Newman — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Newman Zoning Ordinance requires for landscaping, screening, buffers, fences/walls, and street trees. It is drawn from Newman’s zoning provisions (Title 5 chapters) and the design/plan-review rules that control how landscaping is planned, installed and inspected in each district. For rules on parking, setbacks, or development standards referenced below see Newman’s Development Standards and Zoning overview. All cited ordinance provisions are quoted by section number ( § ) and tied to the source file excerpts used.

What the code requires — citywide summary

• All portions of a lot not used for structures, drives, walks, lighting, signs, trash or parking must be landscaped in accordance with the code; water‑conserving, native and drought‑tolerant materials and nonvegetative groundcovers are encouraged § 5.16.040 .
• When a nonresidential use abuts a residential zoning district with no alley, a solid nonliving screen is required along the mutual property line and a minimum 3‑ft buffer must be reserved for the screen § 5.16.040(C) .
• Landscaping adjacent to parking or driveways must be protected by a curb, wheel stop or similar barrier § 5.16.040(D) .
• Trees planted on the street side(s) of newly developed lots must be transplanted from 15‑gallon or larger containers (or per Public Works standards) § 5.16.040(H) .
• Landscaping (and fences/screening) must be maintained per the City’s maintenance standards (Chapter 8.02 NCC referenced by § 5.16.040(G) — text of 8.02 not included in retrieved excerpts) .
• The city controls fence location and height (front, side/rear yard, and vision triangles) — see § 5.23.060 for the fence/hedge/wall rules (e.g., up to 42 in in required yards; up to 7 ft in side/rear yards with conditions) .
• Architectural/site plan review evaluates landscape and screening as part of project review; plans may be required to show plant types, irrigation and maintenance § 5.16.030 and related review provisions .

Below is a district-by-district breakdown of the provisions that most directly affect landscaping and screening in Newman. For each district I list the purpose, typical uses, the key landscaping/screening rules you need to design to, and the controlling code reference.

R-2 / R-2S (Duplex / Medium-density residential)

• Purpose & typical uses: Medium-density residential development including duplexes and single‑family attached/detached units § 5.04.010 – § 5.04.021 .
• Key landscaping/screening standards: The R‑district property development sections require adherence to the general code landscaping and screening rules and to architectural/site plan review for new residential projects; landscaping specifics are applied through the general landscaping rules and plan review (no district‑specific % minimum listed here) § 5.04.051 and cross‑references to general provisions § 5.16.030 – § 5.16.040 .
• Where it applies: All R‑2 / R‑2S zoned parcels in the city; landscape plans may be required during architectural/site plan review § 5.04.051 .

C-2 (General & Service Commercial)

• Purpose & typical uses: Strip and service commercial (retail, repair, visitor‑serving uses) § 5.07.010 – § 5.07.020 .
• Key landscaping/screening standards: Minimum landscaped area: 5% of the lot; adequate buffers/screening required where necessary for compatibility § 5.07.050(G) – (I) .
• Where it applies: C‑2 parcels along major streets and service corridors; parking/driveway setbacks and landscape planters are enforced by project review § 5.07.050 .

C-8 (Highway Commercial)

• Purpose & typical uses: Regional/highway‑serving retail, services, larger sites along Highway 33 § 5.08.010 – § 5.08.020 .
• Key landscaping/screening standards:
  • Minimum landscaped area: 10% of the lot § 5.08.050(G) .
  • Parking setback: parking and drive aisles set back 15 ft from public right‑of‑way; that setback must be landscaped § 5.08.050(I) .
  • Parking lot trees: one shade tree per five parking spaces § 5.08.050(J) .
  • Screening and buffers required to assure physical compatibility § 5.08.050(L) .
• Where it applies: Properties fronting Highway 33 and similar corridors within the C‑8 zone; plan review required for new construction § 5.08.050(M) .

P-O (Professional Office)

• Purpose & typical uses: Offices and compatible low‑impact commercial uses § 5.28.040 – § 5.28.060 .
• Key landscaping/screening standards:
  • Minimum landscaped area: 10% of the lot § 5.28.060(G) .
  • Architectural and site plan review required for new construction; other code landscaping and screening provisions apply § 5.28.060(I–J) .
• Where it applies: P‑O zoned parcels; landscape requirements enforced through site plan review § 5.28.060 .

M (Light Industrial / Business Park)

• Purpose & typical uses: Light industrial, warehousing, business parks § 5.09.010 .
• Key landscaping/screening standards (§ 5.09.060(H)):
  • Required setbacks and yard areas must be permanently landscaped (except drives/walks) § 5.09.060(H)(1) .
  • Minimum 10‑ft wide landscaped planter in front of buildings facing public streets § 5.09.060(H)(2) .
  • Minimum 10% of the required on‑site parking/circulation area must be landscaped and distributed through the parking area § 5.09.060(H)(3) .
  • Minimum 5% of the site (excluding parking/circulation) must be landscaped § 5.09.060(H)(4) and a 5‑ft planter is required along property lines abutting Highway 33 § 5.09.060(H)(5) .
• Where it applies: M‑zoned industrial/business park sites; screening of outdoor storage and loading areas is required § 5.09.060(L) .

Table — Quick reference for decisions and plan preparation

Practical guidance (how to apply the rules)

• Submit a landscape plan as part of architectural/site plan review showing plant palette (native/drought‑tolerant encouraged), irrigation type, tree sizes (15‑gal+ for street trees), and maintenance responsibilities; the Planning Commission/Architectural Review Committee evaluates these items § 5.16.030 and review checklists § 5.16.040 .
• If your project is in C‑8, P‑O or M, design for the district minimum landscape percent (10% for C‑8 & P‑O; specific distributed percentages in M) up front — the code requires those minima in the property development standards § 5.08.050(G), § 5.28.060(G), § 5.09.060(H) .
• Where a commercial/industrial use abuts residential, include a solid screen (wall/fence/architectural screen) in a reserved 3‑ft buffer and show vehicle protection (curbs/wheel stops) if adjacent to parking § 5.16.040(C–D) .
• Avoid planting that would obstruct street sightlines: landscaping that functions as fencing is limited to 3 ft in required front setbacks and corner sight triangle limits apply; check both § 5.16.040(F) and § 5.23.060(G) for the two sight‑triangle rules before finalizing locations § 5.16.040(F) .
• Expect an on‑site inspection by Public Works before occupancy if a landscaping plan was required § 5.16.040(I) .

Checklist

• Prepare a landscape plan showing plant palette, irrigation, planting details and maintenance responsibilities (required for architectural/site plan review) § 5.16.030 .
• Meet the district minimum landscaped area (e.g., 10% for C‑8 and P‑O; 5% for C‑2; distributed parking/planter minimums for M) § 5.08.050(G), § 5.28.060(G), § 5.07.050(G), § 5.09.060(H) .
• If nonresidential use abuts residential, show solid nonliving screen and reserve 3 ft buffer § 5.16.040(C) .
• Show tree sizes: street trees from 15‑gal+ or per Public Works § 5.16.040(H) .
• Protect landscape adjacent to parking with curbs or wheel stops § 5.16.040(D) .
• Ensure fences/hedges meet vision‑triangle and height rules (front yard fencing, corner lots, driveway triangles) § 5.23.060 and § 5.16.040(F) .
• Plan for Public Works inspection before occupancy if a landscape plan was required § 5.16.040(I) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English summary

If you’re building or changing a use in Newman, you must show a landscape plan that meets the city’s percentage and planter‑width rules for your zone, keep street trees at 15‑gallon minimums, protect landscape next to parking, and install required screening when commercial/industrial sites touch residential property; the Planning and Public Works departments inspect landscaping before occupancy § 5.16.040, § 5.08.050, § 5.28.060, § 5.09.060 .

Source References

• Newman zoning: § 5.16.040 Landscaping and screening (policy, screening location, 3‑ft buffer, tree size, inspection) .
• Newman fences/hedges/walls: § 5.23.060 Fences, hedges and walls (heights, vision triangles, permits) .
• C‑8 Highway Commercial property standards: § 5.08.050 (min landscape 10%, parking setback, one tree/5 spaces) .
• P‑O Professional Office property standards: § 5.28.060 (min landscape 10%) .
• M Light Industrial/Business Park property standards: § 5.09.060(H) (10‑ft planters, 10% parking landscaping, 5% site landscaping, 5‑ft Highway 33 planter) .
• C‑2 General and Service Commercial property standards: § 5.07.050(G) (min landscape 5%) .
• Architectural and site plan review and general design considerations (landscape evaluation): § 5.16.030 and related review requirements in the Architectural/Planning chapters .
• Trash enclosure screening requirements: § 5.16.050 (screened enclosures, five‑foot high enclosure) .

Retrieved passages

• Newman Zoning Code (§ 5.16.040.) High relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (§ 10) High relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (title as) High relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (title and) Medium relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (title as) Medium relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (chapter and) Medium relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (§ 5.16.050.) High relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (title shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (title and) Medium relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Newman Zoning Code (§ 5.08.050.) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Newman zoning: **§ 5.16.040 Landscaping and screening** (policy, screening location, 3‑ft buffer, tree size, inspection) . (§ 5.16.040)
• Newman fences/hedges/walls: **§ 5.23.060 Fences, hedges and walls** (heights, vision triangles, permits) . (§ 5.23.060)
• **C‑8** Highway Commercial property standards: **§ 5.08.050** (min landscape 10%, parking setback, one tree/5 spaces) . (§ 5.08.050)
• **P‑O** Professional Office property standards: **§ 5.28.060** (min landscape 10%) . (§ 5.28.060)
• **M** Light Industrial/Business Park property standards: **§ 5.09.060(H)** (10‑ft planters, 10% parking landscaping, 5% site landscaping, 5‑ft Highway 33 planter) . (§ 5.09.060)
• **C‑2** General and Service Commercial property standards: **§ 5.07.050(G)** (min landscape 5%) . (§ 5.07.050)
• Architectural and site plan review and general design considerations (landscape evaluation): **§ 5.16.030** and related review requirements in the Architectural/Planning chapters . (§ 5.16.030)
• Trash enclosure screening requirements: **§ 5.16.050** (screened enclosures, five‑foot high enclosure) . (§ 5.16.050)
• Newman_ZoningCode.md

• Official Newman code library