Local zoning · Brentwood

Brentwood — Landscaping and Screening

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

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Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Brentwood’s zoning ordinance sets citywide baseline rules for landscaping, tree canopy, and buffers, then layers on plan-specific enhancements in certain Planned Development (PD) districts. The core standards live in Title 17 Zoning, Chapter 17.630 Landscaping and Screening, which applies to most new development and many rehabs, with added rules in some PD chapters and specific plan areas. If your project also involves parking, design review, or other development standards, those processes will integrate these landscape/screening requirements.

Citywide standards — Chapter 17.630 Landscaping and Screening

  • Applicability and purpose. Landscaping is required in all yards, off-street parking lots, and open land uses visible to or accessible by the public; shade trees are required; and screening is required as a buffer between differing intensities and between certain zoning districts to mitigate noise, light, glare, and activity (§ 17.630). These regulations implement the City’s planning objectives and promote erosion control, water conservation, urban wildlife habitat, and visual compatibility.
  • Definitions. “Landscaping,” “screening,” and “shade tree” are defined in § 17.630 for consistent application (e.g., screening may be a masonry wall, board fence with slats, hedge, berm, or combinations).
  • Installation timing. All required landscaping, shade trees, and screening must be installed before occupancy; the City may allow a bond or surety to defer installation for up to six months.
  • State water-efficiency adoption. Brentwood adopts the State’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) by reference (Title 23 CCR § 490 et seq.), making MWELO the City’s water-efficient landscaping standard.

Minimum design standards (selected)

  • Where landscaping is required. All yards, public-facing open areas, and parking lots. Shade trees must be included in required landscaped areas.
  • Parking-lot landscaping. Minimum landscaped area as a percent of lot increases with parking lot size; shade trees must be provided and distributed to break up paved expanses. Typical rates include 16 trees per acre (or fraction) of landscaped area, generally 15-gallon size, ~6 feet tall, 1-inch caliper, spaced about 30 feet (may be clustered). Curbed planters/tree wells must be at least 5 feet wide.
  • Irrigation and materials. Provide an automatic irrigation system designed to conserve water; select plant materials suitable to Brentwood’s climate; encourage native or low-water species. Hardscape/gravel features are limited to 20% of the landscape area.
  • Visibility and utilities. Within 35 feet of a street corner, landscaping/screening (except trees) is capped at 3 feet tall to protect sight lines; trees under overhead lines must be species that remain ≤15 feet; no trees in underground utility easements.
  • Screening construction. Fences/walls max 6 feet tall unless a higher wall is required for noise abatement; walls per public works standards; fence supports at 6-foot centers; acceptable fence coverings include board wood (≥1" thick) or chain link with durable slats; vegetative screening should obscure sight and illumination within 3 years and be kept 6–10 feet tall; berms can provide up to two-thirds of required screen height.
  • Screen placement. Follow lot lines or inside sidewalk edges, or otherwise arrange to substantially screen the activity/facility from adjoining properties.

Snapshot: decision-relevant citywide standards

Topic Core standard Code Reference
Where required Landscaping in all yards, public-facing open areas, and parking lots; screening between differing intensities and some district edges § 17.630;
Parking-lot landscaped area Percent of lot landscaped increases with size; shade-tree coverage required; typical 16 trees per acre of landscaped area § 17.630;
Tree size/spacing 15-gallon min; ~6 ft tall; 1" caliper; generally ~30 ft apart; cluster allowed § 17.630;
Planter dimensions Min 5 ft width; bounded by 6-inch curb or equivalent; protect from vehicle overhang § 17.630;
Corner safety Max 3 ft high landscaping/screening (except trees) within 35 ft of a street corner § 17.630;
Screen types & height Walls/fences to 6 ft (unless higher for noise); vegetative screens 6–10 ft; berms ≤2/3 of needed height § 17.630;
Irrigation & materials Automatic irrigation; climate-suitable plants; low-water species encouraged; ≤20% gravel/hardscape in landscaped area § 17.630;
Installation timing Install prior to occupancy; deferral up to 6 months with surety § 17.630;
State water rules City adopts State MWELO (Title 23 CCR § 490 et seq.) § 17.630;

District-by-district: where Brentwood adds landscape/screening rules

Below are Brentwood PD districts and plan areas that add or modify the citywide Chapter 17.630 rules. If your site is in a PD or specific plan, these provisions apply in addition to § 17.630 and will be reviewed through design review as part of your entitlements.

PD-13 (Planned Development Thirteen)

  • Purpose/uses. Mixed commercial/industrial subareas along major corridors, implemented per subarea.
  • Key landscape/screening adds:
    • Along Brentwood Boulevard/Highway 4, Balfour Road, and Fairview Parkway: minimum landscape width of 20 ft, average 25 ft measured curb-face to building/parking; Harvest Park Drive (Subarea A) 15 ft min, 20 ft avg. Include sidewalk within these widths.
    • Where abutting a residential zone: install perimeter landscaping at development, minimum 5 ft wide (exclusive of vehicle overhang), tree wells/fingers every 40 ft max, and evergreen trees to create a visual screen.
  • Where it applies. Subareas along Brentwood Boulevard, Balfour Road, Fairview Parkway, Harvest Park Drive (as mapped in the PD).

PD-47 (Planned Development Forty-Seven)

  • Purpose/uses. Office/commercial mixed-use subareas with adjacency to residential.
  • Key landscape/screening adds:
    • Walnut Boulevard: min 20 ft landscaped frontage. Continente Avenue: min 5 ft when separating parking, 10 ft when separating buildings; sidewalk typically within that width, but when width is <10 ft no sidewalk is allowed.
    • Screening in Subareas A, B, D follows § 17.630 with the above frontage minimums; PD also governs fence height increases above 6 ft if needed to resolve compatibility.
  • Where it applies. Subareas A, B, D of PD-47 (per district map).

PD-55 (Planned Development Fifty-Five — Sciortino Ranch)

  • Purpose/uses. Mixed commercial/office/light industrial and residential by subarea.
  • Key landscape/screening adds:
    • Must prepare a master landscaping and screening program for each phase or secure phase-specific design and site development approval.
    • Drive-through windows/counters must be screened from the public right-of-way using “extensive” shrubs/trees, berms, walls, trellises, or combinations. Adhere to City’s Urban Forest Guidelines.
  • Where it applies. PD-55 subareas 1–6 (per PD map/design guidelines).

PD-71 (Planned Development Seventy-One)

  • Purpose/uses. Detached single-family/duets with parks and open space.
  • Key landscape/screening adds:
    • Street trees at approximately 30 ft on center on all streets, including Lone Tree Way frontages near sound walls.
    • Along the Marsh Creek open-space buffer: irregular, native plantings that enhance riparian character while maintaining creek views.
  • Where it applies. PD-71 as mapped, especially the Marsh Creek interface.

PD-35 (Planned Development Thirty-Five)

  • Purpose/uses. Single-family neighborhoods with entry features and common open space.
  • Key landscape/screening adds:
    • Front yards must use drought-tolerant xeriscape with a maximum of 25% turf. Each tract map submittal must include landscape/irrigation plans.
  • Where it applies. PD-35 neighborhoods per the PD plan.

Industrial—PD subareas with storage/yard screening

  • Purpose/uses. Industrial/technology/light manufacturing subareas.
  • Key landscape/screening adds:
    • Open storage areas: surround with a 6–8 ft view‑obscuring fence; use masonry walls where storage is visible from a public street; chain link with view‑obscuring slats or other non-wood fencing and landscaping may be used for areas not visible from public streets.
    • Screening of parking areas accessible to the public is required; landscaping for parking lots and setbacks per § 17.630.
  • Where it applies. Industrial subareas identified in the applicable PD map.

TownCentre buffer between Areas E and E1 (commercial/auto-oriented)

  • Purpose/uses. Commercial and auto-related subareas (master sign program in effect).
  • Key landscape/screening adds:
    • 10‑ft landscaped buffer with opaque plantings plus a minimum 6‑ft block wall along the shared E/E1 boundary; yards required to remain landscaped except for access drives. Along public streets, min 20 ft landscaped width with a 25 ft average in Areas A–D (sidewalk included).
  • Where it applies. TownCentre Areas A–E/E1 as mapped in the PD.

Specific plan area example — outdoor screening rules

  • Selected standards in a specific plan require: a 3.5‑ft maximum screen height along parking areas abutting streets, screening of outdoor storage and trash areas, and screening or recessing mechanical equipment from street and residential views.
  • Where it applies. Only within the referenced specific plan area as adopted. Verify with planning staff.

Practical tips for applicants

  • Coordinate site design early so parking geometry and landscaped islands/fingers are dimensioned to meet planters, curb, and tree-spacing rules (§ 17.630).
  • If you are in a PD, pull that chapter first; many PDs add frontage widths, tree spacing, or special buffers that override generic frontage expectations (§ 17.630 still applies).
  • Plan for installation timing—either complete landscaping before your certificate of occupancy or arrange an approved surety for up to six months delay.
  • Drive-throughs, industrial yards, and corners need special attention due to added screening, safety, and adjacency rules.

Checklist

  • Confirm your base zoning/PD subarea under Brentwood Zoning and whether any overlay district applies.
  • Identify all areas requiring landscaping under § 17.630 (yards, public-facing open areas, parking lots).
  • Compute parking-lot landscaped area and shade-tree counts; dimension islands/fingers and curbs (5 ft min width; 6-inch curb).
  • Select climate-suitable, preferably native/low‑water plants; design automatic irrigation to meet MWELO.
  • Lay out screening as needed between uses/districts; choose compliant wall/fence/vegetative solutions and heights.
  • Maintain 3‑ft height max for landscaping within 35 ft of street corners; respect utility easement tree limits.
  • Add any PD‑specific frontage widths, buffers, tree spacing, or special screens (e.g., drive‑throughs).
  • Prepare a landscape/screen plan set for design review if required by your zone/permit.
  • Plan installation prior to occupancy or arrange approved surety for deferred work (≤6 months).
  • Coordinate any signs with signage standards—landscape often frames monuments.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Measuring frontage landscape width Some PDs measure from curb face to building/parking and require sidewalks inside the width Confirm measurement line and sidewalk inclusion in your PD (e.g., PD‑13).
Tree quantity vs. canopy Citywide standard references trees per acre and spacing patterns Confirm whether a canopy target or per‑island tree count applies in your case.
Drive-through screening PD‑level rules can require “extensive” screening beyond citywide buffers If proposing drive‑throughs in PD‑55, confirm planting/berm/wall/trellis combinations early.
Adjacent residential buffers Extra evergreen screening, width, and finger spacing may be mandatory Check PD‑level adjacency standards (e.g., PD‑13).
Corner sight triangles Overheight plants can trigger safety or plan check delays Keep plantings ≤3 ft (except trees) within 35 ft of corners; verify triangle geometry with Public Works.
Utility easements Incompatible tree species or trees over underground lines may be rejected Overhead: ≤15‑ft mature height; underground: no trees in easement.
Industrial yard screening Materials and heights change with street visibility Use masonry where visible from streets; slatted chain link only where not street-visible.
Installation timing Missed planting can delay occupancy If deferring, secure an approved bond/surety and finish within 6 months.

Plain-English Summary

Brentwood generally requires you to landscape all public-facing parts of your site and to buffer/screen your project wherever it sits next to more sensitive uses. Expect trees, curbed planters, irrigation, and visibility limits at corners. Some PD districts add wider planted frontages, special screening for drive-throughs or storage yards, and specific tree spacing. If you plan ahead and fold these into your design review and parking layouts, approvals go much smoother.

Source References

  • Title 17 Zoning — Chapter 17.630 Landscaping and Screening (purpose, applicability, definitions, installation timing, and MWELO adoption) — § 17.630.001–.011;
  • Citywide landscaping standards (trees per acre, planter dimensions, irrigation, maintenance, corner/utility limits) — § 17.630;
  • PD‑13 standards (frontage landscape widths; residential adjacency screening) — PD‑13 chapter;
  • PD‑47 standards (Walnut/Continente frontage landscaping; screening adjustments) — PD‑47 chapter;
  • PD‑55 standards (master landscape/screening program; drive-through screening; Urban Forest Guidelines reference) — PD‑55 chapter;
  • PD‑71 standards (street-tree spacing; Marsh Creek native buffer) — PD‑71 chapter;
  • PD‑35 standards (xeriscape, max 25% turf in front yards) — PD‑35 chapter;
  • Industrial PD subareas (open storage screening: 6–8 ft fences; masonry vs. slatted chain link by visibility) — PD chapter;
  • TownCentre Areas A–E/E1 (frontage widths; E/E1 10‑ft landscaped buffer + 6‑ft wall; landscaped yards only) — PD chapter;
  • Specific plan area outdoor screening example (parking screens, storage/trash, mechanical) — Specific plan chapter;

Information Gaps

  • Base zones (e.g., R‑1, C‑N, C‑C) with unique landscaping rules beyond Chapter 17.630 — Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
  • A consolidated, citywide percentage table for parking-lot landscaping by stall count — City file shows rates and tree counts, but confirm applicability to your use with staff.

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Brentwood Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (Chapter 17.630) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (Chapter 17.640) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (Chapter 17.630) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (Chapter 17.820) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (Section 17.500.006.) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (Chapter 17.620) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Brentwood Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

Does every Brentwood project have to install landscaping?

Generally yes: all yards, public-facing open areas, and parking lots must be landscaped; screening is also required between different-intensity uses and some districts per § 17.630.

How many trees do I need in a parking lot?

Provide shade trees at roughly sixteen trees per acre (or fraction) of landscaped area; trees are typically 15‑gallon size, around 6 feet tall and 1‑inch caliper, with ~30‑ft spacing or clustered in planters.

How tall can my fence or wall be for screening?

Citywide, fences and walls used for screening are limited to about 6 feet unless a greater height is required for noise abatement; vegetative screens are kept 6–10 feet tall.

Do I need special screening for drive-through lanes or windows?

In PD‑55, yes—drive‑through windows and counters must be screened from the public right‑of‑way with extensive planting, berms, walls, or trellises. Other PDs may add similar rules.

What are the landscape frontage widths along major Brentwood corridors?

PD‑13 requires 20‑ft minimum/25‑ft average along Highway 4/Brentwood Blvd, Balfour Rd, and Fairview Pkwy (with sidewalk inside). Adjacent to homes, add a 5‑ft minimum landscaped buffer with evergreen screening.

When must landscaping be installed?

Before occupancy. The City may allow a deferral of up to six months with an approved bond or other surety.

Can I use gravel or hardscape instead of plants?

Hardscape/gravel features may not exceed 20% of the required landscaped area; native and low‑water plants are encouraged, and automatic irrigation is required.

Are there special tree or planting rules near creeks?

Yes. In PD‑71 along the Marsh Creek buffer, use irregular, native plantings to enhance riparian character while maintaining views.

How are industrial yards screened?

Industrial PDs require open storage to be surrounded by a 6–8‑ft view‑obscuring fence; use masonry walls where visible from streets and slatted chain link (or similar) where not.

Are there extra buffers between auto uses in TownCentre?

Yes. Between Areas E and E1, provide a 10‑ft landscaped buffer with opaque plantings plus a minimum 6‑ft block wall, and keep required yards in landscaping.

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