Dunsmuir — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Dunsmuir's Zoning Code (Title 17) requires for landscaping and screening: how fences, walls, hedges, trees, parking-lot planting, and special-site screening are regulated, and where district-specific rules change the picture. Read this as a plain‑English guide to the Dunsmuir rules; always confirm parcel‑specific questions with the city planner. Key controlling rules are in § 17.92.120 (fences/walls/hedges), the Off‑Street Parking chapter (landscaping standards in § 17.76.090), and several zoning district development standard sections.

Note: this page stays focused on the zoning / planning rules in Title 17 (landscaping and screening). For building code or fire defensible‑space rules consult the California Building Standards Code and the fire authority (verify with the jurisdiction).

Mentioned topics (linked where first used): parking, development standards, design review, overlay districts, historic preservation, signage, ADUs, and California Building Standards Code.

Citywide baseline (applies across districts)

• Administrative permit: An administrative fence permit is required before installing any fence or wall. § 17.92.120.
• Height limits:
  • Within rear yard or side yard (to front yard setback line): maximum 6 ft. § 17.92.120(B).
  • Within front yard setback: maximum 4 ft (unless no front-yard requirement; then 6 ft along front lot line). § 17.92.120(B–C).
  • Corner sight triangle: no fence/hedge/wall higher than 3 ft in the triangular area formed by 25 ft on each street side (or 10 ft along an alley) without a use permit. § 17.92.120(L).
• Measurement on slopes: fences, walls, hedges measured from the uphill perspective on a slope. § 17.92.120(J).
• Slope/topography adjustment: where grade differences require increased height to maintain screening, up to 2 ft may be added administratively (with consultation with fire, police, public works and notification to bordering owners), subject to safety checks. § 17.92.120(K).
• Hedges near front property line: no landscape screening (hedge or equivalent) over 4 ft within 5 ft of the front property line. § 17.92.120(K)(1).
• Materials prohibited: cardboard, tarps, barbed wire, rope, electrified fence, glass, razor wire, and similar are prohibited in any zoning district. § 17.92.120(F).
• Decorative treatments: lattice or decorative wrought iron that is at least 50% open may be added to the top of a fence or wall if compatible with the fence design and approved. § 17.92.120(K)(2).
• Nonconforming fences: repairs allowed so long as the fence is not enlarged; if more than 50% replaced in a one‑year period it must be brought into compliance. § 17.92.120(M).

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the Dunsmuir zoning districts with landscaping/screening points that matter to applicants. Each district subsection gives the purpose, typical uses (short), and the specific screening/landscape items that the code ties to that district.

Low Density Residential — R-1

• Purpose / typical uses: Intended for low‑density single‑family development (principal: single‑family residential, residential care homes, etc.). § 17.16.010–020.
• Key dimensional standards: Maximum building height 30 ft, maximum lot coverage 40%, front setback 20 ft, side/rear setbacks as listed in § 17.16.060.
• Landscaping / screening notes:
  • Fences/walls in R‑1 are subject to the citywide § 17.92.120 rules (permit, front‑yard hedge limit, front vs rear height limits). § 17.92.120.
  • Accessory structures and ADUs in R‑1 must screen mechanicals and may place fences in setbacks consistent with § 17.92.120 and the development standards. § 17.16.030; § 17.92.040; § 17.92.120.

Medium Density Residential — R-2

• Purpose / typical uses: Mix of low and medium density residential (duplexes, small multifamily). § 17.20.010–020.
• Key dimensional standards: Front setback 20 ft, max height 30 ft, lot coverage 50%; see § 17.20.060 for full table. § 17.20.060.
• Landscaping / screening notes:
  • Multifamily projects are subject to separate open‑space requirements (see § 17.92.090), and all fences/walls follow § 17.92.120. § 17.92.090; § 17.92.120.
  • Mechanical equipment on second units must be screened by a fence, wall, or permanent landscaping. § 17.92.040(K).

Residential Mixed Use — MU-1

• Purpose / typical uses: Mixed residential and small‑scale nonresidential uses; community gardens, live/work, studios; accessory fences/walls allowed per § 17.92.120. § 17.28.010–030.
• Landscaping / screening notes:
  • Landscaping expectations for front setbacks and pedestrian areas are enforced through site plan review; fences/walls must meet the citywide standards. § 17.28.030; § 17.92.120.

Light Manufacturing — L-M

• Purpose / typical uses: Light industrial, small manufacturing, garden centers and plant nurseries. § 17.48.010–030.
• Key landscaping/screening items:
  • Where an L‑M lot is adjacent to nonindustrial districts, rear and side yard setbacks of 20 ft must be screened with a 6‑ft solid fence (if adjacent to "all other zoning districts"); adjacent L‑M or M requires only 10 ft. § 17.48.060(E–F).
  • Uncovered storage allowed on the rear half of a lot only if screened by solid fencing minimum 6 ft. § 17.48.030(C).

Manufacturing — M

• Purpose / typical uses: Heavier commercial/manufacturing uses; accessory uncovered storage must be screened by 6‑ft solid fencing per § 17.52.030(C); standard development rules apply. § 17.52.010–030.

Town Center — T‑C

• Purpose / typical uses: Downtown core; mixed uses; fences and walls associated with uses are allowed but must comply with § 17.92.120. Multifamily open‑space rules exempt T‑C in § 17.92.090. § 17.40.030; § 17.92.090.

Manufactured Home Parks

• Landscaping/screening: At least 5 ft of yard adjoining the manufactured‑home‑park property line must be landscaped and permanently maintained; the Planning Commission may require additional landscaping and fences/walls to ensure privacy, block noise/glare, or screen unsightliness. § 17.92.060(F).

Recreational Vehicle (RV) Parks

• Landscaping/screening: RV parks must landscape front setbacks and entrances; each RV space must meet minimum landscape area rules; perimeter fence or wall at least 6 ft high is required except where front landscaped setback hides spaces from public road. (See development standards for RV parks.) § 17.92.080(7–10).

Parking lots / commercial sites (Off‑Street Parking)

• Perimeter landscape strip: parking facilities with 12+ spaces must provide a continuous 5‑ft perimeter landscaped strip where the facility adjoins a property line. § 17.76.090(C)(1).
• Interior parking landscaping: interior landscaping percentages vary by parking facility size (table in § 17.76.090(C)(2)): typically 5%–10% depending on size; landscaped areas must have irrigation and be protected by curbs or barriers. § 17.76.090(C)(2–3).
• Lighting and glare: parking lighting must be directed away from residential uses and shown on landscape plans. § 17.76.090(F).

Quick standards table (decision‑relevant)

Checklist

• Submit a site plan showing property dimensions, building outlines, driveways, and the proposed fences/walls with elevations and heights (required for fence/wall permit). § 17.92.120(E).
• Apply for the administrative fence permit before installation (fence permit required). § 17.92.120(A).
• For parking lots (12+ spaces) include a landscape plan meeting § 17.76.090 perimeter and interior landscaping (perimeter 5 ft; interior % per table) and irrigation details. § 17.76.090(C).
• If proposing a hedge or landscape feature >4 ft near a front property line, revise location (no planting >4 ft within 5 ft of front property line) or request a variance/permit and justify safety. § 17.92.120(K)(1).
• If lot slopes or abuts lower parcels and you need extra height, document the grade difference and obtain the administrative increase (up to 2 ft) and allow required interdepartmental review and neighbor notification. § 17.92.120(K).
• On L‑M or M sites, if adjacent to residential or other districts, plan for 6‑ft solid screening in required setbacks (and show location on plans). § 17.48.060(E–F); § 17.52.030(C).
• For manufactured home parks or RV parks include perimeter landscaping/screening per their development sections. § 17.92.060(F); § 17.92.080(10).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Dunsmuir requires you to get a fence permit and follow clear height and placement limits (4 ft in front yards, 6 ft in rear/side, special corner sight rules). Commercial, industrial, manufactured‑home and RV parks have extra screening and planting rules (for example, 6‑ft solid screens where industry meets non‑industry, and 5‑ft landscape strips around larger parking areas). For changes on slopes, mechanical screening, or special projects expect additional review; always bring a complete site plan. § 17.92.120, § 17.76.090, and the district development standards are the controlling rules.

Source References

• Title 17 — Zoning, City of Dunsmuir (print export). Relevant sections cited below are from the Dunsmuir Zoning Code (Ord. No. 575, adopted 6‑29‑2023).
• Fences, walls, hedges, and equivalent screening: § 17.92.120.
• Manufactured homes / manufactured home parks: § 17.92.050–060 (manufactured homes and parks).
• Recreational vehicle parks (landscaping and perimeter screening): § 17.92.080.
• Multifamily open space requirement (note Town Center exception): § 17.92.090.
• Off‑Street Parking — landscaping, perimeter strip, interior landscaping percentages, irrigation & maintenance: § 17.76.090 (C–H).
• Light Manufacturing (L‑M) development and screening requirements (adjacent screening with 6 ft solid fence where required): § 17.48.050–060.
• R‑1 development standards and accessory uses: § 17.16.010–060.
• R‑2 development standards and accessory uses: § 17.20.010–060.
• MU‑1 and T‑C accessory uses and fence references: § 17.28.020–030; § 17.40.030.

Retrieved passages

• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (section and) High relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (section and) High relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (§ I) High relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (Section 17.76.090) High relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (title applicable) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 110 (Chapter 17.76) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 17.92.120 (Chapter 17.112) High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (Chapter 17.80) Medium relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (§ I) Medium relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (§ I) Medium relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (Chapter 17.24) Medium relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (§ I) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 17.92.180 (§ I) Medium relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (Section 65852.3) Medium relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (Chapter 15.52) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 17.92.120 (Section 17.92.120) Medium relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (Section 17.92.090) Medium relevance show source text
• Dunsmuir Zoning Code (title are) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Title 17 — Zoning, City of Dunsmuir (print export). Relevant sections cited below are from the Dunsmuir Zoning Code (Ord. No. 575, adopted 6‑29‑2023). (Title 17)
• Fences, walls, hedges, and equivalent screening: **§ 17.92.120**. (§ 17.92.120)
• Manufactured homes / manufactured home parks: **§ 17.92.050–060** (manufactured homes and parks). (§ 17.92.050)
• Recreational vehicle parks (landscaping and perimeter screening): **§ 17.92.080**. (§ 17.92.080)
• Multifamily open space requirement (note Town Center exception): **§ 17.92.090**. (§ 17.92.090)
• Off‑Street Parking — landscaping, perimeter strip, interior landscaping percentages, irrigation & maintenance: **§ 17.76.090 (C–H)**. (§ 17.76.090)
• Light Manufacturing (L‑M) development and screening requirements (adjacent screening with 6 ft solid fence where required): **§ 17.48.050–060**. (§ 17.48.050)
• R‑1 development standards and accessory uses: **§ 17.16.010–060**. (§ 17.16.010)
• R‑2 development standards and accessory uses: **§ 17.20.010–060**. (§ 17.20.010)
• MU‑1 and T‑C accessory uses and fence references: **§ 17.28.020–030; § 17.40.030**. (§ 17.28.020)
• Dunsmuir_ZoningCode.md

• Official Dunsmuir code library