Local zoning · Culver City

Culver City — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What landscaping rules apply if I'm building a new multi‑family development in Culver City?

Most new multi‑family projects must comply with Chapter 17.310 : submit a Preliminary Landscape Plan with your land‑use application and a Final Landscape & Irrigation Plan signed by a California‑licensed landscape architect or licensed landscape contractor prior to building permit issuance; landscape areas must be at least 3 ft wide to count, 75% of required landscape areas must be live plant material, and tree counts/sizes are specified in § 17.310.025 .

Q: Do small single‑family projects in R‑1 need a landscape plan?

Generally no — Chapter 17.310 mostly does not apply to single‑family and two‑family projects except for setback landscaping and ongoing maintenance requirements. Check § 17.310.010.C and § 17.310.020.A for the exceptions.

Q: Do I need irrigation details on my landscape plan?

Yes — the Final Landscape Plan must include a full Irrigation Design Plan showing controllers, valves, backflow devices, flow rate, hydrozones, and estimated annual water use; rain sensors/automatic shutoffs are required where applicable (see § 17.310.030.B.2 ).

Q: Can plantings be used in place of walls for screening equipment or loading areas?

Yes — the code allows landscape screening that forms an opaque barrier when planted , but the Director may require screening equal to or higher than the equipment and of materials compatible with building finishes; loading areas typically require a solid masonry wall at least 6 ft high. See § 17.300.035.C.2 .

Q: Is there a required mix or minimum size for newly planted trees?

Yes — the City requires a container size mix (at least 20% ≥36‑inch box , 30% ≥24‑inch box , remainder ≥15‑gal) and street trees shall be 24‑inch box or larger; the Director may adjust sizes based on species and site conditions. See § 17.310.025.B.1.f .

Q: What must be provided before a Certificate of Occupancy related to landscaping?

Before a CO the City typically requires a Certificate of Completion signed by the licensed landscape professional who prepared the plan, and, when applicable, a landscape maintenance agreement ensuring continued upkeep. See § 17.310.030 and § 17.310.025 .

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Culver City Zoning Code (Title 17) requires for landscaping, screening, buffers, and fences/walls. It pulls the controlling standards and application rules from the City’s zoning chapters (Chapter 17.310 Landscaping; screening and fence standards in § 17.300.030 and § 17.300.035) and explains how those rules are applied across the most common zoning districts. All requirements below are grounded in the Culver City Zoning Code; citations to the controlling § are included next to the rule.

Notes: the City separates landscaping rules (Chapter 17.310) from fence/wall height and design rules (Chapter 17.300). Where the Title requires submission of landscaping plans and irrigation details, those are mandatory for most non‑single‑family projects.

(First time linking related topics in text:)

For general context see Culver City zoning & planning overview (/us/california/culver-city).
For zoning district tables referenced below see Culver City Zoning (/us/california/culver-city/zoning).
Standards that interact with landscaping appear in Culver City Development Standards (/us/california/culver-city/development-standards).
Rules for parking and parking-area landscaping are coordinated with Culver City Parking (/us/california/culver-city/parking).
Many projects with substantial exterior work go through Culver City Design Review (/us/california/culver-city/design-review).
Some properties sit inside special overlays that affect planting/screening requirements; check Culver City Overlay Districts (/us/california/culver-city/overlay-districts).
Landscaping requirements can affect ADU siting and yards; see Culver City ADUs (/us/california/culver-city/adu).
Where the code defers to state construction standards (e.g., enclosure/guarding of pools or technical equipment) confirm requirements in the California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes).

Key code anchors (short)

Applicability and purpose: § 17.310.005–§ 17.310.010 (Chapter 17.310 — Landscaping).
Minimum landscape plan and irrigation requirements: § 17.310.030 (Preliminary and final landscape plan contents).
Landscape material, tree sizing, and irrigation: § 17.310.025 (Standards: minimum widths, live material percentage, trees, irrigation, maintenance).
Parking-area planting and parkway strips: § 17.310.020.C (parking lot perimeter, planter widths, bumper-overhang).
Screening between incompatible uses; utilities, equipment, loading areas: § 17.300.035 (Screening) and mixed‑use performance standards requiring opaque screening where commercial/industrial abuts residential.
Fences, hedges and walls (height, openwork rules, waivers): § 17.300.030 and Table 3‑2 (Maximum Heights and additional requirements).

District-by-district breakdown

Note on structure: each district subsection below summarizes the parts of the zoning code most relevant to landscaping and screening. Where the Title provides explicit district text, it is cited; where district-specific dimensional tables were not available in the retrieved materials, the entry notes that fact and directs you to verify with the City. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel‑specific answers.

R-1 (Single‑Family Residential)

Purpose / typical uses: preserve single‑family neighborhoods and the existing residential character (General policy authority in § 17.100.010).
Landscaping / screening rules that apply: Chapter 17.310 landscaping generally applies to new development, but the Chapter explicitly excludes most single‑family and two‑family projects except for specific setback landscaping and maintenance requirements — see § 17.310.010.C and § 17.310.020.A.
Fences and walls: Residential front setback fence limits (maximum 4 ft within a required front setback; openwork above 30 in. in sightline areas), side/rear setbacks allow 6 ft (with some 8 ft allowances abutting alleys or non‑residential zones) — see § 17.300.030 and Table 3‑2. Table 3‑2 contains additional visibility/openwork requirements.
Where it applies: typical single‑family parcels; note that Chapter 17.310 generally does not require a landscape plan for single‑family building permits (exception for setback treatment and required maintenance).

R-2 and other Low/Mid Density Residential (R‑2, RLD, RMD, RHD)

Purpose / typical uses: multi‑family and smaller residential formats (general purpose in § 17.100.010).
Landscaping / screening rules: Chapter 17.310 applies to multi‑family residential in full (landscape percentage, tree counts, irrigation, maintenance, and landscape plan), including minimum planted area widths (3 ft) and planter sizes for trees (minimum 4 ft planter clear interior) and tree container size mixes. See § 17.310.025 (trees, groundcover, irrigation, maintenance).
Fences and walls: subject to the same fence height Table 3‑2 rules; additional screening for equipment and refuse per § 17.300.035.
Where it applies: all multi‑family residential developments and residential components of mixed‑use projects; larger residential projects must submit preliminary and final landscape plans and a Certificate of Completion.

MU Zones (e.g., MU‑MD, MU‑HD, MU‑I, MU‑1, MU‑2)

Purpose / typical uses: mixed residential/commercial development with variable densities and building form standards; see Table 2‑8 for MU‑MD / MU‑HD / MU‑I development standards (height, density, lot sizes). Landscaping and screening requirements are applied to preserve pedestrian experience and to mitigate impacts on adjacent residential uses.
Landscaping / screening rules: mixed‑use performance standards require that above‑ground utilities, equipment, service, loading, and refuse be integrated and screened; where a commercial or industrial development abuts residential, an opaque screen (minimum 6 ft high) is required along parcel boundaries (subject to fence/wall height limits in § 17.300.030). See § 17.220.025 and § 17.300.035.
Parking and plantings: parking areas in MU zones must follow the parking-area landscaping rules (perimeter planting strip minimum 5 ft adjacent to streets for non‑residential parking; evenly distributed plant materials and tree spacing rules). See § 17.310.020.C and parking design chapters.
Where it applies: where the MU zoning applies (see City zoning maps and Table 2‑8 for site‑specific dimensional standards).

Commercial (C zones) and Industrial (M zones)

Purpose / typical uses: commercial and industrial uses that serve the public and the local economy (see general Title goals in § 17.100.010).
Landscaping / screening rules: commercial and industrial developments that adjoin residential must provide opaque screening and plant materials adjacent to screening walls per § 17.300.035; parking-area perimeter planting, tree counts, and curbing apply under § 17.310.020 and § 17.310.025. When outdoor storage areas are used, they must be enclosed by a solid masonry wall 6–8 ft high and landscaped where possible per the outdoor‑storage rules.

Institutional (I) and Open Space (OS)

Purpose / typical uses: public facilities, schools, parks, libraries, cemeteries (Institutional § 17.250.035, Open Space § 17.250.030).
Landscaping / screening rules: Institutional uses (like cemeteries) must provide walls, fences, or screen‑type landscaping as determined by the Commission; Open Space uses are expected to meet Article 3 site planning rules and landscaping standards where applicable. See § 17.250.035 and § 17.250.030.

Transportation (T) District

Purpose / typical uses: rights‑of‑way, substations, transit, and parking uses. Landscaping and screening rules apply to parking and beautification of rights‑of‑way; parking developments must meet parking landscaping and screening standards in Article 3. See § 17.250.025 and § 17.310.

Most decision‑relevant standards (quick reference table)

Requirement / Decision point	Short rule	Code reference (controlling §)
Applicability to projects	Chapter applies to all new development; single‑family & two‑family projects are largely exempt except for setback landscaping and maintenance.	§ 17.310.010
Required content of landscape submittals	Preliminary plan for most projects; final landscape + irrigation plan must be prepared and signed by a CA‑licensed landscape architect/contractor.	§ 17.310.030
Minimum planted area width	Landscaped areas counted toward requirement must be at least 3 ft wide; tree planters 4 ft minimum clear.	§ 17.310.025.A.1 and § 17.310.025.B.1.c
Live plant material requirement	At least 75% live plant material in required landscaped areas.	§ 17.310.025.A.2
Trees — numbers and sizes	Front/street setback: 1 tree per 40 ft frontage (if setback ≥10 ft); balance: 1 tree per 500 sf landscaped area. Minimum container mix: 20% ≥36‑inch box, 30% ≥24‑inch box, rest ≥15‑gal; street trees ≥24‑inch box.	§ 17.310.025.B.1.e–f
Parking perimeter planting	Parking adjacent to streets requires a minimum 5 ft planting strip; plant materials evenly distributed; curbing required.	§ 17.310.020.C.5.a–c
Screening between commercial/industrial and residential	Opaque screen (min. 6 ft) (masonry wall, fence, and/or planted material) required along parcel boundaries where commercial/industrial abuts residential; walls must conform to fence height rules.	§ 17.220.025 and § 17.300.035
Fence/wall height & openwork rules	Front setback (residential): 4 ft (openwork above 30 in in certain sightlines); side/rear setback: 6 ft (or up to 8 ft in alley/non‑residential locations per Table 3‑2). Director may approve waivers under limited conditions.	§ 17.300.030 Table 3‑2 and § 17.300.030.H
Screening of utilities/equipment/loading	Loading areas screened with solid masonry wall min. 6 ft; other equipment screened equal to or higher than equipment, using building material, masonry, metal, or planted opaque barrier.	§ 17.300.035.C.2
Maintenance & completion	Landscaping must be maintained and a Landscape Maintenance Agreement may be required; Certificate of Completion signed by the landscape architect/contractor is required prior to CO.	§ 17.310.025.A.4–5 and § 17.310.030.B.2 / Certificate

Checklist (what to prepare and satisfy before permit/approval)

Confirm whether the project is exempt (single‑family / two‑family) or fully subject to Chapter 17.310. § 17.310.010.C.
If required, submit a Preliminary Landscape Plan with the application (all non‑single‑family projects). § 17.310.030.A.
Prepare a Final Landscape & Irrigation Plan signed by a CA‑licensed landscape architect/contractor before building permit. § 17.310.030.B.
Show tree quantities, sizes, hydrozones, planted area calculations, and percent live material (≥75%). § 17.310.025.A–B.
For parking lots: show perimeter planting (min 5 ft), tree spacing, curbing, and bumper overhang areas where used. § 17.310.020.C.
Provide screening details for any equipment, loading or refuse areas (masonry wall or equivalent; min 6 ft for loading). § 17.300.035.C.
Dimension and detail any fences or walls to show compliance with Table 3‑2 heights/openwork rules. § 17.300.030.
Include irrigation design details (controllers, valves, backflow, estimated water use, hydrozones) as required. § 17.310.030.B.2.
Plan for a Certificate of Completion and any required Landscape Maintenance Agreement prior to Certificate of Occupancy. § 17.310.030 and § 17.310.025.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Single‑family exemption scope	Chapter 17.310 mostly excludes single‑family/two‑family projects except for setbacks and maintenance — confusion may cause unnecessary submittals or missed requirements.	Verify whether your work triggers the setback requirements or other code triggers (see § 17.310.010.C).
District‑specific dimensional numbers (R‑1 setbacks, lot coverage)	District tables (Article 2) contain net setbacks and coverage that affect how much landscaped area is required; these tables are not reproduced exhaustively here.	Check the specific district table for your parcel in Article 2 and confirm with Planning staff. Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the jurisdiction.
“Opaque screening” meaning on constrained sites	The Code requires opaque screening in certain adjacencies but allows materials/planting solutions; acceptance is discretionary.	Confirm acceptable materials and final heights with the Director/Planning Division; see § 17.300.035 and the mixed‑use screening provision.
Fence/wall height waivers	Director may grant administrative waivers in limited cases; relying on a waiver is risky before application review.	If planning a taller fence, confirm eligibility and the waiver process in § 17.300.030.H.
Street tree/species lists and planters in the right‑of‑way	Street tree spacing references the City’s Urban Forest Master Plan; species/placement inside public ROW needs confirmation from the City arborist.	Coordinate with Public Works and review the Culver City Urban Forest Master Plan references in § 17.310.025.B.1.e.
Overlays or historic district constraints	Overlay zones (e.g., Redevelopment, Civic Center) can override or add landscaping/screening requirements.	Check whether your parcel sits in an overlay via Chapter 17.260 and confirm overlay standards.

Plain‑English Summary

Culver City requires landscaped setbacks, planting, tree counts/sizes, automatic irrigation, and screening of equipment/loading areas for most new non‑single‑family development; walls and fences have strict height and visibility rules and screening (6‑ft opaque walls where commercial/industrial abuts residential), and most projects need preliminary and final landscape plans stamped by a licensed landscape professional. Key rules live in Chapter 17.310 (Landscaping) and § 17.300.030 / § 17.300.035 (Fences, Hedges, Walls, and Screening).

Source References

Culver City Zoning Code (Title 17) — Chapter 17.310: LANDSCAPING (purpose, applicability, definitions, landscape area and plan requirements): § 17.310.005–§ 17.310.030.
Culver City Zoning Code — § 17.310.020 (Landscape area requirements: setbacks, parking, parkways).
Culver City Zoning Code — § 17.310.025 (Landscape standards: widths, trees, irrigation, maintenance, planting material).
Culver City Zoning Code — § 17.310.030 (Landscape plan application requirements; Certificate of Completion).
Culver City Zoning Code — § 17.300.030 and Table 3‑2 (Fences, Hedges, and Walls — height limits, openwork rules, waivers).
Culver City Zoning Code — § 17.300.035 (Screening: separation of residential and non‑residential uses; screening of equipment/loading/refuse).
Culver City Zoning Code — Mixed Use performance standards and Table 2‑8 (development standards for MU zones): § 17.220.025 and Table 2‑8.
Culver City Zoning Code — District-specific references for I, OS, T: § 17.250.025–§ 17.250.035.

If you need the direct municipal code web page for Title 17, the city’s zoning code is published through the City’s legal code host (source metadata: codelibrary.amlegal.com).

Information Gaps

Full district table values for some residential zones (exact R‑1 setback distances, lot coverage, and other numeric development standards from Article 2) were not fully reproduced in the retrieved files; those exact numeric district dimensional tables are Not found in retrieved materials — Verify with the jurisdiction.
The City’s official street‑tree species list and the Culver City Urban Forest Master Plan details were referenced but the exact species spacing matrix and plan URL are Not found in retrieved materials — verify with Public Works.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Culver City Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Culver City Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
CFC § 17.300.030 (§ 17.300.030.B.) High relevance
Culver City Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Culver City Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Culver City Zoning Code (Chapter shall) High relevance
Culver City Zoning Code (Chapter 17.550) High relevance
Culver City Zoning Code (Chapter 17.310) High relevance
CBC § 17.300.035 (§ 17.300.035) High relevance
Culver City Zoning Code (§ 17.400.060) Medium relevance
Culver City Zoning Code (Section are) Medium relevance
Culver City Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) Medium relevance
Culver City Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Culver City code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping rules apply if I'm building a new multi‑family development in Culver City?

Most new multi‑family projects must comply with Chapter 17.310: submit a Preliminary Landscape Plan with your land‑use application and a Final Landscape & Irrigation Plan signed by a California‑licensed landscape architect or licensed landscape contractor prior to building permit issuance; landscape areas must be at least 3 ft wide to count, 75% of required landscape areas must be live plant material, and tree counts/sizes are specified in § 17.310.025.

Do small single‑family projects in R‑1 need a landscape plan?

Generally no — Chapter 17.310 mostly does not apply to single‑family and two‑family projects except for setback landscaping and ongoing maintenance requirements. Check § 17.310.010.C and § 17.310.020.A for the exceptions.

How high can I build a fence on my property line in Culver City?

Fence/wall maximums depend on location: within a required front setback in residential zones the max is 4 ft (with visibility/openwork rules); side/rear setback fences in residential zones are generally 6 ft; alley or non‑residential abutting rear/side yards may allow 8 ft — consult § 17.300.030 and Table 3‑2 for details and the Director’s waiver provisions.

If my commercial site borders a house, what screening is required?

Where a commercial or industrial development abuts a residential zoning district or a stand‑alone residential use in a mixed‑use zone, an opaque screen (solid masonry wall, fence, and/or planted material) of at least 6 feet is required along the parcel boundary; walls must also comply with fence height rules and must be architecturally treated on both sides per the Title. § 17.300.035 and the mixed‑use performance standard cover this.

What are the parking lot landscaping requirements?

Parking lots must distribute plant materials evenly, provide perimeter planting (minimum 5 ft strip next to streets for non‑residential parking), protect planted areas with a 6‑inch concrete curb adjacent to pavement, and meet the tree quantity/spacing requirements stated in § 17.310.020.C and § 17.310.025.

Do I need irrigation details on my landscape plan?

Yes — the Final Landscape Plan must include a full Irrigation Design Plan showing controllers, valves, backflow devices, flow rate, hydrozones, and estimated annual water use; rain sensors/automatic shutoffs are required where applicable (see § 17.310.030.B.2).

Can plantings be used in place of walls for screening equipment or loading areas?

Yes — the code allows landscape screening that forms an opaque barrier when planted, but the Director may require screening equal to or higher than the equipment and of materials compatible with building finishes; loading areas typically require a solid masonry wall at least 6 ft high. See § 17.300.035.C.2.

Is there a required mix or minimum size for newly planted trees?

Yes — the City requires a container size mix (at least 20% ≥36‑inch box, 30% ≥24‑inch box, remainder ≥15‑gal) and street trees shall be 24‑inch box or larger; the Director may adjust sizes based on species and site conditions. See § 17.310.025.B.1.f.

Are temporary fences allowed during construction?

Temporary fencing may be approved as deemed necessary by the Director; permanent fences must follow § 17.300.030 height/design rules. § 17.300.035.E.3 (Temporary fencing) and § 17.300.030 (permanent rules).

What must be provided before a Certificate of Occupancy related to landscaping?

Before a CO the City typically requires a Certificate of Completion signed by the licensed landscape professional who prepared the plan, and, when applicable, a landscape maintenance agreement ensuring continued upkeep. See § 17.310.030 and § 17.310.025.

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