Local zoning · Biggs

Biggs — Landscaping and Screening

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

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Biggs regulates landscaping and screening primarily through Title 14 Zoning’s citywide design standards, district-specific landscape minimums, and fence/screen height limits, all administered through the city’s design review process. Key rules require shade trees and screening of service areas, define planter widths and minimum landscaped percentages in commercial and industrial districts, and cap fence and hedge heights for safety and neighborhood character. Applicants should read these in concert with the base zoning district standards and any applicable overlay districts.

Citywide rules that shape landscaping and screening

Design Review landscaping standards. Projects must integrate landscaping as a core site-design element; retain mature trees; install street trees from the city’s approved list; provide dense landscaping to screen trash, storage, and utilities; and landscape parking so that tree canopy will shade 50% of parking area at maturity, along with drought-appropriate plantings and permanent irrigation where required, per §14.100.100 . Site standards also direct applicants to minimize the visual presence of vehicles and to screen parking and service areas from view, tying screening back to overall site design, per §14.100.080 .
Landscape plan submittal. Design review applications must include a landscape plan showing locations, plant species (Latin/common names), and irrigation method; approved plans govern installation and ongoing maintenance, per Chapter 14.100 (see §14.100.050 approval and §14.100.060 conformance/maintenance) .
Fence and landscape heights. Front yards in residential districts are limited to 4 ft fences/landscaping without a use permit; side and rear yards to 6 ft; nonresidential to 6 ft, with potential increases by use permit and limited exceptions for special lots; additional constraints apply within public right-of-way and sight distance areas, per §14.110.080 and §14.110.060 .
Sight distance and sidewalk offset. No fence, hedge, wall, or landscape over 3 ft within a sight distance zone; all fences, walls, and landscaping must be set back at least 1 ft behind the back edge of any existing or planned sidewalk or public path, per §14.110.080 and §14.110.060 .
Barbed wire/electrified fencing. Barbed wire is prohibited in residential zones and allowed by right only in industrial zones; electrified fencing is prohibited citywide, per §14.110.100 .
Multi-family fencing. Projects with more than two units must fence side and rear property lines at the maximum allowed height and create private ground-level yards of at least 180 sq ft using internal fencing, unless the planning commission waives street-fronting side yard fencing, per §14.110.090 .
New single-family homes. Before final inspection/occupancy, the entire front yard must be landscaped, including at least one approved-list shade tree (≥5-gallon container), underground automatic irrigation, and no more than 35% nonliving groundcover (with limited discretion for bark treated as “living”), per §14.110.110 .
Landscaping defined. “Landscaping” includes plants and also decorative or functional fences and similar structures when used for screening, per §14.20.520 .

Quick-Reference Standards

Topic	Core Requirement	Districts Affected	Code Reference
Parking-lot shade	Provide trees to achieve about 50% shade of parking at maturity; also screen parking from view	Citywide via design review	§14.100.100; §14.100.080
Street trees	Install street trees from the city’s approved list	Citywide via design review	§14.100.100
Front yard landscaping (new homes)	Entire front yard landscaped; 1 shade tree; automatic irrigation; ≤35% nonliving cover	Residential (new dwellings)	§14.110.110
Fence/landscape heights	Residential: 4' front, 6' side/rear; Nonresidential: 6'; higher by use permit	Citywide	§14.110.080
Sight distance	≤3' high in sight distance zones	Citywide	§14.110.060; §14.110.080
Offset from sidewalks	Fences/walls/landscaping set back ≥1' from back of sidewalk/paths	Citywide	§14.110.080
Commercial/office minimum landscaping	≥10% of lot improved landscape accessible to the public	C-G, C-O	§14.320.050; §14.330.050
Industrial minimum landscaping	≥10% of net site permanently landscaped (includes parking/ROW planters)	M-1; applies to M-2	§14.360.050; §14.370.050
Industrial street planters	Planter ≥5' wide along street ROW; street trees ≤30' O.C.; automatic irrigation; ≤25% hard surface in planters	M-1; applies to M-2	§14.360.050; §14.370.050
Industrial outside storage screening	Enclose outside storage with sight-obscuring fence/wall/hedge ≥6' high; 6' solid wall/fence at residential interface	M-1; applies to M-2	§14.360.060; §14.370.060
Planned Development open space	≥20% of project area as landscaped open space; ≥10% in consolidated social/recreation areas	PD combining district	§14.390.040; §14.390.090

District-by-District

R-1 Single-Family Residential

Purpose and typical uses: Single-family residential use is the core intent; detailed purpose statement not found in retrieved materials. Not found in retrieved materials.
Key landscaping/screening: New homes must landscape the entire front yard, include an approved-list shade tree (≥5-gallon), and install underground automatic irrigation; nonliving groundcover may not exceed 35% of the front yard, per §14.110.110 . Street-side privacy fences up to 6 ft are allowed in R-1 side yards with street frontage, subject to the general fence rules in §14.110.080, per §14.105 district cross-reference in §14.110.040/§14.110.080 notes within the R-1 standards table .
Where it applies: All property zoned R-1 on the city’s zoning map; confirm via Biggs Zoning.

Multi-family Residential Projects (all residential districts)

Purpose and typical uses: Applies to development of more than two dwelling units on a parcel, regardless of the residential district.
Key landscaping/screening: Perimeter fencing at the maximum allowed height is required on side and rear lines; internal fencing should create private yards ≥180 sq ft for ground-level units, with possible waiver for street-fronting side yards at planning commission discretion, per §14.110.090 .
Where it applies: Any residentially zoned site proposing >2 units; verify exact district via Biggs Land Use.

C-G General Commercial

Purpose and typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
Key landscaping/screening: Landscaping is set through design review with a hard floor of at least 10% of the lot as improved landscaping accessible to the public, per §14.320.050 . Commercial projects should also screen parking and service areas consistent with the citywide design standards, per §14.100.080 and §14.100.100 .
Where it applies: All C-G parcels; confirm via Biggs Zoning.

C-O Office Commercial

Purpose and typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
Key landscaping/screening: Minimum 10% of the lot must be improved public-accessible landscape, set in design review, per §14.330.050 . A 6 ft solid wall or fence is required where a C-O property line abuts any residential district, unless separated by an alley, per §14.330.060 .
Where it applies: All C-O parcels; verify on the zoning map.

A-C Agricultural Commercial

Purpose and typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
Key landscaping/screening: Where a front or street-side yard is reduced from 30 ft to 20 ft, the code requires “an equivalent area of planter or landscaped area” to offset the additional buildable area, per A-C development notes under setbacks, §14.220 (district table notes) . Special development regulations for C-G apply in A-C, which captures the 10% improved landscape minimum and design-review-based landscape setting, per §14.220.060 and §14.320.050 .
Where it applies: All A-C parcels, typically transitional commercial areas serving agriculture.

M-1 Light Industrial

Purpose and typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials, but governed by the Industrial Use Table in Chapter 14.350. Not found in retrieved materials.
Key landscaping/screening: Provide a ≥5 ft landscaped planter along street frontages (excluding driveways), landscape the strip between sidewalk and the right-of-way line, plant street trees from the city’s list no more than 30 ft O.C., and install automatic irrigation with vehicle protection; hardscape may cover no more than 25% of required planters, per §14.360.050 . At least 10% of the net site must be permanently landscaped, including parking and public frontage planters, per §14.360.050 . All outside storage must be fully enclosed by a sight-obscuring fence/wall/hedge at least 6 ft high, and a 6 ft solid wall/fence is required where an industrial site abuts a residential district, per §14.360.060 .
Where it applies: All M-1 parcels.

M-2 General Industrial

Purpose and typical uses: Heavy industrial with potential incompatibilities to sensitive uses; commonly buffered by M-1 and C-G, per §14.370.010 .
Key landscaping/screening: M-2 adopts M-1 landscaping and special development regulations in full: the ≥5 ft street planter, ≥10% net-site landscaping, street-tree spacing, irrigation/hardscape limits, and outside storage/residential interface screening, per §14.370.050 and §14.370.060 (referencing §14.360.050–.060) .
Where it applies: All M-2 parcels.

A-M Agricultural Industrial

Purpose and typical uses: Supports agriculturally related industrial uses, including processing, fabrication/repair, and related offices, per §14.230.010–.020 .
Key landscaping/screening: Not found in retrieved materials. Citywide design review landscaping standards and fence/sight-distance rules still apply, per §14.100.100 and §14.110.060–.080 .
Where it applies: All A-M parcels.

P-Q Public or Quasi-Public

Purpose and typical uses: Public facilities, parks/greenbelts, and related uses, per §14.380.010–.020 .
Key landscaping/screening: Not found in retrieved materials. Apply citywide design review landscaping and fence/sight-distance standards where applicable, per §14.100.100 and §14.110.060–.080 .
Where it applies: P-Q parcels (public and institutional sites).

Planned Development (PD) combining district

Purpose and typical uses: Customized development standards via a site development plan overlay.
Key landscaping/screening: Provide a minimum 20% of the total project area as landscaped open space, with ≥10% of the project in consolidated social/recreation areas; PD approvals may also impose specific planting, tree, and fence/wall conditions beyond base zoning, and all PDs are subject to design review, per §14.390.040, §14.390.060(4)-(5), and §14.390.090 .
Where it applies: Parcels with the PD overlay; see Biggs Overlay Districts.

Checklist

Confirm your base district and any overlays on the parcel using Biggs Zoning.
Determine whether design review applies and include a landscape plan (locations, species, irrigation) in your submittal .
Retain mature trees where feasible; include required street trees from the city’s list; design for 50% parking-lot shade at canopy maturity; screen trash/utilities and parking from public view .
Meet minimum landscaped percentages and planter dimensions in your district (e.g., ≥10% of lot in C-G/C-O; ≥10% net site and ≥5' street planter in M-1/M-2) .
If new single-family, fully landscape the front yard, plant one approved shade tree, install automatic irrigation, and limit nonliving cover to 35% .
Design fences/walls/landscaping to honor height limits and safety zones: 4' residential front yard, 6' side/rear, 3' max in sight-distance areas, and ≥1' back from sidewalks/paths; obtain approvals for any fence in the right-of-way .
For industrial sites, enclose outside storage with a sight-obscuring 6' screen and install a 6' solid wall/fence at residential interfaces; keep outside storage out of required setbacks and sight lines .
Where A-C yards are reduced, provide equivalent landscaped/planter area; confirm any C-G standards that carry into A-C .
In PD overlays, allocate ≥20% of the project to landscaped open space, with ≥10% consolidated .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Measuring “50% parking shade”	Misinterpretation can underdeliver canopy coverage	Shade is at maturity and should be distributed over stalls/drive aisles consistent with §14.100.100; confirm species counts and planting layout with staff .
Sight distance zones not mapped on plans	Planting or fencing over 3' can create hazards and trigger corrections	Show sight triangles on site plans; keep landscaping ≤3' in these areas per §14.110.060–.080; confirm triangle dimensions with Public Works/Planning .
Fences in the right-of-way	ROW fences need administrative approval and encroachment permits	If any portion is in ROW, secure city administrator approval and an encroachment permit per §14.110.080 .
“Improved landscape accessible to the public”	Unclear what counts toward the 10% in C-G/C-O	Confirm acceptable features (e.g., planters, plazas, seating lawns) during design review, citing §14.320.050 and §14.330.050 .
Industrial “outside storage” boundaries	Mislabeling yard/staging areas can miss screening triggers	Identify all outside storage and keep out of required setbacks; enclose with a sight-obscuring 6' screen per §14.360.060 .
A-C yard tradeoff for landscape	The “equivalent area” requirement can be overlooked when reducing yards	If using the reduced 20' front/street-side yard option, show a one-for-one landscaped/planter area equivalency per A-C notes in §14.220 .
PD landscape open space percentages	Underestimating required open space can force redesign	Keep ≥20% landscaped open space and ≥10% consolidated social/recreation areas per §14.390.040; clarify what qualifies with staff .

Plain-English Summary

Biggs asks you to make landscaping do real work: plant street trees, keep mature trees, shade and screen parking, and hide trash and utilities. Commercial/office sites must landscape at least 10% of the lot, and industrial sites need both street-side planters and 10% overall landscaping—plus solid screening for any outside storage. Fences and hedges have height caps (especially near corners), and new homes must fully landscape the front yard with a tree and irrigation. Most of this is checked in design review, so bring a solid planting and irrigation plan.

Source References

BMC §14.100.080 Design standards – Site (parking and service screening)
BMC §14.100.100 Design standards – Landscaping (trees, screening, parking shade, irrigation)
BMC Chapter 14.100 application/approval/maintenance (landscape plan; conformance) – §14.100.050–.060
BMC §14.110.060 Yards and setbacks – Minimum setbacks for traffic safety (3' max in sight distance)
BMC §14.110.080 Fences and landscaping – General height limitations (height table; ROW; 1' sidewalk offset)
BMC §14.110.090 Fences – Multiple-family development (perimeter/internal fencing)
BMC §14.110.100 Fences – Barbed wire/electrified fence (prohibitions/allowances)
BMC §14.110.110 Residential structures (front yard landscaping for new homes)
BMC §14.320.050 C-G Landscaping requirements (≥10% public-accessible landscape)
BMC §14.330.050–.060 C-O Landscaping and screening (≥10% public-accessible landscape; 6' wall at residential edge)
BMC §14.360.050–.060 M-1 Landscaping and special development regs (5' planters; ≥10% site landscaping; screening of storage; residential interface wall)
BMC §14.370.050–.060 M-2 adopts M-1 landscaping and screening
BMC §14.220.060 A-C adopts C-G special development regs; A-C yard/landscape equivalency notes in district table
BMC §14.230.010–.020 A-M purpose and uses
BMC §14.380.010–.020 P-Q purpose and uses (parks/greenbelts)
BMC §14.390.040; §14.390.060; §14.390.090 PD open space, planting/fencing powers, and design review applicability

Sources

Retrieved passages

Biggs Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Biggs Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Biggs Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
Biggs Zoning Code (§ 14.110.070.) High relevance
Biggs Zoning Code (chapter and) High relevance
Biggs Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Biggs Zoning Code (§ 14.110.090.) High relevance
Biggs Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Biggs code library

Frequently asked questions

What are Biggs’ fence height limits in front, side, and rear yards?

In residential zones, fences and landscaping are limited to 4 ft in front yards and 6 ft in side/rear yards without a use permit; nonresidential zones allow 6 ft. Taller fences may be allowed by use permit in some cases, but sight distance areas remain capped at 3 ft, and all fences/landscaping must sit at least 1 ft behind sidewalks, per §14.110.080 and §14.110.060 .

Do I need to landscape the front yard for a new single-family home in Biggs?

Yes. Before final inspection/occupancy, the entire front yard must be landscaped, including one approved-list shade tree (≥5-gallon), with underground automatic irrigation and no more than 35% nonliving groundcover, per §14.110.110 .

How much landscaping is required on commercial and office sites?

At least 10% of the lot must be improved landscape accessible to the public; specific layout and plant palette are set through design review, per §14.320.050 (C-G) and §14.330.050 (C-O) .

What industrial landscaping and screening does Biggs require?

Industrial sites must landscape at least 10% of the net site, include a 5 ft street-adjacent planter (with street trees ≤30 ft O.C. and automatic irrigation), and fully screen outside storage with a sight-obscuring fence/wall/hedge at least 6 ft high; a solid 6 ft wall/fence is required where an industrial site abuts residential. M-2 adopts these M-1 rules, per §14.360.050–.060 and §14.370.050–.060 .

Do parking lots in Biggs need tree shade?

Yes. Landscaping must include shade trees designed to cover roughly 50% of parking area at canopy maturity; parking should also be screened from public view, per §14.100.100 and §14.100.080 .

Can I use barbed wire or electrified fencing?

Electrified fencing is prohibited everywhere. Barbed wire is prohibited in residential zones; it’s permitted by right in industrial zones and may be allowed in other nonresidential zones with a use permit, per §14.110.100 .

What counts toward the “improved landscape accessible to the public” in commercial districts?

The code sets a 10% minimum but leaves design specifics to design review. Typical qualifying elements include publicly accessible planted areas and plazas, but you should confirm your plan’s features with staff, per §14.320.050 and §14.330.050 .

Are fences or hedges allowed in the public right-of-way?

Generally no. Fences over 4 ft (or over 3 ft in sight triangles) are not allowed in the ROW, and any fence in the ROW needs written approval by the city administrator and an encroachment permit. The city or utilities may remove them if needed, per §14.110.080 .

In A-C Agricultural Commercial, can I reduce my front setback if I add landscaping?

Yes. If you reduce a 30 ft front or street-side yard to 20 ft, you must provide an equivalent area of planter/landscaped area to offset the additional building area, per A-C notes under setbacks, §14.220 .

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