Baldwin Park — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Baldwin Park Zoning Code requires for landscaping, screening, buffers, fences and walls — who must provide plans, minimum planting and irrigation rules, and how screening between different zones must be handled. It is drawn from the Baldwin Park municipal zoning provisions governing water‑efficient landscaping, site details, parking lot planting and fence/wall rules. For where these rules live in the city’s regulatory menu see the Baldwin Park Zoning overview and the city Development Standards guidance pages.

Key statewide interfaces (e.g., Title 24 / wildfire defensible-space standards) are outside this page’s scope; see the California Building Standards Code for building-code matters.

Citywide rules that always apply (quick list)

• Landscape design manuals and plan submittal requirements; preliminary plans required with design review and a full Landscape Documentation Package required before building permits (§ 153.160.060, § 153.160.070, § 153.160.080) .
• Water‑efficient design: drought‑tolerant planting emphasis, automatic irrigation for most projects, turf limits, and MAWA reporting thresholds apply per the water‑efficient landscaping subchapter (§ 153.160.010 – .020, and related subsections) .
• Landscape maintenance (including parkway / street tree maintenance) is the abutting property owner’s responsibility (§ 153.160.030(E)) .
• Fence/wall height and front‑yard clearance rules, including requirement for Zoning Clearance for front-yard fences (§ 153.130.060(A),(B),(E)) .
• Screening of outdoor storage, parking areas and mechanical equipment (six‑foot walls or equivalent landscaping/berms; parking perimeter screening to 36 inches; mechanical screening rules) (§ 153.050.050, § 153.150.110, § 153.135.050) .

District-by-district breakdown

R-1 -7,500 / R-1 / R-G / R-3 (Residential)

• Purpose & where it applies: Standard single‑family and multi‑unit residential zones in Baldwin Park; the City’s residential landscaping standards are written to apply across the R-1 -7,500, R-1, R-G, and R-3 zones (§ 153.160.040) .
• Typical permitted uses: residential dwellings and accessory uses (see city Land Use for the full use tables).
• Key landscaping/screening standards:
  • Minimum 20% of the entire lot must be landscaped with plant materials (§ 153.160.040(A)) .
  • Minimum 50% of the front yard area between street and dwelling must be landscaped; street‑side yard areas also require 50% landscaping (§ 153.160.040(B),(C)) .
  • Parkway/park strip and street trees: Property owner responsible for maintenance of parkway landscaping and street trees (§ 153.160.030(E)(6)–(7)) .
  • Fence height: front yard fences limited to 3 ft (with certain wrought‑iron exceptions to 5 ft); side/rear fences up to 6 ft (§ 153.130.060(B)) .
  • Zoning Clearance required for construction or significant modification of a front yard fence/wall (§ 153.130.060(E)) .
• Where to expect design review: Projects subject to design review (see Baldwin Park Design Review) must include a Preliminary Landscape Design Plan (§ 153.160.060) .

Commercial & Industrial Zones (Nonresidential)

• Purpose & where it applies: applies to all commercial and industrial properties; nonresidential landscaping requirements are in the nonresidential landscaping standards (§ 153.160.050) .
• Typical permitted uses: retail, services, manufacturing, warehousing (check use tables under the city’s Zoning pages).
• Key landscaping/screening standards:
  • All unpaved areas not used for access must be landscaped (trees, shrubs, groundcover; dry landscape allowed) (§ 153.160.050(A)) .
  • Automatic irrigation required for landscaped areas unless Director finds infeasible (§ 153.160.050(B)) .
  • Minimum tree size at planting 15‑gallon container; shrubs 5‑gallon (§ 153.160.050(C)) .
  • Where a nonresidential lot shares a property line with residential zoning, a 6‑ft masonry wall (and a planted buffer strip at least 3 ft deep on the nonresidential side) is required (§ 153.050.030(A)(3) and related provisions) .
  • Outdoor storage or display generally must be entirely screened from public rights‑of‑way by a 6‑ft solid fence or masonry wall (§ 153.050.050(A),(D)) .
  • Parking lot planting minima include 1 tree per 10 parking spaces, minimum 36‑inch box trees, and at least 10% of parking lot area landscaped; perimeter planting must partially screen vehicles to 36 inches (§ 153.150.110(A)–(C)) .

Mixed‑Use Zones

• Purpose & where it applies: zones that integrate residential and nonresidential uses (subchapter 153.070). Mixed‑use projects have supplemental site‑design rules that reference the landscaping rules (see § 153.135.050 additional site details) .
• Key differences and standards:
  • Mixed‑use site details require a 4‑ft deep landscaped area at front setbacks for street‑facing residential ground‑floor units (§ 153.135.050(A)(1)) .
  • Turf limit for mixed‑use site details: max 30% of landscaped area is allowed as turf (stricter than some other city standards) (§ 153.135.050(A)(7)) .
  • Mixed‑use projects must meet the general water‑efficient landscaping rules (§ 153.160.030 / § 153.160.050) and submit landscape documentation with design review (§ 153.160.060–.080) .

Open Space / Special Areas

• Open Space Zone is regulated for preservation and recreation; landscaping standards apply where new development occurs, but some landscape subchapter exceptions exist for ecological restoration or historical sites (§ 153.060; § 153.160.020 exceptions) .

Decision‑relevant standards (quick table)

Practical guidance and interpretation (plain-English synthesis)

• If your project requires design review, include a Preliminary Landscape Design Plan early — the Design Review Committee uses that plan to approve the look and water‑efficiency measures (§ 153.160.060) . See the Baldwin Park Design Review page for process context.
• For projects over 500 sq ft of new landscape you will need to comply with the water‑efficient landscaping subchapter, submit MAWA/Estimated Total Water Use documentation and include irrigation plans (§ 153.160.020, § 153.160.080) .
• When a nonresidential use sits next to housing, expect a 6‑ft masonry wall plus a planted buffer on the nonresidential side; if you propose an alternative (e.g., berm), get the City Planner’s approval or plan for a discretionary review (§ 153.050.030(A)(3); § 153.150.070(F)) .
• Outdoor storage, commercial display and parking areas have explicit screening rules — plan for 6‑ft opaque walls or equivalent living screens and provide required setbacks so displays do not occupy required parking or yards (§ 153.050.050, § 153.150.110) .
• Parkway trees and street tree maintenance are typically the property owner’s responsibility — coordinate with the City on species and root‑barrier requirements where trees are within 10 ft of sidewalks (§ 153.160.050(C)) .

Checklist — what an applicant must supply or satisfy

• Submit a Preliminary Landscape Design Plan with any application subject to design review (§ 153.160.060) .
• Include the full Landscape Documentation Package (project data, planting legend, hydrozones, irrigation specs, wall/fence heights, existing trees, maintenance plan) before building permits (§ 153.160.080, § 153.160.070) .
• Provide automatic irrigation for landscaped areas unless infeasible (§ 153.160.050(B)) .
• Use minimum plant sizes: trees 15‑gal (or 36‑in box for parking), shrubs 5‑gal; groundcover to achieve coverage in one year (§ 153.160.050(C); § 153.150.110(A)) .
• Respect turf limits: general max 50% of landscaped area (citywide); 30% cap applies for mixed‑use site details (§ 153.160.030; § 153.135.050(A)(7)) .
• Provide required screening for outdoor storage, parking and mechanical equipment (wall height/landscape buffer per use) (§ 153.050.050; § 153.150.070(F); § 153.135.050(D)) .
• Obtain Zoning Clearance for front yard fences/walls and comply with fence height rules (§ 153.130.060(E)) .
• If requesting fence/wall height increases or other deviations, consider an Administrative Adjustment or Variance (see the Baldwin Park Variances and Exceptions process; § 153.210.350–.380) .
• Coordinate parking lot landscaping with City parking standards (trees per space, perimeter screening) — see Baldwin Park Parking (§ 153.150.110) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Baldwin Park requires a formal landscape plan for most projects, enforces minimum landscaped area percentages and plant sizes, restricts turf, requires irrigation and maintenance by property owners, and uses six‑foot walls/plant buffers to screen commercial storage and parking from residences — submit your Preliminary Landscape Design Plan early and build the Landscape Documentation Package to avoid permit delays (§ 153.160.060–.080, § 153.160.040–.050, § 153.150.110) .

Source References

• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — § 153.160.040 (Residential landscaping standards) .
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — § 153.160.050 (Nonresidential landscaping standards) .
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — § 153.160.030 (General landscaping standards) .
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — § 153.160.060–.080 (Landscape approval procedure; Preliminary Plan; Documentation Package) .
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — § 153.150.110 (Parking lot landscaping standards) .
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — § 153.150.070 / § 153.050.030 (Screening walls and shared lot-line requirements) .
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — § 153.050.050 (Outdoor storage and outdoor sale/display screening) .
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — § 153.130.060 (Fences and walls; heights; Zoning Clearance) .
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — § 153.135.050 (Site details: front setback buffer, turf cap for mixed‑use, screening mechanical equipment) .
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — § 153.160.020 (Applicability thresholds for water‑efficient landscape subchapter) .

Information Gaps

• A city‑adopted plant species list or specific Calscape list for Eastern San Gabriel Valley used by the City is referred to but the exact resolution/list is Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with staff. (§ 153.135.050(A)(4) references native plant lists) .
• Local administrative fees or a detailed plan‑check checklist for the Landscape Documentation Package (the code lists package contents but not fee amounts) — Not found in retrieved materials (§ 153.160.080) .
• Interaction of these landscaping rules with Fire Department defensible‑space/WUI planting requirements: local adoption of state wildfire landscaping code excerpts is Not found in the retrieved zoning code — verify with the Fire Department and Building Division.

Retrieved passages

• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.160.040) High relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.150.110.) High relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§65591) High relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.135.050) High relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§65591) High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.160.) High relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.160.225.) High relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.050.060) Medium relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.070.060) Medium relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.150.080) Medium relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.050.050) Medium relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.070.060) Medium relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.150.070) Medium relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.140.040.) Medium relevance show source text
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code (§ 153.050.030) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — **§ 153.160.040** (Residential landscaping standards) . (§ 153.160.040)
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — **§ 153.160.050** (Nonresidential landscaping standards) . (§ 153.160.050)
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — **§ 153.160.030** (General landscaping standards) . (§ 153.160.030)
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — **§ 153.160.060**–**.080** (Landscape approval procedure; Preliminary Plan; Documentation Package) . (§ 153.160.060)
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — **§ 153.150.110** (Parking lot landscaping standards) . (§ 153.150.110)
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — **§ 153.150.070** / **§ 153.050.030** (Screening walls and shared lot-line requirements) . (§ 153.150.070)
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — **§ 153.050.050** (Outdoor storage and outdoor sale/display screening) . (§ 153.050.050)
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — **§ 153.130.060** (Fences and walls; heights; Zoning Clearance) . (§ 153.130.060)
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — **§ 153.135.050** (Site details: front setback buffer, turf cap for mixed‑use, screening mechanical equipment) . (§ 153.135.050)
• Baldwin Park Zoning Code — **§ 153.160.020** (Applicability thresholds for water‑efficient landscape subchapter) . (§ 153.160.020)
• BaldwinPark_ZoningCode.md

• Official Baldwin Park code library