San Bernardino County — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

In unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County, landscaping and screening are regulated by the County’s Development Code (Title 8), primarily in Division 3 (Title 83) of the code. These standards work alongside regional rules for the Valley, Mountain, and Desert Regions, the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), and adjacency buffers between different land uses. The County also sets detailed rules for fences, hedges, and walls, and for how parking lots must be landscaped and screened from roadways and nearby homes.

The single most important screening rule: when a commercial, institutional, or industrial development adjoins a residential zoning district, provide a minimum 10-foot-wide landscape screen plus a solid 6-foot masonry wall along the boundary (§ 83.02.060).

What the County Regulates Countywide

• Applicability and purpose. Landscaping must meet County objectives for aesthetics, compatibility, and water efficiency. Projects that trigger MWELO must submit a landscape documentation package (§ 83.10.010; § 83.10.020).
• Director modifications. Minor adjustments to plant species, sizes, irrigation, and similar details can be approved administratively; standards may be modified in the Fire Safety (FS) Overlay (§ 83.10.040(c)).
• Minimum landscaped area. Minimum area by use is set in Table 83-12; widths under 5 feet don’t count. Parking-lot area and its landscaping do not count toward the site minimum (§ 83.10.060(a)(3)–(4)).
• Screening & buffering between uses. Multi-family and nonresidential uses must screen and buffer: 10-foot opaque landscape strip plus a 6-foot masonry wall when next to residential zones; screen mechanical equipment, loading, refuse, and outdoor storage areas (§ 83.02.060).
• Parking-area landscaping. Provide perimeter planting strips along streets, buffers/walls next to residential, interior trees, curbing, and irrigation. Key metrics include a minimum 15-foot street planting strip, 10-foot residential buffer with a solid masonry wall, and one tree per 10 spaces; planters minimum 6 feet wide (§ 83.11.080; see also § 83.10.060 cross-reference).
• Clear sight triangles. Within driveway and intersection sight triangles, no fences, walls, shrubs, or structures over 30 inches; hedges/shrubbery are prohibited within the triangle, with limited exceptions for trimmed trees (§ 83.02.030).
• Fences, hedges, and walls. Countywide height limits within setbacks are set by Table 83-6 (e.g., 4 ft front in most districts; 6 ft front in industrial); measurement rules and where walls are required between districts are also specified (§ 83.06.030; § 83.06.040; § 83.06.050). Decorative materials are required for walls along rights-of-way (§ 83.06.060(d)(1)).
• Fence materials. Chain link is restricted in residential districts in the Valley Region; barbed/razor wire and electrified fencing have strict limits (§ 83.06.070).
• Pools. Pool/spa fencing must meet the California Building Code per § 83.06.060(a); see the California Building Standards Code.

Link these topics with other County rules as you plan: start with the San Bernardino County zoning & planning overview, confirm districts on San Bernardino County Zoning, and check cross-cutting San Bernardino County Development Standards. Parking screening ties directly to San Bernardino County Parking. Projects that undergo discretionary review should anticipate conditions under San Bernardino County Design Review; fence/wall variances or relief follow San Bernardino County Variances and Exceptions. Signs in sight triangles are regulated under San Bernardino County Signage. Overlays like FS can modify landscaping—see San Bernardino County Overlay Districts.

Regional Landscaping Standards (Valley, Mountain, Desert)

• Valley Region. Replace removed trees at a 2:1 rate (mix of 15-gallon and 24-inch box); landscape front and street-side setbacks where terrain allows (§ 83.10.080(a)).
• Mountain Region. Landscaping must be tied to a Registered Professional Forester’s forest conservation plan and insect prevention program; prioritize fire-resistant, drought-tolerant plants; landscape front/street-side setbacks (§ 83.10.080(b)).
• Desert Region.
  • No removal of native desert plant material without a tree removal permit; Joshua trees, if relocated, must be retained on-site in landscaped areas unless the Director allows otherwise (§ 83.10.080(c)(1)).
  • Xeriscape for front/street-side setbacks where disturbed; unpaved parking lots are not required to be landscaped and don’t count toward minimum site landscaping (§ 83.10.080(c)(3)–(4)).
  • Provide dust control if grading occurs (§ 83.10.080(c)(5)).

District-by-District: What to Expect for Landscaping and Screening

Note: The following summarizes how County landscaping/screening rules most often apply by land use zoning district in unincorporated areas. Dimensional standards below reference the County’s fencing, screening, and parking landscaping rules; verify parcel-specific standards in the primary district tables and overlays.

Residential districts — RS (Single Residential), RM (Multiple Residential), RL (Rural Living)

• Purpose/uses: RS and RL are single-family-oriented (RL allows rural residential living); RM is multi-family. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key landscaping triggers:
  • RS/RL: Landscape front and street-side setbacks per regional rules; observe sight-triangle height limits (max 30 inches) for hedges/shrubs near driveways/intersections (§ 83.02.030; § 83.10.080).
  • RM: Provide at least 40% of the site as landscaped area (Table 83-12) and screen mechanical/refuse areas (§ 83.10.060; § 83.02.060).
• Fences/walls: Front and street-side fences typically 4 ft max in setbacks; interior/rear 6 ft max. In RL, open fences may be up to 5 ft in front/street-side setbacks (Table 83-6 note) (§ 83.06.030).
• Where it applies: All unincorporated RS/RM/RL zones; regional standards vary by Valley/Mountain/Desert (§ 83.10.080).

Commercial districts — CR, CN, CO, CG, CS, CH

• Purpose/uses: Neighborhood to highway-oriented retail/service/office. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key landscaping triggers:
  • Along streets: Provide a landscaped planting strip; minimum 15 ft is common along public streets (§ 83.11.080(h)(1)(A)).
  • Next to homes: Provide a 10 ft landscape buffer plus a solid masonry wall at the property line (§ 83.11.080(h)(2); § 83.06.050).
  • Interior trees: One tree per 10 spaces; planters minimum 6 ft inside dimension (§ 83.11.080(i)).
• Fences/walls: Front and street-side fences typically 4 ft max; walls required between different districts in many adjacency situations (§ 83.06.030; § 83.06.050).
• Where it applies: All unincorporated commercial zones; Mountain/Valley/Desert district tables layer in basic setbacks and heights and refer back to landscaping chapters.

Industrial districts — IC (Community Industrial), IR (Regional Industrial)

• Purpose/uses: Warehousing, manufacturing, and similar. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key landscaping triggers:
  • Same street-edge and residential-adjacency standards as commercial: 15 ft street planting strip, 10 ft buffer with solid wall next to homes, and interior tree metrics (§ 83.11.080).
  • Outdoor storage must be screened by a solid sight-obscuring wall 6–8 ft with obscuring gates; keep materials below wall height (§ 83.02.060(c)).
• Fences/walls: Up to 6 ft front and street-side in industrial districts within setbacks (Table 83-6); walls required at industrial/non-industrial boundaries (§ 83.06.030; § 83.06.050(b)).
• Where it applies: All unincorporated IC/IR zones; refer to district tables for base site standards that point to landscaping chapters.

Agricultural/Resource districts — AG, RC (Resource Conservation), OS (Open Space)

• Purpose/uses: Agriculture, conservation/open space. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Key landscaping triggers:
  • Regional standards still apply; in the Desert Region, front/street-side landscaping is xeriscape where disturbed (§ 83.10.080(c)(3)).
  • Fence exceptions: In RC (and RL), open fences up to 5 ft may be allowed in front/street-side setbacks (Table 83-6 note) (§ 83.06.030).
• Where it applies: All unincorporated AG/RC/OS; confirm minimum lot-size tables separately; landscaping requirements route back to Chapter 83.10.

Decision-Relevant Standards at a Glance

Checklist

• Confirm you are in unincorporated San Bernardino County (not an incorporated city).
• Determine your Region (Valley/Mountain/Desert) and apply the corresponding § 83.10.080 regional standards.
• If MWELO applies, prepare a landscape documentation package (§ 83.10.020).
• Meet the site’s minimum landscaped area and width rules; exclude parking areas from the minimum (§ 83.10.060; Table 83-12).
• Provide required buffers/walls where your use adjoins residential zoning (§ 83.02.060; § 83.06.050).
• Design parking landscaping: street-edge strip, residential buffers, interior trees, curbing, irrigation (§ 83.11.080).
• Observe fence height/material limits and sight-triangle protections (§ 83.06.030; § 83.06.070; § 83.02.030).
• If in the FS Overlay, confirm any modifications to landscaping standards (§ 83.10.040(c)).
• For Desert projects, address native plant permits/Joshua tree relocation and dust control (§ 83.10.080(c)).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If you’re building or changing a project in unincorporated San Bernardino County, plan for landscaping that meets minimum area rules, uses water-wise plants, and screens what neighbors and drivers shouldn’t see. Expect a landscaped strip along streets, trees inside larger parking lots, and—if you’re next to homes—a 10-foot landscape buffer and a 6-foot masonry wall. Keep front fences low, avoid sight-line obstructions at driveways, and follow special Mountain/Desert rules for trees and xeriscaping.

Source References

• § 81.01.010–.050 (Title, applicability to unincorporated areas)
• § 83.02.030 Clear Sight Triangles; § 83.02.060 Screening and Buffering
• § 83.06.030–.070 Fences, Hedges, and Walls (heights, measurement, required walls, materials)
• § 83.10.010–.080 Landscaping Standards (purpose, MWELO applicability, modifications, minimum areas, regional standards)
• § 83.11.080–.090 Parking Landscaping and Development Standards
• Desert plant protection, xeriscape, unpaved lot exemptions, dust control: § 83.10.080(c)

Retrieved passages

• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (Chapter 88.01) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (Chapter 88.01) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (Chapter 85.10) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (CHAPTER 83.06) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (Chapter 83.06) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (Chapter 83.11) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (CHAPTER 83.10) High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (§ 83.02.060) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (Chapter 84.36) Medium relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (Chapter may) Medium relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (Chapter and) Medium relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (Chapter 84.36) Medium relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (Chapter 84.36) Medium relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (§ 83.05.070) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 83.06.040 (§ 83.06.040) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino County Zoning Code (§ 83.02.030) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 81.01.010–.050 (Title, applicability to unincorporated areas) (§ 81.01.010)
• § 83.02.030 Clear Sight Triangles; § 83.02.060 Screening and Buffering (§ 83.02.030)
• § 83.06.030–.070 Fences, Hedges, and Walls (heights, measurement, required walls, materials) (§ 83.06.030)
• § 83.10.010–.080 Landscaping Standards (purpose, MWELO applicability, modifications, minimum areas, regional standards) (§ 83.10.010)
• § 83.11.080–.090 Parking Landscaping and Development Standards (§ 83.11.080)
• Desert plant protection, xeriscape, unpaved lot exemptions, dust control: § 83.10.080(c) (§ 83.10.080)
• SanBernardinoCounty_ZoningCode.md

• Official San Bernardino County code library