Local zoning · Sacramento County

Sacramento County — Landscaping and Screening

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

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

In the unincorporated areas of Sacramento County, the Sacramento Zoning Code (SZC) sets mandatory landscaping, screening, and fence/wall standards to reduce visual impacts, buffer incompatible uses, and enhance streets and parking areas. Most site-wide landscaping rules live in § 5.2.4, and fence/wall and screening rules live in § 5.2.5; together they apply across base zones and many special districts, with project-specific ordinances and overlays sometimes adding stricter requirements.

Plain-English anchor: New development in unincorporated areas must meet countywide landscaping standards in § 5.2.4 and screening/fence standards in § 5.2.5; if an overlay or project-specific ordinance is stricter, the stricter rules control.

Countywide landscaping and screening standards (what nearly every project must check)

Applicability and purpose. § 5.2.4 applies to all new development and landscape maintenance countywide and emphasizes native/drought-tolerant planting, shading, and screening of service functions.
Planting quality and mix. At least 35% of trees must be 24-inch box and the balance 15-gallon; shrubs 70% five-gallon; at least 40% of trees must be evergreen; no single species >75% of any plant group. Design Review may adjust percentages. § 5.2.4.B.1.
Frontages and setbacks. Except driveways and screened service areas, landscape all areas between the street ROW and buildings/parking. Where parking or sidewalks meet the street edge, provide an 8-foot planter (excludes curb), with street trees about 30 feet on center and 4–10 feet behind sidewalk; parkways 6–8 feet where County Improvement Standards require. § 5.2.4.B.2.
Interior property line screening. Provide a 7-foot continuous planter with screening trees (about 30 feet on center, 5–10 feet from required fencing) along boundaries shared with AR or Residential zones for institutional, commercial, and industrial uses; all multifamily sites require the 7-foot planter at interior lines. § 5.2.4.B.3.
Screening to public rights-of-way and scenic corridors. Visually buffer industrial uses with a 10-foot landscaped strip at street frontages when visible; within scenic freeway corridors provide a 15-foot landscaped edge. Use shrubs/berms at least 3 feet high to screen parking, loading, trash enclosures, and equipment; maintain lower heights near intersections for visibility; provide a 5-foot landscape planter around trash enclosures visible from the street. § 5.2.4.B.4.
Parking lot landscaping. Minimum planter sizes, island frequency, end-of-row planters, and tree spacing apply countywide; multifamily/mixed-use have extra spacing and separation rules. § 5.2.4.F and Table 5.2. See also parking.
Maintenance and stormwater. Maintain landscaping to avoid blight; integrate stormwater quality landscaping (counts toward required landscape) but pervious paving cannot replace required planted areas. § 5.2.4.B.5–6.
Accessibility and sustainability. Design for ADA access; preserve existing mature/protected trees; coordinate with the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, Countywide Design Guidelines, and River-Friendly Landscape practices. § 5.2.4.B.7–9.
Irrigation. Provide permanent or temporary irrigation; encourage efficient systems and separate zones for trees vs. shrubs vs. turf. § 5.2.4.B.10.
Tree removal and replanting. Tree removal requires permits and replanting by box size tied to trunk diameter; additional fees can apply. § 5.2.4.H–I and Table 5.3.

For alternative concepts like clustered tree plantings, or to vary species/container percentages, applicants typically use design review. § 5.2.4.B.1–2.

Fence, wall, and screening controls (often paired with landscape)

Heights in yards. In AG/AR front yards, and in side street yards countywide, fences generally max at 7 feet; interior yards max 7 feet (some retaining combinations allowed). Taller fences may require setbacks or a Special Development Permit by the Zoning Administrator. § 5.2.5.B.2–6.
Multifamily and institutional frontages. Along streets, only open ornamental security fences may be placed at back of sidewalk in multifamily; institutional frontages may only use open ornamental fencing and must sit behind sidewalks and required landscaping. When adjacent to Residential or AR zones, provide at least a 6-foot solid fence or masonry wall. § 5.2.5.C.
Commercial and industrial frontages and edges. Street-front fences are limited to open ornamental types and must be behind sidewalks and required landscaping. When adjacent to Residential or AR zones, provide a 6-foot masonry wall; in M-1/M-2, an extra 3 feet of wire fencing may top other fences (max 9 feet), but not in front/side street yards. § 5.2.5.D.
Screen fences and storage. Screen outdoor storage with solid wood, masonry, or chain-link with slats; along scenic corridors, outdoor storage yards need a Conditional Use Permit. § 5.2.5 “Screen Fences.”
Nonconforming fences. Maintenance and certain repairs are allowed, but worn nonconforming fences must be removed or replaced to conform; extra upkeep duties apply to nonconforming commercial/industrial fences abutting Residential/AR. § 5.2.5.F. See also nonconforming uses.

Parking lot landscaping — key numbers at a glance

Interior planters: ≥6 feet wide and ≥40 sq ft; stormwater planters ≥12 feet. Islands every eight stalls; end-of-row planters ≥8 feet wide. Multifamily/mixed-use: tree every seven spaces and ≥5-foot landscaped separation between units and drives. § 5.2.4.F, Table 5.2.
Curbing and hardscape: Raised 6-inch curbs generally required; up to 25% of parking-area landscape may be hardscape (rock/gravel/artificial turf counts toward that cap only when approved). § 5.2.4.F; § 5.2.4.B.6.

See parking for related stall, aisle, and lighting standards that interact with landscape layout.

District-by-district application

Use the following to understand how § 5.2.4 landscaping and § 5.2.5 fencing/screening play out by district family in the unincorporated areas. For base zone purposes and permitted-use nuances, also see zoning and land use.

Agricultural and Agricultural-Residential — AG, AR

Purpose and typical uses: Rural and large-lot residential with agriculture and related activities. Not found in retrieved materials.
Landscaping/screening focus: Countywide § 5.2.4 applies; tree preservation/removal rules and maintenance apply. § 5.2.4.A, .H–I.
Fences/walls: Front yards in AG/AR allow up to 7 feet; interior yards generally 7 feet; tall fence options require setbacks or a Special Development Permit. § 5.2.5.B.2, .4, .6.
Where it applies: Unincorporated parcels zoned AG or AR.

Single-Family Residential — RD districts (single-unit contexts)

Purpose and typical uses: Detached housing and neighborhood-scale residential. Not found in retrieved materials.
Landscaping/screening focus: General § 5.2.4 standards apply (maintenance, tree preservation, irrigation). The heightened “B” standards in § 5.2.4.B target multifamily, institutional, commercial, and industrial—so most single-family infill isn’t required to add 7‑foot interior planters. § 5.2.4.A–B.
Fences/walls: Yard-height rules as above; corner-lot and measurement clarifications included. § 5.2.5.B.3–5.
Where it applies: Unincorporated parcels in RD zones with single-unit development.

Multifamily Residential — Multifamily use category (in RD zones that allow it)

Purpose and typical uses: Apartments and higher-density housing. Not found in retrieved materials.
Landscaping/screening focus: A 7‑foot continuous interior planter is required on all sides, with screen trees about 30 feet on center, 5–10 feet from required fencing; additional parking-lot tree spacing and ≥5‑foot landscape separation from units apply. § 5.2.4.B.3.c–d; § 5.2.4.F Table 5.2.
Fences/walls: Street-front fences limited to open ornamental; provide a 6‑foot solid fence or masonry wall when adjacent to Residential/AR. § 5.2.5.C.
Where it applies: Multifamily residential projects in unincorporated areas.

Commercial — LC, TC and other commercial districts

Purpose and typical uses: Retail, service, office, and visitor-serving uses (e.g., LC, TC). Not found in retrieved materials for full permitted-use lists.
Landscaping/screening focus: Landscape street-frontage areas; provide an 8‑foot frontage planter at parking edges with trees about 30 feet on center; when next to Residential/AR, add a 7‑foot interior planter with screen trees and a 6‑foot masonry wall. § 5.2.4.B.2–3; § 5.2.5.D.2.
Fences/walls: Street-front fences only ornamental and behind sidewalk/landscape; see TC cross-references confirming § 5.2.4 and § 5.2.5 apply. § 5.2.5.D.1; § 409-87–88 (TC).
Where it applies: Unincorporated commercial zones (including LC, TC).

Industrial — MP, M‑1, M‑2

Purpose and typical uses: Light/heavy industrial and business park. Not found in retrieved materials for detailed use lists.
Landscaping/screening focus: If visible from a street, provide a 10‑foot landscaped strip; in scenic freeway corridors, provide a 15‑foot landscaped edge. When adjacent to Residential/AR, include a 7‑foot interior planter with screen trees plus a 6‑foot masonry wall. § 5.2.4.B.3–4; § 5.2.5.D.2.
Fences/walls: Ornamental only at streets; in M‑1/M‑2, an extra 3 feet of wire may be added on top of other fences to reach 9 feet max (not in front/side street yards). Outdoor storage must be screened; scenic corridors may require a CUP for storage yards. § 5.2.5.D.1, .4 and Screen Fences. See also industrial development tables referencing § 5.2.4.
Where it applies: Unincorporated industrial zones MP, M‑1, M‑2.

Corridor Mixed‑Use — CMZ

Purpose and typical uses: Mixed-use corridors combining housing and commercial. Not found in retrieved materials.
Landscaping/screening focus: Provide building and landscaped setbacks to meet noise standards and screen parking/loading from adjacent residences; emphasize corridor design and transitions. § 5.7.3 (referenced in CMZ guidance); CMZ neighborhood-compatibility screening direction.
Where it applies: Unincorporated corridor mixed-use areas (CMZ).

Scenic corridor and similar overlays

Scenic freeway corridors: 15‑foot landscaped buffer along freeway frontages and screening of unsightly uses from ROW. § 5.2.4.B.4.b–c. See overlay districts.
Food Processing (FP combining): Requires a site-specific screening/landscaping plan with fencing/berms/plantings to reduce visual impacts. § 4.3.3.B.
American River Parkway/erosion zones: The County may require screening with locally native trees/shrubs to limit visual intrusion. § 4.7.4.E.2.b.
Project-specific ordinances (SPAs, NPAs, Specific/Corridor Plans): If they differ, they control over the base SZC unless § 1.7.3 says otherwise. § 1.7.3.A–E.

Quick-reference standards

Standard or Situation	Where It Triggers	Minimum/Key Requirement	Code Reference
Street-frontage landscaping at parking/buildings	Institutional, commercial, industrial, multifamily frontages	Landscape frontage areas; provide an 8 ft planter at parking edges; street trees about 30 ft on-center, 4–10 ft behind sidewalk	§ 5.2.4.B.2
Interior edge next to Residential/AR	Institutional, commercial, industrial uses	7 ft continuous landscaped planter with screen trees 30 ft on-center, 5–10 ft from required fencing	§ 5.2.4.B.3.b–d
Interior edges for multifamily	All multifamily	7 ft landscaped planter on interior property lines	§ 5.2.4.B.3.c
Industrial visible from street	Industrial uses visible from public ROW	10 ft landscaped strip at frontage	§ 5.2.4.B.4.a
Scenic freeway corridors	Parcels contiguous to freeway in scenic corridor	15 ft landscaped strip along freeway	§ 5.2.4.B.4.b
Screening unsightly elements	When visible from public ROW	Use 3 ft high shrubs/berms to screen parking/loading/trash/equipment; lower near intersections for sight lines; 5 ft planter around visible trash enclosures	§ 5.2.4.B.4.c–d
Parking lot interiors	All zoning districts	Planters ≥6 ft wide (≥40 sf); islands every 8 stalls; end caps ≥8 ft; multifamily: tree every 7 spaces; ≥5 ft landscape separation	§ 5.2.4.F (Table 5.2)
Fences at commercial/industrial street fronts	Commercial/industrial front and side-street yards	Only open ornamental fences; behind sidewalk and required landscaping	§ 5.2.5.D.1
Walls next to Residential/AR	Commercial, industrial, mixed-use abutting Residential/AR	6 ft masonry wall required	§ 5.2.5.D.2
Fence height in AG/AR front yards	AG and AR front yards	Max 7 ft	§ 5.2.5.B.2

Checklist

Confirm site is in the unincorporated area and identify base zone(s) and any overlay districts. If a project-specific ordinance applies, confirm which standards control. § 1.7.3.
Provide a landscape plan showing frontage areas, interior-edge planters, and screening of parking/loading/trash/equipment per § 5.2.4.B.2–4.
Meet species mix and container-size minimums (e.g., 35% 24-inch box trees; 40% trees evergreen; shrubs 70% five-gallon; diversity cap 75%). § 5.2.4.B.1.
Design parking lot landscaping to meet Table 5.2 island/planter/spacing rules; coordinate with parking layout. § 5.2.4.F.
Provide irrigation plans and sustainable stormwater features as allowed (stormwater planting counts; pervious paving does not replace planting). § 5.2.4.B.6, .10.
Show tree preservation and any requested removals with replacement sizing per Table 5.3. § 5.2.4.H–I.
Detail required walls/fences (location, height, materials) including 6 ft masonry walls abutting Residential/AR where applicable; confirm any special M‑1/M‑2 fence allowances. § 5.2.5.C–D.
Include maintenance notes committing to ongoing care; avoid blight. § 5.2.4.B.5.
If proposing alternatives (e.g., clustering, percentage adjustments), prepare for design review. § 5.2.4.B.1–2.
If signage is proposed in landscaped areas, verify consistency with signage rules. § 5.10 (referenced).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Scenic corridor status	Triggers wider frontage landscaping and stricter screening	Whether parcel is “within a scenic corridor” and contiguous to a freeway; apply § 5.2.4.B.4.b.
Adjacency definitions	7 ft planters and 6 ft walls depend on whether adjacent land is Residential/AR	Zoning of neighboring parcels and exact shared lot-line segments. § 5.2.4.B.3; § 5.2.5.C–D.
Intersection visibility	Screening heights drop near corners for safety	Where 3 ft screens may conflict with sight triangles; use County Improvement Standards noted in § 5.2.4.B.4.c.
Tree removal	Permit and replacement sizes/fees can affect cost and timing	Whether a Tree Removal Permit is needed; replacement box size per Table 5.3; any active MMRP. § 5.2.4.H–I.
Project-specific zoning	SPAs/Specific Plans can supersede base SZC standards	Which ordinance controls per § 1.7.3; confirm any corridor plan/street standards.
Industrial frontage visibility	“Visible from ROW” triggers 10 ft frontage landscaping	Whether intervening buildings/landscaping already screen the site. § 5.2.4.B.4.a.
Nonconforming fencing	May be allowed but with added upkeep obligations	Whether existing fences qualify as nonconforming and what maintenance is required. § 5.2.5.F.

Plain-English Summary

If you’re building or expanding in unincorporated Sacramento County, expect to landscape your street edges, break up parking lots with tree‑planted planters, and screen service/loading and trash from public view. When your project touches homes or AR zoning, add a 7‑foot interior planter with screen trees plus a 6‑foot solid or masonry wall; industrial sites visible from the street need a 10‑foot landscaped edge, and scenic freeway corridors need 15 feet. Keep plants healthy, irrigated, and varied, and get County approval before removing protected trees.

Source References

Sacramento Zoning Code — § 5.2.4.A–B (Landscape Standards; purpose, requirements, frontage, interior screening, ROW/scenic corridors, maintenance, stormwater, ADA, tree preservation, sustainable design, irrigation), § 5.2.4.F (Parking Lot Landscaping), § 5.2.4.H–I (Tree removal and replanting) — citations embedded above.
Sacramento Zoning Code — § 5.2.5 (Development Standards for Walls and Fences; multifamily/institutional/commercial/industrial fences; nonconforming fences) — citations embedded above.
Sacramento Zoning Code — § 4.3.3.B (Food Processing combining district screening/landscaping plan) and § 4.7.4.E.2.b (American River Parkway screening conditions).
Sacramento Zoning Code — § 1.7.3 (Relationship to project-specific zoning ordinances).
Cross-reference confirmation in TC (Tourist Commercial) that § 5.2.4 and § 5.2.5 govern landscaping/fencing.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Sacramento County Zoning Code (Section apply) High relevance
Sacramento County Zoning Code (Section 5.2.4.G) High relevance
Sacramento County Zoning Code (Section shall) High relevance
Sacramento County Zoning Code (Section 5.10) High relevance
Sacramento County Zoning Code (Section 5.2.5.) High relevance
Sacramento County Zoning Code (Section 5.2.4.F) High relevance
Sacramento County Zoning Code (Section in) High relevance
Sacramento County Zoning Code (Section 5.2.4.G) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Sacramento County code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping is required between the street and my new building or parking in unincorporated areas?

Landscape all areas between the street right-of-way and your buildings/parking (except driveways/screened areas), and provide an 8 ft planter at parking edges with street trees about 30 ft on center, set 4–10 ft behind the sidewalk. § 5.2.4.B.2.

Do I need a landscaped buffer along a freeway in a scenic corridor?

Yes. If your unincorporated property is within a scenic corridor contiguous to a freeway and not otherwise screened, a 15 ft landscaped area is required along the freeway edge. § 5.2.4.B.4.b.

What screening is required next to homes?

Institutional, commercial, and industrial sites next to Residential/AR must include a continuous 7 ft landscaped planter with screen trees, plus a 6 ft masonry/solid wall at the shared line. Multifamily projects require the 7 ft interior planter on all sides. § 5.2.4.B.3; § 5.2.5.C–D.

How much landscaping must go inside parking lots?

Provide planters at least 6 ft wide (40 sq ft min), install islands every 8 stalls, and 8 ft end‑of‑row planters; multifamily/mixed-use lots need a tree every 7 spaces and a 5 ft landscaped separation from units. § 5.2.4.F (Table 5.2).

Are chain-link fences with slats acceptable for screening storage?

Yes. Outdoor storage must be screened with solid wood, masonry, or chain-link fencing with slats. Along scenic corridors, an outdoor storage yard needs a Conditional Use Permit. § 5.2.5 Screen Fences.

How tall can fences be in AG or AR front yards?

Up to 7 ft high is allowed in AG/AR front yards; interior-yard fences generally max at 7 ft, with limited pathways to exceed this via setbacks or a Special Development Permit. § 5.2.5.B.2, .4, .6.

Can drought restrictions waive irrigation requirements?

If the local water purveyor imposes mandatory conservation measures, irrigation use may be waived, but trees and shrubs must still be watered to stay alive. § 5.2.4.B.1.e.

Do I need Design Review to cluster trees or adjust evergreen/box-size percentages?

Possibly. The County allows alternative designs like tree clustering and may adjust tree size/evergreen mix through the Design Review process. § 5.2.4.B.1–2. See design review.

Do I need to landscape around my trash enclosure?

Yes. If the enclosure is visible from the public right‑of‑way, install a 5 ft landscape planter around its perimeter. § 5.2.4.B.4.d.

Can I remove a mature tree to reconfigure my site?

Only with County approval; tree removal is limited and requires replacement with specified box sizes (e.g., 24", 36", 48") depending on the tree removed. Fees may apply. § 5.2.4.H–I and Table 5.3.

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