Local zoning · Lemoore

Lemoore — Landscaping and Screening

Q: How wide must a landscape buffer be along an arterial or collector street?

For multi‑family, commercial, office, and industrial developments the code requires a landscape buffer behind the sidewalk with a minimum depth of 15 ft along arterial and collector streets (excluding drive approaches). § 9‑5D1‑2E2 .

Q: What plant sizes and spacing does the city require for effective screening?

Minimum tree planting size is 15 gallon , with 25% of trees on a project planted at a 24‑inch box ; perimeter buffers require trees planted no more than 30 ft on center and shrubs in a 10 ft planter where buffering between uses is required. § 9‑5D1‑2.D.1 and § 9‑5D1‑2.E.3 .

Q: Do I need a permit for a wall taller than 7 feet?

Yes — fences or walls taller than 7 ft require a building permit; some perimeter walls in subdivisions have specific design and minimum height rules (e.g., 6'8" minimum when required for noise attenuation). § 9‑5B‑5 (Table 9‑5B‑5‑E1 and G.1).

Q: If my parcel is in the downtown DMX zones, do these landscaping rules still apply?

Downtown zones ( DMX‑1/DMX‑2/DMX‑3 ) have separate downtown development standards (Chapter 6). General landscaping requirements apply unless downtown‑specific standards modify them; check Chapter 6 for exceptions. § 9‑5C‑1 and Chapter 6 cross‑references.

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page explains what the City of Lemoore's zoning code requires for landscaping and screening (buffers, trees, parking lot landscaping, fences/walls, and screening of mechanical/refuse/outdoor storage). The rules are administered as part of site plan and architectural review and are contained primarily in Article D1: Landscaping Standards and Article B: Development Standards of Title 9 (the Lemoore Zoning Code). See the city's overall zoning & planning overview for context and the development standards for how landscaping interacts with setbacks and lot standards.

How the ordinance is organized (short)

The landscaping rules sit in § 9-5D1-1 through § 9-5D1-5 (Landscape Standards, submittals, sizes, irrigation, maintenance, tree preservation, and preferred plant list).
Screening and fence/wall performance standards are in § 9-5B-5 (Fences & Walls) and § 9-5B-6 (Screening).

Key citywide landscaping & screening requirements (quick reference table)

What an applicant must provide or meet	Minimum / Standard	Code Reference
Landscape buffer along arterial/collector streets (multi‑family, commercial, office, industrial)	15 ft deep buffer behind sidewalk	§ 9-5D1-2E2
Buffer between residential and nonresidential uses	10 ft planter strip with shrubs and trees at max 30 ft on center	§ 9-5D1-2E3
Street / parkway trees spacing	30 ft on center (min), one tree per lot if adjacent to front yard	§ 9-5D1-2E1
Minimum tree planting size	15 gallon (25% of trees at 24" box)	§ 9-5D1-2D.1
Parking lot planters: minimum width	Planter 5 ft (turf where used must be 8 ft)	§ 9-5D1-2E5
Pedestrian path from parking to building	One path per 200 spaces; 6 ft wide, flanked by 5 ft planters	§ 9-5D1-2E5.b–d
Fences/walls in front or street side yard (permeability)	Height max 4 ft, minimum permeability 50%	Table 9‑5B‑5‑E1 / § 9-5B-5
Fences/walls in rear or interior side yard	Height max 7 ft (over 7 ft needs building permit)	Table 9‑5B‑5‑E1 / § 9-5B-5
Perimeter walls for residential subdivisions (appearance)	Decorative, textured, capstone; height min 6'8" as noise attenuation when needed	§ 9-5B-5.G.1
Screening of mechanical & refuse areas	Must be screened from public view and from abutting residential zones; screening must be architecturally compatible	§ 9-5B-6
Urban‑Rural Edge special buffer	50 ft minimum setback from certain roads and a 30 ft wide landscaped buffer; prohibit solid walls (fences must be visually permeable)	§ 9-5B-7

District-by-district (Lemoore-specific) — how landscaping and screening are applied

Note: the zoning code separates development standards by district in Article A and B of Chapter 5 and uses district tables (e.g., TABLE 9‑5A‑4A and TABLE 9‑5A‑4B) to set setbacks, lot coverage and heights that interact with landscaping requirements. Where the landscaping article references a treatment (buffers, parkways, screening), that treatment applies across the specified uses/districts below.

AR (Agricultural/Residential)

Purpose & typical uses: agricultural lots and very low density housing; consult allowed uses table § 9‑4B‑2 for exact uses.
Landscaping & screening: Standard street/parkway tree requirements and parkway maintenance rules apply if streetscape improvements are provided; buffer and screening rules for adjacent nonresidential uses apply as directed in § 9‑5D1‑2 and § 9‑5B‑6.
Key dimensional standards: see TABLE 9‑5A‑4A for lot and setback minima.

RV (Rural Village / very low density residential)

Purpose & typical uses: large-lot residential; landscaping expectations emphasize parkway and frontage treatments; turf limits and drought-tolerant plant preference apply. § 9‑5D1‑2.C requires drought-tolerant selections and limits high water-use turf for residential sites.

RLD / RN / RLMD / RMD / RHD (Low to High Density Residential)

Purpose & typical uses: ranges from low-density single-family to high-density multi‑family. Allowed uses and entitlements are in the land use tables; see § 9‑4A‑3.
Landscaping & buffers:
- New single‑family subdivisions must provide streetscape/parkway landscaping (trees per approved list) and, if along an arterial or collector, a 15 ft buffer in addition to the required setback. § 9‑5D1‑2E2.
- Where residential abuts nonresidential, a 10 ft perimeter planter with shrubs and deciduous/evergreen trees (max 30 ft spacing) is required. § 9‑5D1‑2E3.

MU (Mixed Use)

Purpose & typical uses: mixed residential/commercial; special rules in Chapter 7 (Mixed Use Development Standards). Landscaping/site design expectations are handled through site plan and architectural review; the general landscaping article still applies (street trees, parking lot landscaping, buffering). See site plan rules in § 9‑2B‑12 and MU chapter cross‑references.

DMX‑1 / DMX‑2 / DMX‑3 (Downtown Mixed Use districts)

Purpose & typical uses: downtown form-based districts with their own development standards (Chapter 6). Landscaping and screening rules in Article D1 apply unless superseded by downtown rules; downtown has bespoke height and frontage rules that influence where landscape elements are placed. See Chapter 6 for downtown specifics.

NC / RC / PO (Neighborhood Commercial / Regional Commercial / Professional Office)

Typical uses: retail, service, and offices. Landscaping requirements for commercial development include parking lot planting, arterial buffers (15 ft behind sidewalks), street trees, and mandatory screening of outdoor storage and mechanical/refuse areas per § 9‑5D1‑2 and § 9‑5B‑6.

ML / MH (Light and Heavy Industrial)

Typical uses: industrial and warehousing. Where industrial or commercial zones abut residential or ag‑residential, the code requires solid masonry walls or similar solid walls minimum 6 ft in height for screening (or combinations of berms/landscaping) and screening of outdoor storage by walls, berms, and/or landscape to at least the height of stored materials. § 9‑5B‑5.G.2 and § 9‑5C‑5.

AG / W / PR / CF / Special purpose districts

These special districts follow the same landscaping/screening rules where the landscaping article applies; specific treatments (e.g., campus or park planning) are handled by review and may be modified through conditions. Check the allowed uses and applicable specific/overlay plan if present. § 9‑4A‑3 and overlay guidance apply.

Practical interpretation and implementation notes (plain-English synthesis)

Landscaping is not optional for most new commercial, industrial, multi‑family, or single‑family subdivision projects: you must submit a preliminary and a final landscape plan as part of site plan and architectural review and before starting installation. Final plans must show plant species, sizes, irrigation, and a water budget when required. § 9‑5D1‑1 and § 9‑5D1‑2.
The code emphasizes drought tolerant, native, and water‑efficient plantings; turf is limited for residential projects and commercial/mixed uses must use drought‑tolerant turf if turf is proposed. § 9‑5D1‑2.C and related turf rules.
Parking lots have minimum planting and pedestrian path rules (e.g., a 6 ft pedestrian path for every 200 spaces, flanked by 5 ft planters), and at least 5% of interior parking area must be landscaped for many commercial sites. § 9‑5D1‑2E5 and § 9‑5C‑2 (site design).
Fences and walls are regulated by location: 4 ft maximum in front yards (and 50% permeability), up to 7 ft in rear and interior side yards (over 7 ft requires building permit). For certain buffers (commercial/industrial abutting residential) a solid masonry wall at least 6 ft tall is required. See the fences and walls table. § 9‑5B‑5 / Table 9‑5B‑5‑E1.

Checklist

Confirm applicable zoning district(s) for the parcel and any overlay or specific plan that modifies standards (verify with zoning map / planning staff). § 9‑4A‑3
Prepare a preliminary landscape plan for site plan & architectural review showing conceptual planting locations and sizes. § 9‑5D1‑1.C.1
Prepare and submit a final landscape & irrigation plan (plant species, quantities, size, irrigation details and water budget if required). § 9‑5D1‑2.B (Final Plan)
Use city‑approved street/tree list and place street trees per spacing rules (typically 30 ft on center); include root barriers where trees are within 5 ft of sidewalks/hardscapes. § 9‑5D1‑2.E.1
Provide required 15 ft arterial/collector buffers (where applicable) and 10 ft residential/nonresidential buffers. § 9‑5D1‑2E2–E3
Design parking lot planters, curbing, and pedestrian paths to the minimum widths (5 ft planters, 6 ft pedestrian path). § 9‑5D1‑2E5
For fences/walls: follow Table 9‑5B‑5‑E1 height and permeability rules; secure building permits if fence > 7 ft or other permits for encroachment into public right‑of‑way. § 9‑5B‑5 / Table 9‑5B‑5‑E1
Ensure screening for mechanical equipment, refuse, and outdoor storage (architecturally compatible materials). § 9‑5B‑6
If proposing modifications or exceptions, consider site plan & architectural review or variance routes (planning director, planning commission). § 9‑2B‑12; § 9‑2B‑16

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Which districts require a full landscape plan	The code applies the landscaping article to many new projects but there are exceptions and thresholds (e.g., subdivisions, additions >10%); mis‑filing leads to review delays	Verify applicability for the specific project under § 9‑5D1‑1.B and confirm with the planning director.
Exact plant list (city‑approved street tree list)	Plant selection and tree spacing are enforced at plan check; planting prohibited too close to utilities	Request the city’s master tree list during improvement plan review (tree spacing rules in § 9‑5D1‑2.E.1).
Interplay with downtown / MU rules	Downtown (DMX‑1/2/3) and MU zones have their own chapters that can modify standard placement	Check Chapter 6 (DMX) or Chapter 7 (MU) for exceptions; downtown/mixed‑use rules may supersede the general landscaping rules. Not found in retrieved materials for full crosswalk — verify with planning.
Urban‑rural edge applicability	The 50 ft setback and 30 ft wide landscaped buffer apply only to mapped edges	Confirm whether the parcel sits on the mapped urban‑rural edge (figure referenced in § 9‑5B‑7) and whether a landscape easement is required.
Fence permeability calculation	The fence table requires “minimum permeability” (e.g., 50% in front yards) — determining what counts can be subjective	Provide detailed fence elevations and material callouts during zoning/building plan check; building permit required if > 7 ft. § 9‑5B‑5

Plain‑English summary (for a homeowner)

If you build or change most commercial, multi‑family, or subdivision projects in Lemoore you will have to submit landscape plans that use drought‑tolerant plants, add street trees (typically every 30 ft), provide parking lot planters and buffers (e.g., 15 ft buffers along arterials; 10 ft buffers between residential and nonresidential uses), and follow fence height/permeability rules (front yards generally 4 ft, rear yards up to 7 ft). The details are reviewed as part of site plan and architectural review and some fences/walls require building or encroachment permits. § 9‑5D1‑2; § 9‑5B‑5; § 9‑5B‑6.

Source References

Lemoore Zoning Code (Title 9) — Article D1, Landscaping Standards: § 9‑5D1‑1 through § 9‑5D1‑5.
Landscape standards including parkway, parking lot planters, buffers, plant sizes, vine spacing, irrigation: § 9‑5D1‑2 (subsections E, D, etc.).
Screening of mechanical equipment and refuse: § 9‑5B‑6.
Fences and walls (Table 9‑5B‑5‑E1 and related special fence/wall requirements): § 9‑5B‑5 (Table 9‑5B‑5‑E1; G – special wall requirements).
Urban‑Rural Edge landscaping and buffer rules: § 9‑5B‑7.
Site plan & architectural review applicability and procedures: § 9‑2B‑12; Variance and minor deviation processes: § 9‑2B‑16 and § 9‑2B‑11.
Development standards by zoning district and district‑level lot/setback/height tables: TABLE 9‑5A‑4A and TABLE 9‑5A‑4B (see § 9‑5A‑4).

Sources

Retrieved passages

Lemoore Zoning Code (article is) High relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code (article D2) High relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code (section 9-) High relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code (section 9-) High relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code High relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code (ARTICLE C.) High relevance
CBC § 100 (section shall) High relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code High relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code (title and) Medium relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code (ARTICLE C.) Medium relevance
CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) Medium relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code (section establish) Medium relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code (TITLE 9) Medium relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code (section 23958.4) Medium relevance
Lemoore Zoning Code (chapter 5) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Lemoore code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping must I include for a new commercial parking lot in Lemoore?

You must include planted islands/planters throughout the lot (landscape planter minimum 5 ft width; turf planters 8 ft where turf is used), shade trees per the city list, protective curbing, pedestrian paths (one 6 ft path per 200 spaces flanked by 5 ft planters), and perimeter screening from streets/residential areas to at least 3 ft in height where required. See § 9‑5D1‑2.E.5 and related parking/site design rules.

How wide must a landscape buffer be along an arterial or collector street?

For multi‑family, commercial, office, and industrial developments the code requires a landscape buffer behind the sidewalk with a minimum depth of 15 ft along arterial and collector streets (excluding drive approaches). § 9‑5D1‑2E2.

When do I need to submit a landscape plan to the city?

A preliminary landscape plan must be submitted with site plan and architectural review for new projects (commercial, industrial, mixed‑use, multi‑family, and single‑family subdivisions). A final landscape and irrigation plan must be approved before installation and building permits are released. See § 9‑5D1‑1.C and § 9‑5D1‑2.B.

What are the rules for fences and walls on my residential lot?

Fence/wall heights are controlled by location: in required front and street side yard setbacks the maximum is 4 ft with minimum 50% permeability; in interior side and rear yards the maximum is 7 ft (fences over 7 ft need a building permit). Table 9‑5B‑5‑E1 contains the full matrix. § 9‑5B‑5.

Do I have to screen my HVAC or rooftop equipment from the street?

Yes. Exterior roof and ground‑mounted mechanical equipment must be screened from public view and from abutting residential or open space zoned areas; screening must be compatible with on‑site architecture. § 9‑5B‑6.B.

What plant sizes and spacing does the city require for effective screening?

Minimum tree planting size is 15 gallon, with 25% of trees on a project planted at a 24‑inch box; perimeter buffers require trees planted no more than 30 ft on center and shrubs in a 10 ft planter where buffering between uses is required. § 9‑5D1‑2.D.1 and § 9‑5D1‑2.E.3.

Are solid walls allowed along Lemoore’s urban‑rural edge?

No — the urban‑rural edge standards require that fences be visually permeable (solid walls are prohibited along identified edges) and also require a 50 ft setback and a 30 ft wide landscaped buffer in those mapped locations. § 9‑5B‑7.

Where can I find the city's approved street tree list?

The code requires street and parking lot trees to be selected from the city's adopted master list as part of improvement plan review; request the list during the improvement plan or site plan review process. See § 9‑5D1‑2.E.1.

Do I need a permit for a wall taller than 7 feet?

Yes — fences or walls taller than 7 ft require a building permit; some perimeter walls in subdivisions have specific design and minimum height rules (e.g., 6'8" minimum when required for noise attenuation). § 9‑5B‑5 (Table 9‑5B‑5‑E1 and G.1).

If my parcel is in the downtown DMX zones, do these landscaping rules still apply?

Downtown zones (DMX‑1/DMX‑2/DMX‑3) have separate downtown development standards (Chapter 6). General landscaping requirements apply unless downtown‑specific standards modify them; check Chapter 6 for exceptions. § 9‑5C‑1 and Chapter 6 cross‑references.

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