San Anselmo — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Town of San Anselmo's zoning ordinance requires about landscaping and screening (plants, fences, walls, berms, and related landscape plans). It is drawn from the Town's zoning code (Title 10, Chapter 3) and supporting tables and describes where landscape/screening rules appear in the code, which zoning districts treat screening differently, and the most decision‑relevant numeric standards and permit triggers. For background on the Town's overall rules see the San Anselmo zoning & planning overview.(/us/california/san-anselmo)

What the code requires (short synthesis)

• Design review and planned development reviews explicitly require landscaping to screen and reduce visual impacts and erosion; the design-review findings require demonstration of adequacy of screening and that landscaping camouflages cuts, fills, retaining walls, and other visually harsh elements (§ 10-3.1506, § 10-3.1106) .
• Subdivision and Precise/Preliminary/Planned Development applications must include a detailed landscaping plan showing existing/proposed trees and shrubs, demonstration that landscaping will screen buildings from off‑site views, and an irrigation plan with plant size at 5 years and maturity (§ 10-3.1104 / related application requirements) .
• Projects subject to Planning Commission review with landscaping must comply with the Marin Municipal Water District water‑conservation rules; written confirmation of the Water District’s approval of the landscape plan is required before final approval (§ 10-3.703) .
• Fences, privacy walls, and solid/opaque screen plantings close to the front property line or to a street side yard have distinct permit triggers and height limits; specifically, fences/privacy walls/opaque screens within 20 ft of the front property line or within 12 ft of a street side yard fronting a street are subject to review by the Public Works Director; and opaque fences/hedges over 8 ft above grade are called out for separate review or restrictions (see Table 4B and related notes; § 10-3.404 / Table 4B) .
• Filtered or non‑opaque screening vegetation generally has no maximum height unless the Public Works Director determines a limit is necessary for sightline safety near intersections or driveways (Table 4B notes) .
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) require landscaping that ensures defensible space, includes fire‑resistant and low‑water plants, and screens mechanicals and retaining walls (ADU rules, § 10-3.13xx / ADU chapter); ADU landscaping references and defensible space requirements are explicitly listed in the ADU provisions (see § 10-6.3xx) . See the town ADU guidance for details.(/us/california/san-anselmo/adu)

Note: building-code technical specifications belong to the California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes) and are outside the zoning ordinance; this page does not interpret Title 24 construction rules.

District-by-district notes (landscape & screening focus)

Below are the districts where the zoning ordinance specifically ties landscaping/screening to review or dimensional tradeoffs. The descriptions focus on how landscaping/screening functions in the approvals and design expectations for each district.

R-1 (single-family residential)

• Purpose / where it applies: standard single-family neighborhoods across Town; R-1 properties below and above 150' MSL are treated differently in design review. Design review for R-1 projects requires findings about bulk, privacy, neighborhood character and—for hillside portions—adequacy of screening (§ 10-3.1506) .
• Typical permitted uses: single-family dwelling and accessory uses consistent with Table 4A (see Development Standards) .
• Key landscaping/screening standards: fence exceptions and maximums for residential sites are set in Table 4B and by § 10-3.404 (see notes about front-yard/street‑side review and 8 ft opaque limit) . Where additions rely on existing screening to justify increased dwelling size, the landscape screening must be shown and maintained (§ 10-3.1506 / Table 4E related notes) .
• Practical note: R-1 hillside parcels (areas at or above 150 ft MSL) trigger more stringent design-review screening expectations under § 10-3.1506(c) and the R-1-H provisions .

R-1-H (hillside / Precise Development Plan)

• Purpose / where it applies: hillside and ridge neighborhoods; R-1-H approvals require a Precise Development Plan; the Planning Commission evaluates screening by topography or woodlands, and requires landscaping that stabilizes soil, screens development, and camouflages cuts/fills/retaining walls (§ 10-3.1106) .
• Typical permitted uses: residential development subject to precise plan and design-review controls; subdivisions need to comply with the Precise Development Plan process (§ 10-3.1101–1106) .
• Key dimensional/landscape standards: landscape plans and planting preservation are required; removal of existing woodland trees is discouraged (the code requires minimal tree removal) (§ 10-3.1106(f–g)) .
• Practical note: R-1-H projects must submit detailed conceptual and precise landscape plans (location/species/sizes and irrigation) as part of the submittal and will face stronger screening expectations than flatland R-1 parcels.

R-1-C (conservation/subset of R-1)

• Purpose / where it applies: R-1‑C carries conservation/low‑impact expectations similar to R-1-H when elevations are high; design review for R-1‑C above 150 ft MSL requires adequacy of screening as part of findings (§ 10-3.1506(c)) .
• Typical permitted uses: residential with conservation restrictions; landscaping must relate to surrounding plants and conserve soil (§ 10-3.1106(g)) .

R-2 and R-3 (multi-family/residential higher density)

• Purpose / where it applies: duplex/multi‑unit residential zones; design review standards for R-2 and R-3 require compatibility with surrounding improvements, screening for noise/odors, and protection of light/air/privacy (§ 10-3.1506(a–b)) .
• Typical permitted uses: duplexes, multifamily residential and related accessory uses (see Land Use Table) .
• Key landscape implications: multi‑unit projects typically must provide landscape plans showing how plantings mitigate visual impacts and screen parking/vehicular views (§ 10-3.1506, parking conversion items) . Parking impacts (loss of front‑yard landscaping for parking) must be mitigated with screening and plantings; see the Town parking rules for details.(/us/california/san-anselmo/parking)

Commercial (C-N, C-1, etc.) and Public/Professional districts

• Purpose / where it applies: downtown and commercial strips; screening requirements apply mainly to screening service equipment, parking lots and transitions to adjacent residential zones. Development Standards Table (Table 4A) sets minimum setbacks adjacent to R districts, which can drive where landscape buffers are required (Table 4A) .
• Typical permitted uses: retail, professional, public uses (see Land Use Table) .
• Key landscape/screening standards: when a commercial use abuts an R zone the code requires minimum adjacent setbacks and landscape buffers per Table 4A and requires screening of mechanicals/transformers (landscape/clearances) .

Overlay districts & special plans (e.g., Bald Hills, Ridgezone)

• Purpose / where it applies: special overlay or area plans add additional landscape or fence design guidance (for example, Bald Hills Area Plan and Ridgezone rules). Where specific area plans apply, they can override or add requirements about fence design and screening; see Overlay Districts for maps and special rules (/us/california/san-anselmo/overlay-districts). .
• Practical note: fences in Bald Hills have bespoke design guidance referenced in the fence table (Table 4B notes) .

Quick decision table (most decision-relevant standards)

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (practical steps)

• Prepare a landscape plan showing existing and proposed trees/shrubs/groundcover, locations and common/botanical names, and estimated sizes at 5 years and maturity (§ 10-3.1104) .
• Include an irrigation plan that demonstrates water‑conserving measures and obtain Marin Municipal Water District approval (provide written confirmation) (§ 10-3.703) .
• If the site is in R-1-H or otherwise hillside, include grading, detailed plant preservation strategy, and show minimal tree removal where possible; be prepared for stricter screening findings (§ 10-3.1106) .
• For any fence or solid screen planting within 20 ft of the front line or 12 ft of a street-side yard fronting a street, get Public Works Director review and include sightline drawings (§ 10-3.404 / Table 4B) .
• If converting parking or altering setbacks, include screening (trees, hedges, berms, walls) to mitigate visual impacts and satisfy design review findings (§ 10-3.1506, parking conversion notes) .
• For ADUs, include a landscape design showing defensible space and screening of condensers/transformers/retaining walls and confirm any heritage tree rules if tree removal is proposed (ADU provisions) .
• Verify whether an area plan or overlay (e.g., Bald Hills, Ridgezone) adds extra landscape/fence controls; consult the Town overlay district maps and rules (/us/california/san-anselmo/overlay-districts).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

San Anselmo requires landscape plans and screening as part of design review and subdivision/precise development approvals; fence and opaque‑hedge heights near front yards and street corners have special review, filtered plant screens generally have no height cap but must not block sightlines, and water‑conserving landscape plans are required for projects before the Planning Commission. Always submit detailed planting and irrigation information and expect stricter screening requirements on hillsides and under overlay plans. Verify specific triggers with Planning and Public Works. (§ 10-3.1506, § 10-3.1106, § 10-3.703, § 10-3.404)

Source References

• Design review findings and screening requirements — § 10-3.1506 (design review required findings, adequacy of screening) .
• R-1-H Precise Development Plan and landscaping expectations — § 10-3.1101–10-3.1106 (purpose, application and required findings including vegetation preservation and screening) .
• Water‑conserving landscaping — § 10-3.703 (requirement to comply with Marin Municipal Water District and written signoff before final approval) .
• Fence/solid screen rules and Table 4B notes — Table 4B / § 10-3.404 and related minor exception notes (fence heights, 20 ft front / 12 ft street‑side review triggers, 8 ft opaque limit) .
• Landscape plan contents (subdivisions, PD) — application requirements including tree/shrub lists and irrigation plan (§ 10-3.1104 / application submittal) .
• Development Standards Table (Table 4A) — dimensional and adjacency standards that drive when buffers are needed (setbacks adjacent to R districts, lot coverage, heights) (Table 4A) .
• ADU landscaping and defensible space — ADU provisions requiring landscaping, defensible space, low‑water and fire‑resistant plants, and heritage tree rules (ADU chapter) .
• Town zoning map and overlay district rules (overlay references) — § 10-3.202–10-3.204 (zoning map adoption and boundary rules) .

Also consult these GoCodebook internal pages when preparing applications: San Anselmo Zoning, Land Use, Development Standards, Parking, Design Review, Overlay Districts, ADU, and the California Building Standards Code.(/us/california/san-anselmo/zoning) (/us/california/san-anselmo/land-use) (/us/california/san-anselmo/development-standards) (/us/california/san-anselmo/parking) (/us/california/san-anselmo/design-review) (/us/california/san-anselmo/overlay-districts) (/us/california/san-anselmo/adu) (/us/california/building-codes)

Retrieved passages

• San Anselmo Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Section 10-3.404) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Section 10-3.1506) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Section 10-3.1506) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) Medium relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Section 10-3.504) Medium relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Title 5) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Section 10-3.1506) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Section 10-3.404) High relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Title 4) Medium relevance show source text
• San Anselmo Zoning Code (Title 5) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **Design review findings and screening requirements** — **§ 10-3.1506** (design review required findings, adequacy of screening) . (§ 10-3.1506)
• **R-1-H Precise Development Plan and landscaping expectations** — **§ 10-3.1101–10-3.1106** (purpose, application and required findings including vegetation preservation and screening) . (§ 10-3.1101)
• **Water‑conserving landscaping** — **§ 10-3.703** (requirement to comply with Marin Municipal Water District and written signoff before final approval) . (§ 10-3.703)
• **Fence/solid screen rules and Table 4B notes** — Table 4B / **§ 10-3.404** and related minor exception notes (fence heights, 20 ft front / 12 ft street‑side review triggers, **8 ft** opaque limit) . (§ 10-3.404)
• **Landscape plan contents (subdivisions, PD)** — application requirements including tree/shrub lists and irrigation plan (**§ 10-3.1104** / application submittal) . (§ 10-3.1104)
• **Development Standards Table (Table 4A)** — dimensional and adjacency standards that drive when buffers are needed (setbacks adjacent to R districts, lot coverage, heights) (**Table 4A**) .
• **ADU landscaping and defensible space** — ADU provisions requiring landscaping, defensible space, low‑water and fire‑resistant plants, and heritage tree rules (ADU chapter) .
• Town zoning map and overlay district rules (overlay references) — **§ 10-3.202–10-3.204** (zoning map adoption and boundary rules) . (§ 10-3.202)
• SanAnselmo_ZoningCode.md

• Official San Anselmo code library