Loma Linda — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Loma Linda's Development Code requires for landscaping and screening (including buffers, fences, walls, trees, and parking-lot landscaping). It is drawn from the Loma Linda municipal zoning provisions (not building code or state ADU law). Where the Code gives a specific number or rule I cite the controlling § and the ordinance excerpt used for interpretation. Verify parcel‑specific questions with the city; some project types trigger design review, precise plans, or specific‑plan rules. See the city's zoning overview for context on how these rules plug into application requirements: Loma Linda zoning & planning overview.

What the code actually requires (key rules)

• Landscaping is defined and limited: “Landscaping” means planted trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover, flowers or lawns; hardscape is allowed but may not exceed 50% of any landscaped area; and a minimum of 50% of the front yard setback area must be landscaped. Reference: § 17.02.215.

• Vegetation / visual barriers at intersections (corner cutoff): any visual barrier (fences, walls, vegetation, signs) in the corner cutoff area must not exceed 36 inches above the curb (or 44 inches above street surface) to preserve intersection sight distance. Reference: § 17.14.020.

• Fences/walls in front yards and corner cutoffs: wrought iron fences up to 4 ft are explicitly permitted in front yards / corner cutoffs; there are different height/location rules for corner, reverse corner, rear yards, and nonresidential zones. See Chapter 17.14 (Fences, Walls, Hedges) — e.g., § 17.14.050, § 17.14.060, § 17.14.100, § 17.14.110, § 17.14.120 and § 17.14.130.

• Where nonresidential zones neighbor residential zones, the Code requires a minimum 6‑ft solid masonry block wall (measured from highest grade) or replacement of an existing similar barrier. Reference: § 17.14.120(B).

• Parking‑lot landscaping: parking lots associated with development must submit a landscaping/screening/maintenance plan. Minimums include one tree per five parking spaces and 10% landscaped area for lots <85 spaces (or 8% for lots ≥85 spaces). Reference: § 17.24.170 (also cross‑referenced as § 17.24.330 in similar provisions).

• Landscaping in special‑purpose/open space zones: open areas are required to be permanently landscaped with an automatic irrigation system; Table notes require at least 4% of off‑street parking area to be irrigated. Reference: Table 2‑8 notes (special purpose zones) / related development standards.

• Historic resources: removal or cutting of trees, landscaping or other natural features may be treated as an alteration requiring review under the Historic Preservation chapter. Reference: § 17.80.040.

• Design review and landscaping: landscaping, screening, and maintenance plans are part of many discretionary reviews (minor use permits, precise plan of design, conditional use permits, multifamily development review). See administrative/plan chapters for application submittal requirements and modification rules. Reference: § 17.30, § 17.32.030, and related precise‑plan language.

(Throughout this page I link to related municipal pages for topics the Code references: parking, development standards, design review, overlays, ADUs, and the state building code.)

• Parking → Loma Linda Parking
• Setbacks / base standards → Loma Linda Development Standards
• Design review → Loma Linda Design Review
• Overlay rules/specific plans → Loma Linda Overlay Districts
• ADUs → Loma Linda ADUs
• Historic preservation → Loma Linda Historic Preservation
• Title 24 / state building code → California Building Standards Code

District‑by‑district breakdown

Below I synthesize the Code’s landscaping/screening implications by the City’s base zoning groups. Each subsection gives the district name in bold, its purpose, typical uses (as relevant to landscaping/screening), and the development standards that most directly affect planting, fences/walls, or screening. All dimensional numbers below are taken from the Code tables and cited.

R-1 (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: single‑family homes and accessory uses. See Table 2‑2 for allowed uses and density.
• Landscaping/screening implications:
  • Front yard setback areas must be at least 50% landscaped per the landscaping definition. § 17.02.215.
  • Visibility at corners: corner cutoff height limits (max 36 in above curb) apply. § 17.14.020.
  • Fence rules: open wire/metal fences permitted to 4 ft projection allowances; masonry/solid fences limited per front‑yard standards and corner restrictions. See Chapter 17.14 (fences/walls).
• Key dimensional references: minimum parcel size and front/side/rear setbacks are in Table 2‑2; landscaping obligations are cross‑referenced in the residential development standards. § 17.32.030 and Table 2‑2.

R-2 (Medium‑Density Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: duplexes, small multi‑unit; similar landscaping and fence rules as R-1 but with multi‑unit open‑space and tree standards. See Table 2‑2.
• Landscaping/screening implications:
  • Front setback landscaping 50% applies. § 17.02.215.
  • Open space and common area landscaping: multifamily developments must provide landscaped common open space per Table 2‑8.C and Chapter 17.115 design standards (including minimum tree sizes for common areas). See Chapter 17.115 (objective design standards).

R-3 / R-4 (Higher‑density Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: apartments, multifamily. See Table 2‑2 and R‑zone use tables.
• Landscaping/screening implications:
  • Multifamily projects typically must submit detailed landscape plans for common areas and parking; trees in common/landscaped areas have minimum specimen sizes per the objective design standards. See Chapter 17.115.
  • Parking‑lot landscape rules (one tree per five spaces and specified percent of landscaped area) apply to parking serving these sites. § 17.24.170 / § 17.24.330.

Commercial zones (examples: C‑1, C‑2, CO, B‑P, CM)

• Purpose / typical uses: neighborhood commercial, general commercial, office, business park, commercial manufacturing. See Table 2‑6 for permitted uses.
• Landscaping/screening implications:
  • Where a commercial property abuts residential, the code requires larger side/rear setbacks and often a 6‑ft masonry wall between nonresidential and residential uses (see § 17.14.120(B)).
  • Parking‑lot landscaping requirements and tree ratios apply to commercial parking and can be the basis for screening between uses. § 17.24.170.

Industrial / Manufacturing zones (e.g., M, CM)

• Purpose / typical uses: manufacturing, warehousing, industrial service. See Table 2‑6 for specifics.
• Landscaping/screening implications:
  • In manufacturing zones fences of specific materials may be allowed up to 8 ft (subject to setback and planting requirements along street frontages). § 17.08.050 and Chapter 17.14.
  • When abutting residential, transitional buffering (walls + landscape) is required; the 6‑ft masonry wall standard in § 17.14.120(B) is commonly applied.

Special Purpose / Institutional / Open Space (I‑HC, OS, PF, PC)

• Purpose / typical uses: institutional‑health care, open space, public facility, planned community; see Table 2‑8 for standards.
• Landscaping/screening implications:
  • Open Space parcels have larger setbacks and special rules for walls/fences (e.g., natural wood/metal non‑opaque fences allowed if consistent with OS intent; masonry walls must be shielded from street view and set back 50 ft from ultimate ROW). See Table 2‑8 notes.
  • All new parcels’ open areas must be permanently landscaped with an automatic irrigation system; minimum irrigated area requirements are noted for off‑street parking. Table 2‑8 note 1.

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant standards

Checklist (applicant must satisfy)

• Show how 50% of the front yard setback will be landscaped (plant types, calculations). § 17.02.215.
• If creating or altering parking: include a landscape + screening + maintenance plan showing trees (1 per 5 spaces) and percent landscaping. § 17.24.170 / § 17.24.330.
• Fences/walls: dimension and locate all fences/walls relative to corner cutoff areas, setbacks and adjacent zones; show proposed materials (masonry vs open metal) and cite compliance with Chapter 17.14. § 17.14.020, § 17.14.050, § 17.14.100–130.
• If nonresidential property abuts residential: propose the required 6‑ft masonry wall or equivalent treatment and associated landscape buffer. § 17.14.120(B).
• For multifamily/common areas: specify tree sizes and planting schedule per Chapter 17.115 objective design standards and Table 17.115.060A.
• Confirm whether the site is in a specific plan or overlay; specific plans can add or change landscaping requirements. See Loma Linda Overlay Districts and Table SP (specific plans).
• Provide any required findings or materials for design review / precise plan / minor use permit if the project triggers discretionary review. See Loma Linda Design Review and § 17.30.

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps

• The exact Code section number (and full text) that prescribes the final "notification of completion and written certification" for landscaping was not clearly located in the retrieved materials; the clause was present but not tied to a clear § available in the files. Not found in retrieved materials.
• No comprehensive plant palette, drought‑tolerant requirements, or irrigation efficiency standards were present in the excerpts reviewed—those are often in separate landscape guidelines or planning commission resolutions. Not found in retrieved materials.
• The Code excerpts show both § 17.24.170 and § 17.24.330 addressing parking lot landscaping (likely renumbered / cross‑referenced). Confirm current authoritative section with staff.

Plain‑English summary

If you’re building or altering landscaping in Loma Linda: plan to landscape at least half of any front setback, follow strict corner/corner‑cutoff sightline rules for fences and hedges, provide parking‑lot trees at roughly one tree per five spaces and show the percent of landscaping on plans, and use masonry walls where commercial or industrial meets homes; submit those details with your application and expect them to be reviewed as part of design review or a precise plan. Key rules live in § 17.02.215, Chapter 17.14, and § 17.24.170 / § 17.24.330.

Source References

• Loma Linda Development Code — Landscaping definition: § 17.02.215.
• Loma Linda Development Code — Fences, Walls, Hedges (corner cutoff, heights, nonresidential buffers): Chapter 17.14; see § 17.14.020, § 17.14.050, § 17.14.100–130.
• Loma Linda Development Code — Parking lot landscaping / tree counts: § 17.24.170 and parallel entry § 17.24.330 (landscape, screening and maintenance plans).
• Loma Linda Development Code — Special Purpose / OS zone notes and irrigation requirement (Table 2‑8 notes).
• Loma Linda Development Code — Residential development standards and Table 2‑2 (R‑zones): Table 2‑2 and § 17.32.030.
• Loma Linda Development Code — Historic Preservation definitions referencing trees/landscaping as alterations: § 17.80.040.
• Loma Linda Development Code — Objective Design Standards / multifamily landscape guidance (Tree minimum sizes and useable open space): Chapter 17.115 (see Table 17.115.060A and related subsections).
• Specific plans listing (The Groves, etc.) — Table SP in the Code (specific plans may set their own landscaping standards).

Retrieved passages

• Loma Linda Zoning Code (§ 12.12.01) High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code (§ 16) High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code (§ 17.80.030.) High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 200 Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 200 Medium relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code (§ 14.05.02) Medium relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Loma Linda Development Code — Landscaping definition: **§ 17.02.215**. (§ 17.02.215)
• Loma Linda Development Code — Fences, Walls, Hedges (corner cutoff, heights, nonresidential buffers): **Chapter 17.14**; see **§ 17.14.020**, **§ 17.14.050**, **§ 17.14.100–130**. (Chapter 17.14)
• Loma Linda Development Code — Parking lot landscaping / tree counts: **§ 17.24.170** and parallel entry **§ 17.24.330** (landscape, screening and maintenance plans). (§ 17.24.170)
• Loma Linda Development Code — Special Purpose / OS zone notes and irrigation requirement (Table 2‑8 notes).
• Loma Linda Development Code — Residential development standards and Table 2‑2 (R‑zones): **Table 2‑2** and § **17.32.030**.
• Loma Linda Development Code — Historic Preservation definitions referencing trees/landscaping as alterations: **§ 17.80.040**. (§ 17.80.040)
• Loma Linda Development Code — Objective Design Standards / multifamily landscape guidance (Tree minimum sizes and useable open space): Chapter **17.115** (see Table 17.115.060A and related subsections).
• Specific plans listing (The Groves, etc.) — Table SP in the Code (specific plans may set their own landscaping standards).
• LomaLinda_ZoningCode.md

• Official Loma Linda code library