Local zoning · Colma

Colma — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What landscaping is required in the front setback for a single‑family home?

For R and R‑S zones the front setback is 15 ft and at least 60% of that setback must be devoted to landscaping (lawns, planting, trees) — see § 5.03.082 .

Q: How must parking areas be screened in Colma, especially on El Camino Real?

Properties adjacent to El Camino Real must maintain a 30‑ft building setback; within that setback only paved walks, paved driveways, lawns and landscaping are allowed, and the landscaping must screen parking from passersby; the City Council can require a detailed planting plan as a Use Permit condition — § 5.03.359 .

Q: Can the City require a revegetation plan after removing trees?

Yes — an application to remove more than five trees on a parcel or trees visible from a main road must include a revegetation plan as part of the permit submittal — see § 5.03.504(b) .

Q: What is the “vision triangle” at corners and how does landscaping affect it?

A 35‑ft vision triangle is required at corners; within that triangle no fencing or vegetation may exceed 3 ft in height and tree canopies must be kept at least 7 ft above grade for safe sightlines — § 5.03.220(d)(1)(v) .

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

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Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes the Town of Colma rules for landscaping, screening, fences/walls, tree removal and replacement, and how those rules interact with site elements such as parking and front-yard development standards. It focuses strictly on the content of the Colma zoning ordinance (Chapter 5.03) — including special standards for the El Camino Real corridor, the DR design review overlay, tree protection and the Planned Development (PD) provisions — and links to the local pages on the Town’s permitting topics for context: Colma Parking, Colma Development Standards, Colma Design Review, Colma Overlay Districts, Colma ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code. The analysis below cites the controlling ordinance sections (with the § sign) and the file previews supplied for this research.

Rules, by district and standard (Colma-specific)

Notes on citations: where I summarize a requirement I give the controlling code citation (the § number). The short file-preview citations after each coded § refer to the uploaded Colma Zoning Code file used for this page (filecite markers).

R — Residential

Purpose / typical uses: Single-family and small-multiplex housing types allowed under the R base zone. See the Residential development standards in § 5.03.082 for the full list of allowed uses and dimensional rules.
Key landscaping / screening rules:
- Front setback: 15 ft front setback; at least 60% of the front setback area must be devoted to landscaping (trees, lawn, planting) — see § 5.03.082.
- Fence/hedge heights in Residential Zones: max 4 ft between back of sidewalk and front wall; max 6 ft from front face of residence to rear property line; no barbed wire in residential zones — see § 5.03.220(d)(2).
- Tree protection / removal: private-tree removal generally requires a permit; replacement usually 3:1 with 15‑gallon minimum specimens unless the Planner requires otherwise — see §§ 5.03.502–5.03.507 and the Tree Cutting/Removal subchapter (5.03.500.x).

Where it applies: the standard residential dimensional and landscaping requirements are spelled out in § 5.03.082 (Table 1) and apply to properties in the R and R‑S categories unless otherwise noted.

R‑S — Sterling Park Neighborhood

Purpose / typical uses: Local residential variant with slightly different dimensional emphasis for neighborhood character. See § 5.03.082 (the Sterling Park column in Table 1).
Key standards: 15 ft front setback to dwelling face; 60% front setback landscaping requirement also called out in Table 1; fence/hedge rules as in § 5.03.220.

Mixed‑Use & Multifamily Residential

Purpose / typical uses: Higher-density residential and mixed-use projects; rules reference the same front‑setback landscaping standard and point to § 5.03.082 for project-specific standards. Landscaping requirements for common areas and courtyards are detailed under the Multifamily design standards (see site & landscape elements).

C — Commercial; E — Executive; P — Public

Purpose / typical uses: Commercial centers, public uses, and executive office uses are regulated by the non‑residential development standards (Table 2) and by corridor-specific rules such as the El Camino Real setback and planting standards. See § 5.03.163, § 5.03.082, and Table 2.
Key landscaping / screening rules:
- El Camino Real corridor: buildings must be set back 30 ft from El Camino Real and the 30‑ft setback area may contain only paved walks, paved driveways, lawns and landscaping intended to screen parking from passersby; the City Council may require a landscaping plan for these setbacks — § 5.03.359 (also cross-referenced in Table 2).
- Non‑residential fences: max 4 ft between back of sidewalk and a parallel line set 30 ft from front property line; up to 8 ft allowed behind the 30‑ft line; no barbed wire in front of the 30‑ft line — § 5.03.220(d)(3).

PD — Planned Development

Purpose / typical uses: Site‑specific standards established on the Detailed Development Plan; PD approvals explicitly make landscape, fence/wall heights, and screening part of the PD conditions — see § 5.03.187.
Key implication: PDs can set maximum height of fences and walls, landscaping plans, and screening measures as permit conditions; compliance is enforced by the Use Permit and Detailed Development Plan.

DR — Design Review Combining Zone

Purpose / typical uses: Applies design and landscape standards to maintain a consistent site and street character in designated areas. See § 5.03.153 for applicability and required site/landscape elements.
Key landscaping / screening rules:
- Landscape designs must integrate and conceal utilities, trash enclosures, and mechanical equipment; a formal balanced planting layout and use of drought‑tolerant/native plants is encouraged; screening of transformers and vaults by landscaping is required "to the extent feasible" — § 5.03.153 (DR design standards).

G — Cemetery (monumental / cemetery zones)

Purpose / typical uses: Cemetery uses and small monuments; many cemetery‑zone improvements are subject to DR standards but some small monument buildings are exempt. Screening, walls, and landscape themes are handled via DR or PD rules where applicable. See § 5.03.153 and related cemetery sub‑sections.

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant landscaping & screening standards

Standard or decision point	Colma requirement (short)	Code reference
Front setback landscaping (residential)	At least 60% of front setback must be landscaping; front setback 15 ft in R/R‑S	§ 5.03.082
Fence heights — residential	Max 4 ft (between sidewalk & front wall), max 6 ft (from front face of residence to rear)	§ 5.03.220(d)(2)
Fence heights — non‑residential	Max 4 ft in first 30 ft; max 8 ft behind 30 ft; no barbed wire in front 30 ft	§ 5.03.220(d)(3)
Vision triangle at corners	35 ft triangle where nothing > 3 ft; tree canopy clearance 7 ft above grade	§ 5.03.220(d)(1)(v)
Tree removal / replacement	Tree removal permit required; replacement generally 3:1, 15‑gallon min, native species; revegetation plan required for >5 trees or visible from main road	§§ 5.03.502–5.03.504; 5.03.500.2
El Camino Real setback/landscaping	30 ft building setback; setback may contain walks, driveways, lawns, landscaping; landscaping must screen parking; Council can require plan	§ 5.03.359
Screening of utilities/transformers	New developments must underground and screen utilities; transformer located away from streets and screened by landscaping where feasible	§ 5.03.153 / § 5.03.187
ADU setback landscaping	Landscaped side setback ≥ 4 ft with automatic irrigation; specimen plantings/trellis and 5 ft fence for privacy (objective ADU standards)	§ 5.03.156 (ADU objective standards)

Practical guidance / interpretation (plain-English, Colma‑specific)

If you are planning any new building, or an addition that affects setbacks or parking areas, expect a landscape plan showing tree placement, irrigation (water‑efficient plantings encouraged), and how parking or service areas will be screened; the DR or PD review will make screening and wall/fence heights explicit as permit conditions where they apply (see § 5.03.153 and § 5.03.187) .
For a house owner replacing a fence: measure height from the higher side of the fence; if the fence is in the front setback, the 4‑ft limit applies unless you obtain a Design Review exception or Planner approval for a specific aesthetic/security reason — see § 5.03.220(d).
For any tree removals on private property: submit a tree removal permit per § 5.03.504; if removing more than five trees or trees visible from a main road, include a revegetation plan and be prepared to meet the 3:1 replacement requirement or other conditions the Planner imposes — see § 5.03.504 and § 5.03.500.x.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

Include a site plan that shows all existing and proposed trees, fences/walls, and utility locations; clearly show front setback landscaping area and percent of landscaping. See § 5.03.082.
If subject to the DR overlay, submit a landscape plan consistent with § 5.03.153 design standards (balanced planting layout, screening of utilities).
For projects adjacent to El Camino Real, include a specific landscape plan showing screening of parking and maintenance of the 30‑ft corridor area per § 5.03.359.
For any tree removal on private property, file a Tree Removal Permit with arborist evaluation; if >5 trees or visible from main road include a revegetation plan (§ 5.03.504).
Show fence/wall heights and materials; comply with the general limits (4 ft / 6 ft / 8 ft) in § 5.03.220(d) and note where a Design Review exception will be requested.
If utilities/transformers/mechanical equipment are present, identify screening strategy (landscaping, masonry screen, parapet walls) per § 5.03.153 and § 5.03.187.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Is your parcel inside the DR overlay?	DR imposes mandatory landscape and screening features and can require a specific style/theme; it can change what is allowed without a variance.	Confirm overlay applicability on the zoning map and with the Planner; see § 5.03.153.
Exact fence height trigger for permits	A fence > 6 ft may require building or encroachment permits; measurement is from the higher side of the fence.	Verify with Building Official/City Engineer whether your fence or retaining wall needs a permit (see § 5.03.220(d)(4)).
Tree‑size / species exemptions (public vs. private)	Public trees follow a different subchapter; some tree removals on developed residential land are exempt from the tree subchapter.	Confirm whether the tree is “Town Tree” or private and whether it’s on developed residential land per §§ 5.03.600 & 5.03.505.
ADU screening vs. State ADU requirements	Colma requires landscaping and setbacks for ADUs, but State ADU law limits what local rules can prevent.	Check Colma § 5.03.156 ADU objective standards and verify state law constraints; for parcel‑specific conflicts, “Verify with the jurisdiction.”
El Camino Real corridor rules	Special 30‑ft setback and parking screening may create extra landscape obligations for commercial projects.	Confirm whether your property abuts El Camino Real and whether a City Council condition will require a planting plan — see § 5.03.359.

Plain-English Summary

Colma’s zoning code (Chapter 5.03) requires significant front‑yard landscaping (residential front setbacks must be at least 60% landscaped), limits fence heights in front yards (4 ft) and side/rear (6–8 ft depending on zone and setback), requires tree removal permits with a typical 3:1 replanting requirement for private trees, and makes landscaping/screening of utilities, parking, and trash enclosures a standard part of Design Review and Planned Development approvals — see §§ 5.03.082, 5.03.220, 5.03.153, 5.03.187, 5.03.500.x.

Source References

Colma Municipal Code, Chapter 5.03 — Tree Cutting and Removal subchapter (5.03.500.x), including § 5.03.500.2, § 5.03.502, § 5.03.504, § 5.03.505, and appeals/penalties:
§ 5.03.220 — Development standards applicable to all zones (fences, hedge limits, vision triangle):
§ 5.03.082 — Residential development standards (front setback landscaping requirement/Table 1):
§ 5.03.359 / § 5.03.163 — Restrictions and landscaping along El Camino Real (30‑ft setback and parking screening):
§ 5.03.153 — DR (Design Review) combining zone standards (site and landscape elements, screening utilities):
§ 5.03.187 — PD (Planned Development) design standards (explicit inclusion of fence/wall heights, landscaping):
§ 5.03.156 — ADU objective design standards (landscape/setback requirements for ADUs):
Screen/utility/refuse enclosure design guidance (screening, opaque gates): design standards in the development sections:

If you need the verbatim ordinance text or the Town's official zoning map to check an exact parcel, request copies of the specific sections or a zoning‑map lookup; "Verify with the jurisdiction" for parcel‑level questions.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Colma Zoning Code High relevance
Colma Zoning Code (§ 5.336) High relevance
Colma Zoning Code (Section 5.03.420.) High relevance
Colma Zoning Code High relevance
Colma Zoning Code (Section 5.03.232) High relevance
Colma Zoning Code (§ 5.605) High relevance
Colma Zoning Code (Section 2) High relevance
Colma Zoning Code High relevance
Colma Zoning Code (Section 5.03.420.) Medium relevance
Colma Zoning Code (Section 5.01.080) Medium relevance
CWUIC § 1299.04 Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Colma code library

Frequently asked questions

What fences am I allowed to build in a Colma front yard?

In Colma, fences between the back of sidewalk and the front wall of a residence are limited to 4 ft in height; a single freestanding trellis up to 8 ft (with limited dimensions) may be allowed; exceptions can be granted by the City Planner through the Design Review process for security or aesthetic reasons — see § 5.03.220(d)(2).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my Colma property?

Yes — removal or alteration of most trees on private property requires a Tree Removal Permit; the application must include location, size, species, reason and an arborist evaluation per § 5.03.504, and replacement is usually required (commonly 3:1, 15‑gallon minimum) — see §§ 5.03.502–5.03.504.

What landscaping is required in the front setback for a single‑family home?

For R and R‑S zones the front setback is 15 ft and at least 60% of that setback must be devoted to landscaping (lawns, planting, trees) — see § 5.03.082.

How must parking areas be screened in Colma, especially on El Camino Real?

Properties adjacent to El Camino Real must maintain a 30‑ft building setback; within that setback only paved walks, paved driveways, lawns and landscaping are allowed, and the landscaping must screen parking from passersby; the City Council can require a detailed planting plan as a Use Permit condition — § 5.03.359.

Are chain‑link fences or cyclone fences allowed?

Chain link or cyclone fences are generally prohibited in Design Review contexts and, if used elsewhere, cyclone fencing must be black vinyl‑clad with painted posts and supports; razor wire or barbed wire is not permitted in most public or residential-facing locations — see § 5.03.220(d) and DR materials.

What does Colma require for screening of utilities and transformers?

New development must underground and screen utilities where feasible; transformers should be located as far from public streets as possible and screened from view with landscaping to the extent feasible — see § 5.03.153 and § 5.03.187.

If I build an ADU, do I have to add landscaping between properties?

Yes — Colma’s ADU objective standards require maintained landscaping in the side setback (minimum 4 ft depth) with automatic irrigation, and specimen plantings or trellis for privacy screening between properties; see § 5.03.156 (ADU objective standards).

Can the City require a revegetation plan after removing trees?

Yes — an application to remove more than five trees on a parcel or trees visible from a main road must include a revegetation plan as part of the permit submittal — see § 5.03.504(b).

What is the “vision triangle” at corners and how does landscaping affect it?

A 35‑ft vision triangle is required at corners; within that triangle no fencing or vegetation may exceed 3 ft in height and tree canopies must be kept at least 7 ft above grade for safe sightlines — § 5.03.220(d)(1)(v).

Who enforces landscape and screening conditions when a project is approved in Colma?

Design Review approvals, PD Detailed Development Plans and Use Permits are enforced by the City Planner/Planning Department; conditions of approval (including landscaping and screening) must be shown on permit drawings and conforming work is required prior to final approvals — see § 5.03.153 and § 5.03.187.

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