Anaheim — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page is a detailed, Anaheim‑specific summary of the city zoning rules that govern landscaping, screening, fences, walls, hedges, and trees. The controlling local rules are in Chapter 18.46 (Landscaping and Screening) of the Anaheim Municipal Code; several district‑level chapters (for example the Commercial Recreation (C‑R) provisions and the Theme Park / TP Overlay) add or supersede requirements for specific areas. For projects that touch drive aisles or parking, consult Anaheim’s parking and development standards pages early in design. § 18.46.010–.020 lay out purpose and applicability of the chapter .

Chapter and key sections to know at the start:

• Chapter 18.46 — Landscaping and Screening: purpose, applicability, tree standards, planting, irrigation, landscape plans, maintenance, general vegetation controls, and screening/fence/wall rules (§ 18.46.010 – 18.46.110) .
• District‑specific screening (Commercial Recreation / C‑R and Theme Park/TP Overlay) appears in Chapter 18.116 and 18.114 respectively (see § 18.116.100 and § 18.114.0707) .

What Chapter 18.46 requires (citywide rules, plain terms)

• Purpose & applicability: landscaping and screening rules apply to all non‑residential projects, residential projects with two or more units, mixed‑use projects, and freestanding facilities like cell sites and billboards (§ 18.46.010, § 18.46.020) .
• Landscape plans: Required for all regulated projects and must include plant lists, container sizes, planted areas, irrigation details, protection measures and screening as required by § 18.46.080 .
• Trees: Minimum sizing and spacing: in privately‑owned street setbacks a minimum of one tree every 20 linear feet and trees must be at least 24‑inch box at planting (minimum) (§ 18.46.030.0101–.0102) .
• Irrigation & water use: Automatic irrigation required for all required landscaped areas; Chapter 10.19 (Landscape Water Efficiency) requirements apply as well (§ 18.46.070) .
• Maintenance: Landscaped areas must be permanently maintained; a maintenance schedule is submitted with the landscape plan (§ 18.46.090) .
• Vegetation controls: Avoid shallow‑root species near structures; use root barriers where trees are within 5 ft of sidewalks or paved areas; no planting that interferes with travel or utilities (§ 18.46.100) .
• Screening & fences: The rules for fences, walls, hedges, berms, and screening are in § 18.46.110; heights are measured from the highest adjacent finished grade; required screening is listed in Table 46‑A and in district chapters (§ 18.46.110.0101, § 18.46.110) .

District‑by‑district breakdown (where the code sets different rules)

Note: district names and special overlays below are taken from the Municipal Code excerpts provided. Verify parcel‑specific applicability with Planning staff.

Single‑Family Residential Zones (required front setback rules)

• Purpose / typical uses: single‑family homes and their yards; the chapter applies to landscaping within required front setbacks for these zones (§ 18.46.050) .
• Key standards:
  • Front setback landscaping is required; live plant material or permitted artificial turf is primary groundcover (§ 18.46.050.01–.04) .
  • Minimum 60% live plant coverage at maturity within the required front landscape area (remaining area permeable material) (§ 18.46.050.04) .
  • Driveways and walkways may occupy up to 50% of required front setback area (§ 18.46.050.01) .
• Where it applies: all Single‑Family Residential Zones (see § 18.46.050) .

Commercial Recreation (C‑R) District

• Purpose / typical uses: large‑scale entertainment, hotels, theme/visitor uses — Chapter 18.116 includes detailed site and screening controls for C‑R areas (see § 18.116.100) .
• Key standards (screening and walls):
  • Where a C‑R site abuts a residential zone: provide a landscape buffer and an eight (8)‑foot masonry wall at the property line plus an adjacent 20‑foot permanently planted, irrigated landscaped area (Southeast District exception allows up to 16 feet for the wall) (§ 18.116.100.1002) .
  • Back‑of‑house areas: masonry walls planted with clinging vines; masonry minimum 6 ft and maximum 12 ft unless another section specifies differently (§ 18.116.100 .02 / related text) .
  • Vacant land screening, service/storage, loading docks, and utility screening are addressed in the C‑R rules—service/loading screening walls typically 6–8 ft high and must be landscaped (§ 18.116.100 and related table) .
• Where it applies: C‑R district lands, including the Disneyland Resort Specific Plan areas; verify project parcel’s district designation (§ 18.116 series) .

Theme Park District / TP Overlay

• Purpose / typical uses: theme park, resort‑scale entertainment and supporting uses; the TP Overlay imposes special setback and screening standards (§ 18.114 series) .
• Key standards:
  • Screening abutting residential zones: TP Overlay repeats the C‑R buffer requirement — masonry wall up to sixteen (16) feet and adjacent 20‑foot wide landscaped buffer where the site abuts residential (§ 18.114.0707.01(a)) .
  • Chain‑link and tall fences: the Theme Park District allows some taller chain link fences and trellises for landscape screening up to 16 feet; elsewhere chain link (except temporary) and barbed/razor wire is generally prohibited in certain overlays (§ 18.114 and cross‑refs) .
• Where it applies: parcels inside the Theme Park District / TP Overlay; see the TP overlay standards in Chapter 18.114 (§ 18.114.0707) .

District A, Southeast District, and Anaheim GardenWalk Overlay

• These named districts/overlays have tailored rules and exceptions:
  • District A and the C‑R Overlay limit walls/fences to 8 ft unless otherwise noted; chain link is prohibited in District A and certain overlays (§ 18.116/18.114 citations) .
  • Southeast District: the residential abutting wall height exception allowing up to 16 ft is explicitly noted for some C‑R/TP contexts (§ 18.116.100.1002 / § 18.114.0707) .
  • Anaheim GardenWalk Overlay: referenced in wall/fence prohibition language (chain link prohibition) — treat overlay rules as potentially more restrictive (§ 18.116/18.114 text) .
• Where it applies: the named overlay boundaries in Chapters 18.114 and 18.116; check the overlay map and parcel designation to determine which rules control (verify with Planning) .

Quick Decisions Table — most decision‑relevant standards

Practical guidance / interpretation (original plain‑English synthesis)

• Start early with the landscape plan: the Planning Department must approve the plan before installing landscape or irrigation (§ 18.46.080.030) — failing to submit a compliant plan is a common hold-up .
• Overlays and district chapters can be more restrictive than the citywide Chapter 18.46: when a property sits in the C‑R, TP, District A, Southeast, or GardenWalk overlays, the district rules (for example masonry wall + 20 ft buffer requirements) typically control. Always check Chapter 18.114 and Chapter 18.116 for site‑specific screening (§ 18.114.0707, § 18.116.100) .
• Be precise about grades: fence and wall height is measured from the highest adjacent finished grade; on sloping lots a retaining wall plus decorative wall steps may be required to stay within height limits (§ 18.46.110.0101; crib/retaining wall rules) .
• Utilities and backflow devices visible from the street must be screened with plants sized to fully screen within one year; plans for such screening are reviewed for sight‑distance impacts (§ 18.46.110 .110 / related utility screening text) .
• Outdoor dining: the code allows barriers within the setback for outdoor dining, but limits opaque portion to 42 inches and non‑view‑obscuring portions to 6 feet, and in some districts up to 80% of setback may be used for outdoor dining when designed per the Design Plan (§ 18.114.0912) .

Checklist

• Prepare a landscape plan with legend, plant lists (botanical/common names and container sizes), planting areas and square‑footage, irrigation layout, and screening details (§ 18.46.080) .
• Show trees in street setbacks at minimum one tree per 20 linear feet; specify 24‑inch box or larger where required (§ 18.46.030.0101–.0102) .
• Provide automatic irrigation and note compliance with Chapter 10.19; include run times/moisture sensor if >2,500 sq ft (§ 18.46.070) .
• Demonstrate maintenance plan and responsible party for ongoing upkeep (§ 18.46.090) .
• If project abuts a residential zone or freeway, show required buffers/walls (e.g., C‑R/TP masonry wall + 20 ft buffer) with grade calculations (§ 18.116.100, § 18.114.0707) .
• Confirm fence/wall heights in setbacks, sight triangles and back‑of‑house areas, and specify vine planting or shrubs to screen wall surfaces (§ 18.46.110 and district provisions) .
• Coordinate any screening that could affect vehicle sight lines with the Traffic and Transportation Manager (required for utility screening and driveway planters) (§ 18.46.020 / 18.46.080 cross‑refs) .
• If in an overlay or TP area, review the overlay chapter (Ch. 18.114 / 18.116) for higher standards (§ 18.114, § 18.116) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

If you’re changing or building non‑residential property, a multiunit residential or mixed‑use project in Anaheim, you must submit a full landscape plan that meets Chapter 18.46 requirements for trees, irrigation, maintenance and screening; walls and fences have specific height and planting rules, and overlay districts like C‑R and the TP Overlay add stronger screening (for example masonry walls plus 20‑ft planting) where your site touches homes or freeways — always verify the overlay that applies to your parcel (§ 18.46.080, § 18.46.030, § 18.46.070, § 18.116.100, § 18.114.0707) .

Source References

• Chapter 18.46 (Landscaping and Screening): purpose, applicability, trees, planting, plans, maintenance, irrigation, vegetation and screening (§ 18.46.010 – 18.46.110) .
• Tree standards (§ 18.46.030) — planting frequency, minimum size, species guidance and alignment rules .
• Landscape plans (§ 18.46.080) — required contents and approval timing .
• Irrigation requirements (§ 18.46.070) — automatic irrigation and moisture sensor guidance; cross‑references to Chapter 10.19 (Landscape Water Efficiency) .
• Maintenance and All Vegetation (§ 18.46.090, § 18.46.100) — maintenance obligations, root‑barrier and planting restrictions .
• Screening, fences, walls and hedges (§ 18.46.110) — measurement of heights, Table 46‑A references and exceptions for sight triangles and outdoor dining .
• Commercial Recreation (C‑R) District screening and site‑specific rules (§ 18.116.100, required site screening table and vacant land screening) .
• Theme Park / TP Overlay screening and fence exceptions (§ 18.114.0707, screening abutting residential and chain link fence notes) .
• Front‑yard single‑family requirements (§ 18.46.050) — front setback planting coverage rules and permitted driveway coverage .

Retrieved passages

• Anaheim Zoning Code (Section 18.114.090.050) High relevance show source text
• Anaheim Zoning Code (§ 10) High relevance show source text
• Anaheim Zoning Code (Chapter 18.46) High relevance show source text
• Anaheim Zoning Code (Section 18.46.110) High relevance show source text
• Anaheim Zoning Code (Section 18.116.100) High relevance show source text
• Anaheim Zoning Code (Section 17.06.020) High relevance show source text
• Anaheim Zoning Code (Section 18.46.090) High relevance show source text
• Anaheim Zoning Code (Chapter 18.46) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Chapter **18.46** (Landscaping and Screening): purpose, applicability, trees, planting, plans, maintenance, irrigation, vegetation and screening (§ **18.46.010** – **18.46.110**) .
• Tree standards (§ **18.46.030**) — planting frequency, minimum size, species guidance and alignment rules .
• Landscape plans (§ **18.46.080**) — required contents and approval timing .
• Irrigation requirements (§ **18.46.070**) — automatic irrigation and moisture sensor guidance; cross‑references to Chapter **10.19** (Landscape Water Efficiency) .
• Maintenance and All Vegetation (§ **18.46.090**, § **18.46.100**) — maintenance obligations, root‑barrier and planting restrictions .
• Screening, fences, walls and hedges (§ **18.46.110**) — measurement of heights, Table 46‑A references and exceptions for sight triangles and outdoor dining .
• Commercial Recreation (C‑R) District screening and site‑specific rules (§ **18.116.100**, required site screening table and vacant land screening) .
• Theme Park / TP Overlay screening and fence exceptions (§ **18.114.0707**, screening abutting residential and chain link fence notes) .
• Front‑yard single‑family requirements (§ **18.46.050**) — front setback planting coverage rules and permitted driveway coverage .
• Anaheim_ZoningCode.md

• Official Anaheim code library