Local zoning · Rancho Mirage

Rancho Mirage — Landscaping and Screening

Landscaping and Screening under the Rancho Mirage local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Rancho Mirage Zoning Ordinance requires for landscaping and screening (planting, parkways, walls/fences, mechanical screening, and buffers) and how those rules interact with district development standards and project review. Key municipal rules live in the Landscaping chapter and the Screening/Buffering and fence/wall rules; applicants must also follow the adopted Coachella Valley water-efficiency rules the city incorporates by reference. See the city's rules on parking, development standards, and design review for related site-layout constraints. § 17.24 (Landscaping Standards) and § 17.20.140 (Screening and Buffering) are the controlling provisions .

Note: this page is focused only on what the Rancho Mirage zoning/planning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening. For building-code (Title 24), permitting, or tenant/housing topics see the referenced pages on the site. The word "parking" below links to the city's parking rules and appears the first time that topic is mentioned. The first time each related topic appears it is linked to the city's corresponding GoCodebook menu page: parking, development standards, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

Related resources mentioned inline: parking, development standards, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, California Building Standards Code.

How the rules are organized (short)

Landscaping standards and planting/irrigation minimums: Chapter 17.24 (Landscaping Standards) — submit a landscape and irrigation design plan; CVWD Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance is adopted by reference (§ 17.24.025) .
Screening and buffering between land uses and mechanical equipment screening: § 17.20.140 (Screening and Buffering) .
Fence/wall height exemptions for single-family zoning, and general fence rules: § 17.04.030 and references to § 17.20.070 (Fences, Hedges, and Walls) .

District-by-district rules (what landscaping & screening applicants must expect)

The zoning districts established in § 17.06.010 provide the context for how landscaping and screening standards are applied; each district also carries its own development standards (setbacks, lot coverage) that interact with landscape requirements . Below are the major districts in Rancho Mirage with specific guidance that matters for landscaping and screening. Where district tables specify setbacks/coverage, applicants must combine those numeric standards with the landscaping rules in Chapter 17.24; see the city's general development standards for details on how to read the tables .

Note: the city lists districts in Table 2-1 and provides detailed per-district standards in Table 2-3 (residential) and Table 2-5 (commercial/industrial). Verify exact parcel zoning on the zoning map; the zoning map is incorporated by reference in § 17.06.020 .

HR (Hillside Reserve)

Purpose and where it applies: HR preserves natural hillside/open space areas and allows extremely low density (listed in Table 2-1) .
Typical permitted uses: very limited residential, open-space compatible uses (see Table 2-2).
Landscaping/screening emphasis: revegetation, limits on disturbance, and planting compatible with hillside revegetation obligations under Chapter 17.24; plans will be judged for compatibility with natural topography (hillside standards in § 17.30.080) .
Key dimensional notes that affect planting and walls: very large minimum parcel sizes and special setbacks; check Table 2-3 for setbacks that affect where walls and plantings can be located .

R‑E (Residential Estate)

Purpose: low-density residential lots with large setbacks; landscaping should preserve estate character.
Typical uses: single-family estates; accessory structures allowed subject to setbacks.
Key standards: see Table 2-3 for minimum parcel sizes and setback dimensions; landscaping in setbacks visible from public streets must be installed per § 17.24.040.A and plant sizes per Table 3-4 .

R‑L‑2 and R‑L‑3 (Very Low and Low Density Residential)

Purpose: typical single-family neighborhoods.
Typical uses: single-family homes, guest/employee quarters and ADUs (see ADU rules).
Landscaping/screening: front-yard parkway landscaping, trees along street frontages (one tree per 30 linear ft) and minimum landscape strip widths apply; fences/walls in front yards are limited (residential exemptions) (§ 17.24.040 B–C; § 17.04.030) .
Key dimensional standards: front/side/rear setbacks per Table 2-3 referenced in § 17.08.020; these control allowable locations for walls and setback plantings .

R‑M and R‑H (Medium and High Density Residential)

Purpose: higher-lot-count residential development where site landscaping is required to mitigate massing and provide privacy buffers.
Typical uses: multi-family, condos, affordable housing overlays may modify standards (AHO overlay) .
District-specific constraints: multifamily parking lot screening, mechanical equipment screening, and full landscape and irrigation plans prepared by a licensed landscape architect (except single-family cases) per § 17.24.030 B–C .

MHP (Mobile Home Park)

Landscaping and screening requirements apply to carports, parking and storage screening; storage and RV facilities must be screened by masonry walls or landscaping (§ 17.30.170) .

C‑N, C‑G, C‑C, O, M‑U, Rs‑H (Commercial, Office, Mixed Use, Resort Hotel)

Purpose: varying commercial intensities; C‑N is neighborhood commercial, C‑G/C‑C are larger-scale commercial, O is office, M‑U is mixed use, Rs‑H resort hotel.
Typical uses: retail, restaurants, hotels, offices; Rs‑H has resort/hotel-specific landscape expectations (e.g., landscaped parkways, water features) .
Screening between commercial/industrial/institutional and adjacent residential: mandatory six‑foot solid decorative wall along property lines abutting residential uses when a nonresidential parcel is developed; can be increased to eight feet under strict findings and with a development plan permit (§ 17.20.140.A) .
Mechanical equipment: must be screened from public view, architecturally compatible and located behind the front setback; vents must be at least five feet from screening walls (§ 17.20.140.B) .
Parkway and parking-lot landscaping: vertical layering (palms over canopy trees over shrubs) is encouraged; planters and island landscaping subject to minimum widths and tree spacing rules (§ 17.24.040 B and § 17.24.050) .

I‑L (Light Industrial)

Purpose: light industrial uses; when next to residential, extra setbacks and screening apply.
Screening requirements: same six-foot minimum wall when abutting residential, and possibly larger setbacks per Table 2-5 notes (e.g., setback may be two times structure height when adjacent to residential) .

P (Institutional) and OS (Open Space)

Institutional properties must provide landscaping according to tabled setbacks/coverage and comply with Chapter 17.24 when visible from public rights-of-way; OS zones emphasize revegetation and minimal disturbance .

Overlays (e.g., AHO Affordable Housing Overlay, S‑OL Senior Overlay, SP Specific Plan)

Overlays may modify development standards (including setbacks, landscaping quantities, or allowed wall/fence modifications) and the overlay rules control in case of conflict with base zoning; applicants must check the overlay text and map in Chapter 17.14 and the AHO description in the zoning district listings .
If a project uses development plan permit authority to modify landscaping or wall heights, the development plan process is the vehicle to do that (§ 17.42.060; Chapter 17.42) .

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant landscaping & screening standards

Requirement / Use	What Rancho Mirage requires	Code reference
Landscape plan submittal	Comprehensive landscape and irrigation plan required for all development; plans for non-single‑family projects must be prepared by a licensed landscape architect	§ 17.24.030
CVWD water-efficiency	City adopts Coachella Valley Water District Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) by reference	§ 17.24.025
Street tree spacing	At least one tree per 30 linear feet of street frontage in areas of public view	§ 17.24.040.B
Minimum landscape width	Landscape areas minimum 4 ft (exclusive of curbs); narrower strips may not count toward minimum coverage	§ 17.24.040.C
Plant material minimum sizes	Tree and shrub size/mix requirements set in Table 3‑4 (36” box, 24” box, 15-gallon, etc.)	§ 17.24.040.H and Table 3‑4
Irrigation	Automatic irrigation required; separate systems for lawns and trees/shrubs	§ 17.24.040.K
Parkway buffer widths	Minimum landscaped parkway widths between curb and wall vary by road class (e.g., Highway 111 = 25 ft; arterial = 32 ft)	§ 17.24.050 and Table 3‑5
Screening between nonresidential & residential	Solid decorative wall minimum 6 ft along property line; may be increased to 8 ft (subject to development plan permit and findings)	§ 17.20.140.A
Noise buffering walls	Walls adjacent to arterial streets may exceed 6 ft up to 8 ft if they reduce noise below 65 CNEL and other conditions are met	§ 17.20.140.C
Fence/wall exemptions in residential zones	Interior lots: fences up to 3 ft in front yard, up to 6 ft outside front yard; corner-lot rules are specific in § 17.04.030	§ 17.04.030.B
Mechanical equipment screening	Equipment must be screened architecturally, be behind front setback, vents ≥5 ft from screen; screening must be compatible and landscaped at ground level	§ 17.20.140.B

Practical guidance and interpretation (plain‑English synthesis)

Submit a full landscape + irrigation plan early. For non-single-family projects, Rancho Mirage requires a licensed landscape architect to prepare the plan (§ 17.24.030) and the plan must meet the CVWD Model Water Efficiency standards the city has adopted (§ 17.24.025) .
Trees and parkway widths are not negotiable unless an approved development plan permit modifies standards. Expect one street tree per ~30 ft of frontage and minimum planting bed widths of 4 ft; parkway widths are larger on arterials and on Highway 111 (see Table 3‑5) (§ 17.24.040.B; § 17.24.050) .
If your nonresidential project touches residential parcels, plan for a 6 ft solid decorative masonry wall at the residential property line; the director and review authority will insist on two-sided architectural treatment and may allow up to 8 ft where privacy/noise demands and development-plan findings are met (§ 17.20.140.A–C) .
For single‑family yards where an adjacent lot already has a residence, the city has a specific "plane" rule for rear-yard plant height measured from six inches above the rear yard wall to the ridge of the abutting house; plantings in the required rear setback may not exceed that plane at maturity unless an exception (e.g., palm trees with neighbor consent) applies (§ 17.24.040.E) .
Mechanical and rooftop equipment must be screened so it is not visible from public rights-of-way and so it is architecturally compatible; vents must be set back from screening walls and ground-mounted equipment must be landscaped (§ 17.20.140.B) .
Wall heights that exceed zoning-exempt thresholds or that modify design expectations usually trigger director or commission review (development plan permit) and possibly building‑official structural review (§ 17.20.140.A.1 and § 17.20.140.A.4) .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

Verify parcel zoning and applicable overlay(s) on the zoning map (District established in § 17.06.010) .
Prepare and submit a fully dimensioned landscape and irrigation plan that complies with the CVWD MWELO and § 17.24.025/§ 17.24.030 .
Use the minimum plant sizes/mix (Table 3‑4) and meet the one-tree-per-30-ft frontage rule (§ 17.24.040.B & H) .
Show parkway treatment meeting Table 3‑5 widths and landscaping design parameters (§ 17.24.050) .
Provide automatic irrigation systems and separate zones for lawns and trees/shrubs (§ 17.24.040.K) .
If adjoining residential uses, show a decorative 6‑ft wall or equivalent screening and document any request for >6‑ft wall with supporting findings (§ 17.20.140.A) .
For rear-yard plantings adjacent to existing homes, include the rear-yard planting-plane demonstration and neighbor consents if needed (§ 17.24.040.E) .
Address mechanical equipment screening on plans (location behind front setback, vents distance, architectural treatment) (§ 17.20.140.B) .
If proposing walls/fences higher than residential exemptions or modifications to landscaping standards, apply for a development plan permit or variance and include the required findings (§ 17.42 and § 17.50/17.52) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Wall height over 6 ft adjacent to residential	Requires development-plan findings and director/commission approval; structural approval from building official for >6 ft	Verify whether proposed height is >6 ft and whether the development plan permit is needed; check § 17.20.140.A and consult building official
Rear-yard planting plane rule	Plant materials in rear setback are limited by a plane to protect neighbor privacy; palms are a special case	Confirm whether your lot abuts existing residential units and include the plane diagram on plans; see § 17.24.040.E
CVWD MWELO updates	The city adopts the CVWD ordinance by reference; updates at CVWD could change water-efficiency requirements	Confirm current CVWD ordinance version on file with city clerk and reference § 17.24.025; ask planning staff to confirm current CVWD text
Parkway width and right-of-way conflicts	Required parkway widths (Table 3‑5) may conflict with existing ROW or private improvements	Check roadway classification, verify right-of-way limits, and coordinate with public works and city engineer (§ 17.24.050)
Tree root damage to public improvements	Trees near curbs/sidewalks must use root barriers and meet placement minima	Show root-barrier detail and distance from curb/sidewalk on plan; see § 17.24.040.F
Mechanical equipment visibility/sight lines	Poor screening can cause rejection at design review	Show elevations and cross-sections demonstrating that roof equipment is below parapet or is screened per § 17.20.140.B; design review may require revisions

Plain‑English summary

Rancho Mirage requires a professionally drawn landscape and irrigation plan that follows the city's desert/water‑efficient landscaping rules (CVWD standards), plants street trees at a specified rate, uses minimum planting widths and plant sizes, provides parkway landscaping per road class, and installs decorative masonry walls (usually 6 ft) to separate nonresidential uses from adjacent homes; taller walls, special plant heights, or other departures generally require discretionary review (§ 17.24; § 17.20.140) .

Source References

Rancho Mirage Municipal Code — Chapter 17.24, Landscaping Standards (Purpose, plan submittal, development standards, plant sizes, irrigation): § 17.24.010–§ 17.24.060 .
Rancho Mirage Municipal Code — § 17.24.025 (Incorporation by reference — CVWD Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance) .
Rancho Mirage Municipal Code — § 17.24.030 (Submittal of landscape design plan) and § 17.24.040 (Landscape development standards) .
Rancho Mirage Municipal Code — § 17.24.050 (Parkway treatment standards and Table 3‑5) .
Rancho Mirage Municipal Code — § 17.20.140 (Screening and Buffering: walls between nonresidential and residential, mechanical screening, noise buffering) .
Rancho Mirage Municipal Code — § 17.04.030 (Exemptions — fences and walls in residential zoning districts; residential fence height allowances) .
Rancho Mirage Municipal Code — § 17.06.010 (Zoning districts established, Table 2‑1) and related district development standards in Tables 2‑3 and 2‑5 that determine setbacks/coverage and therefore where landscaping/screening must be placed .
Rancho Mirage Municipal Code — Chapter 17.42 (Development plan permits) — used when seeking increases to wall heights or modifications to development standards .
Related GoCodebook pages referenced in text: Rancho Mirage Parking (/us/california/rancho-mirage/parking), Rancho Mirage Development Standards (/us/california/rancho-mirage/development-standards), Rancho Mirage Design Review (/us/california/rancho-mirage/design-review), Rancho Mirage Overlay Districts (/us/california/rancho-mirage/overlay-districts), Rancho Mirage ADUs (/us/california/rancho-mirage/adu), California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes).

Sources

Retrieved passages

Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 17.24.025.) High relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code High relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code High relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 17.08.020.) Medium relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code Medium relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Rancho Mirage Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Rancho Mirage code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I always need a landscape and irrigation plan for a Rancho Mirage project?

Yes — the city requires a fully dimensioned comprehensive landscape and irrigation design plan for all development projects; for all projects except individually approved single-family dwellings the plan must be prepared by a California-licensed landscape architect (§ 17.24.030) .

How many trees do I have to plant along my street frontage?

The ordinance requires trees to be planted throughout the project in areas of public view, at a rate of at least one tree for each thirty linear feet of street frontage (§ 17.24.040.B) .

What plant sizes does Rancho Mirage require at installation?

The code sets a minimum mix of sizes (Table 3‑4): for example, trees in 36‑inch boxes are required in certain proportions with 24‑inch boxes and 15‑gallon stock for larger projects; see § 17.24.040.H and Table 3‑4 for the full breakdown .

When is a masonry wall required between properties?

Wherever a commercial, industrial, or institutional parcel adjoins a residential zoning district/use and a nonresidential development occurs, a six‑foot high solid decorative wall (stucco or equivalent) along the property line is required; walls may be increased to eight feet only under specific findings and with discretionary approval (§ 17.20.140.A) .

Can I exceed 6 feet for a wall facing an arterial to reduce noise?

Yes — walls separating residential properties from adjacent arterial streets may exceed six feet and up to eight feet for noise buffering if they reduce noise below 65 CNEL and other conditions (asphalt rubber pavement, uniform application, enhanced parkway landscaping, and structural approval) are met (§ 17.20.140.C) .

Are there special rules for rear-yard landscaping next to existing homes?

Yes — if your rear lot line abuts a lot with an existing dwelling, plant materials in the required rear yard setback cannot exceed a "plane" drawn from six inches above the rear yard wall to the ridge/parapet of the adjacent dwelling at the time of planting through maturity; palms have a limited exception with written neighbor consent (§ 17.24.040.E) .

Do I have to use automatic irrigation systems?

Yes — all landscaping areas shall have a city‑approved automatic irrigation system with separate zones for lawns and trees/shrubs (§ 17.24.040.K) .

Can I use artificial plants or artificial turf?

Artificial plant material is prohibited except that artificial turf may be approved by the community development director; inorganic groundcover must be used in combination with live plants (§ 17.24.040.J) .

If my site is adjacent to a bike path or sidewalk, are there tree‑placement rules?

Yes — trees near public curbs, sidewalks, or bicycle trails must have limited root structure and be installed to prevent damage; canopy trees must be a minimum of 10 ft from curbs and 3 ft from sidewalks; palm trees have a 3‑ft curb spacing and minimum 10‑ft trunk height for clear view (root barriers required) (§ 17.24.040.F) .

Who approves exceptions for taller walls or modified landscaping standards?

The community development director or the applicable review authority (per Table 4‑1 and Chapter 17.42) will review proposals for increased wall height or modifications to landscaping; wall increases over 6 ft typically need a development plan permit and findings (§ 17.20.140.A; Chapter 17.42) .

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