Plymouth — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page explains what the City of Plymouth's zoning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening — where landscaping is mandatory, who must submit landscape plans, required planting/irrigation standards, parking‑lot landscaping, and limits on fences and walls. All requirements below are drawn from the Plymouth Zoning Code; whenever a rule is cited I list the controlling code section (with the § symbol) and the ordinance file preview used. Verify project‑specific applicability with the Planning Department. § citations are the controlling authority.

What the code covers (quick bullets)

• Landscape plans and irrigation plans are required for most new projects and significant expansions — preliminary and final plans must be approved by the Planning Director. § 19.72.030.
• Minimum landscape area: 6 sq ft per 100 sq ft of developed area (except single‑family). § 19.72.040.C.
• Parking‑lot landscaping (commercial, industrial, mixed‑use, multifamily): tree counts, minimum 10% landscaped area of parking, and canopy/shade targets. § 19.72.040.D.
• Fence & wall location, height, transparency, materials, gates and maintenance rules are in Chapter 19.82 (Fences, Walls, Gates, and Screening). § 19.82.010–080.

Note: references to other development rules (setbacks, parking, and design review) are handled elsewhere at the City and are linked the first time they are mentioned below: see Plymouth Development Standards, Plymouth Parking, and Plymouth Design Review.

District-by-district breakdown

Below I summarize how landscaping and screening requirements interact with the City’s common zoning districts. The ordinance uses single‑letter district labels and residential designations in the development standards tables; the text cites the chapters that establish those districts and the landscaping/screening chapters that apply across them.

A (Agricultural)

• Purpose and where it applies: The A district is a low‑intensity agricultural/residential district described in the Residential development standards tables; it covers large‑lot agricultural and rural parcels. See the residential development standards table for baseline lot size and setbacks. § 19.56.040.
• Landscaping & screening notes: Projects in A must still meet the Citywide landscaping rules when they are new developments or expansions subject to entitlement review; the general landscaping applicability includes new projects and substantial expansions. § 19.72.020.

RR (Rural Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: Low‑density housing on larger lots; standards (lot area, setbacks) are in Table 19.56.040‑1. § 19.56.040.
• Landscaping & screening: Setback areas and required open space must be landscaped unless screened from public view; single‑family lots are treated differently (some exemptions). § 19.72.040.A.

SR (Suburban Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: Moderate‑density single‑family residential; dimensional standards (e.g., front/side/rear setbacks, lot coverage) are in § 19.56.040. § 19.56.040.
• Landscaping & screening: Street‑side yards are intended for landscaping; fences in front yards are limited (see fences rules below). Landscaping plans are required for new subdivisions and for multi‑family or nonresidential projects that trigger the landscaping chapter. § 19.72.020, § 19.72.040.A.

VR (Village/Urban Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: Higher density residential; development standards shown in Table 19.56.040‑1 (smaller front yards, higher lot coverage). § 19.56.040.
• Landscaping & screening: Where landscaping is required, the minimum landscape area calculation and parking lot landscaping rules apply to multifamily development. § 19.72.040.

Commercial and Industrial (C / I)

• Purpose and where it applies: Commercial and industrial districts are administered through Chapter 19.60 (Commercial and Industrial Districts). Landscaping and screening provisions in Chapter 19.72 and Chapter 19.82 specifically call out commercial and industrial projects for parking lot landscaping and screening of service areas. § 19.72.040.D, § 19.82.080.D.
• Key points for commercial/industrial sites:
  • Parking lot landscaping applies to commercial, industrial, mixed‑use, and multifamily parking lots with 6 or more spaces, with tree and island standards. § 19.72.040.D.
  • Service areas, exterior equipment, and outdoor storage must be screened by landscaping, walls, or fences; outdoor storage areas must be enclosed by an opaque fence/wall 6 ft high unless otherwise approved. § 19.82.080.A–C.

P (Public/Institutional) and OS (Open Space)

• Purpose and typical uses: P covers government, parks, schools and public facilities; OS is parks and preservation. These are defined in Chapter 19.64; landscaping expectations for these districts are that they meet standards comparable to abutting commercial zones and may require design review when near residential areas. § 19.64.020.
• Landscaping & screening: Park and public sites must provide appropriate landscaping consistent with the Chapter 19.72 requirements; open space has limited development but protection of riparian vegetation and preservation of mature trees is required where applicable. § 19.72.040.K–M.

If your parcel sits in a specific overlay or historic district (for example any design overlays), check the Plymouth Overlay Districts and Plymouth Historic Preservation pages because overlays can change screening and planting choices. First mention of those related topics is linked.

Key standards — quick reference table

Practical guidance and interpretation (plain‑English synthesis)

• Who needs drawings: If you are building new commercial, industrial, multifamily, or proposing a subdivision or a major addition that increases floor area significantly, prepare both a preliminary and final landscape and irrigation plan for Planning Director review; the final plan must be approved before site work or building permits. § 19.72.030.
• Parking lot designers: lay out planters and tree wells so they are evenly dispersed, meet the minimum sizes, and achieve the 10% landscaped area and canopy goals; use automatic irrigation and drought‑tolerant species. § 19.72.040.D; § 19.72.040.E–F. Link to the City's Plymouth Parking information when planning parking reductions or modifications.
• Screening service areas: trash, recycling, utilities, rooftop equipment and outdoor storage must be pushed away from primary pedestrian frontages and screened with opaque fencing, masonry walls, or integrated architectural solutions. For outdoor storage expect 6 ft opaque enclosure as baseline. § 19.82.080.A–C.
• Fences & walls: front yard fences are limited to 4 ft to preserve street visibility; residential yards can have up to 6 ft, and nonresidential may go taller with permits or conditions; chain link with slats is allowed in commercial areas (vinyl slats preferred) but barbed wire is generally prohibited in residential zones. § 19.82.040.A; § 19.82.050.A.2–3.
• Required maintenance and surety: the Planning Director may require a two‑year surety (150% of plant/installation value) to ensure establishment of landscaping; maintained landscaping is an ongoing obligation. § 19.72.030.E; § 19.72.050.

First mention links to related City topics used above: Plymouth Development Standards, Plymouth Design Review, Plymouth Overlay Districts, Plymouth ADUs, and state rules such as the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) where building code clearances or fire‑safety planting rules may intersect — verify with the Building Official for encroachments and fire clearance rules.

Checklist (What an applicant must satisfy)

• Confirm whether the project is a "new project" or "significant expansion" that triggers Chapter 19.72 (landscape plan required). § 19.72.020.
• Submit a Preliminary Landscape and Irrigation Plan with the land use entitlement application. § 19.72.030.A.
• Obtain Planning Director approval of the Final Landscape and Irrigation Plan before soil disturbance/Building Permit issuance. § 19.72.030.B–D.
• Design parking lot landscaping to meet 1 shade tree per 10 stalls, 10% landscaped parking area, and 50% canopy at maturity. § 19.72.040.D.1–3.
• Provide irrigation (automatic) and specify drought‑tolerant palette consistent with water‑efficient landscape ordinance. § 19.72.040.E–F.
• Screen service equipment, dumpsters, and outdoor storage with approved fences, walls or landscaping; ensure 6 ft opaque enclosures where required. § 19.82.080.A–C.
• Ensure frontage fences comply with 4 ft maximum in front yards and vision triangle limits. § 19.82.040.A; § 19.70.040.
• If proposing chain‑link with slats, or fencing above ordinary heights in nonresidential zones, confirm permit/Design Review/AUP requirements. § 19.82.050.A.2; § 19.82.040.A.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If you’re building anything but a simple single‑family project, you will almost certainly need a landscape and irrigation plan approved by the Planning Director; parking lots must include trees and meet minimum landscaped area and canopy targets; dumpsters, roof equipment, and outdoor storage must be screened; and fences have strict height, material, and vision‑triangle limits. The controlling rules are in Chapter 19.72 (Landscaping) and Chapter 19.82 (Fences/Walls/Screening) of the Plymouth Zoning Code. Verify parcel‑specific requirements with Planning.

Source References

• Plymouth Zoning Code — Chapter 19.72 (LANDSCAPING): § 19.72.010–050 (purpose, applicability, plan approval, landscape area requirements, maintenance).
• Plymouth Zoning Code — Chapter 19.82 (FENCES, WALLS, GATES, AND SCREENING): § 19.82.010–080 (purpose, applicability, measurement, materials, screening of service areas).
• Plymouth Zoning Code — Fence measurement/vision triangle rules: § 19.82.030; § 19.82.040; § 19.70.040.
• Plymouth Zoning Code — Parking/parking‑lot landscape details referenced in § 19.72.040.D and related planter/tree sizing § 19.72.040.D.6–9.
• Plymouth Zoning Code — Residential development standards table: Table 19.56.040‑1 (zones A, RR, SR, VR and setbacks). § 19.56.040.
• California Wildland‑Urban Interface Code (2025) — referenced for wildfire‑related planting and noncombustible material guidance where the zoning code defers to fire safety; local application must be verified. Not contained fully in the zoning file.

Retrieved passages

• Plymouth Zoning Code (§ 19.72.040.) High relevance show source text
• Plymouth Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Plymouth Zoning Code (§ 19.82.080.) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 1 (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Plymouth Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Plymouth Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Plymouth Zoning Code (chapter or) High relevance show source text
• Plymouth Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Plymouth Zoning Code — Chapter **19.72** (LANDSCAPING): **§ 19.72.010–050** (purpose, applicability, plan approval, landscape area requirements, maintenance). (§ 19.72.010)
• Plymouth Zoning Code — Chapter **19.82** (FENCES, WALLS, GATES, AND SCREENING): **§ 19.82.010–080** (purpose, applicability, measurement, materials, screening of service areas). (§ 19.82.010)
• Plymouth Zoning Code — Fence measurement/vision triangle rules: **§ 19.82.030; § 19.82.040; § 19.70.040**. (§ 19.82.030)
• Plymouth Zoning Code — Parking/parking‑lot landscape details referenced in **§ 19.72.040.D** and related planter/tree sizing **§ 19.72.040.D.6–9**. (§ 19.72.040.D)
• Plymouth Zoning Code — Residential development standards table: **Table 19.56.040‑1** (zones **A, RR, SR, VR** and setbacks). **§ 19.56.040**. (§ 19.56.040)
• California Wildland‑Urban Interface Code (2025) — referenced for wildfire‑related planting and noncombustible material guidance where the zoning code defers to fire safety; local application must be verified. Not contained fully in the zoning file.
• Plymouth_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.md

• Official Plymouth code library