
Curved block wall · Thousand Oaks
Close view of an ashlar-slate stamped concrete patio beside new sod
Stamped patio · Thousand Oaks

Questions

Things people ask before they call.

Do you work in Oxnard and Ventura?

Yes, across all of Ventura County. Call or text (805) 797-3346 if you are not sure about your address.

Can I get a rebate for removing my lawn?

Often. Most cities here buy water through Calleguas and can use SoCal WaterSmart. Ventura, Ojai, Santa Paula and Fillmore are outside that program. Apply and get approval before the lawn comes out.

What happens next

Three steps to a written price.

  1. Tell us about the project

    Call or text the office, or send the short site-visit request with your city, a budget range and a photo or two.

  2. We walk the property

    We call or text to set a time, then walk the site with you. Free on qualifying projects.

  3. You get it in writing

    A written scope, materials, schedule and a clear price, explained in plain language.

Finished paver patio with stacked-stone clad column bases under pergola posts in front of a cream shingle-sided house

Let's walk the property.

Pick whichever is easiest. The office answers calls and texts Mon to Fri 7 AM to 5 PM and Sat 8 AM to 2 PM.

Request a Free Site Visit

Free on qualifying projects

Planning something under about $10,000? Text a photo first. We will tell you honestly whether we are the right crew for it.