Local zoning · Covina

Covina — Landscaping and Screening

Q: Do I always need a permit to build a fence in Covina?

Yes — Chapter 17.71 requires a wall and fence permit for fences in residential zones and a building permit is required for walls or fences exceeding six feet in height (§ 17.71.020–030 ) .

Q: What is the maximum height for a front‑yard fence in Covina?

Front‑yard fences are generally limited to 3 ft ; an additional foot (to 4 ft) is allowed if the portion above 3 ft is at least 50% open (see the fence height table at § 17.28.080(F)(1)(a) ) .

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

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Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page explains how the City of Covina regulates landscaping, screening, walls, fences, and planting (trees/hedges/berms) in the zoning ordinance (Title 17). It synthesizes the rules that control fence heights and materials, parking and loading screening, perimeter landscape strips, and special requirements for industrial and residential zones. All requirements cited below are the City’s zoning/planning ordinance; verify parcel-specific interpretations with the Planning Department. For the ordinance context see the citywide Covina Zoning & Planning overview and the technical zoning maps at Covina Zoning.

Key rules at a glance (what the code actually says)

Walls and fences in residential zones are regulated by Chapter 17.71 (Walls, Fences, and Screening); a wall and fence permit is required and building permits are required for taller walls (§ 17.71.020, § 17.71.030) .
Typical maximum fence/wall heights are 3 ft within front setbacks and 6 ft within side/rear or interior setbacks; some lots and corner conditions allow up to 8 ft with permits (§ 17.28.080(F)(1), § 17.54.160, § 17.54.200) .
Parking areas must be screened from public rights-of-way with landscaping (trees, shrubs, berms, walls) and must provide a 5-ft perimeter landscaped strip adjacent to side/rear property lines (§ 17.28.080 G) . See site-planning guidance on parking.
In the M‑1 (light industrial) zone loading and outdoor storage must be screened by a decorative wall plus dense landscaping; minimum internal screen-wall height is stated as 10 ft but exterior exposure may not exceed 8 ft (landscape berms may reduce perceived height) (§ 17.54.170) .
Planting height in front setback areas is limited so sightlines are preserved: no plantings over 42 inches within required front yard setbacks (§ 17.28.080(E)(3)) .
Chain‑link fence material is prohibited; acceptable materials and design criteria are listed in Chapter 17.71 (§ 17.71.070) .

For how landscaping interacts with setbacks and dimensional rules consult the Covina Development Standards materials.

District-by-district breakdown

Note: below each district name is bolded; the summaries distill the ordinance language and identify the most relevant screening/landscaping rules and where they apply. Always verify zoning on a specific parcel.

M-1 (Light Industrial)

Purpose & typical uses: industrial, warehousing, manufacturing; heavy outdoor storage and loading areas are common. The zoning text explicitly regulates screening for these industrial activities.
Landscaping & screening rules: all loading areas, loading doors, and storage areas visible from public streets must be screened with a decorative screen wall plus dense landscaping (trees, shrubs, planted berms) (§ 17.54.170) . The code sets a minimum INTERNAL screen-wall height of 10 ft, but where the wall is exposed to the public street the wall may not exceed 8 ft; berms or planters may be used to lower perceived height (§ 17.54.170) . Stored materials inside must not be stacked higher than the screen (§ 17.54.170) .
Where it applies: applies to all parcels zoned M‑1, and the planning director may require masonry walls to separate M‑1 from adjacent residential zones at site plan review (§ 17.54.160(D)) .

R-1-7500 / R-1 (Single‑Family Residential)

Purpose & typical uses: single‑family homes. Rules in multiple residential subzones cross-reference Chapter 17.71.
Landscaping & screening rules: Chapter 17.71 applies to walls and fences in residential zones and requires review and permits; building permits are required for fences/walls exceeding six feet (§ 17.71.020) . Within required front yard setbacks fences/walls are limited to 3 ft (exceptions for partially open fencing above 3 ft are provided) and visibility corner/vision triangle limits apply (§ 17.28.080(F)(1), § 17.71.080) . Chain link fences are prohibited in residential zones (§ 17.71.070(A)) .
Where it applies: all R‑1 parcels; special reversed corner and corner‑lot rules (setbacks, landscape buffers, max heights) are in § 17.71.050–060 (§ 17.71.050, § 17.71.060) .

R-TP (Mobile Home / Trailer Park)

Purpose & typical uses: trailer parks/mobile home parks. Landscaping and walls reference the R‑1 standards, with additional masonry wall requirements where the R‑TP zone abuts other residential/agricultural zones (§ 17.30.160) .
Key standards: solid masonry walls 5–6 ft on zone boundary when abutting residential/agricultural zones; reduce to 3 ft along street-facing yard areas; corner cutback rules apply (§ 17.30.160(B)) .

RD / Multifamily (Medium / High Residential Density)

Purpose & typical uses: duplexes, triplexes, courtyard apartments, townhouses, and similar. The multifamily design standards include explicit landscape and screening rules.
Landscaping & screening rules: multifamily projects must provide site landscaping including tree planting at a rate of one tree per 20 lineal feet around building perimeters and plantings in setback areas (plantings under 42 in. in front setbacks) (§ 17.28.080(E)) . Fences between private yards and common open spaces are limited 4–6 ft (§ 17.28.080(F)(2)(e)) . Parking and refuse areas must be screened from public view; refuse enclosures must be masonry/decorative with solid gates (§ 17.28.080(G–H)) .
Where it applies: to medium and high density residential zones and to design types described in the Covina Multifamily Objective Design Standards (§ 17.28.080(A–C)) .

Other zones / site‑specific rules (hotels, commercial)

Several use‑specific sections (hotels, public storage, restaurants) require minimum landscaping percentages (commonly 10% of site) and decorative masonry screening at property lines; see the applicable use section (e.g., hotel standards referencing a decorative six‑foot masonry wall along interior property lines) (§ 17.62.??, § 17.62.?? — verify with Planning) . (Note: some use-specific section numbers were outside the excerpts; Verify with the jurisdiction.)

Decision‑relevant standards (quick reference table)

Standard / Topic	Requirement (short)	Code Reference
Wall/fence permit & building permit (residential)	Wall & fence permit required; building permit required if >6 ft	§ 17.71.020, § 17.71.030
Front setback fence height	Max 3 ft (additional 1 ft allowed if >50% open)	§ 17.28.080(F)(1)(a)
Street side/front corner fence	Max 3 ft within 10 ft of property line; other street side areas 6 ft	§ 17.28.080(F)(1)(b)
Interior side / rear fences	Max 6 ft (up to 8 ft interior/reverse corner with permit in some zones)	§ 17.28.080(F)(1)(c–d), § 17.71.050
M‑1 loading/storage screening	Decorative wall + dense landscaping; internal min 10 ft wall (exposed max 8 ft); berms allowed	§ 17.54.170
Parking area screening	Must be screened from public right‑of‑way; 5‑ft perimeter landscaped strip next to side/rear property lines	§ 17.28.080(G)
Plant height in front setback	Plantings may not exceed 42 inches within front yard setback	§ 17.28.080(E)(3)
Fence materials allowed / prohibited	Chain‑link prohibited; materials must complement property; masonry walls must be decorative/stuccoed	§ 17.71.070

Practical guidance for applicants (plain-English)

If you are adding or replacing a fence/wall in a residential zone, apply for a wall and fence permit and a building permit when the wall could exceed 6 ft (§ 17.71.020) .
Show corner‑cutback visibility on your landscape plan and keep plantings under 42 in where they could block sightlines (§ 17.71.080, § 17.28.080(E)(3)) .
For commercial or industrial sites, show a 5‑ft perimeter planting strip adjacent to parking and decorative screening for refuse and loading areas; for M‑1 sites show how berms or planting will visually reduce any screen wall that must be tall (§ 17.28.080(G), § 17.54.170) .
Design fences and walls to match building materials when required; note the prohibition on chain link in most residential contexts (§ 17.71.070) .
Landscaping must comply with the city’s water‑efficient landscaping requirements and multifamily design standards where applicable (§ 17.28.080(E)(4)) . Consult the California Building Standards Code for any building permit structural requirements.

Also consider whether your property is within an overlay district or subject to design review — overlays or design review can add or change landscape and screening expectations.

Checklist

Confirm the parcel’s zoning (e.g., M‑1, R‑1‑7500, RD, R‑TP) via the zoning map and Covina Zoning.
Prepare a landscape/site plan showing plant species, tree spacing (e.g., one tree per 20 ft around building where required), perimeter planting strips, and berms (§ 17.28.080(E)) .
Show fence/wall locations, heights, and materials; note where building permits are needed (§ 17.71.020, § 17.71.030) .
For parking/loading/refuse, provide screening details (5‑ft perimeter landscape, decorative enclosure materials) (§ 17.28.080(G–H)) .
Demonstrate compliance with sight‑line / corner cutback rules and plant height limits in front setbacks (§ 17.71.080, § 17.28.080(E)(3)) .
If in M‑1 or adjacent to residential zoning, show decorative screen wall + dense landscaping and note maximum exposed wall height (§ 17.54.160–170) .
Check for required compliance with water‑efficient landscaping rules and multifamily objective design standards where applicable (§ 17.28.080(E)(4)) .
If applicable, attach design review or overlay district approvals (see Covina Overlay Districts and Covina Design Review).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
"10 ft" vs "8 ft" screen wall language in M‑1	§ 17.54.170 mentions a 10‑ft minimum for internal screened areas but limits the wall exposed to a public street to 8 ft; this creates design/perception tradeoffs	Confirm whether you must physically build 10 ft wall behind a berm or provide an 8‑ft exposed masonry face; coordinate with Planning at site plan review (§ 17.54.170)
Front setback ornamentation & permitted opaque fence above 3 ft	Code allows an additional foot above 3 ft if fence is ≥50% open; interpretation affects privacy vs visibility	Verify treatment with the Planning Director and document openness in elevation detail (§ 17.28.080(F)(1)(a))
Chain‑link prohibited but “temporary construction” allowed	Contractors sometimes use temporary chain‑link; permanent replacement may be enforced	Confirm whether temporary construction fencing is acceptable for your project timeline and get written conditions (§ 17.71.070(A))
Multiple chapters reference landscape percentages / tree sizes	Different use sections (hotels, multifamily, commercial) state different numerical landscaping minima	For project-specific percentage and tree size minimums, pull the exact use section referenced in your entitlement (e.g., hotel or multifamily standards) — some excerpts reference 10% landscape minimums; verify full section text with Planning
Interaction with sidewalks/public right-of-way	Trees placed between 4–10 ft behind sidewalk are required in some standards, but public tree maintenance may differ	Coordinate with Public Works on street-tree requirements and maintenance agreements (§ 17.28.080(E)(2))

Information Gaps

The uploaded excerpts reference some use‑specific landscaping minima (for hotels and some commercial uses) but full section numbers and complete text for those use standards were not all present in the retrieved excerpts. Verify full text of the use-specific sections with the Planning Department. (Not found in retrieved materials) .
The ordinance refers to “city water‑efficient landscaping regulations” but the specific municipal code chapter or administrative standard for those rules was not included in the excerpts. (Not found in retrieved materials) .
If a parcel lies inside an overlay (Historic, etc.) additional screening/landscape treatments may apply; overlay details were not included in the landscaping excerpts — check Covina Overlay Districts.

Plain‑English Summary

Covina’s zoning code controls how you screen parking, loading, refuse, and adjacent properties with plants, berms, walls, and fences: front‑yard fences are kept low so sightlines are safe (generally 3 ft), side/rear fences are taller (6 ft, sometimes up to 8 ft with permit), parking must be screened with a 5‑ft planting strip, and industrial loading/storage needs a decorative wall plus dense planting (M‑1 rules) — get a wall/fence permit and check for building permit requirements (§ 17.71.020, § 17.28.080, § 17.54.170) .

Source References

Chapter 17.71 (Walls, Fences, and Screening): § 17.71.010–080 (purpose, applicability, definitions, materials, corner cutback, permit requirement) .
Fence/wall limits and design rules: § 17.28.080(F)(1) (fence/wall height table; plant height limit in front setback) and § 17.28.080(E) (landscaping rates & tree spacing) .
Parking and screening standards (perimeter landscaped strip, parking screening): § 17.28.080(G–H) .
M‑1 zone required walls and loading/storage screening: § 17.54.160, § 17.54.170, § 17.54.180–200 (required walls/fences for M‑1; hazardous areas; corner cutback; permitted fences) .
Design and material requirements for refuse enclosures and screening: § 17.28.080(H) .
Use‑specific landscaping excerpts (hotel, public storage, multifamily standards) — various use sections referencing landscape minimums and decorative walls (excerpts) .
For permitting and structural code references consult the California Building Standards Code.

Sources

Retrieved passages

CMC § 23 (§ 23) High relevance
Covina Zoning Code High relevance
CGBSC § 175 (Title 24) High relevance
CMC § 9 (§ 9) High relevance
CMC § 10 (§ 10) High relevance
Covina Zoning Code (§ 17.54.170.) High relevance
Covina Zoning Code High relevance
CMC § 17.54.160 (§ 17.54.160.) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Covina code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I always need a permit to build a fence in Covina?

Yes — Chapter 17.71 requires a wall and fence permit for fences in residential zones and a building permit is required for walls or fences exceeding six feet in height (§ 17.71.020–030) .

What is the maximum height for a front‑yard fence in Covina?

Front‑yard fences are generally limited to 3 ft; an additional foot (to 4 ft) is allowed if the portion above 3 ft is at least 50% open (see the fence height table at § 17.28.080(F)(1)(a)) .

How must parking lots be screened from the street?

Parking must be screened from public rights‑of‑way using landscaping (trees, shrubs, groundcover), berms no taller than 2 ft, hedges, or walls; a 5‑ft perimeter landscaped strip is required where parking abuts a side or rear property line (§ 17.28.080(G)) .

If my property is next to an industrial (M‑1) site, what screening is required?

The M‑1 rules require decorative screen walls combined with dense landscaping (trees, shrubs, berms) to hide loading and storage; internal minimum screen wall height is noted as 10 ft but exposed face to a public street may not exceed 8 ft — berms/planters can be used to reduce perceived height (§ 17.54.170) .

Can I use chain‑link for permanent fencing?

No — chain‑link fencing is prohibited for permanent fences in the residential fence standards; temporary construction chain‑link may be allowed (Chapter 17.71, § 17.71.070) .

Are there plant‑height limits to preserve sightlines at corners?

Yes — corner cutback/vision triangle rules prohibit visual obstructions within the cutback area; plants in front yard setbacks may not exceed 42 inches in height (§ 17.71.080, § 17.28.080(E)(3)) .

Do multifamily projects have additional landscape requirements?

Yes — multifamily standards require perimeter planting rates (commonly one tree per 20 lineal feet) and that common open space be largely landscaped; screening of refuse, parking and equipment is required (§ 17.28.080(E–H)) .

What materials are required for refuse and loading enclosures?

Refuse enclosures must use decorative masonry or concrete materials with solid gates of durable wood/metal and include roof covering and drainage; loading area screen walls must be decorative masonry integrated with building design (§ 17.28.080(H), § 17.54.160(E)) .

Will an overlay or historic district change screening rules?

Possibly — overlay districts and historic preservation standards can add or modify landscape/screening requirements. Verify if your parcel is in an overlay via the Covina Overlay Districts page and consult Covina Historic Preservation if applicable.

How does this interact with building permits and structural rules?

Structural details for any wall or retaining wall must comply with building permits and the California Building Standards Code. Chapter 17.71 requires building plan check and building permits for walls and fences (§ 17.71.030) .

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