Martinez — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page explains how the City of Martinez regulates landscaping and screening (fences, walls, hedges, planting, and related site-screening elements) under the local zoning ordinance (Title 22). It synthesizes the code's requirements for installation, maintenance, planting sizes, and fences/walls and shows where those rules differ by district and overlay. Always verify parcel-specific requirements with the city; some development applications also trigger design review or PUD rules. § citations and code excerpts below are pulled from the Martinez zoning text.

How to use this page

• Read the district subsections that apply to your property (for example R districts or C Commercial).
• Use the Checklist before submitting plans.
• Consult the Source References at the end for the controlling § citations and to pull full ordinance language.

District-by-district rules (what the Martinez code actually says)

Note: the Martinez code uses several district names and overlay tools. Where the code explicitly ties landscaping/screening language to a district, that § is cited. If a requested item is not present in the retrieved materials, that is stated.

R (Residential) districts — general

• Purpose & where it applies: Citywide single‑ and multi‑family residential zones (examples appearing in the code include R-1.5, R-2.5, R-3.5 as residence district labels). See the R‑district chapters for full permitted‑use lists. Not all specific R‑district permitted‑use tables were retrievable in the provided materials. Not found in retrieved materials for full permitted use tables.
• Landscaping/screening rules:
  • Front, rear (when both front and rear face a public street), and certain side yard strips must be landscaped and maintained per § 22.14.150.
  • Fences, walls, hedges: generally allowed up to 6 ft except in required front yards where the limit is 3.5 ft, with a front‑yard downslope exception allowing 6 ft on steep front slopes (>20%). These rules are in § 22.34.090.
• Typical development standards that affect landscaping: front/side setbacks and yard landscaping requirements are enforced through the district development standards and design review when required. Verify specific R‑district dimensional tables in the district chapter. Not found in retrieved materials for full R‑district dimensional tables.

(Link: first mention of parking appears elsewhere and is relevant to site plans) See Martinez Parking for parking standards that interact with landscape area requirements. [/us/california/martinez/parking]

C (Commercial) districts

• Purpose & typical uses: retail, services and other commercial uses. (The code contains separate "C Commercial districts" categories; consult the applicable C‑subdistrict chapter for permitted uses.) Not found in retrieved materials for a single consolidated C‑use table.
• Landscaping/screening rules:
  • When a commercial property adjoins R or PA (Professional & Administrative) property lines, the commercial site must provide a solid masonry wall or board fence 6 ft in height on the property line. See § 22.34.090(F).
  • Visibility at intersections: in Commercial districts fences/walls shall not exceed 3.5 ft within 15 ft of a street intersection (sight‑distance requirement). See § 22.34.090(C).
  • Landscape setbacks: many Commercial district design standards require that 75% of required yard areas be landscaped and specify plant sizes and spacing (trees at 15‑gallon minimum, shrubs at 1‑gallon minimum, groundcover spacing). See § 22.51B.040 and § 22.51C.040 for those standards applied to specific commercial/residential mixed contexts.

PA (Professional & Administrative Office) district

• Where it applies and purpose: office‑type uses and compatible low‑impact commercial/office development. Specific permitted uses and some dimensional standards are located in the PA district chapter; full tables not fully retrievable in the provided extracts. Not found in retrieved materials for full PA permitted‑use list.
• Landscaping/screening highlights:
  • Where PA adjoins other districts, the same adjacency fence/wall rules described in § 22.34.090(F) apply (masonry/board fence 6 ft on property line when adjoining C or R conditions are triggered).
  • Landscaping is considered integral to development and landscape plans are subject to design review in many PA development standards. See the development‑standards link for procedural interactions. [/us/california/martinez/development-standards]

(First natural mention of design review appears above and is linked.) See Martinez Design Review for procedures and when landscape plans must be reviewed. [/us/california/martinez/design-review]

I / HI (Industrial and Heavy Industrial) districts

• Screening rules:
  • Certain fence materials are explicitly prohibited citywide: barbed wire, razor wire, chain link, corrugated metal, and unfaced concrete/cinder block are not allowed for fences and walls, except the code allows chain link in the HI district (with procedural variance allowance). See § 22.34.090(D).
  • Intersection sightline limits (3.5 ft within 50 ft for R, I and PA districts) also apply where noted. See § 22.34.090(B).

RD (Research & Development) district

• Purpose and typical permitted uses: Research and Development ("R & D") district is intended for technology‑oriented, campus‑style development emphasizing high‑quality landscaping and pedestrian orientation. Typical permitted uses listed include advanced manufacturing, life sciences, professional/administrative offices, and research laboratories. See § 22.15.010 and § 22.15.020.
• Key landscaping standards:
  • Landscaping shall be considered an integral part of any development plan and all landscape plans are subject to design review and approval by the Community Development Director or designee. See § 22.15.040(H).
  • Side/rear yard adjacency to residential: where an RD lot has a side or rear yard adjacent to any residential district, the RD district requires a solid masonry wall or board fence 6 ft in height on the property line, and five (5) feet adjoining the property line must be landscaped and maintained by the property owner(s). See § 22.15.040(E).

PUD (Planned Unit Development) overlay

• Applicability & review: Projects under a PUD overlay must submit comprehensive site plans that include detailed landscape plans, existing‑tree inventories (trees >3" caliper), and planting schemes. Landscape installation and long‑term maintenance are conditions of PUD approval. See § 22.42.080 and § 22.42.100.
• Design review hold: No building permit in a PUD can be issued until final landscape and architectural plans are approved and an inspection confirms compliance with the PUD's conditions (§ 22.42.100).

(Link: first natural mention of overlays above) See Martinez Overlay Districts for mapping and how overlays modify base zoning. [/us/california/martinez/overlay-districts]

Key numeric standards and screening rules (decision‑relevant table)

Practical guidance / interpretation (plain‑English synthesis)

• Fences: Expect 3.5 ft height limits in front yards unless you qualify for the downslope exception in residential zones (then 6 ft). If your site is commercial and borders residential or PA, plan for a 6‑ft masonry or board fence on the property line. These are hard code triggers — plan your profiles and gates accordingly. § 22.34.090 governs these tradeoffs.
• Landscaping as a condition of approval: Large projects, PUDs, and some conditional uses will require a professionally drawn landscape plan showing existing tree caliper, plant lists, sizes (trees 15‑gallon, shrubs 1‑gallon) and irrigation; the city can require bonds to assure installation and long‑term maintenance. See § 22.42.080, § 22.34.180, and § 22.51B/C.040.
• Materials restrictions: Avoid prohibited fence materials (barbed wire, razor wire, unfaced concrete block, corrugated metal); if you propose chain link you must confirm whether the site is within the HI district or pursue a variance. See § 22.34.090(D).
• Setbacks & parking: Landscape areas are assessed against required yards and parking plans — coordinate with the site’s development standards and parking requirements because the code excludes parking aisles and utilities from the 75% landscape calculation. See § 22.51B.040 and the Development Standards and Parking chapters. [/us/california/martinez/development-standards] [/us/california/martinez/parking]

(First natural mention of ADUs and Title 24 appears below) If your project involves an accessory dwelling unit, check Martinez ADU rules as they may change setback/landscape expectations. [/us/california/martinez/adu] When a building permit is needed, the project must also comply with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24). [/us/california/building-codes]

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for landscaping/screening)

• Confirm the zoning district for the parcel and read the district chapter for any district‑specific landscaping rules. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Show all existing trees >3" diameter on landscape plans and identify trees to be removed or preserved (PUD and major projects require this). § 22.42.080.
• Prepare a planting plan meeting minimum sizes: trees 15‑gallon, shrubs 1‑gallon, groundcover spacing ≤12" — and show irrigation. § 22.51B.040 / § 22.51C.040.
• For required yard areas, demonstrate 75% landscaping (note exceptions: drives, utilities, parking). § 22.51B.040.
• Indicate fence/wall heights and materials; ensure front‑yard fences ≤3.5 ft unless the slope exception applies (residential downslope ≥20%), and avoid prohibited materials. § 22.34.090.
• If commercial adjoins residential/PA, show 6‑ft masonry or board fence on property line. § 22.34.090(F).
• If landscaping is a condition of approval, be ready to post a 100% installation performance bond and possibly a replacement/maintenance bond (up to 100% for up to 10 years). § 22.34.180.
• Coordinate landscape plan with design review and any PUD conditions; no building permit in a PUD until design review/landscape approval is final. § 22.42.100.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Martinez requires most setback areas to be planted and maintained (typically 75% landscaped for many non‑residential setbacks), sets clear fence/wall height limits (generally 6 ft but 3.5 ft in front yards except limited slope exceptions), prohibits several coarse fence materials, and requires landscape plans, plant sizes, and sometimes bonds for installation and maintenance; large projects and PUDs must submit detailed landscape plans and cannot get permits until design review and landscaping are approved. Key rules live in § 22.34.090, § 22.34.180, and the landscape‑setback sections § 22.51B.040 / § 22.51C.040.

Source References

• Martinez Zoning — § 22.34.090. Fences, Walls, and Hedges.
• Martinez Zoning — § 22.34.180. Installation and maintenance of landscaped areas.
• Martinez Zoning — § 22.51B.040. Landscape Setbacks / Building Design Standards (plant sizes, 75% rule, lighting)
• Martinez Zoning — § 22.51C.040. Landscape Setbacks / Ground‑level utility and service area rules (plant sizes, 75% rule for setback areas)
• Martinez Zoning — § 22.42.080 / § 22.42.100. PUD plan submittal and design review (landscape plans and PUD conditions)
• Martinez Zoning — § 22.15.010 / § 22.15.020 / § 22.15.040. R & D District — purpose, permitted uses, and development standards (landscaping emphasis)
• Martinez Zoning — § 22.44.070. Variance findings (including for fences/walls)

(If you want the full ordinance text, consult the Martinez zoning pages or request specific § text from me and I will extract and quote the exact language.)

Retrieved passages

• Martinez Zoning Code (Chapter 8.34) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (Section 22.44.070) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (§ 22.37.080) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (Section 22.34.090) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (Section 22.33.020) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (§ 10) High relevance show source text
• Martinez Zoning Code (Chapter 22.40) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Martinez Zoning — **§ 22.34.090. Fences, Walls, and Hedges.** (§ 22.34.090.)
• Martinez Zoning — **§ 22.34.180. Installation and maintenance of landscaped areas.** (§ 22.34.180.)
• Martinez Zoning — **§ 22.51B.040. Landscape Setbacks / Building Design Standards** (plant sizes, 75% rule, lighting) (§ 22.51B.040.)
• Martinez Zoning — **§ 22.51C.040. Landscape Setbacks / Ground‑level utility and service area rules** (plant sizes, 75% rule for setback areas) (§ 22.51C.040.)
• Martinez Zoning — **§ 22.42.080 / § 22.42.100. PUD plan submittal and design review** (landscape plans and PUD conditions) (§ 22.42.080)
• Martinez Zoning — **§ 22.15.010 / § 22.15.020 / § 22.15.040. R & D District — purpose, permitted uses, and development standards (landscaping emphasis)** (§ 22.15.010)
• Martinez Zoning — **§ 22.44.070. Variance findings (including for fences/walls)** (§ 22.44.070.)
• Martinez_ZoningCode.md

• Official Martinez code library