Local zoning · Morro Bay

Morro Bay — Landscaping and Screening

Landscaping and Screening under the Morro Bay local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Morro Bay’s zoning code organizes landscaping and screening rules across Chapter 17.23 (site design standards), Chapter 17.25 (landscaping), Chapter 17.27 (parking-area landscaping), and related district development chapters (e.g., Chapter 17.07 for residential districts). Key topics covered by the code are fences and freestanding walls, screening of equipment/storage and parking areas, planting counts and water-efficiency rules, and procedures for modifications and design review. See the controlling text in § 17.23.060, § 17.23.130, § 17.27.110, and § 17.25.050 for the governing rules .

Note: this page focuses strictly on what Morro Bay’s zoning/planning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening (not Title 24 or building-code issues). Where the code allows alternatives or director/commission discretion, I flag those items and point you to the sections to verify.

(Links: first mention of related topics below)

Key code requirements (short guide)

  • Fences & walls: location, material, maximum heights for front/corner-setback and non-front yards; hazardous materials prohibited; chain-link banned in residential districts. See § 17.23.060 .
  • Screening (equipment, storage, industrial-to-residential): mandatory solid masonry walls for industrial sites adjacent to residences, mandatory screening of mechanical equipment, and minimum screening heights (including 4 ft in front setback adjacent to residential and 6 ft 6 in elsewhere for industrial-common-line walls). See § 17.23.130 .
  • Parking-area landscaping & screening: parking lots of five or more vehicles must have street-front screening (min. 3 ft) and screening adjacent to residential lots (min. 4 ft); interior planting height and tree spacing/clearances specified. See § 17.27.110 .
  • Planting counts and water efficiency: landscape areas must meet plant-type mixes and water-use options; a commonly cited development-level standard is one 15‑gallon tree and ten 5‑gallon shrubs per 1,000 sq ft of required landscape area in multi‑unit site standards. See § 17.25.050 and the multi‑unit standard text in § 17.31.020(F) .
  • Substitutes and alternatives: plant hedges or berms may substitute for walls when they meet required heights and construction standards; chain‑link with slats may be allowed in industrial districts with restrictions. See § 17.23.130(C) .
  • Exceptions & modifications: modifications to fence, landscaping, and other dimensional requirements can be sought under Chapter 17.42 (Modifications) and may be granted by the director or planning commission per the limits in § 17.42.020 .
  • Design review coupling: many landscaping elements will be evaluated in design review for projects that trigger review per § 17.38.020–030 (e.g., certain multi‑unit or nonresidential projects) .

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the districts used in the Morro Bay code where landscaping/screening rules are applied differently or where the code explicitly calls out district-specific requirements. For each district I summarize purpose/typical uses, the most relevant landscaping/screening expectations, and where those rules appear in the code. Always verify parcel‑level rules with the city because overlay districts, slope rules, or the Local Coastal Program may add stricter limits.

RS, RL, RM, RH (Residential base districts)

  • Purpose / typical uses: single‑unit and multi‑unit residential development (Chapter 17.07 contains RS/RL/RM/RH development standards; see Table 17.07.030A/B) .
  • Landscaping/screening expectations: residential projects must provide private and common open space screening (private open spaces visible from public ROW require a landscape buffer or dense evergreen screening min. 5 ft wide and min. 4 ft high) and landscaping is required on areas not used for parking/driveways/permitted open space; plant selection must meet water‑efficiency rules in § 17.25.050 and multi‑unit planting counts shown in § 17.31.020(F) apply to multi‑unit residential projects .
  • Key dimensional / procedural notes: fences in front/corner setbacks are limited (open fences max. 4 ft except specified areas where max. 5 ft) and chain‑link is prohibited in residential districts; see § 17.23.060 . Design review often applies to larger residential projects per § 17.38 .

C-N, C-O, C-1 and Other Commercial / Mixed‑Use Districts

  • Purpose / typical uses: neighborhood and community commercial, mixed‑use retail/service uses (see Chapter 17.08). Landscaping supports pedestrian areas and buffers to residential neighbors .
  • Landscaping/screening expectations: commercial projects must comply with Chapter 17.25 landscape rules and parking screening rules in § 17.27.110 (street frontage screening min. 3 ft, screening adjacent to residential min. 4 ft); refuse enclosures must be screened by solid walls min. 6 ft tall per § 17.23.120 .
  • Fencing/materials: plain concrete block requires stucco/capping; chain‑link and hazardous fencing are limited per § 17.23.060 .

I / Industrial (including Transportation/Utilities uses)

  • Purpose / typical uses: manufacturing, storage, utilities, and industrial services (industrial use classification referenced in screening rules).
  • Screening expectations: where an industrial site abuts residential uses a solid masonry screening wall is required on the common lot line; the wall must be 4 ft where it lies within the required front setback adjacent to a residential lot and 6 ft 6 in elsewhere. Outdoor storage areas must be screened with a min. 6 ft solid masonry wall. Mechanical and electrical equipment visible from rights‑of‑way or visually significant views must be screened or integrated with building design. See § 17.23.130(B) and § 17.23.130(B.3) .
  • Substitutes: the code allows plant hedges or berms in place of walls if they meet the required height and design; chain‑link with slats may be substituted in industrial districts with conditions (see § 17.23.130(C)) .

Public & Semi‑Public (P) and Waterfront & Harbor Area Districts

  • Purpose / typical uses: governmental, institutional, port, and harbor‑related uses. Landscaping and screening rules are used to hide service areas and utilities from public views; where the LCP identifies visually significant views, the code explicitly requires screening of mechanical equipment and conformance to the Coastal Resource Protection overlay. See § 17.23.130(A) and the CRP cross‑reference to Chapter 17.14 .
  • Waterfront/harbor parcels may have additional visual resource protections; verify with the Morro Bay Overlay Districts page.

Coastal Resource Protection Overlay (CRP)

  • Overlay implications: projects within the CRP must follow Chapter 17.14 visual‑resource protection standards as well as the landscaping/screening rules cited above (see cross‑references in § 17.31.020 and § 17.25) .
  • Practical note: where the LCP identifies visually significant views the screening of mechanical equipment is stricter; confirm LCP map applicability to your parcel (see § 17.14 references) .

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant numeric standards

Item Standard (what matters) Code Reference
Front/corner setback open fence max height 4 ft (open fence — 5 ft in parcels north of Alva Paul Creek and east of Hwy 1; some pre‑existing fences legal up to 6.5 ft) § 17.23.060
Fences/walls outside front/corner setbacks 6 ft 6 in max § 17.23.060
Director minor increase Up to +2 ft allowed with zoning clearance where justified § 17.23.060
Industrial → residential screening wall height 4 ft in front setback adjacent to residential; 6 ft 6 in elsewhere; solid masonry required § 17.23.130(B)
Parking frontage screening (parking for ≥5 cars) Street frontage screen min. 3 ft; adjacent to residential min. 4 ft § 17.27.110(O)
Parking interior plant height/clearances Interior planting max 30 in height; tree foliage clearance 8 ft over parking surface; trees placed ≤ 30 ft on center near walkways § 17.27.110(N)
Planting counts (multi‑unit design standard) 1 fifteen‑gallon tree + 10 five‑gallon shrubs per 1,000 sq ft required landscape § 17.31.020(F)
Water‑efficient planting requirement Options: all low‑water plants OR 85% low‑water (residential) OR compliance with MWELO calculation § 17.25.050
Refuse enclosure screening Solid wall min. 6 ft high; roof to fully shield container tops § 17.23.120

Practical guidance & interpretation (plain‑English, based on the code)

  • If your project creates new exterior equipment, outdoor storage, or industrial uses next to homes, plan for a solid masonry wall at the lot line meeting the heights in § 17.23.130(B) — do not assume shrubs alone will be accepted unless approved as a substitute by the director .
  • For residential fences in front yards use open‑style fences and keep them at or under 4 ft (some neighborhoods north of Alva Paul Creek/east of Hwy 1 allow 5 ft) — chain link is not allowed in residential zones .
  • For parking lots, include both functional planting (shade, tree spacing and root protection) and screening elements along street edges and where the lot abuts homes; follow planting heights/clearances to avoid obstructing sight lines as required in § 17.27.110 .
  • Meet the city’s water‑efficiency options in § 17.25.050: you can choose an all‑low water plant palette, or follow the MAWA/ETWU calculation path (MWELO path) for larger projects .
  • If you need a taller or solid fence/wall than the rules allow, consider a modification under Chapter 17.42; small adjustments (≤10% relief) can be granted by the director and larger relief by the planning commission per § 17.42.020–030 .
  • Landscape plans for larger commercial, industrial, institutional, and multi‑unit residential projects must be prepared by a California registered landscape architect (see the landscaping chapter’s preparation requirement) — verify the project thresholds in Chapter 17.25 .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

  • Prepare a landscape plan meeting Chapter 17.25 (water‑use option, plant palette, irrigation method, and maintenance notes) — see § 17.25.050 .
  • Show planting counts or demonstrate MAWA compliance (MWELO) for the proposed landscape area — see § 17.25.050 and the multi‑unit guidance § 17.31.020(F) .
  • For parking lots (≥5 stalls) include street-front and residential-adjacent screening at the specified heights and dimensioned planting islands per § 17.27.110 .
  • For mechanical, electrical, or refuse areas show required screening/walls (masonry where required) and material/color coordination with primary building per § 17.23.130 and § 17.23.120 .
  • If you propose hedges or berms in lieu of walls, include cross‑section showing height at maturity and berm slope ≤ 1:3 per § 17.23.130(C) .
  • If your fence/wall exceeds standard heights (or chain‑link is proposed in an industrial setting), apply for a modification under Chapter 17.42 and document the site characteristics that justify the change per § 17.42.020 .
  • Include tree clearances/guarding where trees are within 20 ft of pedestrian walkways and show compliance with 8‑ft parking clearance and 30‑ft on‑center tree spacing where applicable per § 17.27.110 and § 17.31.020(F) .
  • If project triggers design review per § 17.38, prepare materials showing how landscaping fits with architectural design and streetscape standards .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Parcel‑specific overlays (Coastal Resource Protection) Overlays can impose stricter visual resource protections that change screening expectations Verify overlay applicability for the parcel and cross‑check Chapter 17.14 and LCP maps; see § 17.31.020 cross‑references
Exact section for planting‑count application Multi‑unit planting counts are in the multi‑unit design standards; single‑family thresholds differ Confirm whether your project is subject to § 17.31.020(F) planting rules vs. the general Chapter 17.25 rules
“Open fence” definition vs. opaque fences Visual openness changes allowed height limits (front setback allowances) Confirm whether your proposed fence meets the open‑surface test in § 17.23.060 before applying the front‑setback height limits
Substituting plant screening for masonry walls Director approval is required and may be denied if the hedge won’t reach/maintain the required opacity Show maintenance plan and 3‑year growth projection; cite § 17.23.130(C) and get director sign‑off
Conflicting standards between parking rules and visibility at intersections Screening may not block sight lines despite meeting height minima You must comply with intersection visibility rules in § 17.23.180 even if parking screening heights otherwise qualify — verify sight‑triangle conditions (visibility rules referenced in the code) Not found in retrieved materials for full text of § 17.23.180; verify with the jurisdiction.
Required professional preparation thresholds Landscape architect requirement applies to certain project sizes; misfiling plans can delay approvals Confirm thresholds in Chapter 17.25 (registered landscape architect requirement)

Plain‑English Summary

Morro Bay’s zoning code requires most development to include permanent, water‑efficient landscaping and to screen service/utility areas, parking lots, and industrial sites from homes and public rights‑of‑way; it sets clear fence/wall heights (e.g., 4 ft front open fences, 6 ft 6 in elsewhere), minimum parking‑lot screening heights (3 ft street, 4 ft adjacent to residences), and planting requirements (e.g., 1 fifteen‑gallon tree + 10 five‑gallon shrubs per 1,000 sq ft for multi‑unit contexts); substitutes (hedges, berms) and modest height adjustments can be approved administratively but require a clear plan and justification — see § 17.23.060, § 17.23.130, § 17.27.110, and § 17.25.050 for the controlling rules .

Information Gaps

  • The uploaded materials do not include the full text of the city’s street tree list (referenced in planting rules). Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the city/public works. .
  • Full language of § 17.23.180 (Visibility at Intersections) appears referenced but the snippet was incomplete; confirm intersection‑visibility constraints before finalizing screening/planting locations. Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the jurisdiction. .
  • Exact thresholds that trigger required landscape plan preparation vs. when a homeowner can submit a simplified plan are implied but the full administrative checklist text was not present; confirm submittal requirements with Planning. Not found in retrieved materials. .

Source References

  • § 17.23.060 — Fences and Freestanding Walls (fence heights, open fence allowance, materials, director exceptions)
  • § 17.23.120 — Refuse storage and collection area screening requirements (6 ft enclosure, materials)
  • § 17.23.130 — Screening (mechanical equipment, industrial screening walls, outdoor storage screening, substitute materials and berms)
  • § 17.27.110 — Parking Area Design and Development Standards (parking landscaping, screening heights, clearance and planters)
  • § 17.25.050 — General landscaping requirements and water‑efficiency options (MWELO approaches)
  • § 17.31.020(F) — Multi‑unit/site design landscaping specifics (plant counts, private open space screening, pedestrian walkway tree spacing)
  • § 17.42.020–030 — Modifications (what standards may be modified and review authority)
  • § 17.38.020–030 — Design review applicability and review authority (coupling with landscaping plans)
  • Cross‑reference: Chapter 17.14 — Coastal Resource Protection overlay (visual resource protection referenced in landscaping sections)

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Morro Bay Zoning Code (Section 17.23.180) High relevance
  • Morro Bay Zoning Code (Section 17.23.100) High relevance
  • Morro Bay Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance
  • Morro Bay Zoning Code (section of) High relevance
  • Morro Bay Zoning Code (Chapter 17.07) High relevance
  • Morro Bay Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Morro Bay Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What are the allowed fence heights in front yards in Morro Bay?

Front and corner side yards may have open fences, walls, hedges and similar structures with fifty percent or more openness up to 4 ft in height, with a special allowance of 5 ft north of Alva Paul Creek and east of Highway 1; fences existing prior to Ordinance 662 may be treated as legal nonconforming up to 6.5 ft. See § 17.23.060 .

Can I use chain‑link fencing in a residential district?

No — chain‑link fencing is not permitted in residential districts under the fencing standards; chain‑link with vertical slats may be allowed only as a substitute in industrial districts under restricted conditions. See § 17.23.060 and § 17.23.130(C) .

How must I screen mechanical equipment or roof‑top units?

All exterior mechanical and electrical equipment must be screened or incorporated into building design so it is not visible from public rights‑of‑way or designated visually significant view areas; materials for screening should match building colors/materials and exceptions may be granted for health/safety/utility constraints. See § 17.23.130(A)(1) .

What screening is required where an industrial use borders homes?

A solid masonry screening wall is required on the interior lot line where an industrial/transportation/utility use abuts a residential district or residential property: 4 ft where within the front setback adjacent to a residential lot and 6 ft 6 in elsewhere, provided at time of new construction/expansion or change of use. See § 17.23.130(B) .

What are the parking‑lot screening rules I need to show on the plan?

Parking areas with five or more spaces must be screened along the street frontage at min. 3 ft height and screened where adjacent to a residential lot at min. 4 ft; interior planting heights and tree clearances are regulated to protect sight lines and vehicle overhangs. See § 17.27.110(O) and § 17.27.110(N) .

How many trees/shrubs do I need in a required landscape area?

For multi‑unit development design standards the code specifies one 15‑gallon tree (or equivalent) and ten 5‑gallon shrubs per 1,000 sq ft of required landscape area; the general landscape chapter also requires plant mixes and water‑efficient choices per § 17.25.050. See § 17.31.020(F) and § 17.25.050 .

Can I substitute a hedge or berm for a masonry screening wall?

Yes — the code allows plant materials or landscaped berms as substitutes when the director approves them as achieving the required screening height and performance; berms must have side slopes no steeper than 1:3 and the combined berm + planting must equal the required wall height. See § 17.23.130(C) .

Do I need a landscape architect for my landscape plan?

Landscaping for commercial, industrial, institutional projects and residential projects of more than twelve units must be prepared by a California registered landscape architect; confirm project thresholds in Chapter 17.25. See the landscaping chapter (general requirements) for preparation thresholds and submittal items .

If my project is in the coastal zone, are there extra rules for screening?

Yes — projects in the Coastal Resource Protection overlay must comply with relevant visual resource protection requirements in Chapter 17.14 in addition to the landscaping and screening standards in Chapters 17.23 and 17.25; maps and LCP designations can change what screening is required. See the CRP cross‑references in the landscaping sections and § 17.14 .

Where do I apply if I need an exception to a fence or landscaping standard?

Apply for a modification per Chapter 17.42; the director can grant limited (≤10%) dimensional relief and the planning commission handles larger relief per § 17.42.020–030 — submit modifications with the main project application for concurrent processing. See § 17.42.020 .

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