Local zoning · Citrus Heights

Citrus Heights — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What landscaping area does Citrus Heights require for a commercial lot?

Commercial parcels are required to provide 20% of the net site area in landscaping unless the review authority approves a reduction; see § 106.34.040 (Table 3‑6) for the City’s land‑use breakdown .

Q: Are there minimum sizes for new trees and shrubs at planting?

Yes. Required planting sizes include trees in 15‑gallon containers (and in parking areas often 5 ft tall at planting), specimen shrubs 5‑gallon , and mass planting 1‑gallon minimums, as specified in § 106.34.050.B.1 and related parking rules (§ 106.34.040.D.5.a) .

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

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Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Citrus Heights Zoning Code requires for landscaping, screening, fences/walls, and trees. It is grounded in the city's Zoning Code (Title 106 in the city file set that implements the former “Title 17” structure) and highlights the practical standards you will need on plan submittals: required landscape areas by land use, parking-lot planting and shading, screening between nonresidential and residential uses, fence height/location limits, and tree protection/planting rules. Where the Code sets a numeric standard I cite the controlling § and the city code extract used for this summary.

Key rules and where they live

Landscaping location and minimum area requirements are in § 106.34.040 (Table 3‑6) .
General landscape-design and planting-size rules are in § 106.34.050 (Landscape Standards) .
Water‑efficient / irrigation and soil requirements are in § 106.34.060 (Water Efficient Landscaping) .
Screening (buffers between land uses, equipment, parking and refuse areas) is in § 106.30.090 (Screening) .
Fence and wall maximum heights, measurement rules, and exceptions (including Design Review increases) are collected around § 106.30.050 / Table 3‑1 and § 106.30.060 (Height Limits) .
Several Special Planning Areas (SPAs) and overlays call out additional landscaping or tree‑retention requirements (for example Verner Avenue SPA § 106.50.150 and Camden Place SPA provisions) .

Throughout the page I use the city's phrasing ("commercial," "industrial," "single‑dwelling," "multi‑unit") as the Code does. For project coordination you will often be answering Design Review questions; prepare to reference the city's Design Review rules when walls/fences are visible from the street. See the city's Citrus Heights Design Review page for the application triggers mentioned in the Code.

District-by-district practical breakdown (landscaping & screening focus)

Note: Citrus Heights frequently uses general district labels (single‑dwelling, other residential, commercial, industrial) plus numeric residential districts (the "RD" family) and SPAs/overlays. Below are the districts and plan items that the landscaping/screening rules reference directly in the Code.

Single‑dwelling / Single dwelling (the City’s single‑family category)

Purpose / typical uses: Detached single‑family residential lots and accessory uses.
Landscaping requirements: Front yard and all common areas must be landscaped (Table 3‑6 minimums) (§ 106.34.040) .
Trees: One street tree per 25 ft of frontage for subdivisions (street tree requirement) (§ 106.34.040.E.1) .
Fences/walls: Fences in front yard setbacks have the lower heights (see Table 3‑1); note special front-yard fence setbacks for RD‑1 through RD‑15 and RD‑20 through RD‑30 shown in the fence table notes (Table 3‑1 / § 106.30.050) .
Where it applies: Single‑dwelling lots and subdivisions (see subdivision landscaping rules) (§ 106.34.040.E) .

Other residential / Duplex and Multi‑unit (the “other residential” class; includes the RD series)

Purpose / typical uses: Duplexes, apartment buildings, condominiums.
Landscaping requirements: All usable open areas not occupied by decks/patios must be landscaped; street trees per the City standard (Table 3‑6 / § 106.34.040) .
Parking-lot planting: Multi‑unit projects must meet interior parking‑lot planting rules (minimum 10% of parking-lot gross area as landscaped area; tree size and counts apply) (§ 106.34.040.D.5) .
Fence/wall specifics: Front‑yard fence setbacks for RD numeric districts are called out in fence notes (e.g., RD‑1 through RD‑15 front setback for fences 20 ft; RD‑20 through RD‑30 25 ft) (Table 3‑1 / § 106.30.050) .
Where it applies: RD‑series districts and multi‑unit zoning locations (verify parcel zoning) (Article 2 / development standards references) .

Commercial / Commercial zones

Purpose / typical uses: Retail, office, service, restaurants.
Landscaping requirements: The Code requires 20% net site landscaping for commercial parcels (Table 3‑6) and specific parking‑area strips and perimeter planting (§ 106.34.040.C / Table 3‑6 & § 106.34.040.D) .
Screening: Nonresidential uses adjacent to residential must provide decorative masonry screening plus plantings; height set at 6 or 8 ft as required by the review authority (§ 106.30.090.B.1) .
Fences/walls: All commercial walls and fences visible from a public right‑of‑way are subject to Design Review; maximum 8 ft if visible, up to 10 ft where not visible with Design Review approval (commercial wall rules / § 106.30.050 note & related commercial fencing text) . Use the Citrus Heights Design Review process for exceptions.
Where it applies: All parcels in commercially zoned areas and overlay commercial districts; see also the Sunrise MarketPlace SMP overlay and COR overlay rules for overlay‑specific design standards (SMP / COR references) .

Industrial / Industrial zones

Purpose / typical uses: Manufacturing, heavy‑use storage and materials handling.
Landscaping: Minimum 20% net site landscaping (Table 3‑6) and use of landscaping to define entrances, screen outdoor storage and equipment (§ 106.34.040.C & design guidance) .
Screening to residential: Where industrial adjoins residential, a decorative solid masonry wall and evergreen plantings adjacent to the wall are required (§ 106.30.090.H.3) .
Fences/walls: The Code discourages unnecessary tall walls and requires architectural treatment and landscape pockets for long wall runs (design guidance § 3.F walls & fences) .
Where it applies: Industrially zoned parcels and sites with outdoor storage or loading areas (Article 3 guidance) .

SPAs & overlays (examples in the Code)

Sunrise MarketPlace (SMP) Overlay: Requires landscape plan compliance and allows the Director to authorize minor changes to landscape standards (Sec. 106.28.050.F) .
COR overlay and Antelope Crossing / SC / Verner Avenue / Camden Place SPA text: each references Article 3 landscaping standards as mandatory and often requires Design Review and special buffering (e.g., Verner Avenue requires landscaping to buffer residents from Auburn Boulevard) (e.g., § 106.28.050; § 106.50.070; § 106.50.150) . See the Citrus Heights Overlay Districts page for mapping.

Most decision‑relevant numeric standards (quick table)

Requirement / topic	Numeric or graphic standard	Applies to	Code reference
Minimum landscaped area — Commercial	20% of net site area (unless reduced by review authority)	Commercial parcels	§ 106.34.040 (Table 3‑6)
Minimum landscaped area — Industrial	20% of net site area	Industrial parcels	§ 106.34.040 (Table 3‑6)
Minimum landscaped area — Single dwelling	Front yard and all common areas to be landscaped; street trees required per frontage	Single‑family lots/subdivisions	§ 106.34.040 (Table 3‑6 & E.1)
Parking lot interior landscaping	Minimum 10% of gross parking lot area for multi‑unit, commercial, and industrial	Parking lots >0 spaces	§ 106.34.040.D.5.a
Parking‑area tree counts / shading	At least 1 shade tree per 5 parking spaces; 50% parking lot pavement shading in 10 years	Multi‑unit/commercial/industrial parking	§ 106.34.040.D.5.a‑b
Perimeter planting strip between parking and street	10 ft minimum between public street ROW and parking area (nonresidential)	Nonresidential parking adjacent to a street	§ 106.34.040.D.a(1)
Perimeter parking buffer to residential	10 ft landscaped buffer + solid decorative masonry wall/fence and trees at 1 per 30 lin. ft	Nonresidential parking next to residential parcels	§ 106.34.040.D.d & § 106.30.090.B.1c‑d
Screening between commercial/industrial and residential	Decorative masonry wall, 6 or 8 ft high as required; landscaping adjacent (5 ft min; 10 ft if between parking lot and wall)	Where nonresidential borders residential	§ 106.30.090.B.1 & B.1.c‑d
Fence/wall heights (general)	Within required front yard setback 3 ft; side/rear 8 ft (appearing from abutting parcel); Design Review may authorize up to 10 ft	All zones — see exceptions & measurement rules	Table 3‑1 / § 106.30.050 and § 106.30.060 (height measurement & exceptions)
Minimum planting sizes at installation	Trees 15‑gallon; specimen shrubs 5‑gallon; mass planting 1‑gallon (parking trees often minimum 5 ft tall in planting)	All required landscape installs	§ 106.34.050.B.1 & § 106.34.040.D.5.a
Tree protection / retention (native trees)	No removal/damage to native trees ≥ 9 in diameter at 54 in height without approval (some SPAs use 6 in for oaks)	Project sites with native trees / SPAs	See SPA and tree provisions (e.g., § 106.50.150 and Camden/other SPA standards)

Practical guidance & synthesis

Prepare a landscape plan that separately shows: (1) total landscaped area % calculation (use Table 3‑6 rules for your land‑use type) (§ 106.34.040) ; (2) parking‑lot islands and shade‑tree layout to demonstrate 1 tree per 5 spaces and 50% shade within 10 years (§ 106.34.040.D.5) ; (3) irrigation and soils details to comply with water‑efficient rules (§ 106.34.060) .
If your project adjoins residential zoning, expect a requirement for masonry screening and a landscape strip; the Review Authority can set the wall height to 6 or 8 ft and require 1 tree per 30 linear feet along the buffer (§ 106.30.090) .
Fences in front yards are tightly limited (typically 3 ft); side/rear fences can be 8 ft as measured in the Code; commercial visible fences need Design Review and are generally capped at 8 ft unless the Director/Commission approves otherwise (Table 3‑1 / § 106.30.050) . See the city's Citrus Heights Parking and Citrus Heights Development Standards pages for the related site layout and dimensional context.
Preserve existing desirable trees where feasible; many SPA and site‑planning sections forbid removal of larger native trees without specific approval and require mitigation (see § 106.50.150 and similar SPA subsections) . If your site has mature native oaks or other protected trees, include a tree retention/removal plan and mitigation strategy with your submittal.

Checklist (what to include on your application)

Landscape plan with percent landscaped area and show compliance with Table 3‑6 for your land‑use type (§ 106.34.040)
Parking‑lot planting diagram showing islands, tree counts (1 per 5 spaces) and shading calculation (50% shade in 10 years) (§ 106.34.040.D.5)
Plant palette and plant sizing (trees 15‑gal min; specimen shrubs 5‑gal; mass plant 1‑gal) and hydrozones per water‑efficient rules (§ 106.34.050 & § 106.34.060)
Irrigation plan and soil conditioning notes per § 106.34.060 (automatic irrigation, soil amendment depths)
Fence/wall elevations and height calculations including measurement points and any retaining‑wall base conditions (follow Table 3‑1 / § 106.30.050)
Screening details for mechanical equipment, refuse, outdoor storage; masonry wall sections if adjacent to residential (§ 106.30.090)
Tree assessment and mitigation plan for protected native trees (diameter thresholds called out in SPAs)
If fences/walls are visible from a public right‑of‑way in a commercial zone, include Design Review materials and justification (Design Review triggers / § 106.62.040)

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Exact front‑yard fence setback for your lot in RD numeric districts	Table note ties fence front‑yard setback to RD‑1…RD‑30 groupings and varies by RD band; wrong setback on plans delays approval	Verify the parcel's zoning band (RD‑1 vs RD‑20 etc.) and apply the exact front‑yard fence setback per Table 3‑1 (§ 106.30.050)
Whether a masonry wall or alternate screen is required when nonresidential adjoins residential	The Review Authority can require masonry walls or accept substitutes; site constraints can lead to waivers (§ 106.30.090.B.1.d)	Confirm review authority expectations at pre‑application; ask whether an alternative screening method will be accepted (Verify with the jurisdiction)
Protected tree diameter threshold varies by SPA	Some SPAs use different diameter thresholds (e.g., oaks at 6 in vs general native tree 9 in), so tree removal rules depend on location	Check SPA maps and the SPA text for the property (e.g., Verner Avenue § 106.50.150 and other SPA sections)
Fence/wall height measurement where grade differs	Fence height is measured to finished grade; when top and bottom grades differ, measure from lowest grade — this affects allowable height (§ 106.30.050.D.3)	Confirm existing grade survey and show height calculation on elevation drawings
Design Review discretion for wall/fence height exceptions	Design Review may authorize up to 10 ft in some nonvisible locations; approvals are discretionary and require findings (Table 3‑1 / § 106.30.050)	If you need >8 ft, plan for a Design Review submittal and show architectural treatment/graffiti‑resistant coating where adjacent to the ROW (§ 106.34.060.G & commercial fencing notes)

Plain‑English summary

Citrus Heights requires meaningful landscaping (commonly 20% for commercial/industrial, specific street‑tree spacing for subdivisions), structured parking‑lot planting (minimum 10% of parking area with trees to shade half the lot in 10 years), masonry screening where nonresidential meets residential (6–8 ft tall plus planting), and tight front‑yard fence limits (generally 3 ft) with higher side/rear limits (8 ft) and Design Review controls for commercial fences; confirm parcel zoning and SPA overlays because tree protection and fence setbacks vary by district (§§ 106.34.040, 106.34.050, 106.34.060, 106.30.090, 106.30.050) .

Source References

§ 106.34.040 Landscape Location Requirements / Table 3‑6 — landscaping by land‑use type (commercial 20%, industrial 20%, single‑dwelling front/common area)
§ 106.34.050 Landscape Standards — plant sizes, minimum widths, visibility/height limits for plantings (30‑inch visibility rule), and planting materials standards
§ 106.34.060 Water Efficient Landscaping — irrigation, soil amendment, planting depth and mulch rules; irrigation system requirement for landscaped areas
§ 106.30.090 Screening — where screening is required, masonry wall requirements, buffer widths and tree spacing (1 per 30 linear feet)
Table 3‑1 and related text in § 106.30.050 / § 106.30.060 — maximum heights of fences/walls, measurement rules and Design Review exceptions (front yard 3 ft, side/rear 8 ft, design review up to 10 ft)
Design Review triggers and standards referenced in several sections — see § 106.62.040 and related permit sections for when walls/fences/landscapes require review
SPA / overlay examples (Verner Avenue SPA, Camden Place SPA, Coronado/Antelope Crossing excerpts) that add special landscaping or tree retention requirements — see e.g. § 106.50.150 and related SPA text

Also consult these site pages for the application context (internal links hosted on this guide): Citrus Heights zoning & planning overview, Citrus Heights Zoning, Citrus Heights Land Use, Citrus Heights Development Standards, Citrus Heights Parking, Citrus Heights Design Review, Citrus Heights Overlay Districts, Citrus Heights ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code (for building‑code matters — not covered in this summary).

Sources

Retrieved passages

Citrus Heights Zoning Code (Section 106.30.050) High relevance
Citrus Heights Zoning Code (Section 106.30.060.E) High relevance
Citrus Heights Zoning Code High relevance
CBC § 1 (Section 106.30.090) High relevance
Citrus Heights Zoning Code (Section 106.34.050.B.2.) High relevance
Citrus Heights Zoning Code (Section can) High relevance
CBC § 106.30.060 (Section 106.30.060.E) High relevance
Citrus Heights Zoning Code (Section 106.30.070) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Citrus Heights code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping area does Citrus Heights require for a commercial lot?

Commercial parcels are required to provide 20% of the net site area in landscaping unless the review authority approves a reduction; see § 106.34.040 (Table 3‑6) for the City’s land‑use breakdown .

How much of a parking lot must be landscaped and how many trees are required?

Multi‑unit, commercial, and industrial outdoor parking areas must provide interior landscaping equal to at least 10% of the gross parking area; trees must be provided so that at least one shade tree per five parking spaces is installed and 50% of the pavement is shaded within ten years (§ 106.34.040.D.5) .

If my commercial site borders homes, what screening is required?

If a commercial or industrial use is adjacent to a residential zoning district, the Code requires a decorative masonry screen wall with plantings; the review authority sets the wall height (typically 6 or 8 ft) and requires landscaping adjacent to the wall (5 ft minimum, 10 ft where adjacent to a parking lot) (§ 106.30.090.B.1 & B.1.c‑d) .

What are the fence height limits I need to show on plans?

Generally, fences within the required front yard setback are limited to 3 ft, side/rear setbacks to 8 ft (as seen from an abutting parcel), and Design Review can authorize additional height (up to 10 ft in limited cases). Measurement rules and exceptions are in Table 3‑1 and § 106.30.050 (Table 3‑1 / § 106.30.050) .

Are there minimum sizes for new trees and shrubs at planting?

Yes. Required planting sizes include trees in 15‑gallon containers (and in parking areas often 5 ft tall at planting), specimen shrubs 5‑gallon, and mass planting 1‑gallon minimums, as specified in § 106.34.050.B.1 and related parking rules (§ 106.34.040.D.5.a) .

Do I need to include irrigation and soils details with the landscape plan?

Yes. The Code requires automatic irrigation systems for landscaped areas and prescribes soil conditioning, mulch and minimum planting-depth standards under the Water Efficient Landscaping rules (§ 106.34.060) .

Can the City waive a screening requirement if topography or vegetation already provides a buffer?

Yes — the Review Authority may waive or accept substitute screening when site conditions (topography, existing vegetation) or use relationships make the required screening unnecessary or infeasible (§ 106.30.090.B.1.d) .

Do commercial fences visible from the street always need Design Review?

Yes. All commercial walls and fences visible from a public right‑of‑way are subject to Design Review; prepare elevations and architectural treatments as part of that submittal (commercial fencing rules / § 106.30.050 and related text) .

Are native trees protected?

Yes. Several SPA and site‑planning sections restrict removal of native trees over a diameter threshold (for example, a 9‑inch diameter rule at 54 in above ground in some sections, and 6‑inch rules for protected oaks in specific SPAs). Check the SPA or site section that applies to your parcel (see e.g., § 106.50.150 and SPA rules) .

What if I want more wall height for security on a commercial site?

The Code discourages overly tall walls and requires walls to be architecturally treated and landscaped; increases beyond the normal commercial visible cap (8 ft) require Design Review and findings — plan to justify why the extra height is necessary and how landscaping will mitigate visual impacts (Table 3‑1 & commercial fencing provisions) .

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