Local zoning · Arcadia

Arcadia — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What fence height can I build in front of my R‑1 lot?

Front-setback fences in R-1 zones must be open-work (minimum 4-inch spacing); a solid decorative masonry base is allowed up to 8 inches as part of the overall permitted fence height; specific maximum fence heights for front setbacks are set in Table 3‑2 and § 9103.05.030 .

Q: Can I put a 6‑foot wall on a corner lot?

Corner-lot street-side fences/walls may be allowed up to 6 ft in the required street-side setback, but they are subject to vehicular-visibility standards and often require Site Plan and Design Review in R‑2 and R‑3 zones; an 18‑inch setback from the street-side property line is required in many cases § 9103.05.030 .

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

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Arcadia’s Development Code regulates landscaping, screening, buffers, fences, walls, and trees as part of its land-use controls (the City’s Development Code is the operative local zoning text) and ties landscape treatments to site planning, parking, and design review. For applicants, expect mandatory landscape coverage in visible setbacks and parking areas, district-specific fence/wall limits, parkway planting standards, and a separate city tree program for trees on public property. See the City-wide zoning context at Arcadia zoning & planning overview and check how landscape rules interact with Arcadia Parking, Arcadia Design Review, and Arcadia Development Standards for project-level requirements.

(All cited development-code rules below are drawn from the City of Arcadia Development Code, Article IX — the local zoning text— and related chapters.)

What the code controls (quick map)

Landscape coverage for setbacks, parkways, and any open area visible from a public street or publicly-available parking lot — § 9103.09.
Parking-lot landscaping (minimum planting percentage, tree spacing, perimeter planters) — § 9103.09.
Fences, walls, and gates: district-by-district maximum heights, location rules (front, side/rear, corner lots, flag lots), required open-work designs in front setbacks, and setbacks from street-side property lines — § 9103.05.030.
Design-review requirement for landscaping, screening, and fences in many situations — § 9107.19.
City-owned / street-tree regulation (planting/removal/Tree Commission) — § 9800 et seq..

District-by-district breakdown

Note on scope: the Development Code defines many zone purposes and allowed uses across Division 2. The excerpts retrieved for landscaping and fence rules are concentrated in the landscape/fence sections and in the commercial/mixed-use design chapters; where the retrieved materials do not state a zone’s purpose or numeric development standards, I note that explicitly as "Not found in retrieved materials" and advise to Verify with the jurisdiction.

R-M (Multiple-family Residential)

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials; consult Division 2 for a full list. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Landscaping & screening rules that apply here: front/street-side setback areas visible from the street must be landscaped; front-setback fence/wall treatments must generally be open-work; a solid wall adjacent to interior side property line may be allowed (up to 4 ft) in the front setback § 9103.05.030.
Where it applies: typical multifamily parcels and developments; fences/walls in front setback are limited and design-treated. For design review rules see Arcadia Design Review and § 9107.19.

R-0 (Single-family / Low-density Residential)

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Key landscape/fence points: Similar to R-M for front-setback fence openness and a 4 ft maximum decorative fence height in many circumstances; parkway planting and irrigation requirements apply where a full parkway exists § 9103.05.030; front-yard landscaping coverage standards (see § 9103.09) apply.

R-1 (Single-family Residential)

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Fences/walls: Front-setback fences must be open-work with at least 4 in. spacing; a solid decorative masonry base is permitted up to 8 inches high combined within allowed fence height; a solid wall adjacent to the interior side property line is allowed in the front setback up to 3 ft § 9103.05.030.
Landscaping: Front/street-side areas must be planted with lawn/trees/shrubs and maintained; hardscape may not cover more than 40% of front/street-side areas (i.e., 60% landscaping target) § 9103.09.

R-2, R-3, R-3‑R (Higher-density Residential)

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Fences/walls and corner-lot treatments: Fences/walls in required street-side setback may be allowed up to 6 ft on corner lots (measured at the street-side property line) but are subject to vehicular visibility limits and Site Plan and Design Review in R-2 and R-3. Fences in side/rear setbacks are generally allowed up to 6 ft. § 9103.05.030, § 9107.19.

Commercial and Industrial Zones (general)

Purpose / typical uses: The Development Code sets a purpose for commercial/industrial zones in § 9102.03. Landscaping is required for all setbacks, parkways, open areas, plazas, paseos, and visible non-work areas; materials must cover areas not occupied by buildings/parking; loading areas visible from public ROW must be screened with landscaping § 9102.03, § 9103.09.
Fences/walls: Site walls should match the primary building materials/colors; chain-link is prohibited in these settings § 9102.03.

Mixed-Use / Overlay Districts (DMU, CBD, MU, Residential Flex, DMU Overlay)

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials for all overlays; see Arcadia Overlay Districts and the Division 2 zones for precise use lists.
Landscaping & screening notes: Mixed-use projects must landscape setbacks facing primary streets and provide irrigation; parking should be oriented/located to reduce street visibility; screening of rooftop equipment and service areas is required § 9107.19, § 9103.09.

Key standards at a glance

Requirement / item	What the Code requires	Code Reference
Front / street-side landscaping minimum (residential)	Target 60% landscape (hardscape limited to 40% of front/street-side)	§ 9103.09
Parkway planting next to sidewalk	Low shrubs, mulch or groundcover to provide coverage within two years; vines/espalier where wall separates street	§ 9103.09
Parking-lot minimum landscape	5% of parking lot area must be landscaped; one tree per 10 spaces; trees minimum 15-gallon (1" DBH)	§ 9103.09
Perimeter planter	Minimum 5 ft wide between parking and public street, max 3 ft tall (measured from parking lot grade)	§ 9103.09
Artificial turf (front/street-side yards)	Max 15% of front/street-side yard; not allowed in parkways; material & installation standards required	§ 9103.09
Front-setback fence heights (residential)	Varies by zone (see Table 3-2); common caps: 3 ft–5 ft max depending on zone/location; open-work required in many front setbacks	§ 9103.05.030
Corner-lot street-side fences	Up to 6 ft permitted in required street-side setback on corner lots (subject to visibility standards); fence must be set back 18 in from street-side property line	§ 9103.05.030
Screening of loading/rooftop/service areas	Landscaping or parapet/screening to minimize visibility from public areas	§ 9103.09, § 9107.19
City-owned / street-tree removal & planting	Regulated by a City Tree program and Tree Commission; removal tied to Street Tree Master Plan	§ 9800 et seq.

Practical guidance / interpretation (plain-English, applied)

If your project is visible from the street (almost always in Arcadia), expect a formal landscape plan and irrigation plan as part of your submittal; parking-lot plantings and tree counts will be checked against § 9103.09.
Fence proposals are very zone-specific: when in doubt, reference Table 3-2 and § 9103.05.030 for the allowed heights and open-work requirements; corner lots and flag lots have special rules that often require demonstration of visibility/irrigation between fence and street-line § 9103.05.030.
Landscaping is enforced at project close-out: required coverage and installed trees/irrigation must match the approved plans or the project may not receive final sign-off § 9108.11.020.
Chain-link fencing is broadly discouraged/prohibited in commercial/mixed-use contexts; the code prefers durable, architecturally treated wall/fence materials to match building facades § 9102.03.
Street trees and any work within parkways/right-of-way are under the City’s tree rules and the Street Tree Master Plan; removal/replacement of City-owned trees follows § 9800 et seq. and usually requires coordination with Public Works and the Tree Commission.

Checklist

Submit a landscape and irrigation plan meeting the § 9103.09 standards (setbacks, parkways, parking-lot planting, irrigation)
For parking lots, show ≥5% landscape area and 1 tree per 10 parking spaces, with minimum tree sizes specified in § 9103.09
If proposing fences/walls/gates, check Table 3‑2 and § 9103.05.030 for zone-specific heights and open-work requirements; show setbacks, materials, and column spacing on plan
If visible from the right-of-way or meeting design-review triggers, submit materials for Site Plan and Design Review per § 9107.19 (photos/elevations and landscape details)
For work in the parkway or to modify street trees, contact Public Works / Tree Commission and follow § 9800 procedures for permits and removals
For artificial turf in front/street-side yards, show compliance with the material, installation, and placement rules (max 15%, not within 10 ft of sidewalk, and not in parkways) per § 9103.09
Ensure all screening of loading, service, and rooftop equipment is shown and dimensioned per § 9103.09 and applicable design standards § 9107.19

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Exact numeric setbacks / lot coverage / FAR tied to zone	Many dimension rules live in the zone-specific development standards, not in the landscaping chapter	Verify numeric setbacks and lot-coverage in the zone’s development standards (Not found in retrieved materials; consult Division 2 / Arcadia Development Standards)
Which projects trigger Site Plan & Design Review	Design review can be required for fences, landscaping, and other exterior changes — triggers vary by project size and visibility	Confirm the Review Authority per Table 7-3 / § 9107.19 for your project type and whether the Director or Commission will review
Street-tree ownership / permit for parkway work	Removal or modification of street trees is controlled by a separate City program and can delay construction	Coordinate with Public Works / Tree Commission and follow § 9800 procedures; obtain street/tree permits early
Conflicts with overlay or design guidelines	Overlays and design guidelines may add or tighten materials, screening, and plant palette rules	Check Arcadia Overlay Districts and any adopted design guidelines; where conflicts exist the Development Code governs (see § 9101.01.070)
Tree species, size, and maintenance obligations	The Code specifies minimum sizes for new trees and long-term maintenance obligations	Confirm species suitability with the City’s Residential Landscaping Guide and the tree-sizing rules in § 9103.09

Plain-English Summary

Arcadia requires landscaped, irrigated, and maintained street-facing yards, parkways, and visible open areas; parking lots must include trees and planted islands; fences and walls are limited by zone and location (front setbacks have strict open-work and height rules); and any work affecting street trees or parkways needs separate City coordination. Verify zone-specific numeric development standards and design-review triggers with the Planning Department before finalizing plans.

Source References

City of Arcadia Development Code — Title/Applicability (Development Code title): § 9101.01.010
Landscaping (requirements for setbacks, parkways, parking-lot landscaping, artificial turf): § 9103.09
Fences, Walls, and Gates (Table 3‑2, front/corner/flag/side/rear rules): § 9103.05.030
Commercial/Industrial design & fence material preferences (chain-link prohibited, matching materials): § 9102.03
Site Plan and Design Review (review authority and triggers): § 9107.19 and Table 7‑3 (Review Authority)
Project compliance and final plan conformance rules: § 9108.11.020
City tree program / comprehensive tree management / street-tree rules: § 9800 et seq.
Arcadia zoning & planning overview: Arcadia zoning & planning overview (/us/california/arcadia)
Arcadia Zoning: Arcadia Zoning (/us/california/arcadia/zoning)
Arcadia Development Standards: Arcadia Development Standards (/us/california/arcadia/development-standards)
Arcadia Parking: Arcadia Parking (/us/california/arcadia/parking)
Arcadia Design Review: Arcadia Design Review (/us/california/arcadia/design-review)
Arcadia Overlay Districts: Arcadia Overlay Districts (/us/california/arcadia/overlay-districts)
Arcadia ADUs: Arcadia ADUs (/us/california/arcadia/adu)
California Building Standards Code: California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes)

Sources

Retrieved passages

Arcadia Zoning Code High relevance
Arcadia Zoning Code High relevance
CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance
CBC § 9103.05.030 High relevance
Arcadia Zoning Code (Section shall) High relevance
Arcadia Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance
Arcadia Zoning Code (CHAPTER 1.) High relevance
Arcadia Zoning Code (Section 9107.19) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Arcadia code library

Frequently asked questions

Do front yards in Arcadia have a minimum landscaping requirement?

Yes. Front and street-side yard areas in residential zones are expected to be landscaped; the Code targets roughly 60% landscaping (hardscape limited to 40%) for front/street-side areas and requires permanent maintenance; see § 9103.09 for the landscaping rules.

How much landscaping is required inside parking lots?

Parking lots must provide at least 5% of the parking area as landscaped planting areas, and install one tree per 10 parking spaces (minimum 15-gallon size), with planters distributed throughout the lot — see § 9103.09.

What fence height can I build in front of my R‑1 lot?

Front-setback fences in R-1 zones must be open-work (minimum 4-inch spacing); a solid decorative masonry base is allowed up to 8 inches as part of the overall permitted fence height; specific maximum fence heights for front setbacks are set in Table 3‑2 and § 9103.05.030.

Can I put a 6‑foot wall on a corner lot?

Corner-lot street-side fences/walls may be allowed up to 6 ft in the required street-side setback, but they are subject to vehicular-visibility standards and often require Site Plan and Design Review in R‑2 and R‑3 zones; an 18‑inch setback from the street-side property line is required in many cases § 9103.05.030.

Is artificial turf allowed in front yards?

Artificial turf is allowed in front and street-side yards only up to 15% of that yard area, must meet material and installation standards, and is not allowed in parkways; full standards are in § 9103.09.

Do I need design review to change landscaping or build a fence?

If the change is visible from a public right-of-way or meets other triggers, it is subject to Site Plan and Design Review under § 9107.19; the Review Authority (Director vs. Commission) depends on project type and size (see Table 7‑3).

Who regulates street trees and parkway planting in Arcadia?

Street trees and trees on public property are regulated by the City’s Comprehensive Tree Management Program and Street Tree Master Plan; removals and major work are controlled under § 9800 et seq. and typically require coordination with Public Works and the Tree Commission.

Are chain-link fences allowed for commercial/mixed-use sites?

Chain-link fencing is prohibited in commercial/mixed-use design guidance; the Code prefers architecturally treated walls/fences matching building materials — see § 9102.03.

What screening is required for loading docks and rooftop equipment?

Loading areas visible from the public right-of-way must be screened with landscaping or other approved devices; rooftop equipment must be concealed behind parapets or screens with façade treatment consistent with the building per § 9103.09 and site-design standards § 9107.19.

If my lot is nonconforming, do the landscaping rules apply?

Landscaping requirements apply to all new development and to improved nonconforming lots when the nonconforming lot is modified by more than 20% in building square footage; the Director can approve modifications where strict compliance is impossible § 9103.09.

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