Montclair — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page distills what the Montclair municipal zoning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening (trees, fences, walls, plant quantities, and related site standards). It is drawn from the City’s zoning chapters governing residential subdivisions and development approvals (including ministerial Two-Unit Projects and Urban Lot Splits) and the City landscape chapter. Where the code gives different rules for a project type, both are shown with the controlling code citations so you can verify with the City. See the City-wide context on Montclair zoning & planning overview and the specific Montclair Zoning pages for maps and district labels.

Key takeaways up front: the Montclair code requires preserved mature trees, minimum planting quantities and sizes, drought‑tolerant species and irrigation, sight‑triangle limits, and measured rules for walls/fences and screening of equipment/antennas; ministerial housing pathways (Two‑Unit Projects and Urban Lot Splits) add project‑specific tree and screening standards and narrow front‑yard landscaping rules. The primary controlling chapters are § 11.60 (landscaping / water efficiency), § 11.21 (Two‑Unit Projects), § 11.87 (Urban Lot Split), § 11.38 (yards/fences/visibility), and project‑level standards in § 11.50 for larger planned sites.

District-by-district (and project‑type) breakdown

Note: below each district/project name is bolded. For district maps and permitted uses consult Montclair Land Use and the Montclair Development Standards page; parking interactions are discussed with a link to Montclair Parking.

R Zones (residential / including R‑1)

• Purpose & typical uses: single‑family and similar residential uses (the code calls these R Zones; objective design/detail requirements for single‑family are in the R‑zone chapters). See the R‑zone context on Montclair Zoning.
• Landscaping & screening highlights:
  • Clear vision triangle: vegetation or structures over 3 ft are prohibited in the corner cutoff (visibility triangle) measured 30 ft back on corner lots — see § 11.38.050.
  • Minimum front/street‑corner yard landscape percentages and tree/shrub counts: the landscape chapter requires minimum street‑tree and planting sizes for residential frontages (e.g., one 24‑inch box street tree per frontage; minimum living‑plant coverage targets) — see § 11.60 (Minimum Plant Quantities and Sizes).
  • Fences/walls: yard/fence height and measurement rules are in the yards chapter; walls that block light/visibility are regulated under § 11.38.050 (and specific fence/height adjustments are available by administrative adjustment where needed) — see § 11.38.050(O).
• Where it applies: all residential parcels mapped R‑1, R‑2 etc.; accessory structures have separate standards in Chapter 11.19.

Two‑Unit Project (ministerial) — Chapter 11.21

• Purpose & typical uses: ministerial pathway to add a second primary dwelling on a lot under Government Code 65852.21 (residential only). See the Two‑Unit Project rules at § 11.21.020–.120.
• Landscaping & screening highlights:
  • Evergreen landscape screening between dwellings and adjacent lots is required: one 15‑gallon plant per 5 linear feet of exterior wall, or one 24‑inch box per 10 linear feet; plants must be at least 6 ft tall at installation, or a solid 6 ft fence may be used as an alternative — § 11.21.070(B).
  • Tree preservation: the Two‑Unit rules prohibit removal of “mature trees” defined for this chapter as DBH 19 inches or greater; removal triggers covenant, arborist oversight, and City approval requirements — § 11.21.070(C).
  • Front setbacks and landscaped front‑yards: resulting units must observe a 25 ft front setback and the front setback must be fully landscaped with drought‑tolerant species and an irrigation plan approved by a licensed landscape architect — § 11.21.030(F)(2)(c).
  • Parking: each new primary unit generally needs one enclosed garage space, subject to transit/car‑share proximity exceptions — see § 11.21 for the parking exceptions.
• Where it applies: any qualifying lot where a Two‑Unit Project application is filed; ministerial review under Chapter 11.21.

Urban Lot Split — Chapter 11.87

• Purpose & typical uses: standards governing creation of two resulting lots and development after an Urban Lot Split. See § 11.87.110–.140 (editor’s note places some provisions under § 11.87.120) for landscaping and screening.
• Landscaping & screening highlights:
  • Tree protection / removal: no removal of “mature tree” on a lot with development under the Urban Lot Split rules unless replaced. In the Urban Lot Split language a “mature tree” is defined in some subsections as 6 inches DBH or 8 ft tall (replacement rules require two replacement mature trees or payment if replacement space unavailable) — see § 11.87 (Landscaping / Tree Removal).
  • Evergreen screening between units and adjacent lots: the same minimum planting metrics as Two‑Unit Projects apply here (one 15‑gallon per 5 ft of exterior wall or 24‑inch box per 10 ft, 6 ft tall installed or a 6 ft solid fence), and all landscaping must be drought tolerant per the City’s water‑efficient landscaping chapter — § 11.87.120 (Landscaping).
  • Front setback / front yard landscaping: dwellings after an Urban Lot Split must be at least 25 ft from the front property line; the front setback area must be fully landscaped (except approved walkways/driveways) and kept free of structures over 3 ft — see § 11.87.120(F)(c).
  • Fire and access considerations (hose‑pull distances, driveway widths) interact with landscaping placement — see the fire prevention rules in § 11.87.120(A).
• Where it applies: lots undergoing Urban Lot Split approvals; read Chapter 11.87 in full.

Commercial and Office Zones (C‑1, C‑2, C‑3, AP) and Industrial (M‑1/M‑2/MIP)

• Purpose & typical uses: retail, services and office in commercial zones; light industrial/manufacturing in M zones; AP denotes administrative/office park‑type areas. See Montclair Land Use.
• Landscaping & screening highlights:
  • Planned/commercial developments require street‑front planting strips: at least 15 ft wide planter along street frontages (except drive/ped access), set behind an ornamental masonry wall 36–42 inches high; one 15‑gallon tree on site minimum and peripheral planting areas of at least 5 ft along interior sides/rear with trees at least 6 ft tall spaced at max 20 ft — see § 11.50.110(A–C).
  • Walls/fences on commercial parcels: masonry walls are required on exterior property lines with minimum 5 ft and maximum 6 ft, reduced to 36–42 inches in front setback areas — see § 11.50.080.
  • Screening of antennas and ground‑mounted equipment: screening by fencing, walls, or compatible landscaping is required, and Planning Division approval is required for the screening approach — see § 11.46.040(E).
• Where it applies: commercial, industrial and office zones and Planned Developments; precise plan of design/review may apply (see Montclair Design Review).

Key numeric standards (decision‑relevant)

Practical guidance / synthesis (plain‑English interpretation)

• For small residential infill (Two‑Unit Projects or Urban Lot Splits), Montclair enforces both tree preservation and a relatively prescriptive evergreen screening metric (15‑gal / 5 ft or 24‑in box / 10 ft) and requires installed plants to be already tall enough to provide privacy (minimum 6 ft). Expect to submit a landscape plan showing those counts and an irrigation plan signed by a licensed landscape architect. See the City landscape chapter § 11.60 for plan submittal elements (plant lists, hydrozones, irrigation).
• On commercial/planned sites, landscape areas must be more formal (minimum planter widths, tied to masonry walls and automatic irrigation). If your project proposes non‑living screening (walls, masonry, synthetic turf), the code caps hardscape elements and synthetic turf visibility (often ≤ 50% of visible area) and requires masonry wall dimension standards. Expect Precise Plan of Design review for such sites. Design review can affect material and wall‑height conditions — see Montclair Design Review.
• Fences higher than typical limits (e.g., up to 8 ft) can be requested through an administrative adjustment if there are site‑specific needs (change of grade, privacy or noise buffering). The Director may impose conditions (visual mitigation) if an adjustment is granted — see § 11.38.050(O).
• Because Montclair ties landscaping to water‑efficiency, all plans must comply with the City’s water‑efficient landscaping chapter and use drought‑tolerant plant materials; automatic irrigation is required and irrigation plans must be submitted. See § 11.60 (Water Efficient Landscaping and Conservation).
• Screening of antennas, ground‑mounted equipment and mechanicals is explicitly required and must be compatible with the architecture; Planning approval is required for the screening method. See § 11.46.040(E).

Checklist

• Show planting plan with counts that meet evergreen screening minimums: 15‑gal per 5 ft or 24‑in box per 10 ft, and 6 ft installed height (Two‑Unit § 11.21.070(B) / Urban Lot Split § 11.87.120).
• Identify and annotate all mature trees on the site and indicate proposed preservation or replacement approach (Two‑Unit definition DBH 19 in+ at § 11.21.070(C); Urban Lot Split definition appears in § 11.87).
• Provide irrigation details and MAWA/EAWU calculations per § 11.60; landscape plans must be by a licensed landscape architect where required.
• For front setbacks after Urban Lot Split / Two‑Unit: show 25 ft front setback kept free of structures > 3 ft and fully landscaped with drought‑tolerant species — cite § 11.87.120(F) / § 11.21.
• For commercial sites show planter width 15 ft, masonry wall 36–42 in in front setback, peripheral planting 5 ft min and tree spacing — § 11.50.110.
• If proposing fences/walls above normal limits, prepare an administrative adjustment request addressing the special circumstances and mitigation (see § 11.38.050(O)).
• Show screening for antennas/pad equipment with proposed methods (landscape vs wall) and note Planning Division pre‑approval requirement § 11.46.040(E).
• Coordinate landscape placement with fire/access rules (hose‑pull distances, driveway width) for Urban Lot Split / Two‑Unit Projects (see § 11.87.120(A) and § 11.21 fire requirements).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Montclair’s zoning code requires preserved mature trees where identified, drought‑tolerant planting with minimum counts and sizes (especially for side‑yard privacy between dwellings), automatic irrigation, and measured rules for walls/fences and visibility triangles; Two‑Unit Projects and Urban Lot Splits carry the most prescriptive landscaping and front‑yard requirements, so expect to submit a landscape plan and coordinate with the Planning Division and Fire Prevention. See the development standards and project chapters cited below to confirm parcel‑specific requirements.

Source References

• § 11.60 (Water Efficient Landscaping; plan elements, minimum plant quantities, irrigation, synthetic turf) —
• § 11.60.130 (Synthetic turf limits) —
• § 11.38.050 (Yards: clear vision triangle; fence/hedge rules) —
• § 11.38.050(O) (Wall/fence height measurement / administrative adjustment allowance) —
• § 11.50.080 (Masonry walls standards for planned/commercial sites) —
• § 11.50.110 (Landscaping standards for planned/commercial developments — planter widths, tree counts) —
• Chapter 11.21 — Two‑Unit Project rules (landscaping, tree preservation DBH 19 in+; front setback and parking exceptions) — § 11.21.020–.120 and § 11.21.070 (B–C).
• Chapter 11.87 — Urban Lot Split rules (landscaping, tree removal, evergreen screening metrics, front setback 25 ft, fire/access) — § 11.87.120–.140 (editor’s note identifies location) .
• Antenna/equipment screening standard — § 11.46.040(E).

Additional context pages (internal links used in this page):

• Montclair Zoning — zoning maps and districts.
• Montclair Development Standards — dimensional and site standards overview.
• Montclair Parking — parking exceptions and proximity rules referenced in Two‑Unit/Urban Lot Split chapters.
• Montclair Design Review — where Precise Plan of Design / design review is required.
• Montclair Overlay Districts — if property is in an overlay (verify additional landscape restrictions).
• Montclair ADUs — ADU interactions with landscaping (note state ADU law may limit landscaping used to preclude ADU construction).
• California Building Standards Code — for building‑safety interactions (coordinate with Building & Safety; not the focus here).
  (Where a requirement was not fully enumerated in the uploaded materials the page says so; confirm in the City’s official code online.)

Retrieved passages

• CFC § 1007 (Chapter 11.60) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 150 (Chapter is) High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Montclair Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Montclair Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Montclair Zoning Code (section to) High relevance show source text
• Montclair Zoning Code (Chapter 11.78) High relevance show source text
• Montclair Zoning Code (Chapter 11.60) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 11.87.110 (Chapter 11.60) High relevance show source text
• Montclair Zoning Code (§ IV) Medium relevance show source text
• Montclair Zoning Code (chapter or) Medium relevance show source text
• Montclair Zoning Code (§ 5) Medium relevance show source text
• Montclair Zoning Code (chapter or) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **§ 11.60** (Water Efficient Landscaping; plan elements, minimum plant quantities, irrigation, synthetic turf) — (§ 11.60)
• **§ 11.60.130** (Synthetic turf limits) — (§ 11.60.130)
• **§ 11.38.050** (Yards: clear vision triangle; fence/hedge rules) — (§ 11.38.050)
• **§ 11.38.050(O)** (Wall/fence height measurement / administrative adjustment allowance) — (§ 11.38.050)
• **§ 11.50.080** (Masonry walls standards for planned/commercial sites) — (§ 11.50.080)
• **§ 11.50.110** (Landscaping standards for planned/commercial developments — planter widths, tree counts) — (§ 11.50.110)
• **Chapter 11.21** — Two‑Unit Project rules (landscaping, tree preservation DBH 19 in+; front setback and parking exceptions) — **§ 11.21.020–.120** and **§ 11.21.070 (B–C)**. (Chapter 11.21)
• **Chapter 11.87** — Urban Lot Split rules (landscaping, tree removal, evergreen screening metrics, front setback **25 ft**, fire/access) — **§ 11.87.120–.140** (editor’s note identifies location) . (Chapter 11.87)
• Antenna/equipment screening standard — **§ 11.46.040(E)**. (§ 11.46.040)
• Montclair Zoning — zoning maps and districts.
• Montclair Development Standards — dimensional and site standards overview.
• Montclair Parking — parking exceptions and proximity rules referenced in Two‑Unit/Urban Lot Split chapters.
• Montclair Design Review — where Precise Plan of Design / design review is required.
• Montclair Overlay Districts — if property is in an overlay (verify additional landscape restrictions).
• Montclair ADUs — ADU interactions with landscaping (note state ADU law may limit landscaping used to preclude ADU construction).
• California Building Standards Code — for building‑safety interactions (coordinate with Building & Safety; not the focus here).
• Montclair_ZoningCode.md

• Official Montclair code library