Downey — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Downey’s zoning ordinance requires for landscaping, screening, and walls/fences. It synthesizes the ordinance provisions (the City’s Title that implements zoning is the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Article IX) and highlights the practical rules you will use when preparing a landscape plan or proposing walls, hedges, or screening. Refer to the City planning pages for related topics such as the broader Downey zoning & planning overview and the city's Downey Zoning rules for use listings and zone maps. § 9102 and § 9104 establish the ordinance framework and purpose .

What the code covers (quick list)

• Maximum wall/fence/hedge heights by zone and how height is measured (front/street-side vs. interior/rear) (§ 9520.08) .
• Required masonry screening where non‑residential uses or higher‑intensity zones abut lower‑intensity zones (§ 9520.08 and zone-specific rules) .
• Landscaping design standards: three‑tier planting (groundcover, shrubs, trees), planter design, parking-lot landscaping, intersection-visibility requirements, and irrigation plan requirements for public-right‑of‑way plantings (§ 9520 series; § 9916.8) .
• Evergreen screening specifications (size at installation, spacing, or an allowed six‑foot solid fence alternative) used for privacy between dwellings (§ 9414/urban lot split and related residential provisions) .
• Special project / use standards (example: self‑storage landscaping %, screening and screen wall heights) (§ 9416.06) .

For site planning context, issues such as setbacks and related development metrics are part of the Downey Development Standards and are referenced within the zoning rules .

District-by-district breakdown

The ordinance sets different landscaping/screening and wall/fence rules depending on the zoning district. Below are the districts that the code text explicitly regulates for landscaping and screening. Bolded district names and the controlling standards are provided; where the ordinance text does not provide a use list or additional specifics, that is noted.

R-1 (Single‑family Residential)

• Purpose / where applied: City’s single‑family residential areas; governed by the overall zoning intent in § 9104 .
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials (verify with the Downey Zoning page).
• Key landscaping/screening standards:
  • Front and street‑side setback area: max wall/fence/hedge height 42 inches (measured from curb for street‑side) (§ 9520.08(l)(1)(i)) .
  • Corner cutbacks: reduced max height 30 inches in the corner cutback illustration (§ 9520.08(l)(1)(i)) .
  • Interior side and rear yards: walls/fences up to 7 feet permitted when outside required front/street setbacks (§ 9520.08(l)(1)(ii)) .
  • Where evergreen screening is required between dwellings (urban‑lot splits and other residential developments): planting schedule and sizes (see Evergreen Screening below) (§ 9414 / related provisions) .
• Practical note: if you need taller screening in the front area, a decorative treatment or setbacks (triangle setbacks abutting driveways) are referenced in the ordinance; otherwise seek minor site plan review or variance (§ 9520.08 referenced guidance) .

R-2 / R-3 / R-3‑O (Two‑ and Multi‑family Residential and R‑3‑O overlay)

• Purpose / where applied: higher‑density residential zones; R-3 and R-3‑O have special masonry wall requirements when abutting lower‑density zones (§ 9520.08(l)(1)(iii)) .
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials (verify with Downey Zoning).
• Key landscaping/screening standards:
  • Same base fence/wall heights as residential: 42 inches front/street‑side; 7 feet interior/rear (§ 9520.08(l)(1)) .
  • Where R‑3 or R‑3‑O properties abut R‑1 or R‑2, a decorative masonry wall not less than 5.5 ft and not more than 7 ft is required along the common property line, unless other maximums elsewhere supersede (§ 9520.08(l)(1)(iii)) .
  • Multifamily site landscaping: required three‑tier planting and usable open space landscaping references (§ 9312 & § 9520 cross‑references) .

Commercial and Mixed‑Use Zones

• Purpose / where applied: commercial corridors and mixed‑use districts (see zone map) — consult Downey Zoning.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials; check the zone schedule.
• Key landscaping/screening standards:
  • Front and street‑side yards: max wall/fence/hedge height 3 feet (§ 9520.08(l)(2)(i)) .
  • Interior side and rear yards: max 7 feet (§ 9520.08(l)(2)(ii)) .
  • When commercial/industrial property abuts a more restrictively zoned property, a solid decorative masonry wall 5.5–6 feet high is required to buffer the lower‑intensity zone (§ 9520.08 (In All Nonresidential Zones)) .

M‑1 / M‑2 (Manufacturing / Industrial)

• Purpose / where applied: light and heavier industrial/manufacturing uses.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials; verify via Downey Zoning.
• Key landscaping/screening standards:
  • Front and street‑side planters/walls/fences: max 3 feet; interior/rear yards up to 7–10 feet depending on specific manufacturing zone language (§ 9520.08 (l)(2) and manufacturing subsection) .
  • The City Planner may waive landscaping for parts of sites not visible from streets in M‑1/M‑2 (§ 9520 landscaping exceptions) .
  • Barbed wire/razor/ electrified fencing prohibited, except limited use in M‑1/M‑2 not visible from public rights‑of‑way and subject to Site Plan Review (§ 9520.08(c)(1)) .

Public and Open Space Zones

• Purpose / where applied: parks and publicly‑owned open space.
• Key standard: the maximum height for walls/fences/hedges in required yards is determined through Site Plan Review or by the City Planner when no site approval is otherwise required (§ 9520.08 (4)) .

Special‑use: Self‑Storage / RV Storage (example of use‑specific landscaping)

• Applicability: rules in § 9416.06 apply to self‑storage where allowed (M‑1 and M‑2 conditional uses) .
• Key standards:
  • Minimum 10% of lot landscaped, with at least 5% of required landscaping within parking areas (§ 9416.06(b)) .
  • Street lot line setbacks fully landscaped (20 ft front, 15 ft street side) with no parking in those setbacks (§ 9416.06(c)) .
  • Storage areas must be screened from view by free‑standing walls; screen walls may exceed zone max height to screen RV storage but shall not exceed 12 feet (§ 9416.06(d)) .

Key standards table (decision‑relevant)

Practical guidance & interpretation

• Height measurement: For front and street‑side yard fences/walls, measure from the top of the nearest street curb; for interior/rear, measure from the higher finished grade of the two adjoining lots. This affects retaining‑wall treatment on sloped sites — verify grade reference on your plans and call out measurement points on elevations (§ 9520.08(i)) .
• Material and visibility rules: Chain‑link is prohibited in front/street‑side yards in Residential, Commercial, or Mixed‑Use zones; anti‑graffiti coating is required where the face of a wall/fence faces the public right‑of‑way (§ 9520.08(c),(h)) .
• Screening substitution: The code allows landscaped screening in lieu of a masonry wall where appropriate, but the ordinance requires plantings to be evergreen, closely spaced, at least 6 ft at installation, and designed to reach 15–20 ft at maturity when required to match a required wall height (§ 9520.08(h)(8)) .
• Parking lot requirements: Trees and planters are mandatory details for many site plans; the ordinance expects tree islands, two‑foot unplanted end zones at islands, and irrigation and planter design to retain water — include these on parking plans and coordinate with Downey Parking policies where applicable (§ 9520 and Figures) .
• Plan review and exceptions: The City Planner can approve alternatives to strict requirements if they achieve comparable results; many higher‑or special‑use standards (e.g., barbed wire in industrial zones, landscaping waivers for unseen areas) are discretionary and reviewed through Site Plan Review or Minor Site Plan processes — check the Downey Design Review procedures early in design .
• Tree removal: For certain residential development types (urban lot splits and some new development), no mature tree (defined as DBH 6" or height 8'+) may be removed unless replaced at a two‑for‑one ratio or paid for per the city’s tree‑replacement schedule (§ j(9)(i) in urban lot split language) — consult the project‑specific code subsection and the Downey ADUs guidance if the removal is tied to an ADU; state ADU law may also affect tree removal exceptions — for ADU law see the state guidance link to the California ADU law and the local ADU section (§ 9414 references) .

Note: retaining rails and guardrails are subject to the California Building Standards Code; where the zoning text defers to building code requirements for guard rails, cross‑check with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) for technical design and safety requirements (§ 9520.08(j)) .

Checklist

• Show existing and proposed grades, and call out the grade used to measure wall/fence height (§ 9520.08(i)) .
• Provide landscape plan with species, container sizes, spacing, tree caliper, and irrigation details for any ROW landscaping (§ 9916.8) .
• Demonstrate three‑tier planting (groundcover, shrubs, trees) for required landscaped areas (§ 9520 Design Standards) .
• Show screening details between uses (evergreen plant sizes or masonry wall details when abutting more‑restrictive zones) and identify whether a planting or masonry wall option is used (§ 9520.08; § 9416.06 for special uses) .
• If proposing chain‑link, barbed wire, or other security measures, show justification and confirm visibility limitations or Site Plan Review approval as required (§ 9520.08(c)) .
• Provide parking lot landscaping plan with island details, tree species, unplanted end zones and irrigation retention strategy (§ 9520; Figures) .
• For tree removal, provide arborist report and replacement plan or fee calculation when a mature tree is removed in connection with development (§ j(9)(i)) .
• If the project is in M‑1/M‑2, identify invisible/unseen areas to request a planting waiver via City Planner discretion (§ 9520 exceptions) .
• Note anti‑graffiti treatments on any wall facing a public right‑of‑way (§ 9520.08(h)) .

Risks & Ambiguities

For any parcel‑specific ambiguity: Verify with the jurisdiction (City Planner) and see the applicable zone schedule on the Downey Zoning page.

Plain‑English summary

Downey’s zoning ordinance sets maximum fence and hedge heights by zone (e.g., 42 inches in residential front yards; 7 feet in rear yards), requires a three‑tier planting approach for landscaped areas, demands evergreen screening or masonry walls where zones abut, and requires landscape plans (including irrigation details) for public‑facing plantings — show exact grades, plant sizes, and irrigation on your plans and coordinate early with the City Planner for any deviations (§ 9520.08; § 9520 design standards; § 9916.8) .

Source References

• § 9102, § 9104 — Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance purpose and applicability (Article IX)
• § 9520.08 and related subsections — General wall, fence, and hedge regulations; zone‑by‑zone rules; prohibited materials; height measurement rules; masonry wall provisions
• § 9520 (Landscaping Design Standards) — three‑tier planting, planter design, screening alternatives, parking landscaping figures and intersection‑visibility references (§ 9534.16)
• § 9916.8 — Landscaping and irrigation submittal requirements for public right‑of‑way plantings
• § 9416.06 — Self‑storage and recreational vehicle storage landscaping, setbacks and screen wall heights (example of use‑specific rules)
• Urban lot split and related residential development landscaping/tree rules (urban split subsections including tree removal, evergreen screening quantities and sizes) — see the urban lot split landscaping language in § 9414 / related subsections (§ j(9), § j(11))

Retrieved passages

• Downey Zoning Code (§ 9522.) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 400 (chapter between) High relevance show source text
• Downey Zoning Code (§ 9916.8.) High relevance show source text
• Downey Zoning Code (section provided) High relevance show source text
• Downey Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• CBC § 9520.08 (§ 9520.08.) High relevance show source text
• Downey Zoning Code (Chapter 10) High relevance show source text
• Downey Zoning Code (§ 9416.) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 9102, § 9104 — Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance purpose and applicability (Article IX) (§ 9102)
• § 9520.08 and related subsections — General wall, fence, and hedge regulations; zone‑by‑zone rules; prohibited materials; height measurement rules; masonry wall provisions fileciteturn0file5 (§ 9520.08)
• § 9520 (Landscaping Design Standards) — three‑tier planting, planter design, screening alternatives, parking landscaping figures and intersection‑visibility references (§ 9534.16) fileciteturn0file4 (§ 9520)
• § 9916.8 — Landscaping and irrigation submittal requirements for public right‑of‑way plantings (§ 9916.8)
• § 9416.06 — Self‑storage and recreational vehicle storage landscaping, setbacks and screen wall heights (example of use‑specific rules) (§ 9416.06)
• Urban lot split and related residential development landscaping/tree rules (urban split subsections including tree removal, evergreen screening quantities and sizes) — see the urban lot split landscaping language in § 9414 / related subsections (§ j(9), § j(11)) fileciteturn0file11 (§ 9414)
• Downey_ZoningCode.md

• Official Downey code library