Brawley — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Brawley’s zoning ordinance concentrates its landscaping and screening rules into a few core sections that apply citywide and then layers on district- and use-specific requirements. Most projects that trigger design review or site plan review must show how required planting, irrigation, screening walls/fences, and parking-lot shading will be met, and the first stop for district applicability is the zoning map and districts. Parking areas are a recurring focal point: they must be screened and shaded, and their landscaping has detailed planter and tree-spacing standards that interlock with the city’s parking rules.

Core citywide standards (Article XII unless noted)

• Minimum planter dimension. Any required landscaped area or fixed planter must be at least 4 feet in horizontal dimension; 4×4 planters are also used inside parking lots for tree protection and shading counts (Sec. 27.180(1), (5) and Article XI parking-lot standards) .
• Screening by plants. Where vegetation is used to screen, it must be evergreen shrubs, closely spaced, and maintained to provide an opaque screen (Sec. 27.180(2)) .
• Permanent irrigation and maintenance. Required landscaped areas must have a fixed, permanent watering system (sprinklers and/or hose bibs or an approved alternative) and must be maintained in a neat, clean, healthful condition (Sec. 27.180(3)–(4)) .
• Fences, walls, and openings. Where a solid masonry wall is required by the zoning ordinance, openings up to 20 feet are allowed for access; anti-graffiti coating is required on exposed masonry walls, with landscaping along public-view sides; where a barrier separates an area from a sidewalk, landscaping must be installed and maintained between the sidewalk and barrier (Sec. 27.179(d)–(f)) .
• Yard allowances for landscape elements. Landscape elements (trees, shrubs, planters up to 42 inches high) may be placed within required yards and may project subject to the general yard-projection allowances (Sec. 27.173(a), (b)(5)) .
• Intersection visibility. Within the 30-foot corner cut-off triangle, landscaping must preserve sight distance; trees are allowed if trunks are kept clear to at least 10 feet above curb level (Sec. 27.181(a)–(b)) .

Parking-lot landscaping, shading, and screening (Article XI)

• Screening walls at lots. Under the multifamily design chapter, “all parking lots and parking areas shall be screened with decorative masonry walls minimum four feet in height” and landscaped to the maximum extent possible; confirm applicability outside multifamily projects (multifamily design standards; “Parking Facilities”) .
• Interior planters and shade trees. End-of-row planters must contain two 15-gallon trees and be 5×20 feet (90-degree parking) or triangular (angled parking); interior 4×4 planters are required at a ratio of one per five parking spaces, each with a 15-gallon tree (Article XI standards preceding Sec. 27.148) .
• 30% shade within 15 years. Parking lots with 12+ spaces must achieve at least 30% shade of the total parking-lot area within 15 years via tree canopies and/or a combination of trees and covered parking; distance between trees max 40 feet; trees must be at least 15-gallon and non-deciduous; placement must not obstruct lighting (Article XI standards preceding Sec. 27.148) .
• Street-edge planting strip. Provide a minimum 5-foot-wide peripheral planting area between the sidewalk and property line for lots adjacent to streets; at least one 15-gallon shade tree per 40 feet of street frontage (palms at least 15 feet tall if used) (Article XI standards preceding Sec. 27.148) .
• Parking-lot landscape plan submittal. A site plan and landscaping plan are required before establishing required parking facilities; the plan must be prepared by a registered architect, landscape architect, or civil engineer (Sec. 27.148(a)–(c)) .

Multifamily project design standards (citywide; Article XII)

• Landscaped open space. Provide at least 25% of the net site area as landscaped open space for residents (multifamily design standards) .
• Required landscape content and tree sizing. Landscaped areas must include a combination of trees, shrubs, vines, groundcover, flowers, and lawns; decorative crushed rock may not exceed 20% of any landscaped area. One-third of all trees must be 24-inch box or larger, planted extensively along adjacent streets. Use a mix of approved species (e.g., Indian Laurel, Jacaranda, Mulberry, California Fan Palms) interspersed for visual interest. Provide one tree per 1,500 sq ft of landscaped area, with a minimum of four trees on small sites (multifamily design standards) .
• Irrigation and drainage integration. Landscaped areas must be on underground sprinklers with automatic/drip where appropriate, and coordinated with project drainage (swales encouraged) (multifamily design standards) .
• Landscape plan and timing. Developers must submit a landscape plan; all required landscaping and irrigation must be installed before certificates of occupancy are issued (multifamily design standards) .

Use-specific screening triggers

• Electric distribution substations. Landscaping must be developed and maintained in required setbacks and “to provide adequate screening of interior development”; 8-foot solid masonry wall required around site; both subject to Sec. 27.179 wall standards and Sec. 27.180 landscaping (Sec. 27.191(4)–(5)) .
• Automobile impound yards. All operations/storage must be within a building or fully enclosed by a solid masonry wall at least 8 feet high per Sec. 27.179 (Sec. 27.192(1)–(2)) .
• Churches. Landscaping must be developed/maintained to screen parking areas and in required setbacks (Sec. 27.193(1)) .
• Outdoor storage (M and other applicable zones). Any outdoor storage area must be fully enclosed by a masonry wall 6 to 8 feet high (Sec. 27.94(1)) .

Industrial adjacency buffers (M-1 and M-2)

• Residential/agricultural adjacency wall. Where M-1 or M-2 parcels adjoin residential, agricultural, or legal nonconforming residential property, provide a solid masonry wall 5 to 6 feet high along the shared side/rear lines (Sec. 27.94(3)) .

District-by-district notes that affect landscaping and screening

These are Brawley’s districts and zone-specific items that explicitly reference landscaping/screening in the retrieved ordinance text. For all districts, “Landscape: Refer to section 27.180” appears in development standards tables; key numbers below focus only on landscaping/screening.

A-1 Light Agricultural

• Purpose and typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key dimensional standards tied to landscaping: The development standards table references “Landscape: Refer to section 27.180.” For commercial or light industrial uses established after the effective date and located in A-1, landscaping must be established and maintained across the entire front lot line within the required front setback; subject to site plan review (Table 27.132 note (3)) .
• Practical effect: Even when a use in A-1 is commercial/light industrial in character, the frontage must be landscaped as a buffer along the street and shown in site plan review (Sec. 27.261–27.268 referenced in note (3)) .

Recreational (R)

• Purpose and typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key dimensional standards tied to landscaping: The district table points applicants to the general landscaping section, “Landscape: Refer to section 27.180” (Table 27.102) .
• Practical effect: Parks/recreation developments must meet Sec. 27.180 for planter dimensions, evergreen screening where used, permanent irrigation, and maintenance (Sec. 27.180) .

M-1 Light Manufacturing and M-2 Heavy Manufacturing

• Purpose and typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key dimensional standards tied to landscaping and screening:
  • Development standards tables reference “Landscape: Refer to section 27.180” (M-1/M-2 tables; see Article IX tables) .
  • Where an M-1 or M-2 parcel adjoins residential/agricultural or legal nonconforming residential, a 5–6 foot solid masonry wall is required along the side/rear boundaries (Sec. 27.94(3)) .
  • Outdoor storage must be fully enclosed by a 6–8 foot masonry wall (Sec. 27.94(1)) .
• Practical effect: Industrial edges facing homes or farms must be buffered by walls, with additional on-site landscaping meeting Sec. 27.180; verify any additional buffer/landscape conditions imposed through design review or conditions of approval.

MHP Mobilehome Park Zone

• Purpose and typical uses: Mobilehome parks only (zone is required for MHP) (Sec. 27.194(1)) .
• Where it applies: Parcels zoned MHP (Sec. 27.194(1)) .
• Key dimensional standards tied to landscaping: Not found in retrieved materials beyond default reference to Sec. 27.180 where applicable.
• Practical effect: Expect Sec. 27.180 to govern planter dimensions, irrigation, and screening shrubs, and apply any parking lot shading/screening rules where on-site parking meets thresholds (Sec. 27.180; Article XI) .

Multiple-family projects (citywide design standards)

• Applies to: All multifamily applications for site plan review, zone changes, CUPs, and variances (Sec. 27.182 and multifamily design applicability) .
• Key landscaping/screening standards:
  • 25% minimum landscaped open space; landscaped setbacks; internal building separations landscaped (multifamily design standards) .
  • Tree quantities, sizes, and species mix; irrigation and drainage integration; maintenance; landscape plan required and installed before C of O (multifamily design standards) .
  • Parking lots: minimum 4-foot decorative masonry screen walls; interior planters and 30% shading within 15 years (multifamily design standards; Article XI) .

Quick-reference standards table

Checklist

• Confirm your zoning district and any adjacency to residential/agricultural that may trigger buffer walls (M-1/M-2 adjacency walls per Sec. 27.94(3)) .
• Prepare a landscape plan that shows all required planter dimensions (≥4 ft), species, irrigation, and maintenance notes (Sec. 27.180) .
• If a multifamily project, document 25% landscaped open space, tree counts and sizes, crushed-rock limits, and installation timing prior to C of O (multifamily design standards) .
• If providing/expanding required parking, submit a parking-lot landscape plan by a registered professional; include 30% shade modeling within 15 years, planter locations, and street-edge planting (Article XI; Sec. 27.148) .
• Where solid walls are required, design openings ≤20 ft for access, apply anti-graffiti coating, and landscape publicly visible sides (Sec. 27.179(d)–(f)) .
• Keep landscaping out of the 30-ft corner visibility triangle or limb-up trees to 10 ft clear trunk (Sec. 27.181) .
• For A-1 sites with commercial/light industrial uses, show front-lot-line landscaping across the entire frontage within the front setback (Table 27.132 note (3)) .
• For special uses (churches, substations, impound yards), incorporate the specific screening/landscaping and wall heights noted in those sections (Secs. 27.191, 27.192, 27.193) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Brawley wants landscaped, irrigated, and maintained frontages and parking lots, with evergreen shrubs where screening is needed, minimum 4-foot planters, and real shade in big lots. Expect to show a professional landscape plan, install permanent irrigation, limb up trees near corners, add walls where industry meets homes, and, for multifamily, meet extra rules like 25% landscaped open space, a specific tree program, and 4-foot screen walls at parking.

Source References

• Sec. 27.173 (Use of yards; landscape elements and planters may project)
• Sec. 27.179 (Fences and walls: openings ≤20 ft, anti-graffiti, frontage landscaping)
• Sec. 27.180 (Landscaping: 4-ft planters, evergreen screening shrubs, irrigation, maintenance, planter boxes)
• Sec. 27.181 (Intersection visibility; 30-ft cut-off; 10-ft tree clearance)
• Article XI parking-lot landscaping/shade and Sec. 27.148 (parking-lot landscape plan submittal)
• Multifamily design standards: landscaped open space, tree program, irrigation/drainage, parking screens, timing, and plan submittal
• Sec. 27.94 (Industrial special development standards: outdoor storage walls; M-1/M-2 adjacency walls)
• Sec. 27.191 (Electric distribution substations: landscaping and 8-ft wall)
• Sec. 27.192 (Automobile impound yards: 8-ft wall enclosure)
• Sec. 27.193 (Churches: landscape screening of parking and setbacks)
• Table 27.132 A-1 Light Agricultural (frontage landscaping for commercial/light industrial uses; site plan review)
• Table 27.102 Recreational (Landscape: Refer to section 27.180)

Information Gaps

• District purposes and typical permitted uses for A-1, Recreational, M-1, M-2, and MHP: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Full text of Sec. 27.179(a)–(c) to confirm zone/yard-specific fence heights and placements: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Exact section number for the Article XI parking-lot landscaping/shading standards (content retrieved, header not captured): Not found in retrieved materials.

Retrieved passages

• Brawley Zoning Code (section on) High relevance show source text
• Brawley Zoning Code (§ 1.) High relevance show source text
• Brawley Zoning Code (§ 1.) High relevance show source text
• Brawley Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Brawley Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Brawley Zoning Code (section 27.180) High relevance show source text
• Brawley Zoning Code (section 27.179) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Sec. 27.173 (Use of yards; landscape elements and planters may project)
• Sec. 27.179 (Fences and walls: openings ≤20 ft, anti-graffiti, frontage landscaping)
• Sec. 27.180 (Landscaping: 4-ft planters, evergreen screening shrubs, irrigation, maintenance, planter boxes)
• Sec. 27.181 (Intersection visibility; 30-ft cut-off; 10-ft tree clearance)
• Article XI parking-lot landscaping/shade and Sec. 27.148 (parking-lot landscape plan submittal) (Article XI)
• Multifamily design standards: landscaped open space, tree program, irrigation/drainage, parking screens, timing, and plan submittal
• Sec. 27.94 (Industrial special development standards: outdoor storage walls; M-1/M-2 adjacency walls)
• Sec. 27.191 (Electric distribution substations: landscaping and 8-ft wall)
• Sec. 27.192 (Automobile impound yards: 8-ft wall enclosure)
• Sec. 27.193 (Churches: landscape screening of parking and setbacks)
• Table 27.132 A-1 Light Agricultural (frontage landscaping for commercial/light industrial uses; site plan review)
• Table 27.102 Recreational (Landscape: Refer to section 27.180) (section 27.180)
• Brawley_ZoningCode.md

• Official Brawley code library