Local zoning · Lomita

Lomita — Landscaping and Screening

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

Ask a question free See coverage

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Lomita's Zoning Ordinance requires for landscaping, screening, buffers, fences, walls, and trees. It interprets the ordinance text (Title XI, Zoning) into practical rules for applicants and homeowners and points to the controlling code sections so you can verify parcel-specific requirements. For related approvals note the rules about required parking, setbacks and development standards, and design review.

Key, controlling rules (plain statement + where to verify)

  • Minimum planted width: any required planting strip or fixed planter must be at least 3 feet wide. Verify in § 11-1.68.03 .
  • Plant screening: when plants are relied on for a screen they must be evergreen, closely spaced, and maintained at a height that does not exceed the wall/fence height allowed for the same location (see § 11-1.68.03 for landscaping and screening guidance) .
  • Residential front yards: builders must landscape front yards and property owners must keep them maintained; at least 50% of the front yard must be landscaped (see § 11-1.30.03). Verify irrigation / drought-tolerant planting requirements in the same section .
  • Commercial minimum landscape coverage: commercial lots must provide 6% minimum of the lot (excluding building footprint) as landscaped area; landscaped areas are to include perimeter and interior planting and automatic irrigation where specified (§ 11-1.42.01, Table 11-1.42.A) .
  • Fence and wall heights (residential): fences, hedges and walls in required front yards (and secondary front yards on corners) are limited to 42 inches; along rear and interior side property lines the maximum is 6 feet; height is measured from the side with the higher finished grade (§ 11-1.30.07) .
  • Fence/wall standards (commercial): fences and screening along commercial frontages are limited to 42 inches; rear and side property lines up to 6 feet; deviations require site plan review/modification (§ 11-1.68.02) .
  • Screening for storage/trash/utility areas: solid waste and recyclable storage areas for commercial uses must be screened by a six-foot-high solid masonry wall on all sides (with a matching opaque gate) (§ 11-1.61.04) .
  • Trees and tree protection: the zoning ordinance requires preservation of healthy trees as a consideration in site plan review and requires landscape/irrigation plans where landscaping is required; specific tree-protection plan language appears in discrete articles such as wireless facilities requirements and site-plan checklist items — check § 11-1.69 and site plan requirements under Article 70 and § 11-1.68.03 for the landscaping rules that apply to tree protection and irrigation .
  • Materials & prohibited fence types: front-yard fences must use durable, attractive materials (redwood, wrought iron, textured concrete block, certain vinyl, formed concrete); chainlink, corrugated metal, fiberglass fencing, and “tennis windscreens” are prohibited in front/secondary front yards (§ 11-1.30.07) .

District-by-district landscaping & screening summary

The ordinance establishes specific zone names (see § 11-1.20.01 for the full list) and applies the landscaping / screening rules above across them; below are the most decision-relevant districts and how the landscaping/screening rules are applied in each.

A-1 (Residential — Agriculture)

  • Purpose & typical uses: agricultural and very low-density residential. See § 11-1.20.01 for district list .
  • Key landscaping/screening rules: front-yard landscaping and the 50% front-yard landscaping standard applies where residential development standards apply (see § 11-1.30.03) .
  • Where it applies: city parcels designated A-1 on the Zoning Map; see the zone list § 11-1.20.01 .

R-1 (Residential — Low density)

  • Typical uses: single-family homes; accessory structures and regulated ADUs (see ADU rules). See residential development standards in § 11-1.30.02 (Table 11-1.30.B) for setbacks, heights, lot sizes and other dimensional rules .
  • Landscaping specifics: 50% front-yard landscaped (drought-tolerant); front-yard fences limited to 42 inches; rear/side fencing 6 feet max (§ 11-1.30.03, § 11-1.30.07) .
  • Where it applies: properties zoned R-1 per the zoning map and list § 11-1.20.01 .

R-2 / R-3 (Residential — Medium / High density)

  • Typical uses: multi-family housing, duplexes and similar. Dimensional standards (density caps, setbacks, heights) in § 11-1.30.02, Table 11-1.30.B. Landscaping expectations (front-yard landscaping, irrigation, tree preservation) are enforced through site plan review for larger developments and the general landscaping rules in § 11-1.68.03 .
  • Fencing and screening rules: same height limits (front 42 in, side/rear 6 ft) unless modified via site plan review (§ 11-1.30.07, § 11-1.70.07) .

DC / NC / CC / RC (Commercial districts: DC, NC, CC, RC)

  • Purpose & uses: downtown, neighborhood, community, and regional commercial activities. The commercial development standards (lot sizes, heights, and a 6% minimum landscape coverage requirement) are compiled in Table 11-1.42.A (§ 11-1.42.01) .
  • Landscaping & screening: commercial sites must meet Article 68 landscaping rules in addition to Table 11-1.42.A. Perimeter planting and parking-lot landscaping requirements apply; screening next to residential parcels must be a 6-foot wall or equivalent, and plant screening height may not exceed the allowed wall height (§ 11-1.42.01, § 11-1.68.03) .
  • Walls / fences: commercial fence/wall height rules are stated in § 11-1.68.02 (frontage 42 in, rear/side 6 ft) and deviations require site plan review/modification .

M-C (Manufacturing-Commercial)

  • Typical uses: light industrial, warehousing, automobile sales/service uses. Outdoor storage and display are tightly controlled and must be screened — outdoor storage areas often must be fully enclosed by a 6-foot solid masonry wall unless planning commission approves an alternative fence or decorative wall; these areas must also be paved and screened according to Article 68 standards (§ 11-1.43.05, § 11-1.27 and related performance standards) .
  • Landscaping: site plan review will require conceptual landscaping showing location/height of walls, fences and screen planting (§ 11-1.27.05, site-plan checklist) .

PL (Publicly owned land) and H overlay (Housing)

  • PL: landscaping and required setbacks for parking on PL parcels are still subject to the same perimeter landscaping and fence height rules; see § 11-1.34.03 for parking-specific walls and irrigation requirements .
  • H overlay: the housing overlay modifies allowed uses/densities but landscaping and screening requirements referenced above remain applicable unless an overlay-specific standard states otherwise (see Article 51/H overlay references and map) .

Decision-relevant standards (quick table)

Item Standard (what matters at plan check) Code reference
Minimum landscape strip width 3 ft horizontal minimum for any required landscape area/planter § 11-1.68.03
Plant screening height Screening plants must be evergreen, closely spaced, and not exceed the permitted wall/fence height for that location § 11-1.68.03
Front/secondary front yard fence height (residential & commercial) 42 in max § 11-1.30.07 § 11-1.68.02
Rear/interior side fence height 6 ft max § 11-1.30.07
Commercial landscape coverage 6% minimum of lot area (outside buildings) § 11-1.42.01 (Table 11-1.42.A)
Trash / recycling enclosure screening 6 ft solid masonry wall with opaque gate § 11-1.61.04
Front-yard landscape minimum 50% of front yard irrigated & landscaped (drought-tolerant) § 11-1.30.03

Practical guidance & interpretation (how planners apply these rules)

  • Landscaping plans are required to show plant species, sizes, spacing, and irrigation for any project that triggers landscaping or parking-lot landscaping; the city looks for drought-tolerant species and automatic irrigation in commercial landscape areas (§ 11-1.42.01, § 11-1.68.03) .
  • If you propose plant screening in place of a wall, expect the planter to be a minimum 3 feet wide and the planting to reach equivalent opacity at maturity. The code explicitly ties permitted plant screening heights to the wall/fence heights allowed in the same yard location (§ 11-1.68.03) .
  • Where trash, service yards or outdoor storage adjoin neighbors or streets, the code generally requires a 6-foot masonry wall or an approved decorative substitute; plan submittals should show wall details and gate locations and must keep enclosures out of required landscaped areas unless redesign is approved (§ 11-1.61.04, § 11-1.42.01) .
  • Front yard fence materials are controlled: chain-link and corrugated metal are not allowed in front yards; choose durable, “attractive” materials called out in § 11-1.30.07 to avoid a denial or modification requirement .
  • Many departures (higher fences, different materials, alternative landscaping) can be considered through site plan review and the modification process — plan ahead and include visual simulations and irrigation plans in the first submission (§ 11-1.70.07, site plan checklist items in the wireless and PRD sections) .
  • For telecommunication or other utility installations, special camouflage, perimeter planting (trees/shrubs at planting height not less than 4 ft) and a maintenance plan are explicitly required; check the wireless article for those additional planting rules (§ 11-1.69 et seq.) .

Checklist

  • Show zoning district on plans (e.g., R-1, R-2, DC) and cite applicable tables § 11-1.20.01 and § 11-1.30.02/§ 11-1.42.01 .
  • Provide a landscape and irrigation plan showing species, size, spacing, automatic irrigation (if required), and a maintenance program (§ 11-1.68.03, site-plan checklist) .
  • Demonstrate minimum planting widths (3 ft) and that plant screening will not exceed allowed wall/fence heights (§ 11-1.68.03) .
  • Show fence/wall sections, materials, heights measured from the higher finished grade, and gate locations (§ 11-1.30.07, § 11-1.68.02) .
  • Show trash/recycling enclosures with 6-foot masonry walls and gates (non-residential) (§ 11-1.61.04) .
  • Include visual simulations when required (especially for larger projects or wireless facilities) and document tree-protection measures if trees are to be preserved (§ 11-1.69, site plan checklist) .
  • If proposing nonstandard fences, greater heights, or alternative screening, include a modification/site-plan review justification and reference § 11-1.70.08 for the modification criteria .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Plant screening vs. walls The code ties plant screening height to permitted wall heights; using plants instead of walls can fail if species/spacing won’t achieve equivalent opacity Confirm species, mature height, spacing and maintenance plan; reference § 11-1.68.03
Grade measurement for fence height Height is measured from the higher finished grade; sloping lots can reduce allowable fence height on one side Field-verify grade lines and show section drawings; see § 11-1.30.07
Parking-area landscaping applicability Parking-driven landscape rules appear in Article 66 and interact with commercial landscape minima in Table 11-1.42.A Confirm whether project triggers parking-lot landscaping and cite Article 66 and § 11-1.42.01
Trash/utility enclosure materials The code requires 6-foot masonry enclosures for commercial solid waste; alternatives need planning commission approval Show enclosure detail and request an explicit substitution if not masonry; see § 11-1.61.04
Conflicts with fire/WUI rules State wildland-urban interface and local fire codes may require non-combustible materials or plant setbacks — not covered in detail here Verify with the Fire Department and building officials; local Zoning references to WUI/Title 24 provisions are limited in the retrieved materials (see Information Gaps)
Applicability to ADUs and accessory structures ADU rules and some accessory-structure height/setback exceptions are handled in other code sections Review ADU rules and accessory structure sections; see § 11-1.30.06 references and consult ADU guidance ADUs

Information Gaps

  • The ordinance text retrieved describes landscaping, screening, and fence/wall standards, but does not include an explicit, consolidated citywide "tree protection ordinance" with replacement ratios or protected species lists — tree preservation is required as a consideration in reviews but detailed thresholds are Not found in retrieved materials (verify with city arborist / planning staff). See site-plan review checklist items and wireless facility sections for tree-protection plan mentions § 11-1.69 and site plan provisions .
  • Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) or defensible-space landscaping requirements that carry building-code implications are not consolidated here; any WUI/fire-hardening detail referencing Title 24 or state WUI requirements is Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the local Fire Department and California Building Standards Code.

Plain-English Summary

Lomita requires basic, enforceable landscaping and screening standards: front yards must be landscaped (owners keep 50% planted), commercial lots must provide 6% landscaped area, planter strips must be at least 3 feet wide, plant screens must match permitted wall heights, and front-yard fences are limited to 42 inches while side/rear fences can be 6 feet high. These rules are enforced through routine plan check and site-plan review; deviations are possible but require formal modification/site-plan review. See the key code sections listed below for the exact wording and parcel-specific verification (§ 11-1.68.03, § 11-1.30.07, § 11-1.42.01) .

Source References

  • Lomita Zoning Ordinance (Title XI — Planning & Zoning), including:
    • § 11-1.68.03 (Landscaping)
    • § 11-1.68.02 (Fence/wall height standards, commercial)
    • § 11-1.30.07 (Fences, hedges, walls — residential)
    • § 11-1.30.03 (Residential front yard landscaping requirement)
    • § 11-1.42.01 and Table 11-1.42.A (Commercial development standards; 6% landscape coverage)
    • § 11-1.15.12 (Definition: Landscaping)
    • § 11-1.61.04 (Solid waste & recycling enclosures — screening by 6-foot masonry wall)
    • § 11-1.20.01 (List of zones: A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, DC, NC, CC, RC, M-C, PL, H)
    • Residential development standards Table 11-1.30.B (§ 11-1.30.02) (setbacks, heights, minimum lot sizes)
    • Site plan review, modifications and administration: Article 70 (site plan review and modifications) § 11-1.70.07 / § 11-1.70.08
    • Wireless communications landscaping and screening standards (applicable to screening of ground equipment and monopoles): Article 69 § 11-1.69

(These references are drawn from the City of Lomita Zoning Code document set retrieved for this analysis; see the municipal code print export / zoning ordinance for the full text.)

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Lomita Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code (article 82) High relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance
  • CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code Medium relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code (Article 70) Medium relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code (article 68) Medium relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code (§ 9) Medium relevance
  • Lomita Zoning Code (section 11-) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping does Lomita require in a front yard for a single-family home?

Lomita requires that at least 50% of a residential front yard be landscaped and irrigated with drought-tolerant species; front-yard landscaping and irrigation plans are treated as part of site-plan compliance for larger projects (§ 11-1.30.03) .

How tall can my fence be in Lomita if it’s in the front yard?

A fence or wall located within a required front yard or corner-lot secondary front yard may not exceed 42 inches in height; rear and interior side property lines may have fences up to 6 feet high (§ 11-1.30.07) .

Can I use plants instead of a wall to screen my parking lot from neighbors?

Yes, plants can be used for screening, but they must be evergreen, closely spaced, and maintained at a height that does not exceed the walls/fences permitted for that location. The planter strip must meet minimum width standards (3 ft), and the landscape plan should show species, spacing and maintenance (§ 11-1.68.03) .

Does Lomita require landscaping in commercial parking lots?

Yes. Commercial districts have a minimum landscape coverage requirement (generally 6% of lot area outside buildings) and parking-lot landscaping is required under the development standards and Article 66 (off-street parking), with automatic irrigation often required (§ 11-1.42.01, Article 66) .

What materials are allowed for front-yard fences?

Front-yard fences should be built with durable, attractive materials (examples listed include redwood, wrought iron, textured concrete block, certain vinyl or formed concrete). Chainlink, corrugated metal, fiberglass fencing, and tennis windscreens are not permitted in front/secondary front yards (§ 11-1.30.07) .

Do trash enclosures need to be screened?

Yes. Commercial and other non-residential solid waste and recycling enclosures must be screened by a six-foot-high solid masonry wall on all sides (an opaque gate is required on the opening) — provide a plan detail showing this for review (§ 11-1.61.04) .

If my lot slopes, how is a fence height measured?

Fence or wall height is measured from the side with the higher finished grade; for sloping lots plan-checkers expect section drawings that show the measurement points (§ 11-1.30.07) .

Can I propose a taller fence or different screening material?

Possibly — deviations to fence/wall heights and materials can be approved through site plan review and the modification process if you meet the criteria in Article 70; submit a justification and visual simulations with the application (§ 11-1.70.08) .

Are there special landscaping rules for wireless or utility installations?

Yes — wireless ground-mounted facilities generally require landscaping to reduce visual impacts, protection for existing vegetation, an automatic irrigation system, and a perimeter buffer with trees or shrubs (monopoles require at least one row of 4 ft tall trees/shrubs at planting) (§ 11-1.69) .

Do ADU rules change landscaping or fence requirements?

ADUs are regulated elsewhere in the code and may change allowable accessory structure heights or setbacks; landscaping and fencing rules in the zoning ordinance still apply, and you should review ADU rules in § 11-1.30.06 alongside the landscaping sections and consult the ADU guidance ADUs .

More in Lomita code

Ask about any Lomita property

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

Start Free Trial

More Lomita zoning topics

Lomita Zoning

Lomita Land Use

Lomita Development Standards

Lomita Parking

Lomita Design Review

Lomita Overlay Districts

Lomita Historic Preservation

Lomita Signage

Lomita Nonconforming Uses

Lomita Variances and Exceptions

Lomita overview