Local zoning · Duarte

Duarte — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What landscaping requirements apply to a new commercial shopping center in Duarte?

A new commercial project must typically provide at least 15% of the parcel as landscaped area (exclusive of parking), ensure 75% of that landscaped area is live plant material, provide automatic irrigation (unless the Director approves otherwise), and follow parking‑lot landscaping rules (perimeter planters, one tree per six parking spaces, 40% shade goal in 15 years). See § 19.40.070 and § 19.38.180 for the controlling provisions.

Q: How tall can my wall or fence be next to a residential property if my lot is Institutional?

In the I (Institutional) zone a maximum fence/wall height of 8 ft is allowed, and where an Institutional lot abuts a residential zone a minimum 6‑ft buffer wall is required (except where that portion abuts a street); all proposals must comply with Chapter 19.36 as applicable. § 19.24.050

Q: What are Duarte’s parking lot tree and shade requirements?

Parking lots must plant trees at a minimum ratio of one tree per six parking spaces and the design must aim for 40% shading of the parking area within 15 years . Perimeter planters (minimum 5 ft where adjacent to streets) and continuous 42‑inch landscape screening for some drive‑throughs are also required. See § 19.38.180 .

Q: What stormwater or bioretention requirements affect parking‑lot landscaping?

For new developments with 25 or more parking spaces, at least 50% of required parking lot landscaping must be provided as vegetated swales, rain gardens, or other biofiltration measures; islands must be graded to trap runoff. Confirm compliance with Chapter 6.15 (Stormwater) as well as § 19.38.180 . ---

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Duarte's Development Code requires for landscaping and screening (trees, buffers, fences, walls, hedges, parking-lot screening and irrigation). Key requirements live in the Development Code chapters for landscaping, parking lot design, and fences/walls; applicants should expect plan submittals, irrigation details, and Site Plan and Design Review in many cases. See Duarte Development Standards for setbacks and dimensional rules, Duarte Parking for parking-related landscaping, and Duarte Design Review for design/approval triggers.

How this page is organized

District-by-district practical breakdown (what Duarte actually requires for each zone where the Development Code is specific)
Tables of the most decision‑relevant numeric standards
A short applicant checklist, risks/ambiguities, a plain-English summary, and source references

District-by-district requirements and interpretation

Note: the Development Code uses zone names and specific chapters; quoted requirements below are grounded to the controlling code section(s) and the file preview cited.

I (Institutional) — purpose, uses, and screening/fence rules

Purpose & typical uses: public and quasi-public facilities (schools, hospitals, institutional campuses); standards appear in the Institutional zone subchapter and refer applicants to general development standards. § 19.24.030
Fence/wall height and buffer: maximum fence/wall height in the I zone is eight feet and where an Institutional lot abuts residential, a six-foot buffer wall is required (except where that portion abuts a street). Architectural treatment is required. § 19.24.050
Applicability: institutional projects must also comply with Chapter 19.36 (Fences, Walls, and Hedges) and Chapter 19.40 (Landscaping) for screening, tree planting, and irrigation. § 19.24.080

R‑1 (Single‑Family residential, incl. R‑1D / R‑1E / R‑1F variants) — front yards, hedges, and fence allowances

Purpose & typical uses: single‑family homes; dimensional and accessory standards are in the residential tables (front/side/rear setbacks, lot coverage). See the residential development standards tables for R‑1 variants. § 19.10.030
Fences/walls/hedges: hedges are generally allowed and do not require a permit, but hedges located in required front yards must conform to the fence/wall front‑yard standards. For many R‑1 variants the Code specifically allows an extra 1 foot of non‑view‑obscuring height in front yards in R‑1D, R‑1E, and R‑1F, subject to overall maxima; consult Table 3‑3. § 19.36.020 and § 19.36.030
Trees/landscaping: trees may be planted in any required yard and required trees must be minimum 15‑gallon size unless specified otherwise. Front‑yard irrigation is required in all zones except R‑1. § 19.40.040

R‑3 & R‑4 (Multi‑family residential) — screening for utilities, trash, and parking

Purpose & typical uses: multifamily housing of increasing density; multi‑family projects must provide landscaped setback areas visible from streets and comply with Chapter 19.40 for irrigation and plant selection. § 19.10.060
Screening requirements: mechanical equipment, trash/recycling enclosures, and transformers must be screened with dense landscaping or walls; trash enclosures have a required solid screening wall or fence of minimum five feet, plus architectural compatibility. § 19.34.050

Nonresidential (Commercial, Industrial, Mixed‑Use, Hospital) — minimum landscape area, parking screening, and irrigation

Purpose & typical uses: commercial centers, industrial sites, hospitals; the Code sets separate nonresidential landscape standards. § 19.40.070
Parcel landscape minimum: 15% of parcel area must be landscaped (exclusive of parking area and parking-lot landscaping). § 19.40.070(B)
Live plant minimum: at least 75% of required landscape area must be live plant material. § 19.40.070(C)
Automatic irrigation: required for all landscaped areas unless waived by the Director for practical reasons. § 19.40.070(D)
Parking‑lot landscaping and screening: parking‑lot landscape and screening rules (perimeter planters, drive‑through screening, island tree counts and shade goals) are in the parking lot design chapter; parking requires a perimeter planter of at least 5 feet adjacent to streets and 5 feet along side/rear property lines, 42‑inch minimum screening where required, and a tree minimum of one tree per 6 parking spaces with a goal that 40% of the lot be shaded within 15 years. See § 19.38.180 and related subsections for detail.

Specific Plans and Planned Developments (overlays)

Relationship: where a Specific Plan or Planned Development is adopted, fence/wall heights and landscaping standards in that plan control; when the Specific Plan is silent, the Code defaults to the zone standards that most closely approximate the Specific Plan. § 19.36.010 and § 19.22.020

Key numeric standards (decision‑relevant) — quick reference

Requirement	Typical value / rule	Code reference
Parcel landscaping (nonresidential, excl. parking)	15% minimum of parcel area	§ 19.40.070(B)
Minimum tree size at planting	15‑gallon (minimum)	§ 19.40.070(E)(1)
Minimum shrub size	5‑gallon	§ 19.40.070(E)(2)
Live plant coverage of landscape area	75% live plant material	§ 19.40.070(C)
Automatic irrigation	Required for landscaped areas (exceptions possible by Director)	§ 19.40.070(D)
Perimeter planter width (parking adjacent to street)	5 ft minimum; 42‑inch screening height	§ 19.38.180
Parking lot trees	1 tree / 6 parking spaces; 40% shade within 15 years	§ 19.38.180
Maximum fence/wall height (institutional)	8 ft; buffer wall to residential 6 ft where abutting	§ 19.24.050(A–B)
Fence/wall maximums generally (see Table 3‑3)	Varies by yard and zone; retaining wall combos allowed up to 7 ft under criteria	§ 19.36.030 and Table 3‑3
Hedges	No permit required; front‑yard hedges must follow front yard fence/wall standards	§ 19.36.020(B) and § 19.36.030(B)

Practical guidance and interpretation (plain-English synthesis)

Most nonresidential projects must show that at least 15% of the site (outside of parking) will be landscaped, with 75% live plant cover, and an automatic irrigation system — expect the Community Development Director to require a landscape documentation package. § 19.40.070(B–D)
Parking areas have their own separate planting/screening rules; treat parking‑lot landscaping as a design subcomponent (trees per stall, perimeter planters, 42‑inch screening at drive‑throughs, and stormwater biofiltration on larger lots). § 19.38.180
Fences and walls are subject to maximum heights in Table 3‑3; hedges are a flexible screening tool (no permit) but front‑yard hedges are limited to the same standards as fences to preserve visibility. For retaining walls combined with fences the code establishes measurement rules and material limits. § 19.36.030
Projects near hillsides or within fuel‑hazard areas must follow the Hillside standards and fuel‑modification palettes; a fuel modification plan consistent with LA County Fire Dept. requirements may be required. § 19.46.120

When the Development Code is silent for a property inside a Specific Plan, the Specific Plan governs; if that plan is silent, the zone that most closely approximates it controls (verify with the Community Development Director). § 19.22.020

Checklist (what an applicant must typically submit / satisfy)

A preliminary landscape plan showing plant palette, locations, sizes, and hydrozones (trees minimum 15 gal; shrubs 5 gal) § 19.40.070(E)
Water‑Efficient Landscape Worksheet / Landscape Documentation Package per the Implementation Guidelines when subject to Chapter 19.40 (projects ≥ 500 sq ft) § 19.40.010(C)
Automatic irrigation design or justification for a waiver § 19.40.070(D)
Parking lot landscaping plan (islands, perimeter planting, tree counts and shade calcs) if the project includes a parking lot; show one tree per six spaces and shading projection § 19.38.180
Fence/wall plans with heights, materials, and combined retaining wall detail (if applicable) — fences/walls require Site Plan & Design Review § 19.36.020
Trash/recycling enclosure screening details (minimum 5‑ft screening wall) § 19.34.050
Fuel modification plan and replacement tree calculations where the site is within 500 feet of primary residential structures or on slopes § 19.46.120
Maintenance guarantee or surety where the Code or Director requires bonding until plant establishment § 19.40.070(E) and § 19.46.120(E)

Also verify whether your site falls within a Specific Plan or Planned Development which may change fence heights, palette, or planting counts. § 19.22.020

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Specific Plan / Planned Development overrides	Specific Plan provisions can supersede chapter standards (e.g., fence height, landscape palette)	Confirm whether the parcel lies within an adopted Specific Plan; if so, use that plan or ask the Director which standard applies. § 19.22.020
How hedge height is measured in the front yard	Hedges are not subject to permits but front‑yard hedges must meet front‑yard fence standards (sight‑distance/corner cutback rules)	Verify front‑yard and corner cutback rules and applicable Table 3‑3 provisions. § 19.36.020(B) and § 19.36.030(B)
Retaining wall + fence combinations	Measurement rules limit combined height and require non‑view‑obscuring materials above certain heights	Check combined max (e.g., up to 7 ft subject to criteria) and material requirements; Site Plan & Design Review may be required. § 19.36.030(C)
Tree replacement obligations after removal	Replacement caliper/box sizes and species-matching requirements apply in hillside/native tree removals	Confirm replacement ratios and allowable substitutes; Director approval may be required. § 19.46.120(J)
Parking‑lot biofiltration vs. planting counts	Parking lot stormwater BMPs may change the layout of islands (vegetated swales) and effective tree planting areas	For lots ≥25 spaces the code requires 50% of parking landscaping as biofiltration features — coordinate shade/tree counts with stormwater design. § 19.38.180(D)
Where Code is silent	The Director has broad discretion to approve alternatives (irrigation waivers, alternative plant sizes)	When in doubt, request a Director interpretation and expect submittal requirements under Site Plan & Design Review. § 19.40.070(D,E)

Plain-English Summary

In Duarte, new and rehabilitated projects must include a workable landscape plan that usually provides an automatic irrigation system, minimum plant sizes (trees 15‑gallon, shrubs 5‑gallon), and — for nonresidential sites — at least 15% of the parcel landscaped (75% live plants). Fences and walls have zone‑specific height limits (see Table 3‑3 and I‑zone rules) and hedges are a flexible screening option but must follow front‑yard visibility standards; parking lots have their own planting, shading and stormwater rules. § 19.40.070, § 19.36.030, § 19.38.180

Source References

Duarte Development Code, Chapter 19.40 (Landscaping) — § 19.40.010, § 19.40.040, § 19.40.070
Duarte Development Code, Chapter 19.36 (Fences, Walls, and Hedges) — § 19.36.020, § 19.36.030 (Table 3‑3; retaining wall + fence combo rules)
Duarte Development Code, Chapter 19.38 (Off‑Street Parking Regulations and Design) — § 19.38.180 (Parking lot landscaping design) and § 19.38.210 (maintenance)
Duarte Development Code, Institutional zone standards — § 19.24.050 (Institutional fencing and buffer wall)
Duarte Development Code, Hillside Development Standards — § 19.46.120 (landscaping, irrigation, fuel modification, tree replacement rules)
Duarte Development Code, Solid Waste / Trash Enclosures — § 19.34.050 (screening/enclosure height)

Additional internal pages (first time mentions linked in text): Duarte Development Standards, Duarte Parking, Duarte Design Review, Duarte Overlay Districts, Duarte ADUs, California Building Standards Code.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Duarte Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Chapter 19.48) High relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Section 19.32.020) High relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Article 3) High relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Section 2.2) High relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Chapter 19.40) High relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Chapter 19.40) High relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Chapter 19.34) High relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Chapter 19.44) High relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Chapter 19.52) High relevance
Duarte Zoning Code Medium relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Chapter shall) Medium relevance
Duarte Zoning Code (Section 19.32.020) Medium relevance
CPC § 17922.12 (Chapter and) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Duarte code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping requirements apply to a new commercial shopping center in Duarte?

A new commercial project must typically provide at least 15% of the parcel as landscaped area (exclusive of parking), ensure 75% of that landscaped area is live plant material, provide automatic irrigation (unless the Director approves otherwise), and follow parking‑lot landscaping rules (perimeter planters, one tree per six parking spaces, 40% shade goal in 15 years). See § 19.40.070 and § 19.38.180 for the controlling provisions.

Do hedges need a permit in Duarte and can they exceed fence heights?

Hedges do not require a permit generally, but hedges located within required front yards must conform to the front‑yard fence/wall standards and corner cutback rules; therefore practically they are limited by § 19.36.020(B) and measurement rules in § 19.36.030.

How tall can my wall or fence be next to a residential property if my lot is Institutional?

In the I (Institutional) zone a maximum fence/wall height of 8 ft is allowed, and where an Institutional lot abuts a residential zone a minimum 6‑ft buffer wall is required (except where that portion abuts a street); all proposals must comply with Chapter 19.36 as applicable. § 19.24.050

What are Duarte’s parking lot tree and shade requirements?

Parking lots must plant trees at a minimum ratio of one tree per six parking spaces and the design must aim for 40% shading of the parking area within 15 years. Perimeter planters (minimum 5 ft where adjacent to streets) and continuous 42‑inch landscape screening for some drive‑throughs are also required. See § 19.38.180.

Do I need automatic irrigation for front‑yard landscaping at a single‑family home?

Front‑yard irrigation is required to be permanent/automatic in all zones except R‑1 residential zones; trees may be planted in any required yard and must meet minimum planting sizes. See § 19.40.040(C) and § 19.40.070(E)(1).

Are there special rules for landscaping on hillsides or near natural open space?

Yes. Properties in hillside areas must follow the Hillside Development Standards, including § 19.46.120 which requires fuel‑modification‑compatible plant palettes, erosion‑control planting, maintenance guarantees, and replacement rules for removed native trees. A fuel modification plan consistent with Los Angeles County Fire Department requirements may be required prior to permit issuance. § 19.46.120

If my project is inside a Specific Plan, which landscaping rules apply?

An adopted Specific Plan governs land use and development within its boundaries. Where the Specific Plan is silent on fences or landscaping, the Code applies; where the Specific Plan addresses those matters, follow the Specific Plan. Verify with the Community Development Director. § 19.22.020

Does Duarte require replacement trees if I remove native trees?

Yes. For each existing native tree or shrub removed with a combined caliper ≥ 4 inches, replacement planting (minimum 24‑inch box) is required; for trees ≥ 8 inches combined caliper, a 48‑inch box or larger is required; the Director may allow substitutes with justification. See § 19.46.120(J).

Who approves fence/wall plans and when is design review required?

Fences and walls are subject to Site Plan and Design Review pursuant to Chapter 19.122; specific zone subchapters (for example the Institutional zone) may require Director approval for fence/wall plans. § 19.36.020 and § 19.24.050(C).

What stormwater or bioretention requirements affect parking‑lot landscaping?

For new developments with 25 or more parking spaces, at least 50% of required parking lot landscaping must be provided as vegetated swales, rain gardens, or other biofiltration measures; islands must be graded to trap runoff. Confirm compliance with Chapter 6.15 (Stormwater) as well as § 19.38.180. ---

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