Local zoning · Redding

Redding — Landscaping and Screening

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Redding's zoning and development rules require for landscaping, screening, buffers, fences, walls, and trees when you design or review a project. The controlling rules live in the zoning title (notably § 18.40.020, § 18.40.180, Chapter 18.47, and Chapter 18.45) and apply differently depending on the zoning district and whether a project is discretionary. See the City’s rules on development standards and how landscaping ties to parking, design review, and overlays like the MR designations for detailed process links.

NOTE: This page covers only landscaping/screening rules found in the Redding zoning/planning ordinance. Verify parcel-specific interpretations with the Development Services Director. All requirements below are cited to the municipal code passages in the retrieved ordinance text.

Key city rules (quick summary)

  • Required buffer yards when dissimilar districts abut; widths and required wall heights are prescribed in § 18.40.020 and Schedule 18.40.020‑A. The buffer yard must include a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees/shrubs plus a masonry or equivalent wall in many pairings.
  • Fence and wall heights and placement: residential front-yard fences limited; interior side/rear higher (detailed in § 18.40.180).
  • Parking lot and streetside landscaping (planter widths, tree ratios, interior landscape area, shade‑tree spacing and sizes) are required in the off‑street parking chapter; see § 18.41.100 (and related subsections).
  • Citywide landscape plan submittal, completion and maintenance requirements are in Chapter 18.47 (and the Landscape Documentation Package procedure references § 16.70.030). Certificate of occupancy can be conditioned on landscape completion under § 18.47.080; ongoing maintenance under § 18.47.100.
  • Tree protection and removal (trees > 6" dbh) require permits and preservation measures under Chapter 18.45; tree preservation can justify variances to other development standards.

You should also check how landscaping/screening intersects with development standards, overlay districts, and ADUs during project design.

District-by-district (landscaping & screening focus)

For each district below I state the landscaping/screening obligations or the rules that commonly affect landscaping decisions. Where the ordinance ties to a district table or schedule I cite that controlling section.

Note: the zoning ordinance has many base districts. The items below focus on the districts explicitly referenced in the landscaping/screening rules and where unique responsibilities or exceptions are spelled out.

RS (single‑family residential)

  • Purpose/typical uses: single‑family homes. (Base-district rules referenced throughout the code; see development schedules for full use lists).
  • Landscaping/screening implications: Buffer-yard requirements apply when RS abuts more intensive districts; the required buffer is governed by § 18.40.020 and the Schedule 18.40.020‑A (e.g., Multiple‑family adjacent to single‑family uses requires a 10 ft buffer and 6 ft wall in many pairings). The homeowner can be assigned responsibility for buffer yards in certain cases (see below).
  • Fences/walls: front/corner‑side fence maximum heights and other residential fence provisions are in § 18.40.180 (e.g., front‑yard/corner side within setback limited to 3 ft; other fences typically 6 ft, sometimes 7 ft in interior side/rear situations).
  • Where it applies: any property zoned RS; buffer requirements kick in at any property line abutting a dissimilar district as shown in Schedule 18.40.020‑A.

RE (rural estate / low‑density residential)

  • Purpose/typical uses: larger lot residential (see Schedule for allowed uses).
  • Landscaping/screening implications: similar to RS. Fences/walls and buffer rules apply; site designs that preserve trees are encouraged and the City may allow setback/other exceptions to preserve trees per Chapter 18.45.

RM (multiple‑family residential)

  • Purpose/typical uses: apartments/multi‑family; development standards and lot coverage specifics are in the RM schedules.
  • Landscaping/screening implications: Where RM abuts RS a 10 ft buffer and 6 ft wall standard generally applies (Schedule 18.40.020‑A). Fencing in RM must be integrated as part of architecture in some cases, per § 18.40.180. Parking lot planting/landscape ratios also apply to multifamily parking (see § 18.41.100).

LO (limited office) and Office uses

  • Purpose/typical uses: small office/service uses. Where an office use is proposed within a residential district via a site development permit, the office typically must provide the buffer yard (see Schedule and § 18.40.020). Conversely, when residential uses are constructed inside LO or GC, the ordinance may place buffer responsibility on the residential development.

GC / HC (commercial districts)

  • Purpose/typical uses: GC = general commercial, HC = highway commercial (retail, services, etc.).
  • Landscaping/screening implications: When commercial fronts a street or abuts residential, streetside planters and landscaped setbacks apply (street planter widths differ by street type — see planter rules and average widths), and buffer yards apply where commercial abuts residential per § 18.40.020 and Schedule 18.40.020‑A. Parking lot interior landscaping and shade‑tree requirements apply to commercial parking under § 18.41.100.

GI / HI (industrial districts)

  • Purpose/typical uses: general / heavy industrial.
  • Landscaping/screening implications: Where industrial abuts residential, the ordinance prescribes a large buffer (Schedule 18.40.020‑A shows 50 ft buffer and 8 ft wall for industrial adjacent to residential). Additional screening (setbacks, berms, walls) and requirement that extracting/processing operations be screened from streets are spelled out in overlay or specific use chapters.

MU (Mixed‑Use) and DR (Design Review) overlay

  • Purpose/typical uses: mixed commercial/residential centers; for some MU projects the City imposes the DR design review overlay standards. Design review may control landscape quality and transitions; see the design review page and § 18.54.070 references. Buffering and streetscape requirements are used to ensure compatibility, noted in the MU overlay rules.

MR (Mineral Resources Overlay)

  • Purpose/typical uses: mining/extractive operations with specific site controls. Screening and setbacks to keep operations from being visible are required (screening set back a minimum distance and not visible from streets), including screening set‑backs and special landscape/site design per § 18.52.030.

Most decision‑relevant standards (table)

Topic Key standard / requirement Code reference
Buffer yards (typical pairings) Commercial adj. to Residential 20 ft buffer, 6 ft wall; Office adj. to Residential 10 ft, 6 ft wall; Multiple‑family adj. to Single‑family 10 ft, 6 ft wall; Industrial adj. to Residential 50 ft, 8 ft wall — see Schedule 18.40.020‑A § 18.40.020; Schedule 18.40.020‑A
Buffer-yard content Mix of deciduous & evergreen trees/shrubs to provide year‑round screening; masonry/block walls or equivalent; director may authorize wood‑insert fences in limited cases § 18.40.020.C
Fence/wall heights (residential) Front/corner‑side in setback ≤ 3 ft; other fences typically ≤ 6 ft; interior side/rear not fronting ROW may be 7 ft with compatible attachments; director exceptions exist § 18.40.180.A
Fence/wall heights (nonres) Default ≤ 6 ft; director may approve greater height for screening/security; site permit required if in street front/side setback § 18.40.180.B
Streetside & parking lot landscaping Streetside planters min 10 ft for two‑lane streets; 15 ft for 4‑lane arterials; planting strip to include shrubs (3 ft height within 18 months) and city‑approved street trees on ~30 ft centers § 18.41.100 (streetside planter rules)
Parking lot interior landscape 60 sq ft landscape per required parking space; shade tree ratio 1 tree / 4 spaces; minimum planter area 72 sq ft, width ≥ 6 ft; tree min size 15‑gallon § 18.41.100.C–D
Landscape plan & completion Landscape Documentation Package required (per RMC § 16.70.030) before building permit; Certificate of Occupancy requires landscape approval or evidence of contract/completion plan Chapter 18.47; § 18.47.080; RMC § 16.70.030
Tree protection / removal Permit required to remove any tree > 6 in dbh; preservation measures and possible replacement required; violations carry fines/mitigation Chapter 18.45; § 18.45.030
Buffer site plan Buffer site plan must be submitted with building permit/site development/use permit applications where buffer yard is required; plan contents are specified § 18.40.020.D

Practical guidance / interpretation notes

  • Who must provide the buffer? The code intends the more intensive use to provide required buffer yards, except that when residential development occurs inside GC or LO the residential side may be responsible; also where an office is built inside a residential district via site development permit the office provides the buffer. See § 18.40.020.A.
  • Buffer yards are not additive to setbacks — they dictate how setback areas are to be used, not extra perpendicular distance beyond the setback: § 18.40.020.A.
  • The director can waive or reduce buffer widths in limited circumstances (e.g., adjacent property already non‑residential) and may authorize up to a 25% reduction via a zoning exception if impacts can be mitigated — see § 18.40.020.B and exception rules (zoning exception language).
  • Landscaping commitments are enforceable: Certificate of Occupancy and maintenance obligations are tied into Chapter 18.47 and the Landscape Documentation Package (see § 18.47.080 and § 18.47.100). Expect plan checks and a final Landscape Certificate of Completion.
  • Trees have separate protection rules: removing trees larger than 6 in dbh generally requires a tree removal permit under Chapter 18.45; preservation can be a basis for variances to other standards.

Checklist

  • Determine whether the parcel abuts a dissimilar zoning district; if so, identify the buffer category in Schedule 18.40.020‑A and the responsible party. (§ 18.40.020)
  • Prepare a Buffer Site Plan showing proposed planting, wall/fence locations, utilities, mechanical equipment, trash/loading areas, and existing/proposed structures. (§ 18.40.020.D)
  • Submit a complete Landscape Documentation Package if RMC § 16.70.030 applies; include irrigation details, plant list, and LID measures. (Chapter 18.47; § 16.70.030)
  • Meet streetside/parking lot planter widths, interior landscape area (60 sq ft/space), shade tree ratio (1:4) and minimum tree size requirements. (§ 18.41.100)
  • Check fence/wall height and location limits within setbacks or submit a site development permit / zoning exception if taller walls are needed. (§ 18.40.180; § 18.15.030.E)
  • If removing trees >6 in dbh, obtain a tree removal permit and follow preconstruction tree protection steps. (Chapter 18.45; § 18.45.030)
  • If the site is in an overlay (e.g., MR, DR) include overlay screening/landscape requirements in the plans and expect design review. (See overlay chapters; § 18.52.030 and § 18.54.070)

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Who bears buffer cost when residential is inside GC/LO The ordinance shifts responsibility in specific cases; mis‑assigning responsibility can delay permits Confirm which party is responsible under § 18.40.020.A for the particular parcel and any recorded subdivision conditions.
Director discretion / waivers Director may waive buffer where adjacent parcel developed non‑residential or reduce width up to 25% via exception; outcome is site‑specific Verify any director determinations or prior approvals on adjacent parcels and whether a zoning exception was used (§ 18.40.020.B; § 18.15.030.B).
Exact planter width along a given roadway Planter minimums vary by street classification and whether sidewalk location affects width Confirm the applicable street classification and whether sidewalk is inside/outside property line to apply the 10/15/20 ft rules (see streetside planter language in the parking/landscape chapter).
Tree protection vs. site grading Tree preservation can justify variances, but survival expectation must be supported by a qualified professional Submit tree surveys and arborist reports; see tree permit rules and discretionary permit requirements in Chapter 18.45.
Compatibility with floodplain or creek setbacks Walls and solid masonry fences have FEMA/floodplain constraints (openings required) If the wall/fence falls in a 100‑yr floodplain, verify FEMA opening requirements and consult the floodplain regulations. (§ 18.40.180.A)
Fire / WUI planting guidance not in zoning code Wildland‑Urban Interface planting limits may come from separate fire or state codes Not found in retrieved zoning materials; verify fuel‑reduction and defensible‑space requirements with the Fire Department and state WUI code. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Plain‑English summary

If your site borders a different zoning district, expect a required buffer (trees + shrubs + usually a masonry wall) sized by how different the two zones are; parking lots and street frontages must include specific planter widths and tree ratios; fences in front yards are short, side/rear fences can be taller; trees over 6" generally need a permit to remove; and a Landscape Documentation Package and final approval are required before final occupancy. All of these rules are enforced through the zoning ordinance (buffers § 18.40.020; fences § 18.40.180; parking/landscape § 18.41.100; landscape standards Chapter 18.47; trees Chapter 18.45).

Source References

  • Redding Municipal Code — Buffer yards: § 18.40.020 and Schedule 18.40.020‑A (buffer widths & walls).
  • Redding Municipal Code — Walls & fences: § 18.40.180 (residential and nonresidential fence/wall rules).
  • Redding Municipal Code — Off‑street parking screening & landscape (planter widths, parking lot interior landscape, shade‑tree ratios): Chapter 18.41, particularly § 18.41.100 and related subsections.
  • Redding Municipal Code — Landscape Standards and submittal/maintenance: Chapter 18.47; certificate of occupancy / completion: § 18.47.080; maintenance: § 18.47.100. Landscape Documentation Package reference to RMC § 16.70.030.
  • Redding Municipal Code — Tree management and removal permits: Chapter 18.45 (including § 18.45.030) and tree protection / replacement rules.
  • Redding Municipal Code — Mineral Resources Overlay development screening and setbacks: § 18.52.030.
  • Redding Municipal Code — Design and use permit conditioning re: buffers, screening, landscape, etc.: § 18.13.090–18.13.100, § 18.14.070–18.14.080 (site development / use permit findings and conditions).

(If you want the exact text of any of the above subsections or their schedule table images sent as a PDF excerpt, tell me which § and I’ll pull the ordinance excerpt for you. Verify parcel‑specific obligations with the Development Services Director.)

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Redding Zoning Code (section is) High relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (Section 18.40.050) High relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (Section 18.40.050) High relevance
  • CBC § 2 (§ 2) High relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code High relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (§ 12) High relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code Medium relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (Chapter 18.45) Medium relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (Section 18.11.090) Medium relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (§ 9) Medium relevance
  • CWUIC § 603.4.2.1 (Section 603.4.2.1._) Medium relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
  • Redding Zoning Code (Chapter 18.47) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What buffer yard do I need if my commercial lot borders a single‑family neighborhood in Redding?

If a commercial parcel borders a residential district, Schedule 18.40.020‑A requires a 20‑foot buffer with a 6‑foot wall for the commercial‑adjacent‑to‑residential pairing; the buffer must include a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees/shrubs and usually a masonry or equivalent wall (§ 18.40.020). Verify whether the more‑intensive use or the residential development is assigned responsibility in your specific situation.

Can I replace a required masonry wall with a wood fence between RM and RS zones?

The director may authorize a block post with wood insert fence between RM and RS districts in certain circumstances, but the general standard is a decorative masonry/concrete wall or equivalent per § 18.40.020.C; if a pre‑existing wood fence already provides adequate buffering the director may allow it to remain. Verify with the director.

How tall can my backyard fence be in an RS zone?

In RS districts fences within required front‑yard setbacks or within ten feet of the property line in a required street‑side setback must not exceed 3 feet; all other fences generally must not exceed 6 feet, and an interior side or rear yard fence not fronting a public ROW may be 7 feet with compatible attachments. See § 18.40.180.A.

What landscaping is required for a new commercial parking lot?

Commercial parking must meet streetside planter widths (e.g., 10 ft for two‑lane streets; 15 ft for four‑lane arterials) with shrubs and street trees on ~30‑ft centers, plus interior landscape equal to 60 sq ft per required parking space, and shade trees at a 1:4 tree‑to‑space ratio (minimum 15‑gallon trees). These rules are in the off‑street parking/landscape chapter (§ 18.41.100 and subsections).

Do I need to submit a landscape plan before building permits are issued?

Yes — the code requires a Landscape Documentation Package where RMC § 16.70.030 applies and Chapter 18.47 establishes landscape plan contents, installation, and a required Landscape Certificate of Completion prior to final building permit/CO in many cases. The director can allow CO issuance with conditions if installation is delayed by season/weather (§ 18.47.080).

Are there penalties for removing protected trees during construction?

Removing or killing any tree over 6 inches dbh without the required permit is prohibited; violations can trigger fines per § 18.45.100, required replacement trees, or other penalties including denial of further development until corrective actions are taken. See Chapter 18.45 for procedure and penalties.

If my lot backs to a street or railroad, do I still need a buffer yard?

If a proposed use is separated from an existing use by a street, rail right‑of‑way, flood control channel, or stream corridor that is at least as wide as the required buffer and required screening is achieved, a buffer yard may not be required; however a wall may be required depending on site impacts. See § 18.40.020.G for exceptions.

Can the city reduce required buffer widths for tight sites?

Yes — the director may waive the buffer yard requirement in cases where the adjacent property has already been developed non‑residentially; a zoning exception can reduce required buffer width by up to 25% if the reduction does not increase potential land‑use impacts (§ 18.40.020.B; exception rules § 18.15.030.B).

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