Local zoning · Del Mar

Del Mar — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What landscaping plans does Del Mar require for a home remodel?

Del Mar requires a detailed landscape plan for applicable residential projects showing plant species (common and Latin names), maximum mature heights, planting sizes, locations, and irrigation; required plans must be maintained permanently § 30.80.110 .

Q: How tall can my backyard fence be in Del Mar?

In most residential contexts a fence in the rear or interior side yard may not exceed 6 feet in height; fence height is measured from the lower of the natural or finished grade on the exterior face § 30.86.090 .

Q: If I have a parking area next to a neighbor’s house, do I need screening?

Yes — where a surface parking area of three or more spaces abuts property in the R‑1, RM, or R‑2 zones, the City requires screening such as a 6‑ft solid wall, view‑obscuring fence, or compact evergreen hedge (front setback exceptions and fence‑height calculations may apply) § 30.80.110 .

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Del Mar Municipal Code (Title 30 Zoning and related implementing chapters) requires about landscaping and screening: what must be planted, how and where screening is used (for trash, parking, utilities, open storage), fence/wall height rules, and special overlay-area restrictions (wetlands, bluff/slope). All requirements below are tied to the specific Del Mar code sections cited; where the ordinance text in the retrieved files did not show an exact local subsection number, I note that and recommend verification with the City. Links to related topics are included for quick navigation: Del Mar zoning & planning overview, Del Mar Zoning, Del Mar Development Standards, Del Mar Parking, Del Mar Design Review, Del Mar Overlay Districts, Del Mar ADUs, and California Building Standards Code.

Key City requirements (synopsis, with controlling code)

Applicants for most residential projects must provide a detailed landscaping plan (plant species, sizes, locations, irrigation) and maintain plantings permanently § 30.80.110 .
Screening of unsightly uses (open storage of vehicles, boats, building materials, and trash areas) must be by dense landscaping or decorative fencing/walls; required heights are 5.5 feet from other properties and 3.5 feet from streets (planters minimum 3 feet wide) § 30.86.140 .
Trash/recycling and ground-mounted mechanical equipment must be fully screened by opaque barriers and/or walls and landscaping; trash enclosures often required to be 6 feet high masonry with view‑obscuring gates § 30.86.140 and related screening rules in project standards § 30.17.070 .
Fences and walls: rear and interior side yard fences limited to 6 feet; nonresidential zones also generally limited to 6 feet; fence height is measured from the lower of natural or finished grade at the exterior face. Calculation and exceptions are in § 30.86.090 .
When a parking area of three or more spaces abuts residential zones (R-1, RM, R-2), a minimum 6‑foot solid wall, view‑obscuring fence, or compact evergreen hedge is required to screen the parking from the adjoining residential property (front‑yard exceptions apply; see fence height calc) § 30.80.110 (parking screening rule referencing 30.86.090) .
Hardscape in front and street-side yards is limited to no more than 20% of the yard area (driveways and drive aisles counted) § 30.17.070 (site standards excerpt) .
New screening plantings intended for privacy must buffer at least 75% of the intended area and be species that reach that screening effect within one year; new trees for screening must be installed at minimum 24‑inch box, shrubs at minimum 5‑gallon size § 30.17.070 (site/landscape standards) .
Wetland buffers: new projects near wetlands must provide a continuous buffer (typically 100 feet minimum), and buffers may rely on landscaping berms or fencing to restrict public access; reductions under 100 feet need concurrence from CDFW/CCC and findings by the Planning Commission § 30.53.100 / § 30.53.090 .
Bluff, Slope, and Canyon Overlay Zone (BSCOZ): special revegetation, invasive‑species prohibition, protected‑tree mitigation (Torrey Pine, Monterey Cypress), and construction timing (avian breeding season avoidance) apply to landscaping and tree work § 30.52.010 and related BSCOZ provisions; some overlay rules are not eligible for variance § 30.52
The ADU chapter was represented by excerpted requirements but the governing ADU section number was not explicit in the previewed text; verify ADU chapter section numbers and cross‑references on the City website. Not found in retrieved materials.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Del Mar Zoning Code High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (Chapter 30.80.) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (Chapter 3) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (§ 11) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (Chapter may) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (Section 30.52.060A.1.b) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (Section 30.53.080.) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (Chapter may) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Del Mar code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping plans does Del Mar require for a home remodel?

Del Mar requires a detailed landscape plan for applicable residential projects showing plant species (common and Latin names), maximum mature heights, planting sizes, locations, and irrigation; required plans must be maintained permanently § 30.80.110 .

How tall can my backyard fence be in Del Mar?

In most residential contexts a fence in the rear or interior side yard may not exceed 6 feet in height; fence height is measured from the lower of the natural or finished grade on the exterior face § 30.86.090 .

If I have a parking area next to a neighbor’s house, do I need screening?

Yes — where a surface parking area of three or more spaces abuts property in the R‑1, RM, or R‑2 zones, the City requires screening such as a 6‑ft solid wall, view‑obscuring fence, or compact evergreen hedge (front setback exceptions and fence‑height calculations may apply) § 30.80.110 .

Can I plant non‑native or invasive species for screening?

No. In overlay and habitat areas the code prohibits invasive species listed by the California Invasive Plant Council; bluff/slope and lagoon revegetation must use regionally native species where specified § 30.52 and related revegetation provisions § 30.53 .

Do trash enclosures have to be screened?

Yes — trash and recycling areas must be screened from abutting properties, streets, and alleys with an opaque visual barrier at least as tall as the receptacles. Many project standards require 6‑ft masonry walls with view‑obscuring gates for multi‑family or commercial developments § 30.86.140 and project design provisions § 30.17.070 .

How large must screening plants be when installed?

When used for screening the code requires new trees to be installed at a minimum 24‑inch box and shrubs at minimum 5‑gallon containers; screening plantings must be selected to achieve 75% screening of the intended area within one year in applicable site standards § 30.17.070 .

Are there special landscaping rules near wetlands or the lagoon?

Yes — projects in or near the Lagoon Overlay Zone must provide a continuous wetland buffer (default 100 ft), and permitted uses inside buffer areas are limited; landscape berms and fencing are acceptable measures for restricting access, but buffer reductions require state resource‑agency concurrence § 30.53.100 / § 30.53.090 .

Does Del Mar limit hardscape in front yards?

Yes — in some development standards hardscape (including driveways and drive aisles) is limited to no more than 20% of front and street‑side yards; check the applicable development standards or design review chapter for the parcel § 30.17.070 (site standards excerpt) .

Are tree‑removal timings restricted for bird nesting season?

Yes — removal/clearing of trees and shrubs is generally to be done outside avian/raptor breeding season (Feb 1–Aug 31) unless a focused nest survey is done and avoidance measures are implemented § 30.52 / related habitat provisions .

Do ADUs have special screening requirements?

ADU provisions in the code reference that screening requirements for ADUs are "consistent with" other residential development and explicitly reference fence/retaining standards in § 30.86.090; confirm the exact ADU chapter subsection during application § 30.86.090 .

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