Hanford — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Hanford's zoning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening (fences, walls, and buffers). The core rules live in the City’s Landscape Standards chapter and are applied in each base zone chapter; see the citywide purpose and submittal rules in § 17.52.010–.060. For how landscaping interacts with off‑street parking, consult Hanford’s parking rules.

Note: "Landscaping" here means plant materials, planting plans, root barriers, irrigation and installation/maintenance timing; "screening" means fences, walls, and required screening around storage/uses. For rules about building materials, fire setbacks, and construction standards consult the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — those are separate. (Verify parcel specifics with the jurisdiction.)

How the ordinance is organized (short)

• Citywide landscape standards are in Chapter 17.52 (purpose, plan submittal, plant sizes, irrigation, tree requirements) — § 17.52.010–.060.
• Each zoning chapter repeats that landscaping is required and adds zone‑specific application (setback landscape widths, street tree rules, and screening references). For development dimensional rules consult the Hanford Development Standards.

Below are district‑by‑district practical summaries of the landscaping and screening provisions that appear in the ordinance text.

R-L (Low Density Residential) — Chapter 17.10

• Purpose / where it applies: "This chapter applies to all land within the R-L zone" (see the chapter header). Uses and allowed uses are set by the Land Use Table referenced in § 17.08.020 (see the zoning chapter). Not found in retrieved materials: a long textual "purpose" unique to R‑L beyond the general Chapter 17.52 purpose.
• Landscaping requirements: All yard and setback areas visible from the street must be landscaped with live plant material (or up to 100% artificial turf/permeable surfacing). Required landscaping must be installed within six months after occupancy unless the builder installed front yard landscaping earlier; there are defined street tree requirements (see below). § 17.10.160.
• Screening / fences: Fences and walls must follow the standards in § 17.50.110 and § 17.50.120; a block wall 7 feet high is required along side or rear lot lines abutting residential or certain other listed zones; no fence/wall may be placed in front of or inside landscaped street setback. § 17.10.170.
• Typical dimensional standards (from chapter): usable open space minima and lot standards are in the R‑L chapter (see the chapter for specifics). Where not repeated here, refer to the Land Use Table and Chapter 17.50 for setbacks. Not found in retrieved materials: a complete R‑L permitted uses list in the excerpt (the code defers to § 17.08.020).

R-M (Medium Density Residential) — Chapter 17.12

• Where it applies: All land in R-M; permitted uses are per the land use table.
• Landscaping: Same citywide requirement to provide landscaping per Chapter 17.52; yard and street‑visible setbacks must be landscaped (or allowed permeable/artificial turf). Required landscaping must be installed within six months after occupancy. § 17.12.160.
• Screening / fences: Fences and walls follow § 17.50.110 and § 17.50.120 (the chapter references these sections). Where a side/rear lot abuts residential or other listed zones, a 7‑foot block wall is required. § 17.12.170.
• Other notable items: R‑M calls out landscape easements for lots adjacent to arterials/collectors (5–10 ft min continuous landscape easement when lots back/side onto collectors); walls/fences can be located inside that easement adjacent to the easement line — check § 17.14.040 and adjacent provisions where applicable. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel specifics.

R-H (High Density Residential) — Chapter 17.14

• Where it applies: All land in R-H; uses per the land use table. § 17.14.010–.020.
• Landscaping: Landscaping required per Chapter 17.52; street tree program applies: for lots ≥ 6,000 sq ft plant two street trees (15 gallon minimum) with one tree at 12 feet from the face of the curb; lots < 6,000 sq ft require one street tree; corner lots have additional tree requirements. Planting timing: install within six months of occupancy or follow builder reimbursement/planting rules where builder did not provide landscaping. § 17.14.150.
• Screening / fences: Fences/walls per § 17.50.110/.120; 7‑foot block wall along side/rear lot lines abutting certain zones; no fence/wall in the landscaped street setback. § 17.14.150 and corresponding screening sections.
• Dimensional standards: Minimum lot area 5,000 sq ft, minimum frontage 40 ft; refer to the R‑H chapter for lot dimension rules. § 17.14.030–.040.

O (Office) — Chapter 17.32

• Where it applies: All land in the O zone. Uses are set by the land use table (see § 17.08.030).
• Landscaping: Landscaping is required per § 17.52; the chapter includes a minimum site area/lot frontage rule (e.g., minimum site area 20,000 sq ft unless reduced with conditional use permit) and directs applicants to provide landscaped setbacks where required. § 17.32.030–.050.
• Screening: Fences and walls follow the general standards in § 17.50.110; when O abuts residential designations the standard 7‑foot block wall requirement is referenced in other chapters that cross‑reference O. Verify with the specific site chapter language.

C-H (Highway Commercial) — Chapter 17.22

• Where it applies: All land in C-H. Uses: per the land use table.
• Landscaping: Landscaping required per § 17.52; provide and maintain landscaping in the required setback adjacent to streets (exceptions where structures, parking, or driveways cover the area). § 17.22.120.
• Screening / fences: Fences/walls per § 17.50.110; 7‑foot block wall required along a side/rear lot line that abuts residential or other listed zones; no fence/wall in front of landscaped street setback; open storage must be walled and not visible above the wall. § 17.22.130.

MX‑D / MX‑C (Mixed‑Use Downtown / Mixed‑Use Commercial) — Chapters 17.28 and 17.26

• Where it applies: MX‑D (Chapter 17.28) and MX‑C (Chapter 17.26) apply to their mapped areas. Uses are set by the land use table; check each chapter for local adjustments.
• Landscaping: Both call back to Chapter 17.52. MX‑D requires a 15‑foot minimum landscaped setback adjacent to streets in some contexts and notes that required landscaping must be installed prior to occupancy; MX‑C has similar language. § 17.28.120, § 17.26.120.
• Screening / fences: Both reference § 17.50.110 and include the standard 7‑foot block wall requirement for side/rear lot lines abutting residential or specified zones, and the prohibition on placing fences inside the landscaped street setback. § 17.28.130, § 17.26.130.

CO / OR / PF / AP and other districts

• Many chapters repeat the same landscaping/screening cross‑references: landscaping per Chapter 17.52; fences and walls per § 17.50.110/§ 17.50.120; and the 7‑foot block wall requirement along side/rear lot lines that abut R-L, R-M, R-H, OR, PF, AP, or CO zones. See individual zone chapters for the same text repeated across the code (examples: § 17.20.120–.130, § 17.38.130–.140, § 17.42.130–.140).

Key citywide rules (decision‑critical)

(For how landscaping and screening interact with site plan review and the application contents, see the site plan requirements in § 17.72.040 which requires locations/materials/heights of fences/walls and areas to be landscaped to be shown on the site plan.)

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

• Submit a landscape concept plan or final construction landscape and irrigation plans as required by the review authority (site plan, CUP, or subdivision) — § 17.52.030–.040.
• Have the construction landscape and irrigation plans prepared by a licensed landscape professional as required — § 17.52.040.B.
• Show all building setback areas, landscape areas, and parking lot landscaping on the plan (parking landscaping must comply with Chapter 17.54). § 17.52.050. Link to Hanford’s Parking rules.
• Specify plant sizes per § 17.52.060.B (10% trees 24" box; rest 15 gal; 70% shrubs 5 gal).
• Provide street trees in the parkway per the residential tree rules (lots ≥ 6,000 sq ft: two trees; corner lot rules) and note timing for planting/reimbursement where the builder did not provide trees. § 17.14.150 (and equivalent residential sections).
• Where the site abuts sensitive zones, show required 7‑ft block wall location on plans and specify materials. See zone chapters calling out the block wall requirement (e.g., § 17.20.130).
• For any required irrigation or water features show compliance with the latest Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance on the plans and provide irrigation details — § 17.52.040.C and § 17.52.010.D.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Hanford requires most new and redevelopment projects to submit and install landscape/irrigation plans prepared by a qualified professional; plant sizes, street tree counts, irrigation efficiency, and parking/ setback landscaping are specified in Chapter 17.52, and most zones require a 7‑foot block wall where a site borders residential or other sensitive zones. Install landscaping on schedule (often before occupancy or within six months) and show fences/walls on your site plan.

Source References

• § 17.52.010–.060 (Chapter 17.52, Landscape Standards) — citywide purpose, plan submittal, plant sizes, irrigation, root barriers.
• § 17.20.120–.130 (General provisions — landscaping; screening, fences, and walls; block wall requirement).
• § 17.10.160–.170 (R‑L landscaping and screening provisions).
• § 17.12.160–.170 (R‑M landscaping and screening provisions).
• § 17.14.150 (R‑H landscaping and street tree rules); § 17.14.030–.040 (lot area and dimensions).
• § 17.22.120–.130 (C‑H landscaping and screening).
• § 17.26.120–.130 (MX‑C landscaping & screening).
• § 17.28.120–.130 (MX‑D landscaping & screening).
• § 17.38.130–.140, § 17.42.130–.140 (additional zone repeats of landscaping/screening language).
• § 17.72.040 (Site plan contents — show location/height/material of fences/walls and areas to be landscaped).

Retrieved passages

• Hanford Zoning Code (§ 17.20.110.) High relevance show source text
• Hanford Zoning Code (§ 17.30.170.) High relevance show source text
• Hanford Zoning Code (§ 17.12.170.) High relevance show source text
• Hanford Zoning Code (§ 17.38.100.) High relevance show source text
• Hanford Zoning Code (§ 17.42.090.) High relevance show source text
• Hanford Zoning Code (§ 17.28.090.) High relevance show source text
• Hanford Zoning Code (§ 17.12.170.) High relevance show source text
• Hanford Zoning Code (chapter conflict) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 17.52.010–.060 (Chapter 17.52, Landscape Standards) — citywide purpose, plan submittal, plant sizes, irrigation, root barriers. (§ 17.52.010)
• § 17.20.120–.130 (General provisions — landscaping; screening, fences, and walls; block wall requirement). (§ 17.20.120)
• § 17.10.160–.170 (R‑L landscaping and screening provisions). (§ 17.10.160)
• § 17.12.160–.170 (R‑M landscaping and screening provisions). (§ 17.12.160)
• § 17.14.150 (R‑H landscaping and street tree rules); § 17.14.030–.040 (lot area and dimensions). (§ 17.14.150)
• § 17.22.120–.130 (C‑H landscaping and screening). (§ 17.22.120)
• § 17.26.120–.130 (MX‑C landscaping & screening). (§ 17.26.120)
• § 17.28.120–.130 (MX‑D landscaping & screening). (§ 17.28.120)
• § 17.38.130–.140, § 17.42.130–.140 (additional zone repeats of landscaping/screening language). (§ 17.38.130)
• § 17.72.040 (Site plan contents — show location/height/material of fences/walls and areas to be landscaped). (§ 17.72.040)
• Hanford_ZoningCode.md

• Official Hanford code library