Ridgecrest — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Ridgecrest zoning/planning ordinance and the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan require for landscaping and screening, and how those rules interact with fences, walls, trees, and plan submittals. The city treats landscape requirements both through stand‑alone municipal code rules (yard/fence limits; maintenance) and through area‑specific rules in the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan; verify parcel‑specific requirements with the planning department. See the city's zoning framework in Ridgecrest Zoning and how landscape ties to Ridgecrest Development Standards and Ridgecrest Parking in site design decisions.

Key rules (quick)

• Landscaping required where setbacks or unpaved areas are not used for drive entries, parking, loading, or approved outdoor uses — see § 106-23 and the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan landscaping standards (Commercial Specific Plan text) .
• Fences/walls: rear/side yard fences/walls behind the front yard setback are allowed up to 7 ft; front yard/visibility limits apply (see § 106-32) .
• The Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan includes detailed parking‑lot, tree size, irrigation, planter curbing, mulch, screening of utilities/refuse and screening of loading areas; those site‑specific standards are in the specific plan document (see the landscape section of the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan) .

District-by-district breakdown

Below are Ridgecrest districts and plan areas where the ordinance or the Specific Plan explicitly addresses landscaping/screening. Each subsection cites the ordinance text or specific plan material we retrieved. If you are working on a specific parcel, verify district boundaries with the planning department or the map in Ridgecrest Land Use.

RSP (Recreation, Schools and Public Use) — RSP

• Purpose: Permanent open space, public facilities, parks, schools, and public recreation uses. RSP is intended to provide open space and institutional uses that may require tailored yard and landscape treatments. See § 106-308 for the district statement and yard/fence rule language .
• Typical permitted uses: parks, schools, civic facilities, public utilities (see § text) .
• Landscaping / screening rules: Yard requirements, coverage, and fences/walls in RSP are determined during site plan review and may be set by the planning commission; landscape maintenance and open‑space provisions are enforced as part of site plan approval § 106-308(e) .
• Where it applies: areas designated on the zoning map as RSP; projects require site plan review when in this district.

Residential multi‑family districts (examples where code mentions lot/fence exceptions) — R-3, R-4

• Purpose & permitted uses: multifamily residential development (see zoning district tables in the code) .
• Key dimensional note: the code makes a specific allowance for 50‑foot wide lots in limited areas within R-3 and R-4 (parcel‑specific mapping); landscaping and setback compliance still apply through site plan review (see § 106-33 and site plan rules) .
• Fences / walls & visibility: fences and hedges must comply with the general fence rules in § 106-32 (height limits, visibility/cross‑visibility areas) .
• Where it applies: residential neighborhoods zoned R-3, R-4 (check the zoning map in Ridgecrest Zoning).

Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan area — (the "Specific Plan")

• Purpose: The Specific Plan is the zoning for a defined commercial site and provides bespoke development, landscape and screening standards to ensure design unity and compatibility (it “shall constitute the zoning for the specific plan area”) .
• Typical permitted uses: commercial / retail center uses as enumerated in the Specific Plan (see the Specific Plan land‑use chapters) .
• Landscaping and screening (decision‑relevant highlights from the Specific Plan text):
  • Permanent automatic irrigation is required in all landscaped areas; drip systems are recommended and sprinkler overspray must be avoided (Specific Plan landscaping standards, itemized) .
  • Parking‑lot landscaping must include an adequate number of trees and shrubs and shaded walkways at interior islands; trees in required landscape areas must be minimum 15 gallons; shrubs mixed 1–5 gallon sizes (Specific Plan) .
  • Landscaped areas shall be delineated by a minimum 6‑inch high by 6‑inch wide concrete curb or equivalent; mulch shall be 2 inches in shrub/groundcover areas (Specific Plan) .
  • Refuse enclosures and outdoor storage must be screened by solid walls at least 6 ft in height; loading doors and service areas must be screened by compatible screen/walls (Specific Plan) .
  • Walls/fences in the Specific Plan are to be used only for screening/security/buffering and must complement adjacent building architecture; landscape should be used in combination with walls where possible (Specific Plan) .
• Where it applies: only inside the geographic boundaries of the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan (the Specific Plan functions as the zoning for that site) .
• Note on citation: the specific plan text we retrieved includes detailed numbered landscaping standards; however, those specific plan items are in the Specific Plan document rather than a numbered municipal‑code §. The Specific Plan itself is the controlling zoning document for the area (see statement that the Specific Plan “shall constitute the zoning for the specific plan area”) . (If you need a municipal‑code § citation for a given Specific Plan provision, verify with the planning department.)

Most decision‑relevant standards (at a glance)

Practical guidance / how the rules work together

• When a development requires site plan review or is inside the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan area, expect a landscape plan submittal that shows tree sizes, irrigation, curbs, mulching and screening for service/trash areas. The Specific Plan mandates minimum tree sizes, irrigation types, planter standards and curbing in those areas (Specific Plan text) .
• For general residential and other zones, the municipal code sets fence/wall height/visibility rules and requires landscape maintenance; local site plan review or the planning director can impose more detailed landscape/screening conditions (see § 106-32, § 106-23, and site plan rules in the code) .
• Use landscaping to meet two goals emphasized in the code: screening of non‑aesthetic items (utility boxes, loading, storage) and visual softening of blank walls or large paved areas; the Specific Plan explicitly requires screening of roof/ground utilities and pedestrian‑oriented shade features in parking areas .
• Plans must show the location and materials of fences/walls and how they will work with landscaping (e.g., hedges along walls to deter graffiti is encouraged in the Specific Plan) .

Checklist

• Determine zoning for project parcel and whether it is inside the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan or another district (verify with Ridgecrest Zoning) — Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Prepare landscape plan showing all trees (note: Specific Plan requires 15‑gal minimum in required landscaped areas when applicable) and shrub sizes/mix where Specific Plan applies .
• Show irrigation: permanent automatic irrigation for landscaped areas (drip recommended) where the Specific Plan applies .
• Locate and dimension fences/walls on plans and ensure they meet § 106-32 height/visibility limits (rear/side up to 7 ft; front intersection visibility limits) .
• Show screening for refuse, utility boxes, loading areas (solid wall ≥6 ft for trash enclosures in Specific Plan area) .
• Include landscape maintenance statement and plan (maintenance responsibility, replacement for dead plants) to demonstrate compliance with § 106-23 .
• If in Specific Plan area: submit landscape & irrigation construction drawings for planning services director approval and obtain sign‑off by public services before occupancy (Specific Plan requirements) .
• Verify compliance with sight‑line/cross‑visibility rules and any public‑works requirements for parkway planting (site lines must not be blocked) .
• If requesting deviations (e.g., different fence height, reduced landscape area), prepare to use substantial conformance or variance process; small modifications may be allowed under the code (see substantial conformance rules) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Ridgecrest requires landscaping to screen service areas, soften large walls and parking, and keep required setbacks planted; fences can be up to 7 feet in rear/side yards but front/visibility areas are limited — large commercial sites inside the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan have extra, specific rules for tree sizes, irrigation, curbing, mulch and screening that you must show on your landscape plan. Verify the property’s zoning and any Specific Plan rules with the planning department before you finalize designs .

Source References

• Ridgecrest Municipal Code — maintenance of landscaped areas: § 106-23. Text reviewed from uploaded municipal code extract .
• Ridgecrest Municipal Code — fences, walls and hedges: § 106-32. Text reviewed from uploaded municipal code extract .
• Site plan submittal requirements (required plan content including fences/walls/landscaping): § 106-171 (plan content list was in the municipal code excerpts) .
• RSP district (Recreation, Schools and Public Use): § 106-308(e) (yard & fence treatment determined by site plan review) .
• Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan — Landscaping, screening, irrigation, tree sizes, curbing, mulch, parking‑lot landscaping, refuse screening, and walls/fencing guidance: Specific Plan landscaping chapters and standards (text in uploaded Specific Plan excerpts) — contents cited from the Specific Plan text (no municipal § number present in the retrieved excerpts) .
• Substantial conformance and modification rules that may affect fence/landscape deviations: municipal code substantial conformance provisions (see the Specific Plan and municipal code excerpts) .
• Sightlines and plan requirements: plan sign‑off/visibility and parking/pedestrian circulation requirements (code & Specific Plan excerpts) .

Internal links referenced above: Ridgecrest Zoning, Ridgecrest Land Use, Ridgecrest Development Standards, Ridgecrest Parking, Ridgecrest Design Review, Ridgecrest Overlay Districts, Ridgecrest ADUs, California Building Standards Code.

Retrieved passages

• Ridgecrest Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (§ 20-3.12) High relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• California Building Code High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (section are) High relevance show source text
• California Building Code Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (section 106-171) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Ridgecrest Municipal Code — maintenance of landscaped areas: **§ 106-23**. Text reviewed from uploaded municipal code extract . (§ 106-23)
• Ridgecrest Municipal Code — fences, walls and hedges: **§ 106-32**. Text reviewed from uploaded municipal code extract . (§ 106-32)
• Site plan submittal requirements (required plan content including fences/walls/landscaping): **§ 106-171** (plan content list was in the municipal code excerpts) . (§ 106-171)
• RSP district (Recreation, Schools and Public Use): **§ 106-308(e)** (yard & fence treatment determined by site plan review) . (§ 106-308)
• Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan — Landscaping, screening, irrigation, tree sizes, curbing, mulch, parking‑lot landscaping, refuse screening, and walls/fencing guidance: Specific Plan landscaping chapters and standards (text in uploaded Specific Plan excerpts) — contents cited from the Specific Plan text (no municipal § number present in the retrieved excerpts) . (§ number)
• Substantial conformance and modification rules that may affect fence/landscape deviations: municipal code substantial conformance provisions (see the Specific Plan and municipal code excerpts) .
• Sightlines and plan requirements: plan sign‑off/visibility and parking/pedestrian circulation requirements (code & Specific Plan excerpts) .
• Ridgecrest_ZoningCode.md

• Official Ridgecrest code library