Dixon — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Dixon Zoning Code (Title 18) requires for landscaping and screening: where landscaping is mandatory, minimum planting and tree standards, landscape-plan submittal, water‑efficiency compliance, fence and wall height/material rules, and screening requirements for industrial/outdoor storage uses. All requirements below are drawn from the Dixon Zoning Code; citations reference the controlling § and the retrieved ordinance text.

When this page mentions related processes you may also need to consult the City’s pages on Dixon Zoning, Dixon Parking, Dixon Development Standards, Dixon Design Review, Dixon Overlay Districts, Dixon ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

Key Citywide Rules (what the code actually says)

• Required landscape areas: front and street-side setbacks, all parking areas required by Chapter 18.16, sloped areas (3:1 or greater), unused areas of project sites, and buffers where nonresidential or multi‑unit residential abuts residential districts. See § 18.13.030.
• Water-efficiency: all landscaping must comply with the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Title 23 CCR Div. 2, Ch. 2.7). See § 18.13.040.
• Landscape plan: projects that require landscaping must submit a drawn-to-scale landscape plan showing plant species/sizes, existing protected trees, hardscape areas, irrigation, and proof of compliance with the State water‑efficient rules. See § 18.13.050.
• Minimum plant sizes and spacing: groundcovers, shrubs, and trees have minimum sizes and spacing at planting; shrubs used as hedges/screens are planted at 2–4 ft spacing, and required trees must be minimum 15‑gallon stock with one‑inch caliper (or approved equivalent). See § 18.13.060.
• Street‑tree rates by district: RL — 1 tree / 50 ft of frontage; RM — 2 trees / 50 ft; Commercial / Mixed‑Use — 2 trees / 50 ft; Industrial — 1 tree / 50 ft. See § 18.13.060.
• Installation and maintenance: landscaping must be installed per approved plans and maintained in good condition; small landscaped areas under 4 ft in any horizontal dimension do not count toward required landscaping. See § 18.13.070 and § 18.13.060.
• Fence/wall heights and visibility:
  • Residential districts: fences within required front setback: 4 ft (portions over 3 ft must be ≥ 50% transparent). Outside required front/street setbacks and more than 10 ft from any street-facing property line: 7 ft maximum. See § 18.11.060.
  • Nonresidential districts: within 10 ft of street-facing property line: 4 ft (portions over 3 ft must be ≥ 50% transparent); elsewhere 7 ft max (higher only by Modification). See § 18.11.060.
  • All fences/walls must comply with the intersection visibility requirements in § 18.11.110.
• Screening walls where certain uses abut residential: a solid screening wall, 7 ft high, is required along interior lot lines where industrial, transportation/utility uses abut a Residential District; industrial screening walls must be stucco, decorative block, or concrete panel. See § 18.11.090.
• Outdoor storage and equipment screening: outdoor storage visible from public streets, residential areas, or public open space is subject to Design Review and the matrix in Table 18.11.090.C (which limits materials visible from freeway and specifies allowable wall/fence types by district). See § 18.11.090 and Table 18.11.090.C.
• Hazardous fencing (barbed wire, razor, electrified): prohibited except where required by law; Director may approve in Industrial Districts if placed at top of a fence at least 6 ft high for security. See § 18.11.060.
• Design review: landscaping, fences, and screen plantings are explicit design-review considerations; projects subject to Design Review must meet design criteria that include compatibility and buffering. See § 18.23.050 and § 18.23.060.

District-by-district breakdown (what the landscaping/screening rules actually require, by district)

Note: the zoning code organizes development standards by district in Division II (Chapters 18.04–18.10). The landscaping and screening requirements below are the specific landscaping/screening standards that the Code applies by district or that vary by district; for full permitted-use lists and all dimensional standards consult the specific district chapter in the Code. If the permitted uses or some dimensional standards are not included in the retrieved excerpts, that is noted.

RL (Residential Low)

• Purpose: residential single‑family and similar low‑density housing. Not fully reproduced in retrieved excerpts. Not found in retrieved materials for purpose/permitted uses.
• Landscaping/screening rules (applicable): 1 street tree per 50 ft of frontage required; front and street-side setbacks must be landscaped; fences in front setback limited to 4 ft (over 3 ft must be ≥ 50% transparent). See § 18.13.060 and § 18.11.060.
• Typical dimensional standards: specific lot coverage/setbacks for RL are in the district chapter (not included in retrieved excerpts). Verify with the Dixon Zoning chapter. Not found in retrieved materials for full dimensional table.

RM (Residential Medium / Multi‑family)

• Purpose: multi‑family housing (chapter text not reproduced here). Not found in retrieved materials for full purpose/permitted uses.
• Landscaping/screening rules (applicable): 2 street trees per 50 ft of frontage required for RM; where multi‑unit residential abuts an RL District, a 5 ft wide landscape buffer along interior property lines is required. See § 18.13.060 and § 18.13.030.
• Typical dimensional standards: See the RM district chapter for setbacks/density — not included in retrieved excerpts. Verify with the Dixon Zoning chapter. Not found in retrieved materials.

Commercial and Mixed‑Use Districts

• Purpose/uses: commercial retail/service and mixed residential/commercial (full permitted uses are in Chapter 18.05 — not reproduced here). Not found in retrieved materials for full list.
• Landscaping/screening rules: 2 street trees per 50 ft of frontage required; parking-lot perimeter and interior island landscaping minimums apply (see Chapter 18.16). Fences within 10 ft of street-facing property lines limited to 4 ft with transparency rules; higher fences are possible via Modification. See § 18.13.060, § 18.16.110, and § 18.11.060.

Industrial Districts

• Purpose/uses: industrial and heavier commercial uses (full permitted uses in Chapter 18.06 — not reproduced here). Not found in retrieved materials for full list.
• Landscaping/screening rules: 1 street tree per 50 ft of frontage required; when industrial uses abut a Residential District a solid 7 ft screening wall is required along the interior lot line, constructed of stucco, decorative block, or concrete panel; hazardous fencing materials may be permitted at the Director’s discretion if needed for security (with conditions). See § 18.13.060 and § 18.11.090 and § 18.11.060.

Public / Other Districts

• Any public/semi‑public uses must still follow the landscaping chapter where landscaping is required; specific rules for public facilities and special exemptions may appear in their district chapters. Verify with the relevant district chapter. Not found in retrieved materials for specifics.

Decision‑relevant standards (quick table)

Checklist

• Submit a scaled landscape plan showing species, sizes, existing trees (trees >6" DBH; oaks >2" DBH flagged), irrigation, and hardscape per § 18.13.050.
• Show required street trees at the district rate (RL: 1/50 ft; RM: 2/50 ft; Commercial/MU: 2/50 ft; Industrial: 1/50 ft) and minimum planting sizes (15‑gallon/1" caliper) per § 18.13.060.
• Demonstrate compliance with the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (23 CCR) as required by § 18.13.040.
• For parcels with parking, incorporate parking‑lot perimeter and island landscaping per Chapter 18.16 and show wheel stops/curbing details to protect plantings per § 18.16.110.
• If proposing fences/walls, dimension fence heights and materials and show transparency where required (front setback rules, 50% min for portions >3 ft) per § 18.11.060.
• If your project includes outdoor storage or industrial uses abutting residential, show a 7‑ft solid screening wall or approved alternative and material callouts per § 18.11.090 and Table 18.11.090.C.
• Confirm intersection and driveway sight‑distance compliance with § 18.11.110 and City Engineering standards.
• If requesting alternative landscaping or fence height, prepare a Modification (Ch. 18.26) justification addressing the Chapter intent per § 18.13.050(B) and fence exceptions per § 18.11.060.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

If you’re building or changing a site in Dixon, you must show a landscape plan that meets the City’s tree, planting, irrigation, and water‑efficiency rules; plant required street trees at the district rate; keep fences in front yards short and transparent; and, where industrial or outdoor storage faces homes or public ways, provide a specified screen wall. Check sight‑line rules and get Design Review or a Modification when the standard rules won’t work for your site. See § 18.13.030, § 18.13.050, § 18.13.060, § 18.11.060, and § 18.11.090 for the controlling code text.

Source References

• Dixon Zoning Code (Title 18), Chapter 18.13, Landscaping: § 18.13.030, § 18.13.040, § 18.13.050, § 18.13.060, § 18.13.070.
• Dixon Zoning Code, Chapter 18.11, General Site Regulations: § 18.11.060 (Fences, Walls, Hedges), § 18.11.090 (Screening), Table 18.11.090.C, § 18.11.110 (Visibility).
• Dixon Zoning Code, Chapter 18.16, Parking & Loading — parking lot landscaping requirements and plan details (e.g., islands, perimeter buffer). See figures and § 18.16.110 references.
• Dixon Zoning Code, Chapter 18.23, Design Review (scope and criteria): § 18.23.050 / § 18.23.060.
• Dixon Zoning Code, Title and purpose: § 18.01.010–§ 18.01.050 (Code title, authority, purpose).

Retrieved passages

• Dixon Zoning Code (Section 18.11.110) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter do) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Title 23) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.26) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter as) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.23) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.27) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.26) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Dixon Zoning Code (Title 18), Chapter 18.13, Landscaping: **§ 18.13.030**, **§ 18.13.040**, **§ 18.13.050**, **§ 18.13.060**, **§ 18.13.070**. (Title 18)
• Dixon Zoning Code, Chapter 18.11, General Site Regulations: **§ 18.11.060** (Fences, Walls, Hedges), **§ 18.11.090** (Screening), **Table 18.11.090.C**, **§ 18.11.110** (Visibility). (Chapter 18.11)
• Dixon Zoning Code, Chapter 18.16, Parking & Loading — parking lot landscaping requirements and plan details (e.g., islands, perimeter buffer). See figures and **§ 18.16.110** references. (Chapter 18.16)
• Dixon Zoning Code, Chapter 18.23, Design Review (scope and criteria): **§ 18.23.050** / **§ 18.23.060**. (Chapter 18.23)
• Dixon Zoning Code, Title and purpose: **§ 18.01.010**–**§ 18.01.050** (Code title, authority, purpose). (Title and)
• Dixon_ZoningCode.md

• Official Dixon code library