Sustainability Fees
The Sustainability Division reviews commercial and multifamily building permit applications to ensure compliance with applicable state and local environmental regulations and ordinances.
The Division’s review focuses on the following key areas:
- Solid Waste Management: Verification that trash enclosures provide adequate capacity and functionality for the collection of landfill waste, recycling, and organic materials. This includes proper collection infrastructure within commercial tenant spaces, particularly in food-serving areas and employee break rooms.
- Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste: Compliance with state and local requirements to divert a minimum of 65 percent of construction and demolition materials from landfill disposal.
- Water Conservation: Enforcement of water-efficient landscape standards, including the removal of non-functional turf or designation of turf as functional when it serves a clear civic or community purpose.
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure: Confirmation that required EV chargers are installed and operational at the time of final inspection.
Fees
The City of Thousand Oaks has instituted development review fees to partially offset the costs of staff for reviewing development permits and conducting site inspections.
Under 50,000 SF | Over 50,000 SF | |
Construction & Demolition (C&D) | $100 | $360 |
C&D penalties for non-compliance (missing weight tickets) | $200 | $720 |
Sustainability Reviews | $250 | $725 |
Solid Waste, Recycling, and Organics Diversion Infrastructure
Click here for Solid Waste Guidelines on compliance with city solid waste-related requirements. Refer to specific California regulations and City ordinances for more detailed explanations.
Operational Diversion Plans
State law and the City’s Municipal Code (Sec. 6-2.506 & 507) mandate that businesses collect and recycle both recyclable materials and organic waste. An approved plan demonstrating compliance is required of all developers, owners, and tenants of all commercial and multi-family developments in the City of Thousand Oaks. The Primary Plan describes the waste collection and diversion plan for the entire development, shopping center, or stand-alone property. In some cases, the Primary Plan will require information from the owner or property manager.
Each tenant or business owner must complete a separate Operational Plan for each leased or separate business area within the development, describing the waste collection and diversion process for their operations.
Operational Diversion Plan links
Operational Diversion Plans should be completed 2-4 weeks before the request for a Certificate of Occupancy is anticipated. These should be completed by the on-site manager or owner responsible for day-to-day operations oversight. Primary plans are intended for the owners/property managers of multi-tenanted complexes. These plans focus on the trash enclosures and collection infrastructure. Operational Plans are intended for tenants and govern the management of trash, recycling, and organics by their staff. For buildings where the owner is also the tenant, they will complete both plans. Look for your sector below to identify the appropriate plan(s) for your project.
Sector | Who needs to complete this document | Link |
Multifamily Building | Owner/Property Manager | |
Commercial (non-food) | Owner/Property Manager | |
Commercial (non-food) | Tenant | |
Commercial (food-related) | Owner/Property Manager | |
Commercial (food-related) | Tenant |
Trash Enclosure Signs
City Ordinance No. 1200-NS requires that trash enclosures have proper signage affixed to the exterior and interior of the enclosure. Provide at least two “Recycle” and two “Organics” signs, purchased from City Public Works ($25 each), posted conspicuously — typically one at waist level on the front of the access gate and one at eye level on the interior back wall of the enclosure.
Reference: Ordinance No. 1200-NS; Collection Guidelines, Figure 14.
