Local zoning · Goleta

Goleta — Landscaping and Screening

Landscaping and Screening under the Goleta 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 Goleta’s Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) requires for landscaping, screening, buffers, fences/walls, and trees. It is strictly drawn from the City’s zoning text: Chapter 17.34 (Landscaping), the multi‑district regulations in Part IV (including § 17.24.090 for fences/walls), parking landscaping in Chapter 17.38, and the Design Review rules in Chapter 17.58. See Title 17 for the ordinance authority and district structure.

Note: this page covers only zoning/land‑use landscaping and screening rules in Title 17 — building, fire, or other technical code (e.g., California Building Standards / Title 24) is separate. Link references below point to related GoCodebook pages for topics you will likely need next: Goleta Zoning, Goleta Parking, Goleta Design Review, Goleta Overlay Districts, Goleta ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

Core ordinance rules (quick map)

  • Landscaping chapter: purpose, applicability thresholds, required areas, materials, and landscape plan requirements — see § 17.34.010–§ 17.34.060.
  • Landscape plans / WELO compliance and final documentation: § 17.34.060.
  • Fences, freestanding and retaining walls, hedges: measurement, permit triggers, height limits, materials and chain‑link screening rules — § 17.24.090.
  • How structure heights and fence heights are measured: § 17.03.090(C).
  • Parking-area landscape and screening (10% minimum landscaped area; screening heights/materials): § 17.38.110.
  • Design Review scope and when landscaping, walls or screening may trigger discretionary review: § 17.58.030 and exemptions in § 17.58.020.

Below I unpack the rules and then provide district‑by‑district notes.

What Title 17 requires (detailed)

  • Applicability for mandatory landscaping: new construction with aggregate landscape area ≥ 500 sq ft, rehabilitated landscaping ≥ 2,500 sq ft, additions requiring Design Review, and some changes of use — § 17.34.020.

  • Required areas to be landscaped/screened: parking areas and any visible undeveloped areas of a project site (including phased sites) — § 17.34.030(A–B).

  • Landscape standards and materials: preference for native or non‑invasive drought‑tolerant plants, permeable planting areas, recirculating water for decorative features, limits on artificial turf in front/street setbacks, and requirement to meet State and City Water Efficient Landscape (WELO) documentation where applicable — § 17.34.040–§ 17.34.050 and § 17.34.060 for plans and WELO items (hydrozones, MAWA/ETWU, irrigation plans, soil management).

  • Parking lot landscaping and screening: minimum 10% of parking area (excluding setbacks) must be landscaped; one tree per four spaces (unless reduced by Design Review); interior planting heights (mature trees with 8‑ft clearance; interior plant material ≤ 30 in. high); parking areas with ≥ 10 spaces must be screened from public streets to a height of 3 ft (exceptions and material rules apply) — § 17.38.110(K–L).

  • Fences and freestanding walls: measured per § 17.03.090(C); within front/street side setbacks fences ≤ 6 ft are exempt from a permit; > 6 ft requires a Minor Conditional Use Permit; within interior side/rear setbacks fences ≤ 8 ft are exempt; outside setbacks max height 8 ft (unless higher allowed by Design Review). Plain concrete block is restricted on arterials; hedge rules and chain‑link screening in “R” zones also spelled out — § 17.24.090 and § 17.03.090(C).

  • Hedges: hedges must be maintained and are subject to the same height standards as fences but may exceed some sidewalk/street restrictions by 2 ft where allowed; the ordinance contains an amortization clause for nonconforming hedges (short continuation then required compliance) — § 17.24.090(C)(3) & (F).

  • Vision/sight‑triangle safety: landscaping, hedges, fences, walls must not obstruct vision clearance at intersections/driveways — see § 17.24.210 (vision clearance) and cross‑references in the fencing and landscaping chapters.

  • Design Review interaction: the Design Review scope explicitly includes materials and variations in boundary walls, fences, or screen planting and location and type of landscaping; many sites or changes can be subject to Design Review where landscaping or screening affects neighborhood compatibility, scenic corridors, or public views — § 17.58.030 and the findings/conditions provisions in § 17.58.080–090.

  • Landscape Plan submittal: when landscaping is required, a Landscape Documentation Package is required at submittal (WELO checklist, hydrozone table, MAWA/ETWU, soil report, irrigation plan, grading plan) and final documentation (certificate of completion, irrigation schedule, maintenance schedule) at final inspection — § 17.34.060.

  • Screening of mechanical/trash/utility areas: screening of outdoor mechanical/electrical equipment and trash enclosures is required (screening must be integrated with design and often conditioned in approvals) — see § 17.58.080(G–E) for findings/conditions and § 17.24.020B / § 17.24.140 cross references for enclosures and screening.

District‑by‑district breakdown

Below are the base Zone Districts established in Title 17 (Table 17.01.070(A)). For each district I summarize purpose, typical uses, key dimensional/development rules that affect landscaping/screening, and where the Title’s landscaping/screening rules apply.

Note: the ordinance treats many landscaping and screening requirements as Part IV (apply citywide) but some district tables and district‑specific development rules add requirements (e.g., front/street‑side setbacks must be landscaped in many residential districts). See the cited §§ for details.

RS (Single Family Residential)

  • Purpose: protect low‑density single‑family neighborhoods. § 17.07.010.
  • Typical uses: detached single‑unit dwellings, accessory uses. TABLE 17.07.020.
  • Landscaping/screening implications: required front and street‑side setbacks must be landscaped per Chapter 17.34; hedges and fences in front setbacks are regulated by § 17.24.090 (6 ft front exemption; >6 ft needs Minor CUP). See residential development regs (Table 17.07.030) for setbacks and lot coverage that determine where landscaping goes.

RP (Planned Residential)

  • Purpose: flexible, clustered residential development with common open space. § 17.07.010.
  • Typical uses: multi‑unit residential with common spaces. TABLE 17.07.020.
  • Landscaping/screening: street‑facing and common open spaces have detailed landscape buffer and planting rules in project‑level standards (see § 17.44 and Chapter 17.34), and transitional standards apply where RP meets RS. Design Review typically reviews landscaping/planting plans.

RM (Residential — Medium Density)

  • Purpose: medium‑density multifamily and transitions between business and single‑family. § 17.07.010.
  • Landscaping/screening: front/street setbacks must be landscaped; privacy screening and landscape buffers are required in multiunit design standards (see § 17.44.020(E)). Parking landscaping rules (Chapter 17.38) apply to on‑site lots.

RH (Residential — High Density)

  • Purpose: high‑density housing; may require additional design controls. § 17.07.010.
  • Landscaping/screening: similar to RM but transitional height/setback rules where adjacent to RS; larger projects almost always subject to Design Review so landscaping and screening are reviewed in detail. § 17.07.050 and § 17.58.

RMHP (Residential—Mobile Home Park)

  • Purpose: mobile home parks with internal circulation and common open space. § 17.07.010.
  • Landscaping: perimeter landscaping and internal common area planting standards apply; setbacks and buffers (per Table 17.07.030) govern where screening/planting occurs.

Commercial Districts (CR, CC, OT, VS, CI, CG)

  • Purpose: various scales of commercial activity (regional, community, Old Town pedestrian retail, visitor‑serving, highway intersection, general commercial). § 17.08.010.
  • Typical uses: retail, restaurants, offices, visitor services (district dependent). TABLES in Part II.
  • Landscaping/screening: parking lot landscaping/screening rules (Chapter 17.38) apply; entrances and street‑facing setbacks are required to be landscaped (Chapter 17.44 for mixed‑use standards and OT design guidelines where applicable). Chain‑link fences and plain concrete block on arterials are limited by § 17.24.090. Design Review and sign rules consider screening of parking and loading areas.

BP (Business Park) and OI (Office Institutional)

  • Purpose: office and business park campus environments. Table 17.01.070(A).
  • Landscaping: campus planting, perimeter screening, and high landscape percentages for parking lots apply. Design Review and site plan standards require integrated screening of mechanicals and trash per § 17.58 and § 17.24.140.

IS and IG (Service & General Industrial)

  • Purpose: industrial/service uses. Table 17.01.070(A).
  • Landscaping/screening expectations: screening between industrial uses and adjacent public streets or residential districts is required where visible; parking and loading landscaping rules still apply, and specific industrial uses (e.g., outdoor storage) are required to be screened. § 17.34 and use‑specific standards in Part II.

PQ (Public & Quasi‑Public)

  • Purpose: governmental, community, and institutional uses. Table 17.11.030 (development rules include a minimum of 25% landscaping).

OSPR / OSAR / AG (Open Space & Agricultural)

  • Purpose: protect open space and agriculture. Chapter 17.12.
  • Landscaping note: projects adjacent to coastal bluffs, scenic corridors, or agricultural parcels have special rules — e.g., drought‑tolerant bluff‑top landscaping, buffer findings for development adjacent to AG parcels, and restrictions on vegetation removal in scenic corridors (see § 17.26 and § 17.24 cross‑references).

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant landscaping & screening standards

Requirement / Topic Practical rule Code reference
When landscaping is required New projects with aggregate landscaped area ≥ 500 sq ft; rehabilitated landscaping ≥ 2,500 sq ft; certain additions/changes of use § 17.34.020
Landscape plan contents (WELO) Hydrozone table, MAWA/ETWU, irrigation plan, soil report, grading plan; final certificate of completion + maintenance schedule § 17.34.060
Parking lot landscape area Minimum 10% (excl. setbacks); one tree per 4 spaces (unless Design Review allows less) § 17.38.110(K)
Parking screening from street Screening required for lots ≥ 10 spaces; screening height 3 ft (materials limits apply) § 17.38.110(L)
Fence/wall height (front/street) ≤ 6 ft exempt; >6 ft requires Minor CUP § 17.24.090(B)(1)
Fence/wall height (side/rear) ≤ 8 ft exempt; >8 ft Minor CUP § 17.24.090(B)(2–3)
Fence/wall outside setbacks Max 8 ft (higher only via Design Review) § 17.24.090(B)(3)
Hedge rules Subject to same height standards; may exceed some heights by 2 ft; nonconforming hedges amortized § 17.24.090(C)(3) & (F)
Vision clearance (safety) Landscaping/fences must not obstruct sight lines — see vision triangle rules § 17.24.210 (cross‑refs in § 17.24.090)
Design Review scope Landscaping, boundary walls/fences, and screening materials are within Design Review scope; some fences/walls are exempt from Design Review but may still require Zoning permits § 17.58.030 and § 17.58.020 (exemptions)

Practical guidance & how to use these rules

  • If your project creates or alters ≥ 500 sq ft of landscaped area, assume you must submit a Landscape Documentation Package / WELO documents with your permit application (§ 17.34.020, § 17.34.060).
  • For any parking lot (or if your change increases parking demand), plan planting islands, tree counts, and the 3‑ft screening line where the lot faces a public street — early coordination avoids a landscape‑related condition at plan check (§ 17.38.110).
  • For fences: measure height per § 17.03.090(C) (special rules where fence sits on a retaining wall). If you want >6 ft in the front yard or >8 ft in side/rear or a decorative berm, expect an approval process (Minor CUP or Design Review) — cite § 17.24.090.
  • If a project is in or affects a scenic corridor, bluff‑top, or Old Town overlay, landscaping/screening will be reviewed with extra scrutiny under the scenic/overlay provisions and Design Review standards — see § 17.26, overlay tables in § 17.01.070(B), and § 17.58.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

  • Confirm Zone District (e.g., RS, RP, RM, RH, CR, CC, AG) on the City Zoning Map.
  • Determine if landscaping thresholds apply (≥ 500 sq ft new; ≥ 2,500 sq ft rehabilitated). § 17.34.020.
  • Prepare Landscape Documentation Package (WELO: hydrozone table, MAWA/ETWU, irrigation and grading plans, soil report). § 17.34.060.
  • Ensure parking landscaping meets 10% minimum and screening requirements for lots of 10+ spaces. § 17.38.110.
  • Measure planned fences/walls per § 17.03.090(C); if >6 ft front or >8 ft side/rear, apply for Minor CUP or pursue Design Review. § 17.24.090.
  • Show vision clearance triangles and confirm landscaping or hedges don’t intrude into sight lines (§ 17.24.210).
  • Show screening of mechanical, trash, transformer, or utility areas per site standards and Design Review expectations (§ 17.58.080 and §17.24.140).
  • Provide final documentation at inspection (certificate of completion, irrigation schedule, maintenance schedule). § 17.34.060(B).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Whether a small residential alteration triggers a Landscape Plan Thresholds are numerical (500 / 2,500 sq ft) but site specifics may change applicability Check § 17.34.020 and verify with Planning staff; verify whether project is Design Review exempt.
Fences on retaining walls (how height is measured) Height measured from midpoint of exposed wall — affects permit trigger Confirm measurement method in § 17.03.090(C)(1) and show dimensions on plans.
Chain‑link fences in R districts Chain‑link is allowed only if screened with vines/shrubbery in right‑of‑way setbacks — may be subject to review See § 17.24.090(C)(4) and confirm neighborhood compatibility during Design Review.
Interplay with scenic corridor / bluff protections Landscaping that blocks public views or destabilizes bluff terraces can be limited by scenic/bluff rules Check § 17.26 and bluff setback standards; Verify coastal/coastal development permit if in Coastal Zone.
Protected/specimen tree removal Title 17 requires consideration of specimen/protected trees in Design Review findings Tree protection specifics are referenced in Design Review findings; confirm with Planning and the City's Urban Forest Management Plan (public landscaping) — verify with jurisdiction.
Which reviews are discretionary vs. ministerial Some fences/hedges may be exempt but still trigger a Minor CUP or Design Review depending on location and heights Cross‑check § 17.58.020 (exemptions) and § 17.24.090; if uncertain, verify with Planning.

Plain‑English summary

If your Goleta project creates or changes notable landscape areas, you will usually need a landscape plan that meets the City’s water‑efficient rules, provide required planting and parking screening (10% planting, trees, 3‑ft street screening for larger lots), and follow fence/hedge height limits (6 ft in front yards is the common exemption; higher fences typically trigger discretionary review). Many landscaping items are reviewed as part of Design Review; submit the WELO documentation and plan early. Key rules live in § 17.34, § 17.24.090, § 17.38.110, and Design Review § 17.58.

Source References

  • Title 17, Zoning — Title and structure (authority): § 17.01.010.
  • Landscaping (purpose, applicability, required areas, general requirements): § 17.34.010 – § 17.34.060.
  • Fences, freestanding and retaining walls, hedges (heights, permits, materials, hedge amortization): § 17.24.090.
  • Measuring height of fences and other structures: § 17.03.090(C).
  • Parking landscaping and screening (10% min, tree count, 3‑ft screening): § 17.38.110.
  • Design Review scope, exemptions, findings, and conditions that cover landscaping/screening: § 17.58.020, § 17.58.030, § 17.58.080–090.
  • District lists and purposes (RS, RP, RM, RH, CR, CC, OT, etc.): § 17.01.070(A–B) and § 17.07.010, § 17.08.010, Chapter 17.12 for AG/OS.

No external web sources were required beyond the provided Goleta Title 17 excerpts. If you need direct City‑hosted web links to each §, Verify with the City of Goleta planning web pages (Verify with the jurisdiction).

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (section by) High relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 17.26.020.) High relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code High relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (Title or) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (Title 17.) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (Title and) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 7) High relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 17.59.030.) Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code Medium relevance
  • Goleta Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping documentation do I need to file with a permit application in Goleta?

If your project meets landscaping thresholds you must submit a Landscape Documentation Package that follows the City and State WELO requirements (hydrozone table, MAWA/ETWU, soil management, irrigation and grading plans), and provide final certificates and a maintenance/irrigation schedule at final inspection — see § 17.34.060.

How much of a parking lot must be landscaped in Goleta?

A minimum of 10% of any parking area (excluding setbacks) must be landscaped; trees are generally required at a rate of one tree per four spaces, and planting islands and interior planting sizes are regulated — see § 17.38.110(K).

Do I need a permit to build a fence in the front yard?

Fences in front/street side setbacks that are 6 ft or less are exempt from the zoning permit requirement; fences taller than 6 ft in those locations require a Minor Conditional Use Permit. Interior side/rear fences 8 ft or less are exempt; greater heights need a Minor CUP or Design Review as applicable — see § 17.24.090(B).

Can hedges be used as screening and how tall can they be?

Yes — hedges count as screening but are subject to the same height rules as fences; hedges may exceed certain height standards by 2 ft where the ordinance allows but must be maintained and nonconforming hedges have a short amortization window — see § 17.24.090(C)(3) & (F).

Will design review look at my landscaping and screening?

Yes. Design Review explicitly reviews the location and type of landscaping and materials/variations in walls, fences, or screen planting — many projects that materially alter site landscaping will be subject to Design Review under § 17.58.030 (exemptions in § 17.58.020).

Does the City require drought‑tolerant or native plant palettes?

Yes — private landscaping is required to use native or non‑invasive drought‑tolerant species and to comply with water‑efficient irrigation practices; decorative water features must use recirculating water — see § 17.34.050 and the WELO references in § 17.34.060.

If my lot borders agricultural land, do I need extra buffering?

Yes. For development adjacent to an AG parcel the ordinance requires consideration of agricultural buffers and additional findings that the standard setback and any additional buffer are sufficient to minimize conflicts — see § 17.24.??? (buffer rules are in the multi‑district development standards and in the AG‑adjacency provisions; verify with Planning). Not found in retrieved materials: a single § number labeled “agricultural buffer” — Verify with the jurisdiction.

Do transformer pads / utility equipment require screening?

Yes — the City encourages landscape screening for pad‑mounted equipment and requires clearances and screening of mechanical/utility and trash areas (screen enclosures or planting per design); specific transformer clearances are engineering/utility standards and may be coordinated with Planning and utilities — see § 17.58.090 (conditions), § 17.24.140, and related screening language in the landscape and parking chapters.

Are there limits on plain concrete block or chain‑link as screening?

Yes — plain concrete block may not be the primary material along arterial streets and chain‑link is restricted for screening in “R” zones unless screened with vines/shrubbery — see § 17.24.090(C)(1–4) and § 17.38.110(L)(2) for parking screening materials.

Where are the residential district setback/coverage standards that affect landscape placement?

Development regulations and setbacks for RS, RP, RM, RH, and RMHP are in Tables 17.07.030 and related subsections; front and street‑side setbacks are required to be landscaped consistent with Chapter 17.34 — see Table 17.07.030 and § 17.07.040(B).

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