Madera County — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

In the unincorporated areas of Madera County, landscaping and screening rules live primarily in the zoning ordinance’s general development and parking standards, plus several use-specific standards that require buffers, plantings, walls, or fences for visual screening and safety. Definitions for “vision setbacks” and “visual obstructions” set height and visibility limits for plantings and fences near driveways and street corners. This page synthesizes what the zoning ordinance says about landscaping and screening; it does not cover the California Building Standards Code or separate county water-efficiency rules.

Most nonresidential projects in unincorporated Madera County must landscape required setbacks, screen parking lots near homes with a 6 ft masonry wall plus landscaping, and keep plants and fences under 3 ft in any “vision setback” near driveways and intersections (§ 18.04.560, § 18.04.565; parking/screening standards appear with a cross-reference to § 18.102.130) .

Countywide landscaping and screening standards that affect most projects

• Required landscaping of setbacks (nonresidential). All required setbacks for nonresidential development must be landscaped “as per the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance,” with exceptions for single-family residential. The ordinance then lists required landscaping features for parking edges, curbs to protect planters, screening walls next to residential uses, and tree shading in parking areas (standards shown below; parking lot detail is cross-referenced to § 18.102.130) .
• Parking lot perimeter setbacks and landscaping. Provide at least a 10 ft landscaped buffer to the property line or right‑of‑way at street frontages, and a 5 ft landscaped side/rear parking setback; permanent automatic irrigation is required in landscaped setbacks (under the general parking/landscaping standards; see also the cross‑reference to § 18.102.130) .
• Curbs to protect landscape areas. A continuous 6 in curb must be placed at the front of parking spaces next to landscaped areas, berms, or walls; location/overhang rules are tied to parking lot details cross‑referenced in § 18.102.130 .
• Screening when near residential. When any parking facility is within 100 ft of residentially zoned or developed property, construct a solid masonry wall at least 6 ft high along the common property line; keep fences/landscaping under 3 ft within any “vision setback.” Landscape the 5 ft strip between the wall and parking. Screening for multifamily projects may vary at the zoning administrator’s discretion (appears in the general parking/landscaping standards) .
• Driveway visibility (“vision setback”). Near a driveway-street intersection, a “vision setback” 10 ft deep and 30 ft along each side of the driveway must remain clear of visual obstructions; no plants/fences over 3 ft in that area. “Vision setback” and “visual obstruction” are defined terms in § 18.04.560 and § 18.04.565, respectively .
• Shade trees in parking lots. Provide shade trees throughout parking lots at a ratio of one tree for every six parking spaces (general parking/landscaping standards) .
• Trash enclosures. For commercial, industrial, institutional, and multifamily uses, provide a designated trash enclosure screened from adjacent properties by a solid wall; design standards are cross‑referenced in § 18.102.130 .
• Landscape maintenance and drought adjustments. Approved landscape/irrigation plans must be maintained; the zoning administrator may reduce required landscaping during drought/low‑water conditions (general parking/landscaping standards) .

Use-specific landscaping and screening standards (Chapter 18.94)

• Mini-storage facilities (§ 18.94.075). Require:
  • A generally 10 ft landscaped buffer along street frontages and at least a 10 ft landscaped edge along interior property lines abutting existing or proposed residential development.
  • Mature trees (minimum 15‑gallon), shrubs, and groundcover sized/placed to visually screen the project within 10 years; xeriscape/native vegetation encouraged where practicable.
  • An 8 ft minimum screening wall or fence around the facility, designed to screen public view and be compatible with planned adjoining development.
  • Irrigation plan for all landscaped areas.
  • The planning director may adjust wall/buffer placement case‑by‑case, subject to planning commission review (§ 18.94.075.B–D) .
• Transit mix/concrete manufacturing (§ 18.94.120). Requires submittal/approval of a landscaping plan; where a site abuts any residentially permitted district, provide an 8 ft high planting screen that limits views to less than 10% of what would otherwise be open view (§ 18.94.120.A–B) .
• Junkyards (§ 18.94.130). In the CRG, I‑L, or I‑H districts, junkyards must be fully enclosed by an 8 ft solid fence; no operations outside the fence; a 10 ft area around the fence must be kept free of weeds/debris (§ 18.94.130.C–E, F) .
• Public/commercial refuse disposal sites (§ 18.94.110). A planting plan approved by the planning director must be included in the plan of operation; additional setbacks apply (no disposal or structures within 50 ft of the base setback line) (§ 18.94.110.E.1–2) .
• Tent camps and travel trailer camps/parks. Perimeter screening landscaping is required and fencing designs require approval; complete landscape and irrigation plans must be submitted. Precise § references for these standards were not found in the retrieved materials (Not found in retrieved materials) .

District-by-district touchpoints for landscaping/screening

Note: Only districts that appear in the retrieved ordinance excerpts are shown below. For broader district purposes, dimensional standards, or additional districts, see Madera County Zoning and Madera County Development Standards. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel-specific overlays or conditions and see Madera County Overlay Districts.

RUS (Residential, Urban, Single-Family)

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Single-family housing; a “residential conversion” provision exists (§ 18.94.140), but no specific landscaping standard is attached in the retrieved text .
• Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Landscaping/screening highlights:
  • “Vision setback” limits plants/fences to 3 ft height within the clear-vision triangle at driveways/intersections (§ 18.04.560, § 18.04.565) .
  • Countywide parking landscaping/screening applies to multifamily or nonresidential projects; single-family residential is not subject to the setback‑landscaping requirement noted above (general standard referencing § 18.102.130) .

CUG (Commercial, Urban—General); CUM; CRG (Commercial, Rural—General); CRM

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Landscaping/screening highlights:
  • Mini‑storage in these districts requires a 10 ft landscaped street buffer, 10 ft buffer next to residential, and an 8 ft screening wall/fence around the site; trees must be at least 15‑gallon size, with xeriscape encouraged (§ 18.94.075.B–D) .
  • Countywide parking landscaping and visibility rules also apply (cross‑reference to § 18.102.130) .

I‑L (Industrial—Light) and I‑H (Industrial—Heavy)

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Landscaping/screening highlights:
  • Mini‑storage is allowed by zoning permit in I‑L and I‑H and must be enclosed by an 8 ft screening wall/fence with buffers/trees as above (§ 18.94.075.D) .
  • Concrete/transit‑mix plants in I‑L require a landscaping plan and an 8 ft high planting screen along any residential edge (§ 18.94.120.A–B) .
  • Junkyards in I‑L or I‑H must be enclosed by an 8 ft solid fence; 10 ft clear around fence of weeds/debris (§ 18.94.130.C–E) .
  • Countywide parking lot landscaping, shade trees (1 per 6 spaces), and visibility standards apply (cross‑reference to § 18.102.130) .

IA (Institution Area)

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Public/institutional labs may be allowed; the retrieved requirements focus on separations/setbacks rather than landscaping (§ 18.94.060) .
• Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Landscaping/screening highlights:
  • Countywide parking/visibility standards still apply (cross‑reference to § 18.102.130) .

Agricultural, Rural Mountain, Quarrying/Mining/Drilling Districts

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Landscaping/screening highlights:
  • Public/commercial refuse disposal sites in these districts must include a planting plan approved by the planning director and maintain setbacks from base setback lines (§ 18.94.110.E.1–2) .
  • Countywide parking landscaping/visibility standards apply to qualifying nonresidential developments (cross‑reference to § 18.102.130) .

Key landscaping and screening triggers (selected)

How these standards are typically reviewed

• Most site and frontage landscaping, screening walls, and trash enclosures are checked during design review or site plan review (where applicable), together with development standards such as setbacks.
• If strict application of a buffer/wall is impractical, relief may require a discretionary adjustment; see Madera County Variances and Exceptions.
• Where a project is in an overlay or historic area, additional design controls may apply; see Madera County Overlay Districts and Madera County Historic Preservation.
• Landscaping affects how lighting and signage are perceived from the street; both are also regulated.

Checklist

• Confirm your zoning district(s) and any overlays in the unincorporated area.
• Show all parking perimeter setbacks (10 ft street, 5 ft side/rear) and landscape them with permanent irrigation where required (nonresidential).
• If within 100 ft of residentially zoned or developed property, design a 6 ft solid masonry screen wall on the shared line and landscape the 5 ft strip on the parking side.
• Place shade trees at 1 per 6 stalls; protect all planters with 6 in curbs.
• Map the “vision setback” at all driveways; keep all landscaping and fences within it ≤3 ft high.
• Provide a screened trash enclosure with a solid wall and details that match § 18.102.130 cross‑referenced standards.
• If your use is mini‑storage, concrete plant, junkyard, or refuse disposal site, include the specific buffers, planting screens, and 8 ft walls/fences required by § 18.94.
• Include an irrigation plan; commit to maintenance of all approved landscape/irrigation features.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If you’re developing in unincorporated Madera County, plan to landscape your nonresidential parking setbacks, plant trees inside parking areas, and install a 6 ft solid masonry wall with a landscaped strip where parking sits close to homes. Keep plants and fences under 3 ft in any clear‑vision area at driveways and intersections, and follow extra buffer and wall rules if you’re building a mini‑storage, concrete plant, junkyard, or refuse disposal site.

Information Gaps

• Exact code section numbers for the general landscaping/screening items listed under the parking standards (subsection H and related items) — Not found in retrieved materials .
• Citation for the County’s “Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance” referenced in the parking/landscaping standards — Not found in retrieved materials .
• Full purpose statements, permitted use lists, and dimensional tables for the base districts noted — Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

• § 18.04.560 “Vision setback” and § 18.04.565 “Visual obstruction” (definitions)
• General parking/landscaping and screening standards; cross‑reference to § 18.102.130 for parking lot details; driveway visibility text; shade tree ratio; landscape maintenance and drought adjustments
• § 18.94.075 Mini‑storage facilities — landscaped buffers, irrigation plan, and 8 ft screening wall/fence
• § 18.94.110 Public and commercial refuse disposal sites — planting plan and setbacks
• § 18.94.120 Transit mix/concrete manufacturing — landscaping plan; 8 ft planting screen next to residential
• § 18.94.130 Junkyards — 8 ft solid fence; clear 10 ft strip around fence; no operations outside fence
• Tent/Travel trailer/Mobile home park perimeter screening and landscaping plan requirements (section numbers not shown in retrieved text)

Retrieved passages

• Madera County Zoning Code (Chapter 18.106) High relevance show source text
• Madera County Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Madera County Zoning Code (Chapter 18.106.) High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Madera County Zoning Code (Section 13.12.070) High relevance show source text
• Madera County Zoning Code (section does) Medium relevance show source text
• Madera County Zoning Code (section is) Medium relevance show source text
• Madera County Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 18.04.560 “Vision setback” and § 18.04.565 “Visual obstruction” (definitions) (§ 18.04.560)
• General parking/landscaping and screening standards; cross‑reference to § 18.102.130 for parking lot details; driveway visibility text; shade tree ratio; landscape maintenance and drought adjustments (§ 18.102.130)
• § 18.94.075 Mini‑storage facilities — landscaped buffers, irrigation plan, and 8 ft screening wall/fence (§ 18.94.075)
• § 18.94.110 Public and commercial refuse disposal sites — planting plan and setbacks (§ 18.94.110)
• § 18.94.120 Transit mix/concrete manufacturing — landscaping plan; 8 ft planting screen next to residential (§ 18.94.120)
• § 18.94.130 Junkyards — 8 ft solid fence; clear 10 ft strip around fence; no operations outside fence (§ 18.94.130)
• Tent/Travel trailer/Mobile home park perimeter screening and landscaping plan requirements (section numbers not shown in retrieved text) (section numbers)
• MaderaCounty_ZoningCode.md

• Official Madera County code library