Glendale — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes Glendale’s local zoning rules for landscaping and screening as found in the Glendale Zoning Code (Chapter 30). It explains where live planting, walls/fences, parking-area screening, and retaining‑wall limits are required, and which zones have special rules. Refer to city development standards for dimensional context and to the city’s rules for parking design when screening adjoins vehicle areas. § citations below point to the controlling ordinance language.

What the code controls (scope)

The Zoning Code requires: permanent landscaping for setbacks and unbuilt areas, tree screening along interior property lines where commercial/industrial abut residential, masonry screening walls or tree screens at residential boundaries, irrigation/maintenance of approved landscape plans, planting standards for public/open spaces, and specific fence/wall materials and height limits. These requirements are primarily in § 30.31.020, § 30.31.030, and related parking and site‑planning sections.

First mention links (city resource pages): this page cross‑references the Glendale development standards, parking, design review, overlay districts, historic preservation, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

District-by-district requirements and highlights

Note: the code uses multiple residential, commercial, mixed‑use, industrial, and overlay districts. Below I present the landscaping/screening rules the ordinance explicitly assigns to each district (purpose/uses are summarized only where the retrieved materials state them). Where the code excerpt does not give a zone‑specific purpose or list of typical permitted uses, I note "Not found in retrieved materials" and recommend verification with the jurisdiction.

R-3050, R-2250, R-1650, R-1250 (single‑family lots categories)

• Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials (zoning chapters reference these as single‑family residential categories). Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Landscaping/screening: Trees must be planted along any interior property line abutting an ROS, R1R, or R1 zone boundary to provide an effective screen for multi‑unit structures adjacent to single‑family properties. (§ 30.31.030.A)
• Other: General landscaping percentage/site rules from § 30.31.020 apply when projects are subject to multi‑family/commercial landscaping standards. (§ 30.31.020)

ROS, R1R, R1

• Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials (these are residential/open‑space zones). Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Fences/walls/retention: Retaining walls and fences in these zones must use specified materials and are limited in height; retaining walls/cribwalls visible to surrounding properties must be stone, textured poured concrete, or textured decorative masonry block. Retaining wall height limits and successive wall rules apply (see § 30.30.010 and related retaining‑wall subsections). (§ 30.30.010; § 30.30.010.B)

C1, C2, C3, CH, CA, CPD, IND, IMU, IMU‑R, MS, CE, CR (commercial, mixed‑use, industrial and central business districts)

• Purpose / typical uses: Not enumerated here; these are commercial/industrial/mixed‑use zoning categories. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Screening where adjacent to residential: Where any of these zones abut a residential zone, the code requires one of the following along the property line:
  • Tree planting: an average of one tree per 20 feet of interior property line (trees must be 24‑inch boxed minimum and have adequate well area), OR
  • A minimum 5½‑foot decorative masonry wall along the property line abutting residential zones (CH zone has special allowances). (§ 30.31.030.B.1–2)
• CH zone special rules: In CH, the 5½‑foot decorative wall may be up to 6 feet when on top of a retaining wall, and the required landscaped area (5 ft wide) adjacent to residential zones must be unobstructed below ground. (§ 30.31.030.B.2–3)
• Surface parking and parking structure landscaping: parking landscaping standards apply in these zones; parking structures must incorporate planter boxes/green facades and tree planting where they abut residential zones. (§ 30.31.040; § 30.32.110)

CPD, IMU, IMU‑R, SFMU, TOD (planned/mixed‑use, transit/multi‑family districts)

• Purpose / typical uses: mixed‑use / transit‑oriented development — see development standards for full details. Verify exact uses with the code text for each district.
• Landscaping percentages / open space: IMU‑R and SFMU specify minimum landscaping (example: IMU‑R minimum 10% of lot area per Table 30.14‑B) and additional open‑space landscaping requirements for paseo/courtyard areas (tree size and planter dimensions are specified). (§ 30.16.080 references and Table 30.14‑B)
• Setback buffer where abutting residential: Mixed‑use large projects that abut residential zones must provide setbacks and at least a 5‑foot landscaped buffer within a 15‑foot required setback in some IMU situations. (§ 30.13.040 and Table notes)

PS Overlay, PPD Overlay, F (Fence) Overlay, H Overlay (overlays)

• Overlays modify the base zone rules. See the specific overlay chapters for unique fence/landscaping exceptions and additional landscaping requirements. Examples:
  • PS Overlay: references landscaping/screening and allows certain items in street setback with conditions; interior setback planter boxes permitted; see § 30.23.050–070 and § 30.23.050 direction to Chapter 30.31 and 30.32. (§ 30.23.050; § 30.15.050)
  • F Overlay: allows limited fences within street setback areas in designated North Glendale areas, but requires open design (minimum 50% openness for any 4‑ft section) and a max height of 42 inches in the street setback; prohibits barbed wire, chain link, etc., in those setback fences. (§ 30.27.040)
  • H Overlay: has added rules for fences/walls within street/front setbacks — see § 30.21.040 (Not found in retrieved materials for full text). Verify with the jurisdiction. Not found in retrieved materials.

Key standards at a glance (decision‑relevant table)

(Where the table cites "Chapter 30.32.*" for certain parking screening language, consult §§ specifically listed above — § 30.32.110 contains parking‑structure planting/trellis rules and Chapter 30.31 contains general landscape plan and maintenance rules.)

Practical guidance / how the rules are applied

• When a commercial, industrial, or parking area touches a residential zone boundary, expect either a tree screen or a masonry wall; plan on one tree per ~20 feet if you propose vegetative screening and specify boxed tree size and root area in the landscape plan. (§ 30.31.030.B.1)
• If you propose parking, incorporate planter boxes and vine treatments into facades and parking‑deck edges per parking‑structure standards; the top deck may require permanent landscaping or shading. (§ 30.32.110)
• Landscape plans that are required must be maintained in substantial conformance with the approved plan; the director may modify plans consistent with California‑friendly plantings. (§ 30.31.050; § 30.31.020(5))
• Don’t specify artificial turf in any location where the code requires landscaped planting. (§ 30.31.030.C)

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

• Provide a landscape plan showing live plant materials for all setback and unbuilt areas per § 30.31.020.
• Where non‑residential development abuts residential zones, show either the tree screen (1 tree per 20 ft; 24‑inch box min.) or a 5½‑ft decorative masonry wall along the property line (show dimensions and elevations) as required by § 30.31.030.B.
• For parking areas/structures, include planter boxes (min. 24 in width), vine/trellis design or tree planting for edges facing streets or residential zones per § 30.32.110.
• Comply with required open‑space planting sizes and tree specifications for courtyards/paseos (minimum planting depth, tree caliper/height) where applicable (§ 30.16.080 and related notes).
• Indicate irrigation and long‑term maintenance provisions; note that landscaping and irrigation must be maintained per § 30.31.050.
• If proposing fences/walls in street setback areas within the F overlay, demonstrate compliance with openness, height, and material limits in § 30.27.040.
• If retaining walls or cribwalls are proposed (visible locations), show materials and heights consistent with § 30.30.010 subsections for the applicable zone.

Verify with the jurisdiction whether your project triggers design review or other discretionary review before final submittal — see the Glendale design review page for process links.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If your Glendale project puts commercial, industrial, or parking uses next to homes, the city expects a real screen — either trees (one per ~20 ft, 24‑inch boxed at planting) or a decorative masonry wall about 5½ feet tall; parking decks need planter boxes and vines; landscaping must be live plants (no artificial turf) and kept per the approved plan. The exact rule depends on your zone and any overlay; check the cited sections and confirm with planning staff. (§ 30.31.030; § 30.31.020; § 30.32.110)

Source References

• Glendale Zoning Code — § 30.31.030 (Landscaping and walls adjacent residential zones)
• Glendale Zoning Code — § 30.31.020 (Regulations for multi‑family, commercial, industrial, mixed‑use and specified zones; water efficiency)
• Glendale Zoning Code — § 30.31.040 (Landscaping in parking areas; cross‑reference to Chapter 30.32)
• Glendale Zoning Code — § 30.31.050 (Maintenance of landscaping)
• Glendale Zoning Code — § 30.32.110 (Parking structure and rooftop parking standards — planter boxes, trees, vines)
• Glendale Zoning Code — § 30.30.010 (Fences, walls and retaining wall material/height limits)
• Glendale Zoning Code — § 30.27.040 (Fence Overlay (F): fences in street front/side setbacks — openness, height, banned materials)
• Table 30.14‑B and supporting mixed‑use notes (landscaping % / IMU‑R notes)
• Publicly accessible open space and courtyard landscaping standards (paseos/courtyards) — Chapter excerpts and notes (§ 30.16.080 references)

If you need the full ordinance PDFs or map layers to confirm overlays and exact allowed uses for a parcel, verify with Glendale Planning staff (parcel‑specific interpretations are outside the scope of this summary). Not all overlay chapter text was present in the retrieved excerpts; see the Glendale overlay districts page for maps and staff contacts.

Retrieved passages

• Glendale Zoning Code (§ 30.31.030.) High relevance show source text
• Glendale Zoning Code (§ 30.23.050.) High relevance show source text
• Glendale Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance show source text
• Glendale Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Glendale Zoning Code (§ 30.31.020.) High relevance show source text
• Glendale Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Glendale Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Glendale Zoning Code (Section 30.32.120G.) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Glendale Zoning Code — **§ 30.31.030** (Landscaping and walls adjacent residential zones) (§ 30.31.030)
• Glendale Zoning Code — **§ 30.31.020** (Regulations for multi‑family, commercial, industrial, mixed‑use and specified zones; water efficiency) (§ 30.31.020)
• Glendale Zoning Code — **§ 30.31.040** (Landscaping in parking areas; cross‑reference to Chapter 30.32) (§ 30.31.040)
• Glendale Zoning Code — **§ 30.31.050** (Maintenance of landscaping) (§ 30.31.050)
• Glendale Zoning Code — **§ 30.32.110** (Parking structure and rooftop parking standards — planter boxes, trees, vines) (§ 30.32.110)
• Glendale Zoning Code — **§ 30.30.010** (Fences, walls and retaining wall material/height limits) (§ 30.30.010)
• Glendale Zoning Code — **§ 30.27.040** (Fence Overlay (F): fences in street front/side setbacks — openness, height, banned materials) (§ 30.27.040)
• Table 30.14‑B and supporting mixed‑use notes (landscaping % / IMU‑R notes)
• Publicly accessible open space and courtyard landscaping standards (paseos/courtyards) — Chapter excerpts and notes (§ 30.16.080 references) (Chapter excerpts)
• Glendale_ZoningCode.md

• Official Glendale code library