Local zoning · Apple Valley

Apple Valley — Landscaping and Screening

Landscaping and Screening under the Apple Valley local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

Ask a question free See coverage

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes the Town of Apple Valley Development Code (commonly Title 9) rules that control landscaping, screening, buffers, and walls/fences for development and parcels inside Apple Valley. It pulls the specific local standards for plant types, planting rates, parking-lot islands, berms/walls and fence setbacks that the Development Code requires and enforces. For general context about where these rules sit in the codebase and how they interact with zoning and permits, see the Town overview and the Town's Zoning and Development Standards pages.

Key summary: Apple Valley requires desert-appropriate/xeriscape landscaping, minimum tree/shrub densities along frontages and perimeters, parking-lot islands and screening for service/storage/mechanical areas; walls and fences are limited in height and placement and many higher walls require Planning review (§ 9.37.050; § 9.47.060; § 9.28.120) .

How the rules apply district‑by‑district

Below are the Apple Valley zoning districts that appear in the Development Code text governing landscaping and screening. Each subsection lists purpose / where it applies, typical uses (brief), and the landscaping/screening items that are decision-relevant. Always verify with the Town for parcel‑specific exceptions noted on recorded final maps or overlays.

R-SF (Residential Single‑Family)

  • Purpose / where it applies: standard single‑family neighborhoods throughout Town; see residential tables in the code. Typical uses: single‑family homes and accessory structures. See general zoning overview in Apple Valley Zoning.
  • Landscaping & screening highlights: front and street‑facing yard setback areas must be suitably landscaped and maintained; chain‑link in front yards or abutting street side yards is prohibited for new R‑SF and R‑EQ residences built after June 7, 2007 (§ 9.28.130; § 9.31.030) .
  • Fence/wall rules: solid fences in excess of 4 feet are not allowed closer than 12 feet to the right‑of‑way; in required front yards solid walls/fences are limited to 48 inches unless decorative open fencing (wrought iron etc.) is used to reach 6 feet (§ 9.28.120) .

R‑EQ (Residential Equestrian)

  • Purpose / where it applies: residential with equestrian uses, larger lots.
  • Typical uses: single‑family residential with horse facilities.
  • Landscaping & screening highlights: same basic landscaping expectations (xeriscape, native/drought tolerant species) and front yard maintenance requirements; chain‑link front yard restrictions apply as with R‑SF (§ 9.37.050; § 9.31.030) .

R‑LD / R‑VLD / R‑A / R‑E / R‑E ¾ (Low/Very Low Density, Residential Agriculture, Estate Residential variants)

  • Purpose / where it applies: larger‑lot residential and agricultural lots on the periphery.
  • Typical uses: larger single‑family parcels, limited accessory agricultural uses.
  • Landscaping & screening highlights: perimeter walls are generally prohibited in new subdivisions on local streets where wall would be opposite front yards; closed perimeter fencing discouraged — design should use natural/site features first (§ 9.28.120; § 9.31.030) .

RM (Multi‑Family Residential)

  • Purpose / where it applies: multi‑family housing.
  • Typical uses: apartments, multi‑unit residential.
  • Landscaping & screening highlights: multi‑family site design standards require landscaping around building bases, common open space planting rates, and submission/maintenance of landscape/irrigation plans; required landscaping must be installed and maintained as a condition of occupancy (§ 9.31.040; § 9.75.060) .
  • Walls/fences: closed privacy fencing limited to immediate area around homes; vacant parcels are subject to special restrictions (§ 9.57.060) .

MU (Mixed‑Use)

  • Purpose / where it applies: parcels allowing a mix of residential and commercial uses.
  • Typical uses: street‑level retail with residential above.
  • Landscaping & screening highlights: same desert/xeriscape standards apply; walls discouraged in commercial areas unless required for screening or security; mechanical equipment must be screened as integrated architecture (§ 9.37.050; § 9.37.070) .

PRD (Planned Residential Development)

  • Purpose / where it applies: project‑level planned developments where site design standards are set by the PRD permit.
  • Typical uses: master‑planned multi‑unit residential communities.
  • Landscaping & screening highlights: PRD standards may specify different side yards and may establish project‑wide landscape requirements; where PRD does not address an item, the most similar code standard applies (§ 9.29.080; Table 9.45.040‑A) .

I‑P and I‑RE (Industrial districts)

  • Purpose / where it applies: industrial parks and restricted industrial uses.
  • Typical uses: light industrial, warehousing, some outdoor storage.
  • Landscaping & screening highlights: screening and buffering must follow § 9.47.060; street frontages across from residential districts require a 3‑ft earthen berm; lot lines adjacent to residential districts typically require up to an 8‑ft decorative masonry wall (§ 9.45.040; § 9.47.060) .
  • Parking & setbacks: industrial districts have specific setback and parking allowances; parking within setbacks may be allowed only after landscaping and buffer requirements are met (§ 9.45.040) .

Key numeric standards (quick reference table)

The table below picks the most decision‑relevant, frequently applied numeric rules from the Development Code. For the full text always read the cited §.

Requirement / trigger Requirement (Apple Valley) Code reference
Street frontage tree rate Minimum one tree per 30 linear feet of street/access drive frontage; gaps ≤ 50 ft § 9.37.050 (Landscaping general)
Parking lot shade islands Minimum one landscaped island containing a shade tree per 7 parking spaces § 9.37.050.B.3 (Parking areas)
Berm at streets across from residences 3‑ft landscaped earthen berm required along street frontages facing residential zoning (industrial/commercial sites) § 9.45.040.A.2; § 9.47.060 (Buffering)
Screening for outdoor storage 6 ft minimum, 10 ft maximum; chain‑link with slats may be allowed where not visible from ROW or residential § 9.47.060 (Buffering & Screening); § 9.37.060 (similar)
Front/setback landscaping minimum 1 tree + 6 shrubs per 30 linear feet; combined shrub + groundcover coverage 50% of landscaped area § 9.75.060 (Landscape Buffers / Front setback area)
Perimeter landscaping (other perimeters) 1 tree + 6 shrubs per 40 linear feet; coverage 40% § 9.75.060.B.5
Wall/fence height in yards Solid fences/walls in required front yard: 48 in (4 ft); solid fences >4 ft not allowed closer than 12 ft to ROW; 6 ft solid walls allowed on rear/interior property lines generally § 9.28.120 (Fences, walls and hedges)
Walls setback from ROW when >6 ft Walls/fences ≥6 ft along front/street side yards must be set back 5 ft from ROW to allow landscaping; rear/street side walls >4 ft must be set back 28 ft from curb adjacent to Major roads (24 ft for Secondary roads) § 9.28.120.3
Plant palette Landscaping must be native or drought‑tolerant and comply with the Town's approved plant list in § 9.75.070; xeriscape practices required § 9.37.050; § 9.75.070

Design & submittal rules the reviewer expects

  • All outdoor mechanical/electrical equipment must be screened from the public street by architectural elements integrated into the building design; plans must show locations and elevations (§ 9.47.060.6) .
  • Where screening is required, use a combination of solid masonry wall, berms, and landscaping — not just one single element (§ 9.47.060.2) .
  • Final landscape and irrigation plans are required for many new developments and multi‑family projects and typically are submitted prior to building permits and installed before occupancy; a licensed landscape architect report and water budget are often required to demonstrate desert survivability and WEL compliance (§ 9.31.040 and related requirements) .
  • Parking lot islands, curbs and shading trees are required features for commercial and multi‑family parking lots to reduce heat island effect (see parking rules) — see the Town's Parking page for coordination of requirements and § 9.37.050.B for minimums (§ 9.37.050.B.3) .

(First time the page mentioned parking, development standards, zoning, design review, overlays, ADUs and the California building code the following references were added for context: Apple Valley Zoning, Development Standards, Parking, Design Review, Overlay Districts, ADUs, California Building Standards Code.)

Checklist

  • Use native / drought‑tolerant plants consistent with the Town's approved plant list and xeriscape practices (§ 9.37.050; § 9.75.070) .
  • Provide landscape and irrigation plans with species, irrigation details and a water budget (licensed landscape architect report where required) — install before occupancy where the code or specific plan requires it (§ 9.31.040; § 9.75.060) .
  • Show screening for all outdoor storage, trash enclosures, loading and mechanical equipment with elevations demonstrating combination of walls/berms/landscaping (§ 9.47.060) .
  • Provide parking lot landscaping showing one island per seven stalls and curbing to protect plantings (§ 9.37.050.B.3) .
  • Confirm wall/fence heights and setbacks on the site plan; walls > 3 ft require Planning review and some walls must meet additional setbacks from ROW (§ 9.28.120) .
  • For developments adjacent to residential districts, include berm/wall details (3‑ft berms or up to 8‑ft masonry walls where required) and tree/evergreen spacing in plan notes (§ 9.45.040; § 9.47.060; § 9.75.060) .
  • Ensure landscaping maintenance/HOA/assurance (for multi‑phase projects) is documented for occupancy per PRD/multi‑family standards (§ 9.29.080) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Height measurement where grade differs (retaining walls + privacy walls) Wall height is measured from the lowest finished grade at the wall; grade differences can push a wall over the permitted height and trigger a Development Permit (§ 9.28.120.4) Verify how height is measured on the parcel; get a grading section and confirm lowest finished grade with Town staff/engineer (§ 9.28.120)
Chain‑link with slats and visibility rules Chain‑link with slats is allowed for outdoor storage only where not visible from ROW or residential uses — misuse can cause code noncompliance (§ 9.47.060.4) Confirm visibility lines from the public ROW and residential zoning and specify slat color/material; if visible, use decorative masonry or alternate screening (§ 9.47.060)
Clear sight triangle vs. corner landscaping Corner landscaping and driveway planting areas are encouraged but must not block sight triangles; incompatible plantings risk safety and require rework (§ 9.37.050.B.5; clear sight triangle rules) Submit sight‑triangle exhibit with trees trimmed to 6 ft trunk clearance where in triangle; verify driveway envelope dimensions with Town Engineer (§ 9.37.050; § 9.47.050)
Conflicts with CC&Rs CC&Rs may be more restrictive or require decorative fencing that doesn't meet Code allowance (e.g., open wrought iron vs. solid) Verify CC&Rs before design; if conflict exists, verify whether the Town or CC&Rs govern the homeowner requirement (verify with jurisdiction) — code does not resolve private CC&R conflicts (Not found in retrieved materials).
Parcel‑specific recorded setback lines Recorded final maps or parcel maps can establish different setback lines that override general standards; ignoring those will create compliance issues (Table 9.45.040‑A note) Check recorded maps and notes on title; if a building setback line is on a recorded map, modification must go through Chapter 9.24 (variances) (§ 9.45.040 notes; Chapter 9.24)

Plain‑English summary

Apple Valley wants low‑water, desert‑appropriate landscaping that screens trash, storage and mechanicals, shades parking and softens buildings — using a mix of plants, berms and decorative walls. Expect minimum tree/shrub counts at frontages and parking, limits on wall heights and placement (with higher walls requiring review), and a requirement to show screening and irrigation details on permit plans (§ 9.37.050; § 9.47.060; § 9.28.120) .

Source References

  • Town of Apple Valley Development Code — Landscaping general rules: § 9.37.050 (Landscaping)
  • Town of Apple Valley Development Code — Buffering and screening: § 9.47.060 (Buffering and Screening)
  • Town of Apple Valley Development Code — Walls and Fences / permit requirements: § 9.28.120 (Fences, Walls and Hedges) and related text on permits and setbacks (§ 9.28.120.3–.5)
  • Town of Apple Valley Development Code — Landscape buffers, plant spacing, and planting sizes: § 9.75.060 (Landscape Buffers / Landscape Improvement Requirements) and references to § 9.75.070 Approved Plant List
  • Town Development Code — Industrial district screening & site standards: § 9.45.040 (Site Development Standards; screening notes)
  • Multi‑family site planning & landscaping submission requirements: § 9.31.040 (Multi‑Family Site Planning Design Standards)

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Apple Valley Zoning Code (Section 9.75.070) High relevance
  • Apple Valley Zoning Code High relevance
  • CBC § 8 (Chapter 9.17) High relevance
  • Apple Valley Zoning Code High relevance
  • Apple Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9.24) High relevance
  • Apple Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9.17) High relevance
  • Apple Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9.07) High relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build a wall or fence in Apple Valley?

Yes. Walls (including retaining and perimeter walls) over three (3) feet in height are subject to Planning Division review and may require a Development Permit; additional setbacks and height limits apply depending on location and grade (§ 9.28.120) .

What landscaping is required in the front setback of a commercial or residential project?

Front building setback landscaping must meet minimums: one tree and six shrubs per 30 linear feet of frontage, plus groundcover so that shrub + groundcover cover 50% of the landscaped area; trees may be grouped but gaps should not exceed 40 feet (§ 9.75.060.B.4) .

How many trees do I need along the street frontage of my lot?

The Development Code requires a minimum of one tree per 30 linear feet of street and access drive frontage and suggests grouping with gap limits of 50 feet between groupings (§ 9.37.050.9) .

What are the parking‑lot landscape requirements?

Parking lots must reduce visual impact with landscaped islands and fingers; provide at least one landscaped island (with a shade tree) per seven parking spaces; curbs are required to protect plantings (§ 9.37.050.B.1–4) .

Can I use chain‑link fence with slats to screen outdoor storage?

Chain‑link with wood or neutral colored slats is acceptable only for outdoor storage areas that are not visible from any public right‑of‑way or residential use/district. Where visible, the code requires masonry walls, berms and landscaping as a combination for screening (§ 9.47.060; § 9.37.060) .

Do mechanicals and rooftop equipment need landscaping screening?

Yes. All outdoor mechanical and electrical equipment must be screened from view from the public street by architectural elements integrated into the building, and plans must show locations and elevations (§ 9.47.060.6–7) .

Are xeriscape and drought‑tolerant plant lists required?

Yes. Landscaping must consist of native or drought‑tolerant plants suitable for Apple Valley’s high‑desert climate and conform to the Town’s Approved Plant List in § 9.75.070; xeriscape practices and separate concrete mow strips are required (§ 9.37.050; § 9.75.070) .

What buffers are required between industrial/commercial sites and residences?

When industrial or commercial lots front on residential districts, a three‑foot earthen berm along the street frontage is required; along other lot lines adjacent to residential zoning a decorative masonry wall of up to eight (8) feet may be required, plus planting standards (trees, evergreens and shrub spacing) (§ 9.45.040; § 9.47.060; § 9.75.060) .

Does the Town require installation of landscaping before occupancy?

The code requires that in many projects final landscape and irrigation plans be submitted prior to issuance of building permits and that landscaping be installed prior to occupancy or be bonded/guaranteed; multi‑family and PRD standards specifically require assurances for maintenance prior to occupancy (§ 9.31.040; § 9.29.080) .

What if my parcel has a recorded building setback line that differs from the code?

Recorded setback lines on Final Maps/Parcel Maps can control the required setbacks on that parcel; requests to modify recorded BSLs must follow the Town’s variance/adjustment processes (see notes under Table 9.45.040‑A) (§ 9.45.040 notes; Chapter 9.24) .

More in Apple Valley code

Ask about any Apple Valley property

Get a cited, plain-English answer on Apple Valley zoning, setbacks, FAR, ADUs and permits — for any address.

Start Free Trial

More Apple Valley zoning topics

Apple Valley Zoning

Apple Valley Land Use

Apple Valley Development Standards

Apple Valley Parking

Apple Valley Design Review

Apple Valley Overlay Districts

Apple Valley Historic Preservation

Apple Valley Signage

Apple Valley Nonconforming Uses

Apple Valley Variances and Exceptions

Apple Valley overview