Local zoning · Hawthorne

Hawthorne — Landscaping and Screening

Landscaping and Screening under the Hawthorne local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

Quick answer

Front yard fences are capped at 3 ft solid or 4 ft if ≥50% open within 15 ft of the street line (§ 18.07.030(G)(3)). Parking lots need 2‑ft planters with 6‑in curbs and 1 tree per 6 spaces (§ 18.07.030(E)(3)), and trash/enclosures and rooftop equipment must be screened from streets and neighbors (§ 18.37.055(D); § 18.08.030). In scenic areas and RV parks, use natural vegetation/berms and achieve full screening within 5 years (§ 18.37.030; § 18.37.055(C)).

Last reviewed: July 25, 2026 · AI-generated analysis · General information, not legal advice · details

Compiled from Hawthorne's adopted code with AI research tools and grounded in the sources cited below. Verify with Hawthorne planning staff before relying on it.

Overview

Hawthorne’s zoning ordinance sets citywide rules for how sites are landscaped and how utilitarian features are screened from view. Expect requirements for parking-lot planting, fencing and walls at residential interfaces, and screening of mechanical equipment and outdoor storage. Projects in designated visual resource/scenic areas carry stricter “natural” screening expectations and timelines to achieve full screening.

Front yards are kept visually open: within 15 ft of a street property line, a solid fence/wall is capped at 3 ft, but may go to 4 ft only if at least 50% openwork, and never exceed 4 ft in that area (§ 18.07.030(G)(3)).

Citywide landscaping and screening standards

Landscaping plan required for new construction and “extensive remodels,” and it must meet city design criteria and the current water‑efficient landscaping program (§ 18.07.030(E)).
Parking lots: perimeter and interior landscaped areas are required, each at least 2 ft wide with a 6‑inch curb; provide at least 1 tree per 6 spaces distributed throughout (§ 18.07.030(E)(3)). See also parking.
Outdoor storage on parcels fronting main thoroughfares must be screened by fencing and/or landscaping in accordance with the visual resources rules and other applicable sections (§ 18.10.100).
Equipment and service screening: use landscaping and, where possible, low earth berms to screen parking and storage areas; screen rooftop mechanical equipment and utility installations (trash enclosures, meters, transformer vaults) from streets and adjacent properties while maintaining accessibility (§ 18.37.055(A)–(D); § 18.08.030).
Visual resource/scenic corridors: favor natural vegetation and berms instead of solid fencing; landscape and screen access roads and parking to minimize visual intrusion (§ 18.37.030(C)(3)–(7), (E); § 18.37.055(B)).

Fences, walls, and buffers (citywide)

Side and rear yards: maximum fence height 8 ft (§ 18.07.030(G)(1)).
Where a side or rear line adjoins a residential property: minimum 6 ft fence required if one does not already exist (§ 18.07.030(G)(2)).
Within 15 ft of a street property line: solid wall/fence max 3 ft; up to 4 ft allowed if at least 50% openwork; never over 4 ft in that zone (§ 18.07.030(G)(3)).
Nonresidential abutting existing ground‑floor residential: provide a solid masonry or concrete wall at least 6 ft, unless a 10‑ft landscaped buffer is installed on the commercial site; zero‑lot‑line buildings with no openings may omit the wall along that building length (§ 18.07.030(G)(4)).
Vegetation for sight distance: maintain corner‑lot shrubs at or below 30 inches at maturity; prune trees to keep branches above the driver sight plane (§ 18.37.050(G)).

Landscape plan criteria (how plans are judged)

Landscaping must be integral to the project, organizing space and enhancing on‑ and off‑site views; select compatible, low‑maintenance species and preserve existing trees where possible (§ 18.37.050(A)–(D)).
Avoid placing trees directly over/under utility lines; use root control boxes for surface‑rooting species near paving; keep trees generally 15 ft from major structures (as little as 3 ft for tall, narrow species), and plant away from lights/signs to avoid blockage (§ 18.37.050(E)–(G)).
Utilities should be placed underground in new developments; exterior lighting must be functional and compatible; signs must meet Title 15—coordinate plantings so they don’t obscure permitted signage (§ 18.37.060). See signage.

District-by-district standards and practices

Below are landscaping/screening touchpoints by district or special area. Where district purposes, uses, or base dimensions are not in the source materials, they are noted accordingly.

R-1 Single-Family Residential

Purpose, typical permitted uses, key base dimensions: Not found in source materials.
Decision points:
- Frontage openness: within 15 ft of street line, max 3 ft solid or 4 ft if ≥50% openwork (§ 18.07.030(G)(3)).
- Side/rear privacy: up to 8 ft fences; if abutting another residential lot, at least 6 ft is required if none exists (§ 18.07.030(G)(1)–(2)).
- Landscape plan required for new builds/extensive remodels (§ 18.07.030(E)).
Where it applies: Residential lots developed to R‑1 standards are referenced in § 18.07.030(A).

R-2 Two-Family Residential

Purpose, typical permitted uses, key base dimensions: Not found in source materials.
Decision points mirror R‑1: front yard open fencing limits, side/rear max 8 ft, adjacency minimum 6 ft (§ 18.07.030(G)).
Landscape plan required for new builds/extensive remodels (§ 18.07.030(E)).
Where it applies: Two‑family residences referenced in § 18.07.030(A).

R-3 Multi-Family Residential

Purpose, typical permitted uses, key base dimensions: Not found in source materials.
Decision points:
- Same fence height/opacity and corner visibility rules as other R districts (§ 18.07.030(G); § 18.37.050(G)).
- Parking‑lot interior/perimeter landscaping and tree ratios apply to on‑site lots (§ 18.07.030(E)(3)).
- Trash enclosures and meters must be screened (§ 18.37.055(D); § 18.08.030).
Where it applies: Multi‑unit standards referenced in § 18.07.030(A).

Commercial districts (names not in source materials)

Purpose, permitted uses, base dimensions: Not found in source materials.
Decision points:
- Provide a landscape plan; meet parking‑lot landscaping (2‑ft planters with 6‑inch curb; 1 tree/6 spaces) (§ 18.07.030(E)(3)).
- Screen service areas and rooftop/mechanical components; screening can be perforated (≈50% openings) if equipment is not visible from streets or adjoining lots (§ 18.37.055(D); § 18.08.030).
- If abutting existing ground‑floor residential, install a 6‑ft solid wall or provide a 10‑ft landscaped buffer on the commercial site (§ 18.07.030(G)(4)).
- Outdoor storage fronting main thoroughfares must be screened by fencing and/or landscaping (§ 18.10.100).
See also development standards and design review.

A-1 Agricultural

Purpose, typical permitted uses, key base dimensions: Not found in source materials (§ 18.13.015).
Decision points: Apply citywide screening/landscaping rules; parcels in scenic/visual resource areas must use naturalistic screening and may be subject to 5‑year screening performance (see overlay below) (§ 18.37.030; § 18.12.025(C)(1)).

A-2 Agricultural

Purpose, typical permitted uses, key base dimensions: Not found in source materials (§ 18.14.010).
Decision points mirror A‑1; apply visual resource standards where applicable (§ 18.37.015; § 18.37.030).

Visual Resource / Scenic Corridor Overlay (overlay area)

Applicability: New development within or adjacent to visual resource areas must meet Chapter 18.37 standards (§ 18.37.015).
Standards:
- Use native vegetation and low earth berms to screen development; avoid solid fencing for screening; add plantings to screen access roads where practical (§ 18.37.030(C)(3)–(7)).
- Parking lots must be landscaped and screened (berms if needed) to minimize visual intrusion (§ 18.37.030(E)).
- Storage/service areas, parking lots, RV parks, and equipment must be screened per § 18.37.055; RV parks must be fully screened from public roads, vista points, public recreation areas, and residential areas within 5 years of development commencing (§ 18.37.055(C)).
- Landscape plan review emphasizes compatibility, tree preservation, utility conflicts, spacing from structures/light/signs, and corner sight distance (§ 18.37.050).
See overlay districts.

Recreational Vehicle (RV) Parks (special use)

Screening: RV parks must be landscaped so the site is fully screened from public roads, vista points, public recreation areas, and residential areas within 5 years of project start (§ 18.37.055(C)).
Additional scenic‑corridor landscaping rules apply where overlays overlap (§ 18.37.030; § 18.37.015).

Quarries (special use)

Perimeter fencing: provide a substantial, neat 6‑ft fence with posts 15 ft on center and barbed wire strands 1 ft apart; the Planning Commission may require 6‑gauge chain‑link where needed for safety (§ 18.22.070).
Erosion control and screen planting: plant suitable ground cover on final cut slopes within 12 months to prevent erosion; where no erosion would occur, install plant material of type/quantity set by the Commission to screen cut slopes from public view (§ 18.22.090).

Parcels fronting main thoroughfares (outdoor storage)

Outdoor storage on parcels that front main thoroughfares must be screened from public view using fencing and/or landscaping, and be consistent with the visual resources ordinance and other applicable zoning sections (§ 18.10.100).

Key standards at a glance

Topic	Core rule	Code Reference
Front yard fencing	Within 15 ft of street line: max 3 ft solid; up to 4 ft if ≥50% open; never over 4 ft	§ 18.07.030(G)(3)
Side/rear fencing	Max 8 ft; min 6 ft along residential adjacency if none exists	§ 18.07.030(G)(1)–(2)
Commercial next to residential	6‑ft solid wall or 10‑ft landscaped buffer (wall may be omitted along a zero‑setback wall with no openings)	§ 18.07.030(G)(4)
Parking lot landscaping	Perimeter/interior planters ≥2 ft wide with 6‑in curb; 1 tree per 6 spaces	§ 18.07.030(E)(3)
Mechanical equipment	Screen from streets/adjoining lots; perforated screens OK if not visible	§ 18.08.030; § 18.37.055(D)
Outdoor storage (thoroughfares)	Screen with fencing and/or landscaping	§ 18.10.100
RV park screening	Fully screened within 5 years of development commencing	§ 18.37.055(C)
Scenic corridors	Use native vegetation/berms; avoid solid fencing; landscape/screen parking	§ 18.37.030(C), (E)
Landscape plan criteria	Integrate design; preserve trees; spacing from structures (≈15 ft typical); corner shrubs ≤30 in	§ 18.37.050

How this interacts with other Hawthorne processes

Landscape plans are typically checked during design review and against development standards.
Parking‑lot planting counts and planter dimensions are enforced with parking compliance.
If your lot is in a scenic/visual overlay, expect additional findings under overlay districts.
If a strict application is impractical, relief may require a variance. ADU projects must still respect fence and visibility rules; see ADUs.

Checklist

Prepare a landscape plan meeting § 18.37.050 criteria and § 18.07.030(E) submittal requirements.
Lay out parking with interior/perimeter planting beds ≥2 ft wide, 6‑in curb, and 1 tree per 6 spaces (§ 18.07.030(E)(3)).
Design fencing/walls to meet height and openness limits near streets; use 6‑ft walls or a 10‑ft buffer at nonresidential–residential interfaces (§ 18.07.030(G)(3)–(4)).
Screen trash enclosures, meters, transformer vaults, and rooftop/mechanical equipment from public rights‑of‑way and neighbors (§ 18.37.055(D); § 18.08.030).
If on a main thoroughfare with outdoor storage, add compliant fencing/landscaping screens (§ 18.10.100).
If in a scenic/visual resource area or RV park, use natural vegetation/berms and plan for full screening within 5 years where required (§ 18.37.030; § 18.37.055(C)).
Preserve existing trees where feasible; maintain corner sight triangles (shrubs ≤30 in) (§ 18.37.050(D), (G)).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
What qualifies as a “main thoroughfare”	Triggers mandatory screening for outdoor storage	Verify the city’s street classification map or ask Planning; § 18.10.100 references this term without a list
Scenic/visual resource boundaries	Stronger screening may apply only in mapped areas	Confirm if the parcel is within/adjacent to a visual resource area; § 18.37.015
“Extensive remodel” threshold	Determines whether a landscape plan is required	Ask Community Development what scope triggers § 18.07.030(E)
Fence openness measurement	Needed to reach 4‑ft front‑yard height	Clarify method to document ≥50% openwork; § 18.07.030(G)(3)
Use of perforated equipment screens	Allowed if equipment is not visible	Confirm screening detail submittals and sightlines; § 18.08.030
Residential adjacency definition	Drives the 6‑ft wall or 10‑ft buffer requirement	Determine if neighboring use is “existing ground‑floor residential”; § 18.07.030(G)(4)
Tree spacing near structures/lights	Avoids future conflicts and removals	Apply § 18.37.050(F)–(G) to species and final siting

Plain-English Summary

Plant your site to soften views: put trees and shrubs in parking lots and along edges, and keep front yards visually open with low or see‑through fencing. Hide the “back‑of‑house” stuff—trash bins, meters, rooftop units—behind landscaping or screens so they aren’t visible from the street or a neighbor’s lot. In scenic areas or RV parks, Hawthorne expects natural vegetation and berms and, in some cases, complete visual screening within five years.

Source References

Hawthorne Zoning Code § 18.07.030 (General development standards: landscaping, parking‑lot planting, fences/walls) — https://ecode360.com/HA4470
Hawthorne Zoning Code § 18.08.030 (Mechanical equipment and utility meter screening) — https://ecode360.com/HA4470
Hawthorne Zoning Code § 18.10.100 (Screening of outdoor storage facilities on main thoroughfares) — https://ecode360.com/HA4470
Hawthorne Zoning Code § 18.12.025(C)(1) (Landscaping/screening to block views within 5 years in scenic contexts) — https://ecode360.com/HA4470
Hawthorne Zoning Code § 18.13.015; § 18.14.010 (A‑1 and A‑2 applicability) — https://ecode360.com/HA4470
Hawthorne Zoning Code § 18.22.070; § 18.22.090 (Quarry fencing; erosion control and screen planting) — https://ecode360.com/HA4470
Hawthorne Zoning Code § 18.37.015; § 18.37.030; § 18.37.050; § 18.37.055; § 18.37.060 (Visual resource/scenic corridor applicability; screening; landscape design; utilities/lighting/signs) — https://ecode360.com/HA4470

Sources

Source passages

Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.37.055) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.10.100) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.12.025) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.22.070) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.07.030) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.22.090) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.08.030) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.37.030) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.37.015) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.37.050) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.37.060) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.14.010) Medium relevance
Hawthorne Zoning Code (§ 18.13.015) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Hawthorne Zoning Code § 18.07.030 (General development standards: landscaping, parking‑lot planting, fences/walls) — (§ 18.07.030)

Official Hawthorne code library

Frequently asked questions

What are Hawthorne’s front-yard fence height rules?

Within 15 ft of a street property line, a solid fence or wall is limited to 3 ft. It may increase to 4 ft only if the material has at least 50% openings, and in any case cannot exceed 4 ft in that zone (§ 18.07.030(G)(3)).

Do parking lots in Hawthorne need trees and planters?

Yes. Perimeter and interior landscaped areas must be at least 2 ft wide and separated by a 6‑inch curb, and you must plant at least one tree for every six parking spaces, distributed through the lot (§ 18.07.030(E)(3)).

How must trash enclosures and rooftop equipment be screened?

Trash enclosures, meters, transformer vaults, and rooftop mechanical units must be screened from public rights‑of‑way and adjacent properties. Screens may be perforated (about 50% open) if the equipment is not visible from the street or adjoining lots (§ 18.37.055(D); § 18.08.030).

What screening is required when commercial sites abut homes?

Provide a solid masonry or concrete wall at least 6 ft high along the shared line, unless you install a 10‑ft landscaped buffer on the commercial site. A zero‑setback wall with no openings may eliminate the wall requirement along that length (§ 18.07.030(G)(4)).

Are there special landscaping rules in scenic corridors?

Yes. Use natural vegetation and low berms, avoid solid fencing for screening, and landscape/screen access roads and parking to minimize visual intrusion (§ 18.37.030(C), (E)). RV parks must be fully screened within five years (§ 18.37.055(C)).

Do outdoor storage areas have to be hidden?

If a parcel fronts a main thoroughfare, outdoor storage must be screened from public view using fencing and/or landscaping, consistent with the visual resources ordinance and other code sections (§ 18.10.100).

How close can I plant trees to buildings and corners?

Generally keep trees and large shrubs about 15 ft from major structures (some narrow species as close as 3 ft). At corners, maintain shrubs at or below 30 inches at maturity and prune trees to maintain safe sight distance (§ 18.37.050(F)–(G)).

Do I need a landscape plan for a remodel?

A landscape plan is required for all new construction and “extensive remodel” projects, consistent with city design criteria and the water‑efficient landscaping program (§ 18.07.030(E)). Verify the threshold for “extensive remodel” with the jurisdiction.

General information, not legal advice.

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