Local zoning · Marina
Marina — Landscaping and Screening
Landscaping and Screening under the Marina local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.
Last reviewed: July 3, 2026
Overview
This page summarizes what the City of Marina’s zoning ordinance (Title 17) requires for landscaping and screening (trees, buffers, fences and walls) across Marina’s zoning districts. It is strictly a zoning/planning summary — not building-code, permitting, or tenant-law guidance. The city’s baseline landscape plan, screening and fence/retaining‑wall rules are in § 17.28.050, § 17.28.040, and the general yard/fence rules in § 17.06.060 of Title 17.
(Links: first natural mention of related topics below)
- See Marina Zoning & planning overview and the city Zoning menu for district maps and procedures.
- If your project involves vehicular circulation or stalls, confirm parking landscaping under parking.
- Site-level review and exceptions are often handled through design review or variances and exceptions.
- Development standards (setbacks, lot coverage and similar controls) are in Development Standards.
- Check Overlay Districts if your property is in a special overlay; ADUs projects may still trigger landscape review.
- Remember structural/retaining‑wall safety and code compliance require the California Building Standards Code and local building-division checks.
How the ordinance controls landscaping & screening (headlines)
- Mandatory landscape plans for all projects: the ordinance requires a landscape plan showing species, irrigation and maintenance intentions. See § 17.28.050.
- Screening of service, loading, recycling and open storage areas: such areas must be screened by vegetation, fences or walls with minimum/maximum heights identified in § 17.28.040 and related district rules.
- Plant material standards: preference for native/drought‑tolerant species, prohibition of invasive species in required setbacks, and requirements for irrigation (usually automatic irrigation) are spelled out in § 17.28.050.
- Fence and retaining wall height/measurement rules (including combined fence+wall caps and measurement method) are in § 17.06.060.
- District-specific landscaped yard widths, buffers, and screening performance (opacity and time-to-fill) are identified in each district chapter (examples below). See the district-by-district subsections for citations.
District-by-district breakdown
Note: each district description below gives the ordinance purpose, typical uses, and the most decision‑relevant landscaping/screening controls and where they apply. All code citations are to Title 17.
R-1 — Single‑Family Residential
- Purpose / typical uses: single‑family homes and accessory residential uses; see Chapter 17.14.
- Landscaping & screening highlights:
- Standard front/exterior side yard and side yard measurements and private open space rules are set in Chapter 17.14; check those when planting in setbacks.
- Fence/retaining wall height limits in required front/exterior side yards are governed by the general fence rules (see § 17.06.060) — typically separate fences/retaining walls in a front/exterior side yard shall not exceed 3.5 ft, and combined fence+retaining wall a maximum of 4.5 ft unless modified by the rules in § 17.06.060 and R‑1 exceptions.
- Corner‑lot special rules: corner lots created before/after 1/7/1997 have different permitted fence/retaining wall heights and exceptions (see the R‑1 corner‑lot subsections in the code). Verify whether your lot predates 1/7/1997 — it changes the applicable fence height table.
Key authorities: § 17.14 (R‑1 standards) and § 17.06.060 (fence/height measurement)
PC — Planned Commercial
- Purpose / typical uses: retail, visitor‑serving commercial and employment uses; see Chapter 17.26.
- Landscaping & screening highlights:
- Minimum 10% of the gross site area must be landscaped and a landscape plan submitted to the planning director under § 17.26.090.
- Loading and service areas must be sited and screened (walls or landscape) — see the airport/large‑site screening rules if applicable.
Key authority: § 17.26.090
BP — Business Park
- Purpose / typical uses: light industrial, office, parks, and business‑park uses; see Chapter 17.29.
- Landscaping & screening highlights:
- Yard and setback structure: front yard minimum often large (e.g., 50 ft in BP for some subareas); special landscaping strips are required: a 10‑ft landscaping strip adjacent to side/rear property lines, and a 30‑ft area to be landscaped adjacent to front property lines (see § 17.29.110).
- Outdoor manufacturing and storage must be screened by 6–8 ft masonry or combination fences or plantings; no storage is allowed within required yards unless screened.
Key authority: § 17.29.110
M — Industrial
- Purpose / typical uses: industrial/manufacturing uses; see Chapter 17.30.
- Landscaping & screening highlights:
- Minimum side yard 10 ft and rear yard 20 ft are required and must be landscaped to the satisfaction of the site and architectural design review board; a 30‑ft yard (heavily landscaped) is required where the M district adjoins a residential zone, and the city may require sound attenuation in that buffer (§ 17.30.130).
- All landscaped areas in M district must be accessible for maintenance, must have automatic irrigation, and plans must include a mix of groundcover, shrubs and trees (§ 17.30.140).
- Outside storage areas must be screened from view (masonry/ornamental fence or planting 6–8 ft) and surfaced as required (§ 17.30.150).
Key authorities: § 17.30.130, § 17.30.140, § 17.30.150
P — Business Park / Planned Industrial small‑lot combining
- Purpose / typical uses: mixing BP or M with small‑lot planned industrial; see Chapter 17.31.
- Landscaping & screening highlights:
- Where a district boundary buffer is required, a minimum 20 ft buffer within the P district must be landscaped to the satisfaction of the design review board; the planning commission can reduce the width (to as little as 10 ft) where truck loading and parking are oriented away from the boundary and the proposed landscaping still provides screening (§ 17.31.090).
- Outdoor storage must meet the same screening standards as BP/M and is subject to design review.
Key authority: § 17.31.090 – 17.31.100
O — Open Space
- Purpose / typical uses: parks, open space, habitat, and beach access; see Chapter 17.10. Landscaping is generally conservation-oriented; active development is heavily limited.
Key authority: Chapter 17.10
Most decision‑relevant standards (at a glance)
| Rule / item | Typical numeric/qualitative standard | Code Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape plans required for all projects | Landscape plan with species, irrigation, maintenance | § 17.28.050 |
| Screening of open storage/loading/dumpsters | Screen at least 6 ft, up to 10 ft high; stacking within 100 ft must be below screen height | § 17.28.040 (B) |
| Plant screening opacity & timing | 75% opacity in 2 years, 100% in 5 years; supplement if screen fails | § 17.28.040 (B.3) |
| Automatic irrigation | Automatic irrigation required for all landscaped areas (M district and generally preferred) | § 17.28.050 and § 17.30.140(B) |
| Fence / retaining wall height (front/exterior side) | Separate fences/retaining walls ≤ 3.5 ft; combined fence+retaining wall ≤ 4.5 ft (see measurement rules) | § 17.06.060 (C) |
| M → Residential buffer | 30‑ft yard with heavy landscaping and sound attenuation as needed | § 17.30.130 |
| PC landscaping minimum | 10% of gross site area | § 17.26.090 |
| BP frontage/yard landscaping | 10‑ft side/rear landscaped strip; 30‑ft front landscaped area (for some subareas) | § 17.29.110 |
Practical guidance / synthesis (plain English for applicants)
- If you propose any new building, new parking, or a change of use that increases outdoor storage, you must submit a landscape plan showing species, irrigation (usually automatic), and maintenance so the city can confirm compliance with § 17.28.050. The approach favors native and drought‑tolerant species and bans invasive plants in visible setbacks.
- For service yards, loading docks, trash/recycling and outdoor storage: plan to screen them behind a 6–10 ft screen (wall, dense planting, or wall+plant combo). If you use plants, specify sizes and spacing so they reach 75% opacity in two years and 100% in five years, or provide a hard screen alternative up front. See § 17.28.040.
- If your lot abuts a residential district (common with industrial/business parks), expect a wide, heavily landscaped buffer and possibly sound attenuation and higher screening standards; these are discretionary but commonly applied under § 17.30.130 and related district rules.
- Fence and retaining‑wall proposals must follow the measurement and maximums in § 17.06.060 (pay attention to how finished grade is used to measure height and combined wall+fence rules). Larger walls or deviations require design review or planning approval.
Checklist
- Prepare a stamped landscape plan with plant list, spacing, initial sizes, and maintenance schedule to meet § 17.28.050.
- Show irrigation design (automatic irrigation for required areas) and water‑efficient species. § 17.28.050, § 17.30.140.
- If proposing outdoor storage/loading/recycling areas, show screening method (6–10 ft screen) and stacking limits within 100 ft of street/property line § 17.28.040.
- Show tree locations and pruning clearances for public streets/sidewalks (trees over streets pruned to 14 ft over curb; over sidewalks 7 ft minimum clearance). § 17.28.050 (B.2–3).
- If proposing fences/retaining walls, include elevations and note measurement point from finished grade and combined height calculations per § 17.06.060.
- Confirm whether the site is subject to district buffers (e.g., P or M adjacent to residential) or airport guidelines (airport district exceptions). § 17.31.090, § 17.30.130, § 17.28.050.
- Check whether tree removal permits are needed (Chapter 17.51) before removing protected trees.
Risks & Ambiguities
| Issue | Why it matters | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Which fence height table applies on a corner lot | R‑1 corner lots created pre‑1997 vs post‑1997 have different height rules — using the wrong table can cause a noncompliant design | Confirm lot creation date (subdivision record) and apply the R‑1 corner‑lot provisions; review § 17.06.060 and the R‑1 corner subsections. |
| Whether planting alone will meet screening opacity on schedule | If plant survival/spread fails, the city can require replacement or a hard screen | Provide both a plant‑based plan with species & sizes meeting 75% opacity in 2 years / 100% in 5 years and fallback hardscape/fence options per § 17.28.040. |
| Applicability of airport‑area exceptions | The Airport District has special rules (e.g., no landscape requirement on the air side of the security fence) that can override general rules | Confirm whether parcel sits inside the airport security fence or within airport guidelines (see § 17.28.050 (A.1)). |
| Tree removal / protected trees | Unauthorized tree removal can trigger required mitigation or penalties | Check Chapter 17.51 (tree permits/exemptions) before pruning/removal and verify city tree or street tree status. |
| Conflicts between landscape guidelines and overlay requirements | Overlay districts or local coastal program rules may add or change requirements | Verify overlay applicability on the parcel (see Overlay Districts) and reconcile with Title 17. Verify with jurisdiction. |
Plain‑English Summary
If you build, change use, add parking, or keep outdoor storage in Marina you almost always must submit a landscape plan that uses mostly native/drought‑tolerant plants, provides irrigation, and screens service and storage areas with plantings or walls to the heights the code requires; fence and retaining‑wall heights are strictly measured from finished grade and special buffers apply where commercial/industrial zones meet housing. Key rules live in § 17.28.050, § 17.28.040, and the fence/height rules in § 17.06.060.
Source References
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING, § 17.28.050 (Landscaping)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING, § 17.28.040 (Parking, loading, service areas and screening)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING, § 17.06.060 (Height / fence and retaining wall measurement and limits)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING, § 17.26.090 (PC district landscaping requirement)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING, § 17.29.110 (BP district special regulations / landscaping)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING, § 17.30.130, § 17.30.140, § 17.30.150 (M district buffer/landscaping/outside storage)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING, § 17.31.090 (P district district‑boundary buffer)
- Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING, Chapter 17.51 (Tree removal / protection)
Sources
Retrieved passages
- Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (Chapter 17.44.) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (Chapter 17.51) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (section shall) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (section and) Medium relevance
- Marina Zoning Code (section and) Medium relevance
- CBC § 060 (Title 17) Medium relevance
Cited sections
- Marina Municipal Code, **Title 17 ZONING**, **§ 17.28.050** (Landscaping) (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, **Title 17 ZONING**, **§ 17.28.040** (Parking, loading, service areas and screening) (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, **Title 17 ZONING**, **§ 17.06.060** (Height / fence and retaining wall measurement and limits) (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, **Title 17 ZONING**, **§ 17.26.090** (PC district landscaping requirement) (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, **Title 17 ZONING**, **§ 17.29.110** (BP district special regulations / landscaping) (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, **Title 17 ZONING**, **§ 17.30.130**, **§ 17.30.140**, **§ 17.30.150** (M district buffer/landscaping/outside storage) (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, **Title 17 ZONING**, **§ 17.31.090** (P district district‑boundary buffer) (Title 17)
- Marina Municipal Code, **Title 17 ZONING**, **Chapter 17.51** (Tree removal / protection) (Title 17)
- Marina_ZoningCode.md
Frequently asked questions
Do I always need a landscape plan when I submit a zoning permit in Marina?
Yes. The zoning ordinance requires a landscape plan for all projects so the city can confirm compliance with landscape standards; see § 17.28.050. Provide species, spacing, irrigation and maintenance details.
How high must a screen be for a trash dumpster or outdoor storage?
Open storage, refuse collection and similar areas must be enclosed by a screen at least 6 ft and not more than 10 ft high; stacking within 100 feet of streets/adjoining parcels must not exceed the height of the screen. See § 17.28.040 (B.1).
What are the City’s rules for fence and retaining wall heights in a front yard?
In required front or exterior side yards a separate fence or retaining wall may not exceed 3.5 ft, and a combined fence+retaining wall may not exceed 4.5 ft (measurement method and exceptions in § 17.06.060). Larger heights require design review/approval.
If my parcel is next to residential, how wide is the required buffer?
In the M (Industrial) district a 30‑ft yard is required adjacent to residential zoning and must be heavily landscaped; sound attenuation can also be required by the director or review board (§ 17.30.130).
What performance is required from a plant screening vs a wall?
Plant screens must provide a year‑round barrier, achieve 75% opacity within 2 years and 100% within 5 years; if they fail the city can require replacement or a fence/wall alternative (§ 17.28.040 (B.3)).
Are invasive or exotic plants allowed in front setbacks?
The code prohibits invasive species and advises avoiding exotic species in required front setbacks and areas highly visible from public rights‑of‑way under § 17.28.050. Use native and drought tolerant plants.
Do parking lots need interior landscaping or trees?
Yes. Parking must include perimeter and interior landscaping; standards include at least one tree per ten non‑perimeter spaces, trees spaced about 30 ft on center along perimeters and minimum planting widths for island/end‑bay planting per § 17.28.050 (D).
Will tree removal for a development require a permit?
Possibly. Chapter 17.51 governs tree removal and preservation; many removals or work within tree drip lines require a tree removal permit unless an exemption applies. Check Chapter 17.51 before removing trees.
Can I exceed fence height limits for security or screening?
Yes, but only with findings by the planning commission or city council (appeal), and higher walls are allowed in narrow, specific circumstances for sound isolation or safety; see § 17.06.060 (H). Master fence plans for large subdivisions may be approved with deviations through design review.
If my site is inside Marina’s Airport District, do any landscaping rules differ?
Yes. Landscaping is not required on the air side of the airport security fence, and the Airport chapter contains specific parking/loading/screening exceptions — consult § 17.28.050 (A.1) and § 17.28.040. Verify airport guidelines for frontage or operational sign limits.
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