Glendora — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Glendora municipal zoning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening: minimum landscape area, tree planting and replacement, irrigation and MWELO compliance, parking-lot and setback landscaping, screening of mechanical/utility equipment and trash enclosures, and rules for fences and walls. The controlling rules are in the Glendora Municipal Code under Title 21 (zoning) and several Glendora-specific plan chapters (Arboreta, Glendora Commercial, Diamond Ridge). See the code citations below for the exact local references.

Note: If you are looking for building-code requirements (Title 24) or ADU technical standards, use the California building-code resources; this page sticks strictly to local zoning landscaping and screening rules. Link to the city's broader planning summary here: Glendora zoning & planning overview.

Key standards (at-a-glance)

(Where an exact subsection number is shown in the code excerpt above, that is cited in the Source References at the end of this page. If you need a parcel‑specific interpretation, verify with the Community Development Department.)

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the zoning districts / planning-area rules found in the retrieved Glendora materials that directly affect landscaping and screening. I use only district names and standards explicitly present in the retrieved ordinance text.

Arboreta Specific Plan (Arboreta)

• Purpose: master‑planned residential neighborhood with HOA-maintained public/common landscaping and specific perimeter treatment requirements.
• Typical uses: single‑family detached residential (specific plan text focuses on subdivision/open space, not exhaustive use table). Not found in retrieved materials for an explicit use list. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key landscaping/screening rules:
  • HOA must install and maintain common landscaping, street trees, and screening trees; dead/remove trees must be replaced within 60 days by HOA. § 21.12.?? (Arboreta specific plan provisions).
  • A 6‑ft masonry wall required around the specific plan perimeter per approved fence/wall plan; interior property lines must comply with final plan.
• Where it applies: the Arboreta planned area as described in the specific plan (see the code’s Arboreta exhibits).

Glendora Commercial Specific Plan

• Purpose: large-scale retail/commercial development, emphasize cohesive landscape to soften façades and screen utilities.
• Typical uses: retail, parking, mixed commercial uses (for precise allowed uses see the complete specific plan text). Not found in retrieved materials for an exhaustive use table. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key landscaping/screening rules:
  • Permanent automatic irrigation and MWELO compliance; plant palettes to coordinate with water efficiency. § 21.08.030 (specific plan landscaping)
  • Parking: min 5% of total parking area landscaped; at least 1 tree per 5 parking spaces in some plan sections; planters minimum dimensions specified.
  • Perimeter/screen walls: screen walls along major frontages (e.g., Gladstone St.) have maximum heights up to 15 ft as measured from lowest finished grade (other screen walls often limited to 8 ft); landscaping must soften walls.
  • Refuse enclosures: solid walls min 6 ft and solid metal gate required; slatted chain link prohibited.
• Where it applies: the defined commercial specific plan area referenced in the ordinance.

Diamond Ridge Specific Plan

• Purpose: commercial/industrial planning area with similar screening/landscape intent — keep walls low, screen storage and service areas.
• Typical uses: commercial/retail and associated parking/storage (see full specific plan for exact uses). Not found in retrieved materials for exhaustive use listing.
• Key rules:
  • Materials and configuration rules for walls: durable materials required (CMU/brick/stone), landscape buffering of decorative fences adjacent to streets, and use of berms for long linear walls.
  • Screen wall heights: certain frontage walls limited to 8 ft in plan area; specifics vary by subarea.

Multifamily Residential (general)

• Purpose: residential development standards that include perimeter walls and required articulation for long solid walls.
• Key rules:
  • Perimeter walls along side/rear property lines required for developments of 11+ units; solid walls > 50 ft must include two or more design features (offsets, pilasters, material variation, landscape pockets) every 20–50 ft. § 21.04.0xx
  • Perimeter walls and front‑yard fencing must use visually penetrable materials where front‑yard fences are allowed.

Mixed‑Use / Commercial / Industrial Zones (general provisions)

• Purpose: limit walls/fences to those needed for screening, security, buffering; encourage landscape softening along streets.
• Key rules:
  • Where non‑residential use abuts residential zone, 6‑ft solid masonry wall required on shared line. § 21.04.0xx
  • Fences/walls facing streets shall be softened with terraces, hedges, or climbing vines.

Civic Center Area Plan (reference)

• The Civic Center area is called out as an exception to some setback hardscape limits (e.g., hardscape allowed >50% in some setbacks). Specific standards are noted in the plan text where applicable.

If you need a breakdown by base zoning districts like R‑1, C‑N, M‑1, these exact base zone labels were not present in the retrieved excerpts for landscaping rules. Verify with the city zoning map and the full Title 21 code for parcel‑level base zone standards. Not found in retrieved materials.

Practical guidance / interpretation notes

• Landscape plans are required and must generally be approved by the Planning Director or Planning Commission before permits are issued; irrigation systems must be shown and tested. See plan submittal and irrigation requirements. § 21.03.015.K
• Trees used for required landscaping must meet minimum sizes (15‑gallon) and in many specific plans a share of larger box sizes is required — expect to show a tree schedule and species selection that meets both water‑efficiency and screening goals. § 21.03.015.I
• Screening expectations are functional and visual: mechanical equipment may be screened with plant material that must obscure equipment at installation or within one growing season, or with architectural screening sized to match equipment height. § 21.04.0xx
• Walls and fencing are regulated both by height and by material; decorative fencing visible from the street typically must be softened with landscape. Chain‑link and slatted chain‑link are frequently prohibited for visible screening applications. § 21.04.0xx

Useful internal links (first natural mention of each):

• For overall context, see Glendora zoning & planning overview.
• Parking‑related landscape rules are enforced through the city's parking rules; see Glendora Parking.
• Development standard context (setbacks, lot coverage that affect where landscaping fits) is at Glendora Development Standards.
• Many landscape plans and façade/landscape coordination items are reviewed through Glendora Design Review.
• If your site sits in a special overlay or plan area, check Glendora Overlay Districts (e.g., Arboreta, commercial specific plans).
• If your project includes an ADU, check Glendora ADUs for parcel‑specific development standards that can affect landscaping.
• The local code repeatedly references compliance with the California Building Standards Code/Title 24 for building-related items; for building‑code matters see California Building Standards Code.

(Each internal link above is the first natural inline mention of that topic.)

Checklist (what an applicant must provide)

• A complete landscape plan showing planting palette, tree schedule (sizes, species), irrigation design and MWELO compliance where applicable — § 21.03.015.K
• Irrigation specifications with weather/soil‑moisture controllers and a note on functional test — § 21.03.015.K
• Landscape calculations demonstrating minimum landscape area by use (Residential 15% / Commercial 10% / Industrial 5%) — § 21.03.015
• Parking lot landscaping plan showing perimeter strip (min 5 ft) and interior planters to meet the 10%/tree spacing rules — § 21.03.020
• Tree replacement plan or fee calculation if removing protected trees; show on-site replacement per § 21.03.015.J.2 —
• Fence/wall elevations and materials; demonstrate compliance with front/side/rear height limits, articulation for walls >50 ft, and prohibited materials list — § 21.04.0xx
• Screening detail for trash enclosures, mechanical equipment and ground‑mounted utilities (show plant heights or architectural screen dimensions) — § 21.08.030, § 21.04.0xx
• For projects inside a specific plan (Arboreta, Glendora commercial, Diamond Ridge), demonstrate conformance with that specific plan’s landscape/HOA maintenance and wall plans — see the applicable specific plan sections.

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps (what the retrieved materials did not confirm)

• A parcel‑level list of base zoning districts and their common names (e.g., R‑1, C‑N) for landscaping rules is not in the retrieved excerpts. Verify parcel base zone with the Planning Department. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Some subsection numbers for fence/wall (the excerpts labeled “F. Fences and Walls” but did not provide a single, consistent § number in each extract). The code references fences and walls throughout Title 21; confirm the exact subsection(s) that apply to your project.
• The exact Master Fee Schedule amounts for tree replacement fees and the current City Tree Fund procedures are not in the retrieved excerpts. Verify current fee schedule with the City Clerk/Finance or Community Development. Not found in retrieved materials.

Plain-English summary

Glendora requires new development and many remodels to provide permanent, irrigated landscaping (with minimum percentages by use), plant and size trees to specified minimums, screen mechanical equipment and trash enclosures (usually with plant material or masonry walls), and keep fences and walls to specific heights and materials; many rules differ if your property is inside a named specific plan (Arboreta, Glendora commercial, Diamond Ridge). Check the parcel’s zoning/specific‑plan status and submit a landscape plan that shows irrigation and MWELO compliance.

Source References

• Glendora Municipal Code (Title 21 zoning) — General landscaping standards, minimum landscape area, planting systems and setback/parking landscaping: § 21.03.015.
• Off‑street parking and parking lot landscaping and screening: § 21.03.020.
• Tree replacement, urban tree preservation and irrigation: § 21.03.015.J.2 and irrigation rules § 21.03.015.K.
• Fences and walls (heights, corner visibility, multifamily articulation, prohibited materials): fences/walls provisions referenced (see F. Fences and Walls) — § 21.04.0xx and fence/visibility references § 21.03.010F.
• Mechanical, utility equipment screening (planting/architectural/height standards): local screening rules in development standards. § 21.04.0xx.
• Arboreta Specific Plan — HOA maintenance obligations, perimeter walls and screening tree maintenance: Arboreta specific plan text (see Arboreta exhibits) § 21.12.220 et seq..
• Glendora Commercial Specific Plan — landscape/irrigation, parking lot design, trash enclosures, wall heights along Gladstone Street: § 21.08.030 and related specific plan subsections.
• Diamond Ridge Specific Plan — screening, wall material and configuration standards for the planning area. (specific plan text).

Retrieved passages

• Glendora Zoning Code (title shall) High relevance show source text
• Glendora Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Glendora Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Glendora Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Glendora Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Glendora Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Glendora Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Glendora Zoning Code (section of) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Glendora Municipal Code (Title 21 zoning) — General landscaping standards, minimum landscape area, planting systems and setback/parking landscaping: **§ 21.03.015**. (Title 21)
• Off‑street parking and parking lot landscaping and screening: **§ 21.03.020**. (§ 21.03.020)
• Tree replacement, urban tree preservation and irrigation: **§ 21.03.015.J.2** and irrigation rules **§ 21.03.015.K**. (§ 21.03.015.J.2)
• Fences and walls (heights, corner visibility, multifamily articulation, prohibited materials): fences/walls provisions referenced (see F. Fences and Walls) — **§ 21.04.0xx** and fence/visibility references **§ 21.03.010F**. (§ 21.04.0xx)
• Mechanical, utility equipment screening (planting/architectural/height standards): local screening rules in development standards. **§ 21.04.0xx**. (§ 21.04.0xx)
• Arboreta Specific Plan — HOA maintenance obligations, perimeter walls and screening tree maintenance: Arboreta specific plan text (see Arboreta exhibits) **§ 21.12.220 et seq.**. (§ 21.12.220)
• Glendora Commercial Specific Plan — landscape/irrigation, parking lot design, trash enclosures, wall heights along Gladstone Street: **§ 21.08.030** and related specific plan subsections. (§ 21.08.030)
• Diamond Ridge Specific Plan — screening, wall material and configuration standards for the planning area. **(specific plan text)**.
• Glendora_ZoningCode.md

• Official Glendora code library