Long Beach — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Long Beach zoning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening (trees, fences, walls, buffers, parkways, mechanical screening, and trash enclosures). It is grounded in Long Beach Municipal Code Chapters on Landscaping (Chapter 21.42), Fences (Chapter 21.43), and the zoning district rules that call those standards out (e.g., Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Park, Public Right‑of‑Way, and residential zones). See the City’s zoning overview for context. Long Beach zoning & planning overview.

Important: this page only covers landscaping and screening rules written into the local zoning ordinance; it does not replace plan review, other permitting, or the California Building Standards Code. If a project triggers building work refer to the California Building Standards Code / Title 24. California Building Standards Code

How the rules fit together (quick map)

• Chapter 21.42 (Landscaping Standards) defines minimum planting, irrigation, water‑budget/submittal rules, plant sizes, parkway rules, and MWELO compliance.
• District chapters (e.g., 21.32 Commercial, 21.33 Industrial, 21.34 Institutional, 21.35 Park, 21.36 Public Right‑of‑Way) require that projects “provide landscaping as required by Chapter 21.42” and add district‑specific buffers/screening.
• Screening for parking, rooftop equipment, outdoor storage, and trash enclosures is required in the district or special development standards chapters and references Chapter 21.42 and specific screening rules. See the parking screening cross‑references. Long Beach Parking

District-by-district landscaping & screening (practical, ordinance‑based)

Note: each subsection highlights the ordinance purpose, typical uses, and the zoning code provisions that control landscaping/screening for that district. Always confirm parcel‑specific rules and overlays. Long Beach Overlay Districts

Residential — R-1N, R-3, R-4

• Purpose & typical uses: single‑family (R-1N) and multi‑family (R-3, R-4) residential development. Residential development is routinely required to meet Chapter 21.42 landscaping standards.
• Key landscaping/screening rules:
  • Required yard areas must be planted and a minimum five‑foot (5') wide front/side setback planting is typical per district yard rules; see Chapter 21.42 for live‑plant coverage and MAWA/ETWU submittal requirements. § 21.42.030.
  • Parkway (street tree) requirements: when a new dwelling is added or discretionary Site Plan Review is required, provide one 24" box street tree per 25' of property line (root barriers and irrigation as specified by Public Works). § 21.42.050.B.1.
  • Fence rules that affect screening: replacement fences in a special setback area are allowed up to 6'6" in side/rear yards (see fence chapter). § 21.25.808 and Chapter 21.43 for height limits.

Commercial (e.g., CO, CT and other commercial districts)

• Purpose & typical uses: retail, offices, restaurants; commercial district chapters require yard landscaping and screening to limit impacts. § 21.32. references Chapter 21.42 for landscaping.
• Key landscaping/screening rules:
  • Required yards: a minimum five‑foot (5') planted strip in required yard areas (except alleys/outdoor dining). § 21.32. and § 21.42.030.
  • Screening: commercial uses abutting residential districts must be screened by a solid fence or wall not less than six feet, six inches (6'6") (front yard of residential lot: 3'). § 21.32.225.A.3.
  • Parking: commercial parking must meet Chapter 21.41 and parking lots require screening per § 21.41.266 and landscape islands/trees per 21.41/21.42 rules. Long Beach Parking

Industrial (IL, IM, IG, IP)

• Purpose & typical uses: light to heavy industrial, port uses. Industrial chapters require more robust buffers where industrial touches residential or major streets. § 21.33 and special standards in 21.45.168 apply.
• Key landscaping/screening rules:
  • Buffers: where industrial abuts residential, provide a 10‑foot landscaping buffer (or 15' for some industrial subzones), with broadleaf evergreen trees at 24" box minimum spaced per district rules. § 21.45.168.F and § 21.42 yard rules.
  • Outdoor service/work areas: property lines abutting residential districts must have a solid fence or wall not less than 6' high; special allowances for decorative/open fences across alleys exist but visibility limits apply (max 20% open). § 21.45.150.G.
  • Rooftop equipment screening: industrial buildings with rooftop equipment visible from public streets or abutting residential districts must screen equipment to the height of the equipment; materials must be durable and architecturally integrated. § 21.33.180.

Institutional — (I)

• Purpose & typical uses: public institutions, schools, hospitals. § 21.34 requires site plan review for large institutional sites and landscaping per Chapter 21.42.
• Key landscaping/screening rules:
  • Institutional sites over 40,000 sq ft must file a long range development plan and follow Site Plan Review (landscaping and screening integrated into that process). § 21.34.020 and § 21.34.025.
  • Residential development within Institutional zones must follow R‑1N standards for landscaping/privacy when applicable. § 21.34.245.

Park (P)

• Purpose & typical uses: publicly owned parks and beaches. § 21.35 establishes the Park district and references Chapter 21.42 for landscaping and screening, and requires screening of storage and maintenance equipment from public view. § 21.35.235 and § 21.35.255.

Public Right‑of‑Way (PR) / Parkway

• Purpose & typical uses: public rights‑of‑way and adjacent parkways. Owners are responsible for planting/maintaining the parkway between sidewalk and curb; parkway plant palette and spacing rules favor drought‑tolerant, low water use plants and prohibit turf. § 21.42.050. Long Beach Development Standards

Key numeric standards (decision‑relevant table)

Practical guidance & interpretation (plain‑English synthesis)

• Start landscape compliance early: if your project triggers discretionary approval or Site Plan Review you will need a complete Landscape Document Package (ETWU/MAWA, irrigation plans, soil prep) per Chapter 21.42. § 21.42.030 and submittal requirements are explicit.
• Trees and planters matter: Long Beach mandates minimum tree sizes and spacing (24" box for on‑site/street trees, planting distances 15'–25' between canopies). Don’t assume small containers or turf will meet the requirement. § 21.42 (plant sizes / spacing).
• Buffers and fences are district‑specific: commercial/industrial abutting residential have mandatory solid walls/fences and landscape buffers; heights and opacity requirements are in the district sections and Chapter 21.43 (fence heights/exceptions). § 21.32.225, § 21.45.150.G, and § 21.43.
• Parkway responsibility: property owners are responsible for parkway planting/maintenance between curb and private property line; parkway plant palette restricts turf and high‑water plants. § 21.42.050.
• Mechanical & rooftop screening: rooftop equipment visible from streets or residential districts must be screened to the height of the equipment and be architecturally integrated; the Director reviews screening plans before mechanical permits. § 21.33.180.
• Trash, outdoor storage, and repair yards: specific screening/enclosure standards apply (trash: masonry walls min 5'6"; outdoor repair yards: 6' solid wall on residential boundaries; display or outdoor equipment: 6' solid fence or compact evergreen hedge). § 21.45 and district standards.

When a code cross‑references other chapters (e.g., parking screening per § 21.41.266) you must follow both the chapter requirement and the Chapter 21.42 planting standards; parking and screening rules are enforced together. Long Beach Parking

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

• Submit a complete Landscape Document Package when required (MAWA/ETWU, landscape plan, irrigation plan, soil report) per Chapter 21.42. § 21.42.030.
• Provide minimum plant sizes: 24" box trees (or approved substitution), 5 gal shrubs, 3" mulch. § 21.42 (plant sizes/substitutions).
• Meet street tree/parkway rules: provide required 24" box street trees per 25' of frontage when triggered; install root barriers and irrigation per Public Works specs. § 21.42.050.B.
• Provide required parking lot trees (1 tree per 4 spaces) and planters (min 4'×4'). § 21.41/21.42.
• Provide required buffers/solid screening where commercial/industrial abut residential (6'–6'6" walls, or as required) and landscape the fence/wall with vines or plantings per § 21.42. § 21.32.225, § 21.45.150.G.
• Design rooftop/mechanical screening to match materials and height rules and obtain Director review before mechanical permit. § 21.33.180.
• For projects in the Coastal Zone, or properties subject to overlays, confirm additional coastal or overlay design requirements and permitting. Verify with Planning. Long Beach Overlay Districts

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Long Beach requires plants, trees, irrigation and screening to be built into new projects and many remodels: expect to provide a water‑budgeted landscape plan, 24"‑box trees (or approved equivalents), parking lot trees and planters, parkway trees (when triggered), and solid screening where commercial/industrial meets residential. Specific fence heights, buffer widths, and trash‑court screening are spelled out in the zoning chapters and Chapter 21.42; verify overlay or parcel‑specific conditions with Planning.

Source References

• § 21.42.010–.050 (Landscaping purpose, general requirements, parkway/street tree rules, submittal/MAWA/ETWU requirements).
• § 21.42 (Plant sizes, substitutions, spacing, other yard tree counts).
• § 21.32.225 (Commercial screening required — open storage, screening next to residential).
• § 21.33.180 (Industrial rooftop mechanical screening).
• § 21.34.020–.025 (Institutional long‑range plan / site plan review referencing landscaping).
• § 21.35.235 / § 21.35.255 (Park district — screening and landscaping obligation).
• § 21.45.150 (Outdoor service/repair: screening work areas; 6' fences where abutting residential; surfacing and maintenance).
• § 21.45.168.F (Truck terminal/yard buffering and landscaping minimums for industrial uses).
• Chapter 21.43 and § 21.25.808 (Fences/garden walls and exceptions/special setback replacement fences).
• MWELO incorporation and compost/mulch requirements referenced in § 21.42 (local adaptation of state landscape/water rules).

Retrieved passages

• Long Beach Zoning Code (Section 21.45.400.) High relevance show source text
• Long Beach Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 32 (Chapter 21.41) High relevance show source text
• Long Beach Zoning Code (§ 25) High relevance show source text
• Long Beach Zoning Code (§ 17) High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Long Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 21.51) High relevance show source text
• Long Beach Zoning Code (§ 20) High relevance show source text
• Long Beach Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Long Beach Zoning Code (Section 21.41.269) High relevance show source text
• Long Beach Zoning Code (Section 21.41.269) High relevance show source text
• Long Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 21.43) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **§ 21.42.010–.050** (Landscaping purpose, general requirements, parkway/street tree rules, submittal/MAWA/ETWU requirements). (§ 21.42.010)
• **§ 21.42** (Plant sizes, substitutions, spacing, other yard tree counts). (§ 21.42)
• **§ 21.32.225** (Commercial screening required — open storage, screening next to residential). (§ 21.32.225)
• **§ 21.33.180** (Industrial rooftop mechanical screening). (§ 21.33.180)
• **§ 21.34.020–.025** (Institutional long‑range plan / site plan review referencing landscaping). (§ 21.34.020)
• **§ 21.35.235 / § 21.35.255** (Park district — screening and landscaping obligation). (§ 21.35.235)
• **§ 21.45.150** (Outdoor service/repair: screening work areas; 6' fences where abutting residential; surfacing and maintenance). (§ 21.45.150)
• **§ 21.45.168.F** (Truck terminal/yard buffering and landscaping minimums for industrial uses). (§ 21.45.168.F)
• **Chapter 21.43** and **§ 21.25.808** (Fences/garden walls and exceptions/special setback replacement fences). (Chapter 21.43)
• MWELO incorporation and compost/mulch requirements referenced in **§ 21.42** (local adaptation of state landscape/water rules). (§ 21.42)
• LongBeach_ZoningCode.md

• Official Long Beach code library