Local zoning · Hemet

Hemet — Landscaping and Screening

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

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Hemet's zoning ordinance requires for landscaping, screening, walls, fences, trees, and buffers. It pulls the local rules that control fence heights and materials, perimeter and adjacency buffers, parking-lot landscape minimums, irrigation and water-use standards, and maintenance/recordation obligations. Where the ordinance assigns review or exceptions, expect coordination with design review and the community development director (see Hemet Design Review) and applicable development standards (see Hemet Development Standards). The city's landscaping rules also link to site features such as parking (see Hemet Parking) and overlays (see Hemet Overlay Districts).

How to read the citations on this page

Every cited requirement below references the controlling code section (for example, § 90-316) and the local ordinance source used for this summary. Verify site- and parcel-specific interpretations with the community development department.

District-by-district breakdown

Note: the ordinance often phrases standards by topic (walls/fences, landscaping, buffers) and repeats or tailors them across zones. Below are the main Hemet zones and overlay rules where landscaping/screening requirements are stated in the code.

R‑1 (Single‑Family Residential)

Purpose & typical uses: single-family homes. Key landscaping/screening rules apply to front yards, corner visibility, and adjacency to other uses.

Front‑yard fencing: solid walls, fences, hedges within a required front yard setback cannot exceed 42 inches measured from the adjacent sidewalk or street; combinations of solid+open fences may reach 72 inches provided the solid portion stays ≤ 42 inches (§ 90-316) .
Corner visibility (cutback): corner triangles must be free of visual obstructions above 42 inches for the specified cutback distances (see § 90-316) .
Side/rear fences: generally up to 6 feet (72 inches) allowed; where a retaining wall is required the combined height allowances differ (see § 90-316) .
Adjoining commercial/public uses: if a single‑family property adjoins a church, school, college, or public facility the adjacent parcel in the A or R zone must install a 6‑foot masonry wall plus landscaped buffer per § 90-386(f)(3) .

Practical: streetside plantings must avoid sidewalk damage and follow the city’s street tree list when in the public right-of-way (§ 90-386(h)(3)) .

R‑2, R‑3, R‑4 (Multiple‑Family Residential)

Purpose & typical uses: duplexes to higher-density apartments. Standards emphasize buffering between multifamily and single‑family areas and onsite maintenance.

Buffering: multifamily projects must provide grade and landscape buffering to adjacent uses; when adjoining single‑family uses provide a 20‑foot landscape setback in addition to per‑story setbacks; for non‑single‑family adjacencies the minimum landscape setback is 10 feet plus the 5 ft per story (§ 90-386(j)) .
Front‑yard fencing/visibility: same front yard fence height limits (solid ≤ 42 in; combos up to 72 in) and corner cutback rules as R‑1 (§ 90-316) .
Replacement/maintenance: required landscaping must be maintained, watered, pruned and replaced as necessary; landscape installation must comply with standards approved by the planning commission (§ 90-386(f)(7) and § 90-386(g)) .

C‑M (Commercial‑Manufacturing) and general Commercial Zones

Purpose: light industrial, industrial-commercial uses. Standards stress screening of outdoor storage and materials.

Chain link: chain link is generally prohibited for perimeter visible fencing, but the director may allow "high‑quality chain link" in the C‑M zone subject to administrative approval (§ 90-386(i)(6) / related subsections) .
Outdoor storage: must be screened by a 6‑foot high wall/fence; slatted chain link may be allowed if not visible from a public street and with director approval (§ 90-386(i)(3) and § 90-386(f)(2)) .
Perimeter materials visible from right-of-way: decorative block, textured concrete, stucco with pilasters/caps, or wrought iron with pilasters are required for perimeter fencing adjacent to public rights-of-way on multi‑lot projects (§ 90-316(7)(a)) .

Business Park (BP) / Industrial / Park‑like zones

Parking‑lot landscape minimum: 10% of the parking area must be landscaped in the business park zone (§ 90-386(f)(6)(a)) .
Planting mix: landscaped areas should include a combination of lawn/groundcover/shrubs/trees; trees must be minimum 15‑gallon (with 25% at 24‑inch box) and one tree per 500 sq ft of non‑street landscaping (§ 90-386(f)(6)(g)‑(h)) .
Screening roof equipment and service areas: roof‑mounted equipment, service/refuse areas and outdoor storage must be screened from public view (§ 90-386(i)(5) and § 90-386(f)(g)) .

A (Agricultural) zones

Accessory structures can be larger but must be screened to the maximum intent possible with landscaping/fencing to minimize visual impacts (§ 90-320(d)(3)) .
When an A or R zone adjoins church/school/public uses the code requires a 6‑foot masonry wall + 10‑foot landscape area with 15‑gallon evergreens on 20‑ft centers planted on the church side (§ 90-386(f)(3)) .

Overlay & Special Districts

PUMH (Planned Unit Mobile Home) overlay: sets its own landscape/perimeter wall rules including a 6‑ft perimeter wall set back five feet from street right‑of‑way with live landscaping in that setback (§ 90-725(d)(2)‑(3)) .
Hemet‑Ryan Airport ALUP restrictions may affect tree and structure heights in overlay areas; verify with the Airport Land Use Plan (§ 90-386(c)) .
For other overlays see Hemet Overlay Districts; the ordinance allows exceptions or heightened standards per overlay language.

Key standards table (decision‑relevant)

Requirement	Typical numeric standard or rule	Code Reference
Front-yard solid fence maximum	42 inches (solid portion); combos up to 72 in with solid ≤ 42 in	§ 90‑316
Side/rear fence max (residential)	6 ft (72 in) generally; combined retaining wall + fence limited as noted	§ 90‑316
Corner cutback visibility	No obstructions > 42 in within prescribed triangular cutback	§ 90‑316
Buffer when multifamily adjoins single‑family	20 ft landscape setback + 5 ft per story	§ 90‑386(j)(2)
Buffer when other uses adjoin multifamily	10 ft landscape setback + 5 ft per story	§ 90‑386(j)(3)
Outdoor storage screening	6‑ft wall/fence; slatted chain‑link may be conditionally allowed	§ 90‑386(i)(3)
Business park parking lot landscaping	10% of parking area	§ 90‑386(f)(6)(a)
Tree planting minimums	1 tree per 500 sq ft of landscaping; 15‑gal minimum (25% 24" box)	§ 90‑386(f)(6)(g)
Water‑use / MAWA rule	MAWA limit with ET adjustment; irrigation requirements in § 90‑1706	§ 90‑1706
Maintenance & recordation	Required maintenance; required covenant for some privacy plantings	§ 90‑386(f)(7) and privacy covenant rules (see § 90‑?) — see source text

Note: the privacy planting covenant reference (recordation and replacement obligations) appears in the ordinance materials; see the Source References and verify with the city for parcel‑specific cases (§ numbers and cross‑references) .

Design, review & coordination

Landscaping and screening required by the code are typically enforced as part of site development or design review; consult the community development director for administrative approvals and the planning commission for projects requiring discretionary review (see Hemet Design Review and Hemet Development Standards). Specific materials, finishes, and deviations can be approved by the director or planning commission as allowed by the ordinance (multiple places; e.g., fencing material approvals) (§ 90‑316(7), § 90‑386(f)) .
Landscaping plans for projects subject to Article XLVII must meet the city's landscape water‑use standards and include irrigation design; a compliance letter/certificate of completion is required before final inspection (§ 90‑1706, § 90‑1707) .

Checklist

Show fence/wall locations and heights on the site plan, dimensioned to the adjacent sidewalk/street and property lines consistent with § 90‑316 .
For multifamily sites, include landscape setback calculations showing the 20‑ft (adjacent single‑family) or 10‑ft (other adjacencies) buffer plus per‑story setbacks under § 90‑386(j) .
Provide a planting palette and tree count showing one tree per 500 sq ft of landscaping and sizes (15‑gal min; 25% at 24" box) where applicable (§ 90‑386(f)(6)(g)) .
Parking lot landscape calculations showing % landscaped area (e.g., 10% in Business Park) and location of shade trees (§ 90‑386(f)(6)(a)) .
Irrigation plan demonstrating compliance with § 90‑1706 water‑use/MAWA limits and automatic irrigation coverage. Provide compliance letter/certificate per § 90‑1707 .
Material callouts for fences/walls visible from public ROW (decorative block/stucco or wrought iron with pilasters/caps) and prohibited materials (chain link, barbed wire, wood above 42 in in front yard) (§ 90‑316, § 90‑386) .
If privacy planting or front‑yard trees are required, prepare deed covenant for recordation where the code requires it (see recorded covenant requirement) .
If requesting a deviation (e.g., fence material, chain‑link in C‑M), include justification and request administrative review under the applicable code subsection (§ 90‑386(i)(6) and director authority) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Exact setback measurement point	Code measures some fence heights from the adjacent sidewalk/street or from higher of adjoining grades, which changes allowed height	Confirm on‑site grade measurements and whether sidewalk/parkway is monolithic; verify with plan checker and cite § 90‑316
“Front yard” vs. “street side”	Several rules forbid block walls in front or street‑side setbacks but allow them elsewhere; mislabeling can cause rework	Confirm property frontage orientation with city staff and consult § 90‑386(i)(1)(a) and related paragraphs
Chain‑link exceptions in C‑M	Chain link is generally prohibited but may be allowed in C‑M with conditions	If proposing chain‑link, get explicit director approval per § 90‑386(i)(6)
Recorded covenant language	The ordinance references required recorded covenants for some privacy plantings, but cross‑reference numbering is dispersed	Obtain the exact deed covenant template/requirements from the planning department; the recordation requirement appears in the ordinance materials (privacy planting)
Applicability to ADUs and accessory structures	Accessory structures must be screened but the code gives different rules for small sheds vs larger ADUs	Verify ADU setback/screening treatment; ADU ministerial rules exist elsewhere—see Hemet ADUs; the accessory screening intent is in § 90‑320(f)
Tree species and street tree list	The code requires street trees follow the city list for right‑of‑way plantings, but the list is separate	Ask Public Works / Parks for the current street tree list and planting standards referenced in § 90‑386(h)(3)

Plain‑English summary

In Hemet, your fences and hedges in front yards must keep visibility clear (solid parts ≤ 42 inches; total combos can reach 72 inches with an open element), side and rear fences are generally 6 feet, outdoor storage and service areas must be screened with a 6‑foot wall, and landscaped buffers (including trees and irrigation) are required where different uses meet; specific numbers and exceptions are in § 90‑316, § 90‑386, and the landscape water standards § 90‑1706 — verify details with the planning director before construction .

Source References

Hemet Municipal Code, Walls, fencing, and screening — § 90‑316. Source: Hemet zoning compilation.
Hemet Municipal Code, Site development & buffering requirements (multiple‑family, adjacency, outdoor storage) — § 90‑386 and subsections. Source: Hemet zoning compilation.
Hemet Municipal Code, Per‑zone design standards and PUMH overlay (perimeter wall & landscaping) — § 90‑725. Source: Hemet zoning compilation.
Hemet Municipal Code, Landscaping water use standards and compliance — § 90‑1706, § 90‑1707. Source: Hemet zoning compilation.
Hemet Municipal Code, Landscaping and materials (commercial, business park) — Article XLVII and related development standards; parking lot landscaping 10% standard and planting sizes § 90‑386(f)(6). Source: Hemet zoning compilation.
Privacy planting, recordation, and maintenance requirements — ordinance excerpts on privacy mitigation and deed covenant obligations. Source excerpts in zoning compilation.

If you want, I can:

Pull exact paragraph text for any cited § so you can paste it into a submittal, or
Build a sample landscape plan checklist keyed to your parcel (lot lines, frontage orientation, and existing grade required — Verify with the jurisdiction).

Sources

Retrieved passages

Hemet Zoning Code (article II) High relevance
Hemet Zoning Code (section shall) High relevance
Hemet Zoning Code (section provides) High relevance
Hemet Zoning Code (section provides) High relevance
Hemet Zoning Code High relevance
Hemet Zoning Code (section 90-82.) High relevance
Hemet Zoning Code (section 90-1045.) High relevance
Hemet Zoning Code (section provides) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Hemet code library

Frequently asked questions

What fences are allowed in a Hemet front yard?

Solid fences or hedges in a required front-yard setback are limited to 42 inches measured from the adjacent sidewalk or street; a combination of solid and open fence can reach 72 inches provided the solid portion does not exceed 42 inches (§ 90‑316) .

Can I build a 6‑foot wall between my commercial lot and a neighboring single‑family property?

Yes — when a site adjoins a single‑family zone, the code requires a 6‑foot solid masonry wall adjoining the property line (except in required front yards) and a landscaped buffer (see the applicable subsection of § 90‑386) .

Are chain‑link fences allowed in Hemet?

Chain‑link is generally prohibited for perimeter fencing visible from the public right‑of‑way, but the community development director may allow high‑quality chain link in the C‑M zone or slatted chain‑link for non‑visible outdoor storage with director approval (see § 90‑386(i)(6) and related provisions) .

How much parking‑lot landscaping do I need for a business park site?

In the business park zone, parking area landscaping must cover 10% of the parking area and meet the planting mix/size standards in § 90‑386(f)(6) .

Do landscape plans need to show irrigation and water‑use calculations?

Yes. New or rehabilitated landscapes subject to the ordinance must meet the landscape water‑use standards (MAWA/ETAF limits) and include irrigation design; compliance and a certificate of completion are required under § 90‑1706 and § 90‑1707 .

Who approves fence materials and exceptions?

The community development director or planning commission reviews and approves fence materials and exceptions as provided in the ordinance; some exceptions (e.g., added height for security) require director determination or administrative review (§ 90‑316 and § 90‑386) .

If I plant trees on the parkway next to the sidewalk, what rules apply?

Trees planted within the public right‑of‑way must follow the city’s street tree list and planting standards; species must avoid sidewalk damage and be installed per city standards (§ 90‑386(h)(3)) .

Do I have to replace dead privacy trees or shrubs?

Yes — required plantings that die must generally be replaced within 30 days unless the director determines replacement is infeasible; maintenance obligations (irrigation, pruning, replacement) are spelled out in the ordinance (privacy planting and maintenance provisions) .

Does the code treat ADUs differently for landscaping or fencing?

Accessory structures and ADUs are subject to accessory structure rules that require screening where practicable and compliance with setbacks; ADUs have separate ministerial standards elsewhere in the code, so check § 90‑320(f) and Hemet ADUs for how screening interacts with ADU rules (§ 90‑320(f)) .

What steps trigger design review for landscaping and walls?

Projects that require site development or are within design control areas will have landscaping and screening reviewed as part of design review or site development review; submit landscape documentation and irrigation plans per the ordinance and consultees (see Hemet Design Review and Hemet Development Standards) — review authority varies by project type (§ 90‑386 and associated articles) .

Ask about any Hemet property

Get a cited, plain-English answer on Hemet zoning, setbacks, FAR, ADUs and permits — for any address.

Start Free Trial