Commerce — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Commerce zoning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening (trees, buffers, walls, fences, irrigation and maintenance) for commercial, industrial and residential properties. It is grounded in the City’s Title 19 (Zoning) provisions and related landscaping chapters; use this as a Commerce‑specific primer that points to the controlling code sections and how they interact with parking, design review, and overlay rules. For a broad view of the city’s planning rules see the Commerce zoning & planning overview and for detailed land‑use maps see Commerce Zoning. This page also notes where the Modelo Specific Plan or other overlays may change the standards; see Commerce Overlay Districts, and if your project touches plumbing/structural code issues confirm with the California Building Standards Code.

Key high‑level rules you will rely on:

• Detailed landscape and irrigation plans are required for most new or expanded development and must be approved before permits are issued (§ 19.23.040) .
• Parking lots have perimeter and in‑lot landscaping requirements, tree counts and irrigation standards (§ 19.21.120) .
• Industrial sites that abut residential or commercial zones must provide a 10‑foot high, densely landscaped buffer (or berm + masonry wall per code) (§ 19.23.100) .
• Fence/material/height rules differ by zone and special tracts (e.g., the Village/Tract No. 37889); the community development director has discretionary review over fence location/design (§ 19.07.050, § 19.13.050) .

I also mention parking and design review when those processes intersect with landscaping; projects that modify site layout will trigger Commerce Parking and may also require Commerce Design Review.

Chapter & Standards Summary (what the ordinance says)

• Chapter 19.23 (Landscaping Standards) establishes applicability, required plans, plant quantities/sizes, maintenance, screening, buffers, and vacant‑lot fencing/landscaping rules; see § 19.23.030–§ 19.23.140 for applicability, plan requirements, trees/shrubs, walls/buffers and vacant lot rules .
• Chapter 19.21 (Off‑Street Parking) ties parking layout to landscaping: 10‑ft perimeter planter adjacent to streets, 15‑ft buffer where a parking lot adjoins a residential zone (can be reduced to 5 ft where a wall is required), 7.5% of parking lot area must be landscaped, and tree standards (one tree per 8 spaces, minimum five trees, 24‑inch box) (§ 19.21.120) .
• Chapter 19.24 (Water‑Efficient Landscaping) implements water‑conserving design and the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance; it requires documentation, metering, irrigation schedules and certification for projects above the thresholds listed (§ 19.24.010–§ 19.24.110) .
• Site planning chapters (e.g., 19.19 and zone chapters) require screening of mechanical equipment and trash enclosures by landscaping, walls or other approved means; mechanical screening standards referenced include § 19.19.100 and § 19.19.140 (see specific use chapters) .
• Fences and walls: residential front yards are limited to 3.5 ft (or 6 ft if decorative wrought iron), side/rear yard fences up to 6 ft, freeway‑adjacent fences up to 10 ft; the director reviews fence design on zone edges and where abutting parks/schools (§ 19.07.050, § 19.13.050) .

District‑by‑district breakdown

Below are the most relevant districts in Commerce where landscaping/screening rules are applied differently or referenced explicitly in the code. Each subsection notes purpose, typical use (as referenced by the code), where it applies, and the landscaping/screening items you must check.

R‑1 (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: R‑1 is Commerce’s single‑family residential district (per the residential zone tables in Title 19) — it applies to typical single‑family lots. Verify exact permitted uses with Commerce Zoning.
• Key landscaping/screening rules that apply: required landscaping in front, side and rear yards where the lot adjoins a dedicated street (§ 19.23.050(B)) and tree/overhang clearance requirements for sidewalks/curb/bus stops (§ 19.23.050(E–F)) .
• Fencing: front yard maximum 3.5 ft (except decorative wrought iron up to 6 ft); side and rear yards up to 6 ft; special tract exceptions (Tract No. 37889 — the "Village") restrict front fencing — see § 19.07.050 .
• Where it applies: All R‑1 parcels citywide; special recorded tract rules (Village) are called out in the same section.

R‑2 (Two‑family Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: R‑2 allows duplex/low‑density multiple units. Confirm permitted uses in Commerce Zoning.
• Landscaping/screening notes: same basics as R‑1 for yards adjacent to streets and public right‑of‑way tree clearance rules; water‑efficient landscaping thresholds and general plan requirements apply per Chapter 19.24 where multi‑family >5 units are involved (§ 19.23.050, § 19.24.020) .
• Fencing: same height limits as R‑1 (see § 19.07.050) .

R‑3 (Multi‑Family Residential / Higher Density)

• Purpose / typical uses: R‑3 supports higher density multi‑family development and community care facilities (special rules apply) — landscaping requirements include streetscape trees or sidewalks with street trees for parkway areas (§ 19.23.050(C)) .
• Water‑efficient landscaping: Chapter 19.24 explicitly applies to multifamily projects with five or more units and common areas; these projects must submit landscape plans and irrigation documentation (§ 19.24.020(B–F)) .
• Fencing and separation walls: separation walls required on property lines adjacent to single‑family residential districts for mixed‑use projects (masonry wall 6 ft high, shorter in front setback areas) — see relevant mixed‑use and HOO rules (§ 19.17 / mixed‑use rules referenced in chapter excerpts) .

CPF (Commercial Public Facility)

• Purpose / typical uses: CPF is for municipal and quasi‑public community facilities (public buildings, schools, religious facilities) (§ 19.13.010) .
• Landscaping/Screening requirements: CPF zone development must comply with Chapter 19.23 landscaping standards; fences/walls on lines adjacent to residential zones are required and are subject to director approval (§ 19.13.070 references Chapter 19.23 and § 19.13.050 for fences) .

M‑1 / M‑2 and C/M‑1 (Industrial / Commercial‑Industrial)

• Purpose / typical uses: industrial manufacturing, warehousing, and compatible commercial uses. Check Commerce Zoning tables for permitted uses and CUP triggers.
• Key landscaping/screening rules: where industrially zoned property abuts residential or commercial zones a 10‑foot high, densely landscaped buffer is required; berm + masonry wall (3–6 ft masonry wall plus berm) is allowed to achieve the required visual/separation height (§ 19.23.100(A–B)) . Mechanical equipment and trash must be screened under § 19.19.100 and § 19.19.140 as referenced in industrial use standards .

PD (Planned Development Overlay) and Modelo Specific Plan

• Purpose: the PD overlay and the Modelo Specific Plan are overlays that can vary development standards; PD projects must still comply with the underlying zone's open space/landscaping/parking rules unless the PD specifies otherwise (§ 19.15.040(E); Modelo Specific Plan chapters override inconsistent code provisions) .
• What to verify: always check the specific plan text if your parcel sits in the Modelo Specific Plan area because its landscaping and facade rules may supersede Title 19 standards (§ 19.16.020) .

Quick Reference table — decision‑relevant landscaping & screening standards

Practical guidance and interpretation (plain‑English synthesis)

• If you are redeveloping or expanding a commercial or industrial site, plan to submit a full landscape + irrigation plan prepared by a registered landscape architect and budget for mandatory irrigation equipment (underground automated system and likely separate irrigation metering). These requirements are explicit in § 19.23.040 and the water‑efficient chapter 19.24 .
• Where parking is part of your project, design your lot so at least 7.5% of the parking area is planted, include perimeter plantings (10 ft where adjacent to street) and trees at the prescribed spacing; if your parking lot touches a residential zone expect a 15 ft buffer or a 5 ft buffer plus wall (§ 19.21.120) .
• Industrial properties next to housing: the code requires a tall, dense screen — a 10‑ft high landscaped buffer is the baseline; berms + 3–6 ft masonry walls are a common way to meet this in the field (§ 19.23.100) .
• Fences in residential settings are tightly regulated: if you propose front‑yard walls or decorative wrought iron you must follow the exact height limits in § 19.07.050 and be aware of exceptions inside the Village tract and other recorded tracts (§ 19.07.050(B)) .
• Maintenance and permanence matter: the property owner must keep landscaping in "neat, clean and healthy condition" and dead plants must be replaced; nonconforming landscaping is not necessarily required to be retrofitted unless substantial improvements are made (value ≥ 50% of assessed property improvements) (§ 19.23.110, § 19.23.120(C)) .
• Director discretion: many fence/wall locations and design exceptions are subject to review by the community development director; plan accordingly and verify whether the project triggers design or administrative review (see Commerce Design Review) (§ 19.13.050, § 19.23.020) .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

• Prepare a detailed landscape and irrigation plan stamped/prepared by a registered landscape architect and submit prior to permit (§ 19.23.040) .
• Show compliance with parking landscaping: 10 ft perimeter where abutting street, 15 ft buffer next to residential or 5 ft if wall proposed, 7.5% landscaped area, tree counts and 24‑inch box minimum size for parking trees (§ 19.21.120) .
• For industrial parcels abutting residential/commercial show 10‑ft landscaped buffer or berm + masonry wall details (§ 19.23.100) .
• If the project is commercial/industrial or multi‑family ≥5 units, include water‑efficient landscape compliance documents (irrigation schedules, metering, smart controller settings, audits) and plan for a certificate of completion before final inspection (§ 19.24.020, § 19.24.090, § 19.24.100) .
• If proposing fences/walls, show height, materials and location and confirm whether decorative wrought iron or masonry rules apply; note front yard limits (§ 19.07.050, § 19.13.050) .
• If property is vacant, provide required 5‑ft min fencing and landscape the first 7 ft facing street with permanent live planting (§ 19.23.140) .
• Confirm whether your property is in the Modelo Specific Plan or another overlay that supersedes Title 19; if so, follow the specific plan's landscape/facade rules (§ 19.16.020, § 19.15.040(E)) .
• For mechanical equipment and trash enclosures, provide screening details per § 19.19.100 and § 19.19.140 (shown in site planning / use chapters) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Commerce requires most commercial, industrial and multifamily projects to submit a professionally prepared landscape and irrigation plan, install perimeter and in‑lot landscaping (with specific tree counts and sizes), screen mechanical/trash areas, and maintain plantings; industrial sites adjacent to housing must provide tall, dense buffers or berm+wall treatments. See the cited Commerce code sections above for the exact numeric standards and director discretion rules.

Source References

• § 19.23.030 – Applicability; detailed plan requirement § 19.23.040 — Landscaping Standards (Title 19, Chapter 19.23) .
• § 19.23.050 (General provisions on required yard landscaping; tree clearance) and § 19.23.070–§ 19.23.110 (trees/shrubs/groundcover/walls/screening/maintenance) — Chapter 19.23 specifics .
• § 19.23.120 (Nonconforming landscaping) and § 19.23.140 (Vacant lot fences & first‑7‑ft landscaping) — Chapter 19.23 .
• § 19.21.120 — Off‑Street Parking landscaping rules (perimeter widths, buffers, percent area, tree counts and curbing) .
• § 19.24.010–§ 19.24.110 — Water‑efficient landscaping regulations and documentation/irrigation/certification requirements (Title 19, Chapter 19.24) .
• § 19.07.050 — Fences, hedges and walls in residential zones (front/side/rear and freeway rules; Village exceptions) .
• § 19.13.050 — Fences and walls in the Commercial Public Facility (CPF) zone; director review and masonry separation wall rules in mixed‑use/HOO references .
• Screening references for mechanical and trash facilities: § 19.19.100 and § 19.19.140 (referenced in multiple use chapters) .
• PD overlay and Modelo Specific Plan: § 19.15.040(E) and § 19.16.020 regarding overlay/specific plan precedence and required landscape/master plans .

Retrieved passages

• Commerce Zoning Code (§1) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (§1) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (Chapter 19.23) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **§ 19.23.030 – Applicability**; detailed plan requirement **§ 19.23.040** — Landscaping Standards (Title 19, Chapter 19.23) . (§ 19.23.030)
• **§ 19.23.050** (General provisions on required yard landscaping; tree clearance) and **§ 19.23.070–§ 19.23.110** (trees/shrubs/groundcover/walls/screening/maintenance) — Chapter 19.23 specifics . (§ 19.23.050)
• **§ 19.23.120** (Nonconforming landscaping) and **§ 19.23.140** (Vacant lot fences & first‑7‑ft landscaping) — Chapter 19.23 . (§ 19.23.120)
• **§ 19.21.120** — Off‑Street Parking landscaping rules (perimeter widths, buffers, percent area, tree counts and curbing) . (§ 19.21.120)
• **§ 19.24.010–§ 19.24.110** — Water‑efficient landscaping regulations and documentation/irrigation/certification requirements (Title 19, Chapter 19.24) . (§ 19.24.010)
• **§ 19.07.050** — Fences, hedges and walls in residential zones (front/side/rear and freeway rules; Village exceptions) . (§ 19.07.050)
• **§ 19.13.050** — Fences and walls in the Commercial Public Facility (CPF) zone; director review and masonry separation wall rules in mixed‑use/HOO references . (§ 19.13.050)
• Screening references for mechanical and trash facilities: **§ 19.19.100** and **§ 19.19.140** (referenced in multiple use chapters) . (§ 19.19.100)
• PD overlay and Modelo Specific Plan: **§ 19.15.040(E)** and **§ 19.16.020** regarding overlay/specific plan precedence and required landscape/master plans . (§ 19.15.040)
• Commerce_ZoningCode.md

• Official Commerce code library