Local zoning · Redlands

Redlands — Landscaping and Screening

Q: How tall does a planted screening hedge need to be?

When the code requires landscaped screening it specifies evergreen shrubs and a typical maintained height of 4–6 feet unless another height is called out by a specific district or condition ( § 18.168.150 ).

Q: Does Redlands require masonry walls next to residences?

Some zones do. For example, the M-P zone requires a 6-foot solid masonry wall where M-P sides or rears directly abut residential zones ( § 18.104.110.D–E and § 18.104.120 ). The T district also prescribes masonry walls of 5–6 ft adjacent to residential uses with a 3-ft reduction at front setbacks ( § 18.72.130 ). Always check your specific district chapter as well as chapter 18.168 .

Q: If I increase my building area, do I have to add landscaping?

Yes — if the intensity of use increases by 25% or more of floor area or developed lot area, the added portion must provide required landscaping; if increased by 60% or more , required landscaping must be provided on the entire developed portion of the property (see § 18.168.200 ).

Q: Are there mandatory landscaped buffers for projects next to freeways?

Yes. The planning commission may require a landscaped area 25 feet or more in width for projects adjacent to freeway rights-of-way; detailed plans must be prepared in accordance with § 18.168.170 ( § 18.168.220 ).

Landscaping and Screening under the Redlands 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 Redlands' zoning rules require for landscaping and screening (trees, planted buffers, walls, fences, parking-lot planters, and landscape plans) under Title 18. It focuses on the local standards in the zoning code (chapter 18.168 and the district cross-references), and how they apply across the common districts such as R-1, R-2, C-1, M-P, and T. If your project touches on vehicle areas, consult the city's parking guidance early; projects subject to design review, located in overlay districts, proposing ADUs, or affecting building systems should also consider the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) even though building-code compliance is outside this page's scope.

Important: the Redlands zoning code treats most district landscaping/fence requirements by reference to chapter 18.168; read that chapter first and then the district-specific cross-reference in your zone to catch extra requirements.

Core city standards (what the code actually requires)

Landscaping is defined to include planted trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, lawns and allows limited rock cover and structural features; earth berms are explicitly required in front-yard landscaping for non–single-family uses (see § 18.168.120).
Required landscaped areas must be maintained and be served by a permanent irrigation method (sprinklers or hose bibs spaced per code); sprinklers must be shielded from sidewalks (see § 18.168.140).
Where landscaped screening is required, it must generally be evergreen shrubs maintained at the specified height; when no special height is specified, screening should be kept at 4–6 feet (see § 18.168.150).
A formal landscape plan prepared by a landscape architect or licensed nurseryman is required where landscaping is mandated; the plan must show plant types, numbers, sizes and the anticipated drip line of mature trees, plus the irrigation system (see § 18.168.170).
Minimum width for any required landscaped area or fixed planter used to meet landscaping requirements is 5 feet unless another standard applies (see § 18.168.180).
Special triggers for providing landscaping on existing sites: adding 25% or more floor area or developed lot area requires landscaping on the added portion; adding 60% or more requires landscaping across the entire developed portion (see § 18.168.200).
Parking-lot landscaping and screening standards are detailed (tree sizes, distribution, islands, percent of area, root-barrier requirements). Key items include a landscaped island per 20 parking spaces, at least 7% of the parking area in landscaped islands/interstall planters/periphery planting, and minimum planter widths for tree planters (see § 18.168.210, subsections A8–A16). Final plans must conform to the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of 1990 and be approved before a building permit is issued (see § 18.168.210.E and § 18.168.210.F).

Below is a compact table of the most decision-relevant numeric standards pulled from the code:

Requirement	Typical value / rule	Code Reference
Default screening plant height	4–6 ft (evergreen shrubs)	§ 18.168.150
Minimum landscaped planter width	5 ft	§ 18.168.180
Parking-area landscaped minimum (islands+periphery)	7% of total parking area	§ 18.168.210 (A14)
Landscaped island frequency in parking	1 island per 20 spaces; planter width for large breaks = 8 ft	§ 18.168.210 (A12–A13)
Tree sizing and mix for parking	50% evergreen; specified container/caliper for 15 gal / 24" box / 36" box	§ 18.168.210 (A8–A9)
Landscaping for projects adjacent to freeway	25 ft or more landscaped buffer (planning commission may require)	§ 18.168.220
Landscape plan professional stamp	Landscape architect or licensed nurseryman required	§ 18.168.170
Maintenance and permanent irrigation required	Sprinklers/hose bib spacing and coverage rules	§ 18.168.140

District-by-district breakdown (practical guide)

Each district generally defers to chapter 18.168 for fences/landscaping/walls, but several zones add their own mandatory standards or clarifications. Below are the common districts and the specific cross-references and extra rules you need to watch for.

R-1 (Single-Family Residential)

Purpose and typical uses: low-density single-family homes. See § 18.44.010 – § 18.44.030 for context.
Landscaping & fences: the R-1 district points applicants to the general landscaping chapter (chapter 18.168) for fences, landscaping and walls (see § 18.44.180). That means the 5 ft minimum planter width, maintenance and irrigation, screening plant types, and landscape-plan requirements apply in R-1 locations when landscaping is required by the title. § 18.44.180 and § 18.168.120–180 apply.
Where it applies: houses, accessory buildings; typical residential front/rear/side yard rules are found in the R-1 chapter.

R-2 (Multiple-Family Residential)

Purpose and uses: medium-density multifamily housing. See § 18.52.010.
Landscaping & screening: the R-2 chapter refers to chapter 18.168 for fences, landscaping and walls (§ 18.52.220 / § 18.52.260). For some multifamily subzones (e.g., R-2-2000), there are extra parking-screening rules: open parking adjacent to rights-of-way must be screened by 3-foot decorative masonry walls, and covered parking has enclosure requirements for the first 75 feet of lot depth (see § 18.56.240 for the R-2-2000 specifics).
Practical point: expect masonry wall + evergreen shrub combinations where parking is visible from the street; the code authorizes decorative masonry screening in addition to landscape plantings.

C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial)

Purpose and uses: small retail and services. See § 18.84.010 – § 18.84.030.
Landscaping & walls: C-1 explicitly applies the general landscaping chapter to fences and walls in C-1 (§ 18.84.150), and additional C-1 planting rules appear in the specific C-1 landscaping sections referenced in the code (§ 18.88.120–.280 where noted). When creating commercial-facing landscaping, the general rules plus any C-1-specific landscaping sections must be followed.

M-P (Manufacturing–Professional / Campus-style)

Purpose and typical uses: professional, industrial, manufacturing campus uses. See § 18.104.010 and following.
Additional standards: when M-P abuts a residential zone the code requires a 50-foot yard with the nearest 25 feet landscaped and maintained; where M-P sides/rears are adjacent to residential property a 6-foot solid masonry wall must be installed along the property line (§ 18.104.110.D–E and § 18.104.120). These are mandatory additional protections on top of chapter 18.168.

T (Transit/Transportation or Commercial Thoroughfare)

Purpose and uses: transit/commercial corridors. The T district requires specific wall heights where adjacent to residential uses: a solid masonry wall not less than 5' nor more than 6' along interior property lines adjacent to residential uses (reduced to 3' at the front setback line), plus a 3' masonry wall at the front setback (see § 18.72.130). Landscaping minimums for yards and parking are tied back to chapter 18.168 and parking standards in § 18.168.210.

Other districts (R-A, R-R, R-1-D, E, R-2-2000, etc.)

Most residential and specialty districts include the standard phrase: "For fences, landscaping and walls in [DISTRICT] the provisions of chapter 18.168 of this title shall apply" (examples: § 18.24.170, § 18.28.180, § 18.48.200, § 18.76.080, § 18.56.260). That means the city centralizes landscaping policy in chapter 18.168 but supplements it with district-specific yard, wall and screening requirements when needed. Verify the specific district chapter for extra yard/height/wall mandates.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for landscaping & screening)

Confirm the zoning district and read its cross-reference that applies landscaping/fence rules (e.g., § 18.44.180 for R-1; § 18.104.120 for M-P) and the general chapter 18.168.
Prepare a landscape plan stamped by a landscape architect or licensed nurseryman showing plant species, sizes, counts, irrigation, and mature drip lines (required by § 18.168.170).
Provide irrigation details that meet § 18.168.140 (permanent watering, sprinkler shielding, hose bib spacing).
For parking areas, meet the parking-lot landscape rules (island frequency, tree mix and sizes, 7% landscaped area, root-barrier/planter depth rules) in § 18.168.210.
If adjacent to residential property or freeway, confirm yard width and masonry wall requirements (e.g., § 18.104.110.D–E for M-P zones; § 18.168.220 for freeways).
If increasing intensity of development, check the 25% / 60% landscaping triggers in § 18.168.200.
Obtain planning department approval of final landscape / irrigation / tree preservation before building permit issuance (see § 18.168.210.E).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Exact permitted fence materials and heights beyond "walls" reference	Chapter 18.168 contains many general rules but specific permitted fence materials/heights are referenced elsewhere or in subsections not pulled here	Verify the local text of § 18.168.020–100 and the district chapter that references fencing; where uncertain, "Verify with the jurisdiction" (planning). Not found in retrieved materials for full details.
Parking-area landscaping reductions for non-public parking	The code allows reduced interior landscaping where parking is screened from public view, but this is discretionary (reviewing agency may reduce requirements) § 18.168.210.B	Confirm whether the parking area is considered "accessible to the public"; get written determination from the planning department.
Fire-safety / WUI requirements affecting plant selection and required defensible space	The zoning landscaping rules mention planting and berms but do not substitute for fire-hazard vegetation rules or the Wildland-Urban Interface code	Verify with the Fire Department and check California fire code/WUI requirements (not fully covered in the retrieved materials). Not found in retrieved materials.
Mature-tree preservation / replacement counts	The code encourages preservation and requires additional mitigation if mature trees are removed, but exact replacement ratios/details can vary by project and may be set at review	Confirm requirements with Community Development (see § 18.168.210.D–E) and obtain plan approval.
Conflicts between district-specific masonry wall mandates and neighborhood design preferences	Several districts (e.g., M-P, T) require masonry walls of specific heights adjacent to residential zones. These can affect design review outcomes	Verify whether design exceptions or aesthetic treatments are allowed by the planning commission and reference the district sections (e.g., § 18.104.110–120, § 18.72.130).

Plain-English Summary

Redlands centralizes landscaping and screening rules in chapter 18.168: where landscaping is required you need a professional landscape plan, permanent irrigation, minimum planter widths (generally 5 ft), and screening that is usually evergreen shrubs kept about 4–6 ft tall; parking lots have detailed tree/planter and island rules and some zones add masonry wall buffers where they abut residences. Always check your zone’s chapter for district-specific add-ons (for example, M‑P requires a 6‑ft masonry wall abutting residential zones) and get final landscape plans approved by Community Development before permit issuance.

Source References

Redlands zoning code, chapter 18.168 (Landscaping; definitions, plans, maintenance, screening, parking-lot landscape): § 18.168.120–§ 18.168.220.
R-1 Single-Family Residential district (landscaping cross-reference): § 18.44.180.
R-2, R-2-2000 screening/parking specifics: § 18.52.220, § 18.56.240–§ 18.56.260.
C-1 district landscaping cross-reference and related C-1 provisions: § 18.84.120, § 18.84.150.
M-P district yards and masonry wall requirements (landscaping & walls): § 18.104.110–§ 18.104.120.
T district wall requirements and parking landscaping tie‑ins: § 18.72.120–§ 18.72.130.
Drive-through screening standard (screen to height of headlights; methods include walls, berms, landscaping): § 18.156.370.G.
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code and related fire-code considerations (referenced here to flag potential conflict with landscape choices): Not a Redlands zoning text but relevant: 2025 California WUI Code (see uploaded reference).

Sources

Retrieved passages

Redlands Zoning Code (§ 43.35) High relevance
Redlands Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
Redlands Zoning Code (§ 23.30) High relevance
Redlands Zoning Code (title for) High relevance
Redlands Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Redlands Zoning Code (§ 23.30) High relevance
Redlands Zoning Code (section for) High relevance
Redlands Zoning Code (chapter 18.168) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Redlands code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I always need a landscape plan for a Redlands project?

Yes. Where landscaping is required by Title 18, the city requires a landscape plan prepared by a landscape architect or licensed nurseryman showing plant types, counts, sizes, mature drip lines and irrigation; submit that plan to Community Development for approval per § 18.168.170.

How tall does a planted screening hedge need to be?

When the code requires landscaped screening it specifies evergreen shrubs and a typical maintained height of 4–6 feet unless another height is called out by a specific district or condition (§ 18.168.150).

What are the minimum planter widths I must meet?

The general minimum width for any required landscaped area or fixed planter is 5 feet, unless the title specifies otherwise for a particular location or use (§ 18.168.180).

Are there special rules for parking-lot trees and planters?

Yes. Parking-lot landscaping includes tree mix and minimum container/caliper sizes, an island for every 20 spaces, a minimum 7% of total parking area in islands/interstall/periphery planting, root-barrier or deep-watering measures for small planters, and maximum planter-width rules — see § 18.168.210 for the full set of requirements and planting-size tables.

Does Redlands require masonry walls next to residences?

Some zones do. For example, the M-P zone requires a 6-foot solid masonry wall where M-P sides or rears directly abut residential zones (§ 18.104.110.D–E and § 18.104.120). The T district also prescribes masonry walls of 5–6 ft adjacent to residential uses with a 3-ft reduction at front setbacks (§ 18.72.130). Always check your specific district chapter as well as chapter 18.168.

If I increase my building area, do I have to add landscaping?

Yes — if the intensity of use increases by 25% or more of floor area or developed lot area, the added portion must provide required landscaping; if increased by 60% or more, required landscaping must be provided on the entire developed portion of the property (see § 18.168.200).

Can required parking-area landscaping be reduced when the area is not visible from the street?

Possibly — where parking areas not accessible to the public are completely screened from public view by building placement or a combination of walls and landscape buffers, the reviewing agency may reduce interior parking landscaping requirements at its discretion (§ 18.168.210.B). Get a written determination from the planning reviewer.

Are there mandatory landscaped buffers for projects next to freeways?

Yes. The planning commission may require a landscaped area 25 feet or more in width for projects adjacent to freeway rights-of-way; detailed plans must be prepared in accordance with § 18.168.170 (§ 18.168.220).

Does the code tell me exactly which plant species I must use?

No — the code requires species be shown on the plan (common and botanical names) and favors drought-tolerant plantings and preservation of mature trees, but it does not publish a mandatory species list in the sections retrieved here; species suitability may also be affected by fire-safety rules and water-conservation law (see § 18.168.170, § 18.168.210.E). Verify species acceptability with Community Development and Fire where applicable.

Are fence materials (chain-link vs. masonry) explicitly allowed or prohibited?

The general landscaping and walls chapter governs fences and walls, and many districts defer to it, but the exact permitted fence materials and exceptions are not fully enumerated in the retrieved excerpts. Some districts require masonry walls in specific locations (e.g., M-P, T) — see those district provisions for mandatory masonry. For other fence-material rules, consult the full text of chapter 18.168 and the applicable district chapter. Not found in retrieved materials for complete fence-material table.

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