Local zoning · Huntington Park

Huntington Park — Landscaping and Screening

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Huntington Park Municipal Code requires for landscaping, irrigation, maintenance, fences/walls, and screening between incompatible uses. It is limited to the local zoning/planning ordinance (Title 9) and explains who requires landscape plans, minimum planting and tree standards, where masonry walls or plant screens are required, and the fence/wall height rules that commonly apply at residential–commercial/industrial interfaces. For related topics see the city's pages on parking, development standards, and design review.

Key local rules (plain list)

  • A landscape concept plan is required with planning permit applications; detailed landscape and irrigation plans are required before construction-level permits (§ 9-3.405, § 9-3.406) .
  • Automatic, efficient irrigation is mandatory for all landscaped areas and irrigation plans must show pressures, flow rates, controllers and water meters where required (§ 9-3.409) .
  • Minimum plant/container sizes, tree spacing and parkway tree requirements are specified (e.g., 15‑gallon minimum trees onsite; 24‑inch box minimum in commercial/industrial parkways; one tree per 40 ft frontage is a baseline) (§ 9-3.408) .
  • Landscaped areas that are publicly visible must be provided around setbacks, parkways and parking lots; no landscaped strip may be less than 3 ft wide and nonliving groundcover may not exceed 10% of landscaped area (§ 9-3.404, § 9-3.408) .
  • Maintenance, irrigation audits, and a Certificate of Substantial Completion by a licensed professional are required for larger projects (§ 9-3.410, § 9-3.411) .
  • Where commercial or industrial parcels abut residential parcels, the Code requires an architecturally treated, six-foot-high solid decorative masonry wall along the shared property line (and other cases authorize up to 8 ft fence/wall heights subject to limits and Director approval) (§ 9-2.1706; screening language in general standards) .
  • Parking and loading areas adjacent to residential zones must be screened (e.g., decorative masonry walls 5–7 ft for multi‑family parking and minimum 6 ft walls for loading areas), and parking frontages require landscape screening/buffer strips (§ 9-3.810, parking development standards, and off‑street loading standards) .

District-by-district breakdown

The Huntington Park Code establishes named zoning districts in Title 9; landscaping and screening expectations vary by zone. The list of districts is in § 9-1.105 (Zoning districts) . Below are the districts most relevant to landscaping/screening with the local rules that apply.

R-L (Low‑Density Residential)

  • Purpose & typical uses: single‑family homes and very-low density residential uses; see Table of allowed uses in § 9-4.102 .
  • Landscaping/screening rules: front yards, parkways and street-visible areas must be landscaped; parkway tree minimum 15‑gallon and minimum one tree per 40 ft frontage may be required by the Director (§ 9-3.404, § 9-3.408) . Parking and driveways visible from the street must be landscaped when unpaved (§ 9-3.810) .
  • Where it meets commercial/industrial: when abutted by a nonresidential parcel, a masonry wall or equivalent screening is required (§ 9-2.1706) .

R-M (Medium‑Density Residential)

  • Purpose & typical uses: townhomes, small-lot detached, low-rise multi‑family; the zone standards and uses are in § 9-4.102/IV‑1 .
  • Landscaping/screening rules: multi‑family projects must meet the landscaping chapter (plans, irrigation, maintenance) and provide decorative masonry screening (generally 5–7 ft) for parking areas that front a street or are visible (§ 9-3.404, § 9-3.408, § 9-3.?? screening rules referenced in parking rules) . Verify parking‑screen height with the Review Authority (§ 9-3.810) .

R-H (High‑Density Residential)

  • Purpose & typical uses: apartments, condominiums, higher density residential uses (densities and conditional uses in § 9-4.102) .
  • Landscaping/screening rules: same landscape/irrigation requirements as other residential zones; parking and service areas adjacent to public streets or residential zones must be screened with masonry walls and plantings; common open space and tree ratios are prescribed (§ 9-3.404, § 9-3.408, § 9-3.1507) .

C-P (Office‑Professional), C-N (Neighborhood‑Commercial), C-G (General‑Commercial)

  • Purpose & typical uses: a range of office and commercial retail/service uses appropriate to intensity of district (allowed uses tables; see § 9-4.102 and Table IV‑1) .
  • Landscaping/screening rules: commercial sites must comply with the landscaping chapter (concept plan, detailed plans, irrigation, maintenance). Where a commercial parcel abuts residential, an architectural masonry wall (commonly 6 ft) and landscape buffer are required; drive‑thru lanes, trash/recycling and order speakers must be screened and oriented to minimize impacts (§ 9-3.405, § 9-3.406, § 9-3.409, § 9-2.1706, convenience store/service station standards) . See the City rules on signage when screens would affect sign visibility.

MPD (Manufacturing/Industrial Planned Development)

  • Purpose & typical uses: manufacturing, industrial, and heavy commercial uses under the MPD rules; the MPD allows planned flexibility but requires higher design controls (§ 9-4.? and MPD-specific rules) .
  • Landscaping/screening rules: MPD projects are required to dedicate a minimum percentage of site area to landscaping (varies by acreage for PUDs) and must screen all exterior storage and service areas; 6‑ft masonry walls are used repeatedly to screen outdoor storage/loading where these uses are near residential areas (§ 9-3., MPD PUD standards) .

DTSP (Downtown Huntington Park Specific Plan)

  • Purpose & typical uses: denser, mixed‑use, pedestrian‑oriented development in the downtown; DTSP underlying districts adopt the same landscaping chapter plus DTSP-specific frontage/setback rules (§ 9-3.1504, DTSP provisions) .
  • Landscaping/screening rules: DTSP projects must submit landscape concept plans and follow the City's design review rules; special stepback or facade treatments apply where the DTSP abuts low-density residential to provide transitions (§ 9-3.405, DTSP rules) .

Decision‑relevant standards (quick table)

Topic Requirement (decision‑relevant) Code reference
Landscape concept plan required with planning permit Concept plan must be submitted with the planning permit app prior to building permit submittal (§ 9-3.405) § 9-3.405
Detailed landscape & irrigation plan content Prepared by registered landscape architect; show hydrozones, plant lists, irrigation layout, meters, pressures (§ 9-3.406) § 9-3.406
Irrigation systems Automatic, efficient irrigation required; rain sensors; separate water meter >5,000 sf; recycled water where available (§ 9-3.409) § 9-3.409
Minimum tree/plant sizes & spacing All on‑site trees 15‑gallon minimum; 24‑inch box ratio 1:3; parkway trees 15 gal (res) / 24‑inch box (com/ind); one tree/40 ft frontage baseline (§ 9-3.408) § 9-3.408
Minimum landscape widths & curbing No planted strip < 3 ft; nonresidential planters bounded by 6 in concrete curbing (§ 9-3.408) § 9-3.408
Screening at residential interface Six‑foot solid decorative masonry wall required where commercial/industrial abuts residential; director approval for architectural treatment; other zones allow up to 8 ft walls with conditions (§ 9-2.1706, general screening rules) § 9-2.1706; § 9-2.1705
Parking/loading screening Nonresidential parking abutting residential: 6 ft masonry wall; multi‑family parking: 5–7 ft masonry walls with landscaping; loading areas abutting residential: 6 ft wall (§ 9-3.?, § 9-3.810) § 9-3.810; off‑street loading standards (see Ch.3 Art.7)
Maintenance & audits Ongoing maintenance required; irrigation audits every 5 years for large existing landscapes; Certificate of Substantial Completion required for large projects (§ 9-3.410, § 9-3.411) § 9-3.410; § 9-3.411

Practical guidance & interpretations

  • Submit the landscape concept plan with your planning permit packet (don’t wait for building permit stage) — the Code explicitly requires the concept prior to building submittal (§ 9-3.405) .
  • Expect the Director/Review Authority to require more trees or wider planters than the baseline one tree per 40 ft and 3‑ft minimum planter where visibility, noise buffering or neighborhood character justify it (§ 9-3.408) .
  • For sites with >2,500 sf landscaped area prepare a full landscape documentation package (water budgets, irrigation schedules, soil analysis, maintenance schedule, audits) — this is a common trigger for detailed submittal requirements (§ 9-3.407) .
  • If your property borders residential uses, budget for masonry wall screening (typically 6 ft) and complementary landscape on both sides; the Director must approve wall materials/design and may require higher walls or additional planting where noise buffering is necessary (§ 9-2.1706) .
  • Landscaping next to sidewalks, curbs and public improvements must use limited‑root trees and root barriers to prevent damage (§ 9-3.408) .
  • Any screening that hides mechanical equipment, trash enclosures or loading areas must be architecturally compatible and may be reviewed via design review or a Development Permit; anticipate coordination with the City for final visual treatment (§ 9-2.1806, design guidelines reference) .

(See also the City’s rules for parking and overlay districts — overlay rules can add district‑specific landscaping/screening requirements.)

Checklist (applicant)

  • Provide a Landscape Concept Plan with the planning permit application (§ 9-3.405) .
  • If required (most non‑single family >2,500 sf), prepare a Landscape Documentation Package including a Water Conservation Concept Statement, Maximum Applied Water Allowance and irrigation schedule (§ 9-3.407) .
  • Submit detailed landscape and irrigation plans drawn by a registered landscape architect showing hydrozones, plant species (botanical names), container sizes and spacing (§ 9-3.406) .
  • Specify automatic irrigation, rain sensor/override and show pressure/flow calculations; install separate landscape meters where required (§ 9-3.409) .
  • Provide tree schedule meeting 15‑gallon minimum and 24‑inch box ratio (one 24‑inch box per three 15‑gallon trees) and parkway tree counts (one per 40 ft frontage baseline) (§ 9-3.408) .
  • If site abuts residential, include masonry wall design (typically 6 ft) with architectural treatment and landscaping; confirm Director approval path (§ 9-2.1706) .
  • Prepare a maintenance schedule and, for large sites, recordable maintenance agreements/covenants as required (§ 9-3.410) .
  • For projects needing exceptions, file for the applicable variances and/or conditional use permits; landscaping/screening can be conditioned (§ 9-2.1106) .
  • Coordinate any screening that affects signs with signage standards and any work near public improvements with Public Works.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Which exact wall height applies at a specific property line (6 ft vs 8 ft) Multiple sections refer to 6 ft masonry walls at residential interfaces and permit 8 ft in some parking/commercial contexts; inconsistent reading may cause under/over-design Verify which code article applies to the specific use: fence/wall rules are in Article 17 (§ 9-2.1705/1706) and screening within individual use standards (service stations, parking, loading) may supersede; confirm with Director/Planning staff (§ 9-2.1706)
Applicability of recycled water irrigation requirement Recycled water is required for landscaped areas >2,500 sf unless agency certifies recycled water is not available (§ 9-3.406) Confirm recycled water availability with the local water agency and note exemption process in irrigation design submittal (§ 9-3.406)
Whether a proposed fence is classified as a “wall” triggering masonry requirements The Code defines “fence” and “block wall” and treats masonry walls differently from other fences (§ 9-2.1701) Check the definition (§ 9-2.1701) and submit fence/wall permit; Director approval required for block walls
Landscaping credit for hidden/obscured plantings Some standards state landscaping “counting” excludes areas screened from public view (e.g., PUD rules) Confirm what is counted toward minimums: see Industrial PUD and PUD landscaping percentages for rules on conspicuous locations (§ 9-3.?? / MPD)
Site‑specific tree placement (utilities, hydrants, sidewalks) Trees have minimum setback guidance (e.g., 10 ft from hydrants, 5 ft from walks) — improper placement can interfere with utilities or public improvements (§ 9-3.408) Provide utility and street improvement plan and use root barriers where adjacent to curbs (§ 9-3.408)

Plain-English summary

Huntington Park requires a landscape concept plan with planning applications and full landscape + irrigation plans for most projects; expect mandatory water‑efficient automatic irrigation, minimum tree sizes and spacing, routine maintenance and irrigation audits, and masonry walls or equivalent screening where commercial/industrial land touches residential—plan for a 6‑foot masonry wall plus planting and get Director approval on finishes (§ 9-3.405, § 9-3.406, § 9-3.408, § 9-2.1706) .

Source References

  • Huntington Park Municipal Code: Landscaping chapter (Chapter 3, Article 4), including § 9-3.402 through § 9-3.411 (landscape submittal, development standards, irrigation, maintenance, audits) .
  • § 9-3.405 Landscape concept plan and § 9-3.406 Detailed landscape and irrigation plans (plan content and professional requirements) .
  • § 9-3.408 Landscape development standards: tree sizes, parkway requirements, minimum planter widths, root barriers, curbing .
  • § 9-3.409 Irrigation required and irrigation design criteria (rain sensors, metrics, separate meters) .
  • § 9-3.410 Maintenance of landscaping and § 9-3.411 Provisions for existing landscapes (audits/maintenance agreements) .
  • Article 17 (Fences and Walls) and § 9-2.1701 definitions; § 9-2.1705–9-2.1706 (height and fence/wall rules for parking/commercial/industrial abutting residential) .
  • Screening requirements and examples in general development articles (screening where commercial/industrial abut residential; service station/drive-thru and loading area screening) — various use standards, see § 9-2.1106 (conditions), service station and convenience store rules, and off‑street loading/parking standards (§ 9-3.810) .
  • Official list of Huntington Park zoning districts (R‑L, R‑M, R‑H, C‑P, C‑N, C‑G, DTSP, MPD, etc.) in § 9-1.105 .
  • Additional illustrations and screening ideas (external guide referenced in file set) — Greenbook examples for transformer/utility screening (illustrative; see file for matrices) .

Note: All cited materials above are drawn from the uploaded Huntington Park zoning/planning ordinance extracts (Title 9, HPMC). For related administrative steps see Huntington Park Zoning, Land Use, and Development Standards.

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (title insurance) High relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code High relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (Chapter 2) High relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (Chapter 3) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (Article 5) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (section applies) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (§ 9-2.1806.) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (Article 3) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (Article 12) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (Chapter 2) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (Article 11) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (Chapter 3) Medium relevance
  • CMC § 190 Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (Article 7) Medium relevance
  • Huntington Park Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping documents do I need to submit for a new commercial project in Huntington Park?

You must submit a Landscape Concept Plan as part of your planning permit application and then, after permit approval, a full detailed landscape and irrigation plan prepared by a California‑registered landscape architect that shows hydrozones, plant lists, irrigation details (flow/pressure), separate landscape meters if applicable, and other required documentation (§ 9-3.405, § 9-3.406) .

Are there minimum tree sizes and how many trees must I plant along the street?

Yes. On‑site trees must be at least 15‑gallon (with a required ratio of one 24‑inch box for every three 15‑gallon trees). Parkway trees are 15‑gallon minimum in residential zones and 24‑inch box minimum in commercial/industrial parkways; baseline quantity is one tree per 40 ft of frontage, but the Review Authority may require more (§ 9-3.408) .

Do I need an automatic irrigation system or water‑saving measures?

Yes — all landscaped areas must have an automatic irrigation system designed for efficiency (rain sensor/override, separate meters where required, drip as appropriate). Irrigation design must include flow rates, pressures, schedules and meet the ET/efficiency assumptions (§ 9-3.409) .

When is a masonry wall or other screening required between commercial and residential properties?

The Code requires an architecturally treated, six‑foot‑high solid decorative masonry wall where parcels zoned commercial or industrial abut residential uses; some use standards (parking, loading, service stations) also require specific screening/wall heights. Fences/walls have additional height rules in Article 17 (§ 9-2.1706) .

Can I use plantings instead of a masonry wall to screen my loading area or rooftop equipment?

Plantings are an option for screening some ground‑level equipment provided they achieve equivalent screening height and durability and are approved by the Director; however for many uses the Code explicitly requires a masonry wall (e.g., loading areas abutting residential), or requires walls plus landscaping. Always check the specific use standard and get Director approval (§ 9-2.1706, off‑street loading and use standards) .

Does Huntington Park require landscape maintenance agreements or audits?

Yes. For larger new projects a maintenance agreement may be required and existing large landscapes (one acre or more) must have irrigation audits at least every five years; the Code allows the City to file liens to enforce maintenance where necessary (§ 9-3.410, § 9-3.411) .

Where in the code are the zoning district names and what are they called (so I know which rules apply)?

The City establishes its zoning districts (e.g., R-L, R-M, R-H, C-P, C-N, C-G, DTSP, MPD) in § 9-1.105 (Establishment of Zoning Districts) — apply the landscaping/screening rules applicable to the underlying district and any overlays (§ 9-1.105) .

Will the Planning Director ever require more landscaping than the minimums shown in the code?

Yes — the Director and Review Authority routinely require additional trees, buffer widths, or architectural screening on a case‑by‑case basis to address visibility, noise, neighborhood context, or design compatibility (§ 9-3.408, design review authority) .

Do parking structures have special landscape/screening rules?

Yes. Parking structures must include a minimum 5‑ft continuous perimeter landscape with vertical elements (every 20 ft), permanently irrigated and maintained; parking areas abutting residential uses require 6‑ft solid masonry walls or equivalent screening as approved (§ 9-3.?? parking design and § 9-3.810) .

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