Fillmore — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Fillmore's Land Development and Use regulations require for landscaping and screening (trees, planting areas, fences, walls, and buffers). The core rules sit in the Fillmore Zoning Code under Title 6 — principally § 6.04.28 (Landscaping standards) and the cross‑cutting property development standards in § 6.04.1805; parking‑related planting rules are in § 6.04.34. These rules drive plan submittals, minimum plant sizes, parking lot trees, wall/fence heights and where masonry screening is explicit. For parking rules see the Fillmore parking page and for design conditions see the city's design review standards.

How the ordinance works (quick synthesis)

• The City requires a concept landscaping plan with every development application and a detailed landscape/irrigation plan before final approval; >20,000 sq ft sites must use a licensed landscape architect (§ 6.04.2815).
• Standards that apply in nearly every district are in § 6.04.28 (purpose, applicability, definitions, development standards such as minimum widths, tree spacings and plant sizes) and in the general property development standards, § 6.04.1805, which controls fences/walls, corner sight triangles and screening between incompatible uses.
• Parking areas have their own landscaping thresholds and screening rules (minimum % landscaped, special CBD rates, perimeter planting strips) in the off‑street parking rules (Part of § 6.04.34).

Because the code mixes citywide landscape rules with district‑specific standards, applicants must bring both a zoning/district check and a landscape plan to site plan/ design review to resolve any conflicts. See the city's design review page for the review path.

Links you will see used below (first natural mention of each topic is linked):

• Fillmore zoning & planning overview: Fillmore zoning & planning overview
• Fillmore Zoning: Fillmore Zoning
• Fillmore Development Standards: Fillmore Development Standards
• Fillmore Parking: Fillmore Parking
• Fillmore Design Review: Fillmore Design Review
• Fillmore Overlay Districts: Fillmore Overlay Districts
• Fillmore ADUs: Fillmore ADUs
• California Building Standards Code: California Building Standards Code

District‑by‑district breakdown (how landscaping & screening apply)

Notes: the landscaping standards (trees, minimum landscape widths, plant sizes, irrigation) are citywide in § 6.04.28 and thus provide the baseline that district sections layer on top of. Where a district has its own landscaping or screening rule, that is listed and cited below.

RPD (Residential Planned Development — RPD-R, RPD-L, RPD-M, RPD-M/H, RPD-H)

• Purpose & typical uses: residential subdivisions and planned residential developments of varying densities. Dimensional development standards for these variants are published in the City’s Zoning District Development Standards (Table II‑1) in the zoning ordinance.
• Landscaping/screening basics that apply in RPD: All required setbacks, parkways and any area visible from a public street must be landscaped; minimum planting strip width is 4 ft; trees at the rate of 1 per 30 linear feet of structure wall or street frontage; minimum plant size mixes apply (50% 24‑inch box trees; 50% 15‑gallon), and groundcover must achieve 100% coverage within one year — all per § 6.04.2820.
• Fences / perimeter walls: non single‑family uses in residential districts must install perimeter screening in the form of walls/fences 6 ft high (measured from the higher adjacent grade); walls in front yard setbacks are limited to 36 in; both sides of perimeter walls must be architecturally treated — see § 6.04.1805(7) / (O). Verify with the director for design approval.
• Where it applies: all RPD sub‑variants (the RPD family) — check Table II‑1 for parcel‑specific setbacks/coverage.

CBD (Central Business District / CBD)

• Purpose & typical uses: downtown commercial/retail/service uses. Design is subject to site plan review and downtown standards.
• Key landscaping/screening rules: parking lots with ≥10 spaces must landscape a minimum of 3% of the parking area citywide; in the CBD this rises to 15% of the parking area with at least one 24‑inch box tree per 8 parking spaces, and landscaping strips every eight spaces and at aisle ends, min 4 ft wide — see § 6.04.34 (off‑street parking landscaping).
• Screening: where parking abuts public right‑of‑way a 30–36‑inch landscaped screen is required across the parking frontage (except for driveways).
• Where it applies: downtown lots and parcels zoned CBD (verify in the zoning map/Fillmore Zoning). Fillmore Zoning

Business Park District (Business Park / BP)

• Purpose & typical uses: light industrial, business park, R & D, office/manufacturing mix. All uses subject to site plan review per § 6.04.1205.
• Landscaping specifics in BP: the district requires a landscaping plan approved by the Planning Commission; trees and parking lot plantings are required with the same baseline standards (see § 6.04.28 and the Business Park specifics in the BP section). Some BP provisions prohibit fences in front yards and set a general maximum fence height of 8 ft unless otherwise approved — see the Business Park site requirements citing fencing rules and landscaping plan rules.
• Where it applies: parcels zoned for the Business Park District; check the Fillmore zoning map. Fillmore Overlay Districts

MPD / Industrial / Commercial (manufacturing/industrial / MPD)

• Purpose & uses: medium‑to‑heavy manufacturing, industrial and outdoor storage where screened from view. Typical uses and conditional allowances are in the district use tables (the zoning use matrix).
• Screening requirements: where commercial/industrial abuts residential, a 6 ft solid decorative masonry wall is required along the property line (up to 8 ft where approved by the director); the wall must be treated on both sides and incorporate ground landscaping — see § 6.04.1805(18). Equipment must be screened architecturally and with ground plantings as appropriate.
• Chain‑link and security fencing: chain link fencing is restricted to certain districts (RPD, MPD, P‑F) and is allowed only behind front setbacks and with vegetation screening; barbed/razor/electrified wire is generally prohibited except in MPD with director approval — see § 6.04.1805(7)(F–G).

Mobile Home Parks

• Purpose & uses: mobile home park development (specific park standards apply). Landscaping and park perimeter screening are required.
• Perimeter fencing: mobile home park boundaries must be screened by a decorative fence (open grill work) or masonry wall 6 ft high with a minimum 6 ft wide landscaped area along the inside of the perimeter fence/wall — see the mobile home park provisions.

Service Stations / Special uses

• Service stations have tailored landscaping requirements (landscaping minimum 15% of the service station site area, specific planter dimensions and corner planters, and an eight‑foot masonry wall where the station adjoins residential uses, reduced to 36 in at the residential front‑yard line) — see the service station standards tied into § 6.04.28 and the service station subsection.

Key standards table (decision‑relevant)

Practical guidance / interpretation notes

• The baseline (what every plan reviewer will check) is § 6.04.28: confirm that setbacks/parkways visible to the public are planted, that the minimum landscape percent and widths are met, that irrigation is permanent, and that plant sizes match the minimum mixes. If your project is >20,000 sq ft, hire a licensed landscape architect as required by § 6.04.2815.
• For any non‑residential project that abuts residential parcels expect a masonry wall and ground‑level planting to be required by § 6.04.1805(18); the wall design will be reviewed for architectural treatment on both sides.
• If your parking lot will have 10+ spaces, budget for parking island landscaping and meet the percentage requirements; in downtown/CBD projects the threshold is substantially higher (15%) with larger trees required — see § 6.04.34.
• Chain‑link is tightly controlled. In residential districts chain link is allowed in limited places and typically must be screened with planting; barbed wire or razor wire is prohibited except in MPD with director approval — see § 6.04.1805(7)(F–G).

Checklist (what an applicant must provide)

• Concept landscape plan submitted with development permit application (showing location, hydrozones, screening intent) — § 6.04.2815.
• Detailed, fully‑dimensioned landscape and irrigation plan (concurrent with grading if required); include plant list (common & Latin), sizes, hydrozones, and calculations of total landscaped area in % — § 6.04.2815(D) / § 6.04.2820.
• If >20,000 sq ft site area, plan prepared by a licensed landscape architect — § 6.04.2815(2)(B).
• Satisfy minimum plant sizes and mixes (trees/shrubs/groundcover) — § 6.04.2820(7).
• Provide permanent irrigation system for required landscaping — § 6.04.2820(6).
• If project abuts residential, show required masonry wall location and design, and a minimum 4 ft planting strip where specified — § 6.04.1805(18).
• Parking plans showing required tree count, planting islands/strip widths, and % landscaped for parking areas — § 6.04.34.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

If you develop or alter a site in Fillmore you must submit a landscaping plan that meets the city’s baseline rules: plant trees at the required spacing and sizes, provide minimum 4‑ft planting strips and irrigation, meet parking‑area planting percentages, and install masonry walls where commercial/industrial meets residential. Fences and walls are limited (front yard fences are low; perimeter walls behind front setbacks are typically 6 ft), and many wall/fence appearances require director or planning commission approval—so bring a complete plan early. See § 6.04.28 and § 6.04.1805.

Source References

• City of Fillmore Zoning Code — Landscaping standards: § 6.04.28 (purpose, applicability, definitions, standards)
• Submittal & plan detail requirements: § 6.04.2815 (concept & detailed plans; licensed landscape architect threshold)
• Landscape development standards (trees per frontage, minimum widths, plant sizes): § 6.04.2820 (and § 6.04.2821 adopting MWELO)
• Property development / general standards including fences/walls and screening: § 6.04.1805 (esp. (7) Fences/Walls/Hedges/Corner Obstructions and (18) Screening)
• Parking landscaping & screening rules (off‑street parking standards): § 6.04.34 (parking lot % landscaping, CBD special rates, perimeter planting strips)
• Business Park District conditions of use (site plan review & landscaping requirements): § 6.04.1205 and related BP subsections (fencing, landscaping)
• Mobile home park perimeter screening & landscaping references: mobile home park provisions (perimeter fences/walls and 6‑ft planting strips) — see mobile home park standards and § 6.04.2630 applicable regs.

Retrieved passages

• Fillmore Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Fillmore Zoning Code (Section 6.04.0225) High relevance show source text
• Fillmore Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Fillmore Zoning Code (Section 6.04.28) High relevance show source text
• Fillmore Zoning Code (Section 6.04.28) High relevance show source text
• Fillmore Zoning Code (Section 6.04.58) High relevance show source text
• Fillmore Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Fillmore Zoning Code (Chapter 15.25) High relevance show source text
• Fillmore Zoning Code (Section 6.04.28) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• City of Fillmore Zoning Code — Landscaping standards: **§ 6.04.28** (purpose, applicability, definitions, standards) (§ 6.04.28)
• Submittal & plan detail requirements: **§ 6.04.2815** (concept & detailed plans; licensed landscape architect threshold) (§ 6.04.2815)
• Landscape development standards (trees per frontage, minimum widths, plant sizes): **§ 6.04.2820** (and § 6.04.2821 adopting MWELO) (§ 6.04.2820)
• Property development / general standards including fences/walls and screening: **§ 6.04.1805** (esp. (7) Fences/Walls/Hedges/Corner Obstructions and (18) Screening) (§ 6.04.1805)
• Parking landscaping & screening rules (off‑street parking standards): **§ 6.04.34** (parking lot % landscaping, CBD special rates, perimeter planting strips) (§ 6.04.34)
• Business Park District conditions of use (site plan review & landscaping requirements): **§ 6.04.1205** and related BP subsections (fencing, landscaping) (§ 6.04.1205)
• Mobile home park perimeter screening & landscaping references: mobile home park provisions (perimeter fences/walls and 6‑ft planting strips) — see mobile home park standards and § 6.04.2630 applicable regs. (§ 6.04.2630)
• Fillmore_ZoningCode.md

• Official Fillmore code library