San Diego County — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

In unincorporated areas of San Diego County, “landscaping and screening” is governed primarily by countywide standards for water‑efficient landscape design, slope planting after grading, and resource‑area revegetation under the County’s planning and environmental ordinances. These requirements work alongside base zoning and overlays in the San Diego County Zoning framework and the County’s Development Standards. This page synthesizes what the local code actually requires for planting, buffers, and screening in unincorporated areas—separate from the state’s California Building Standards Code and from incorporated cities’ rules.

Plain-English anchor: If your project in unincorporated San Diego County adds or modifies landscape, disturbs slopes, or touches sensitive lands, expect to: design for water efficiency; plant and irrigate disturbed slopes to control erosion; and, where you border wetlands/floodplains/steep slopes, use native landscaping to revegetate and buffer as the Resource Protection Ordinance requires (§ 86.604).

Countywide standards that apply in most zones

Water Conservation in Landscaping (Title 8, Division 6, Chapter 7 — countywide)

Purpose and applicability: The County’s water‑efficient landscaping rules set a performance framework (MAWA/ETWU budgets) for new construction and certain modified landscapes so projects use only the water they need (§ 86.701).

Key requirements:

• Submittal pathway. Most covered projects must submit a Landscape Documentation Package with a landscape/irrigation plan, grading design plan, and a Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet (§ 86.707–§ 86.711).
• Plan content. Landscape/irrigation plans must list plants (with WUCOLS plant factors), show hydrozones, and detail irrigation components and operating pressure (§ 86.709(b)(1)–(6)).
• Mulch and soil. Provide 3 inches minimum mulch on exposed soils; transform compacted soils and incorporate compost per prescriptive rates unless contraindicated (§ 86.709(c)(3), (8)).
• Stormwater integration. Label vegetated BMPs and design planted areas for on‑site capture/infiltration (§ 86.721).
• Single‑family tree requirement. New single‑family residential projects must plant and maintain two trees per dwelling unit, on private land outside the right‑of‑way (§ 86.709(b)(10)).
• Finaling and upkeep. Before final, submit a Certificate of Completion with photos, an irrigation audit, and maintenance schedule (§ 86.725–§ 86.727). Wasteful runoff/overspray is prohibited (§ 86.728).

Grading — Slope Planting and Irrigation (Title 8, Division 7)

• Plant disturbed slopes. Faces of cut/fill slopes over 3 feet high must be planted and maintained to achieve protective coverage; tall slopes require shrubs (1‑gal) or trees (5‑gal) at max 10‑foot spacing (§ 87.417).
• Irrigate to establish. Except for agricultural grading and borrow pits, install irrigation to establish slope planting, with performance and testing noted in the County specifications (§ 87.418).

Overlays and resource-based “districts” affecting landscaping and screening

These countywide overlays function like special districts for environmental protection. They can drive planting palettes (native vegetation), dictate restoration, and require buffers and “blended” edges. Always check whether your site is in one of these mapped areas in the Overlay Districts system.

Resource Protection Ordinance — Wetlands and Wetland Buffers

• Purpose. Conserve wetlands; limit uses to those that do not harm the ecosystem (§ 86.604(a), (b)).
• Typical permitted actions relevant to landscaping: invasive‑species removal; habitat restoration; revegetation/management under an approved plan (§ 86.604(a)).
• Key standard. Any crossings or work must minimize impacts and ensure no net loss of wetlands; restoration/revegetation is central (§ 86.604(a)).
• Where it applies. Designated wetland areas and mapped buffers in unincorporated areas. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Resource Protection Ordinance — Floodways

• Purpose. Keep floodways free of permanent occupied structures and prevent environmental harm (§ 86.604(c)).
• Typical permitted uses: agricultural, recreational, and other low‑intensity uses with environmental protections (§ 86.604(c)).
• Landscaping note. Erosion control and compatible, non‑harmful treatments may be allowed subject to strict criteria (e.g., rip‑rap only if no less‑damaging option exists) (§ 86.604(c)).
• Where it applies. Mapped floodways in unincorporated areas.

Resource Protection Ordinance — Floodplain Fringe

• Purpose. Allow zoning‑permitted uses with added protections and creek‑edge restoration (§ 86.604(d)).
• Key landscaping standard. If fill is placed, the new creek bank must be landscaped to blend with natural stream vegetation, enhancing the natural edge (§ 86.604(d)).
• Buffering. Setbacks from the floodway equal to 15% of floodway width (max 100 ft) create a vegetated buffer; reductions require specific findings (§ 86.604(d)).
• Where it applies. Mapped floodplain fringe areas.

Resource Protection Ordinance — Steep Slope Lands

• Purpose. Minimize encroachment; place steep‑slope portions of lots in open space easements (§ 86.604(e)).
• Key landscaping standard. Where encroachment is otherwise allowed, native vegetation must be used to revegetate and landscape cut and fill areas (§ 86.604(e)).
• Where it applies. Lots with mapped steep slopes meeting RPO criteria.

Conservation Subdivisions — SR‑10 and RL‑20/40/80 land use designations

• Purpose. Cluster development in least‑sensitive areas; conserve large, connected open space blocks, with buffers to sensitive resources (§ 81.401; Table 81.401.1).
• Typical permitted uses in conserved open space: native landscaping, preservation, mitigation, and low‑impact recreation (§ 81.401).
• Avoided resources to be placed in open space (minimums): SR‑10: 75%; RL‑20: 80%; RL‑40: 85%; RL‑80: 90% (Table 81.401.1).
• Where it applies. Unincorporated areas subdividing in SR/RL designations; coordinate early with San Diego County Land Use.

Decision‑relevant standards (highlights)

What’s not in the retrieved code excerpts

• Parking-lot landscaping ratios and screening of vehicle areas: Not found in retrieved materials. See San Diego County Parking for related standards; Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Fence and wall height limits as “screening”: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• District‑specific landscape palettes or “parkway tree” lists beyond the countywide rules: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Special Design Review area landscape criteria: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Checklist

• Confirm your site’s overlays/resource areas in the County’s Overlay Districts and whether RPO § 86.604 applies (wetlands, floodway/floodplain, steep slopes).
• Determine if your project triggers the Water Conservation in Landscaping chapter; choose the Documentation Package or the Prescriptive Compliance Option (§ 86.707–§ 86.711; § 86.722).
• Prepare a compliant landscape/irrigation plan: plant list with WUCOLS factors, hydrozones, irrigation equipment/pressure, and BMPs labeled (§ 86.709; § 86.721).
• Design soils and mulch: de‑compact; add compost; specify 3 inches of mulch where required (§ 86.709(c)).
• For new single‑family dwellings, show two trees per unit outside the right‑of‑way (§ 86.709(b)(10)).
• If grading creates slopes >3 ft, specify planting and irrigation meeting §§ 87.417–87.418.
• If working in floodplain fringe, show creek‑edge landscaping that blends with natural vegetation (§ 86.604(d)).
• Before final, submit the Certificate of Completion with irrigation audit, photos, and maintenance/irrigation schedules (§ 86.725–§ 86.727).
• Avoid runoff/overspray and do not exceed your MAWA (§ 86.728).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

For projects in unincorporated areas, San Diego County expects you to design drought‑smart landscapes, plant and irrigate any new slopes, and restore edges near wetlands, floodplains, and steep slopes with native vegetation. Submit a complete landscape package, budget water use, mulch and amend soils, plant two trees for each new single‑family home, and finish with an irrigation audit and maintenance plan—while keeping irrigation runoff off sidewalks and streets (§§ 86.709, 86.721, 86.725–86.728; §§ 87.417–87.418; § 86.604).

Source References

• Water Conservation in Landscaping: § 86.701, § 86.707–§ 86.711, § 86.721–§ 86.729 (San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances)
• Grading — Planting and Irrigation of Slopes: § 87.417–§ 87.418 (San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances)
• Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO): § 86.604(a)–(e) (wetlands/buffers, floodway, floodplain fringe, steep slopes) (San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances)
• Conservation Subdivisions/Open Space: § 81.401; Table 81.401.1 (County Subdivision Ordinance)

Retrieved passages

• San Diego County Zoning Code (section 87.206) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (section 86.714.) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (Article III) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (CHAPTER 2.) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (section are) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 810.105 (ARTICLE 4.) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (Section 86.709) Medium relevance show source text
• CFC § 000 Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (section 86.703) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (section 86.709.) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (title constraints.) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (section 86.725.) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (Article 5) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (Chapter would) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (section 86.712) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (Chapter shall) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code (Chapter and) Medium relevance show source text
• San Diego County Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Water Conservation in Landscaping: § 86.701, § 86.707–§ 86.711, § 86.721–§ 86.729 (San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances) (§ 86.701)
• Grading — Planting and Irrigation of Slopes: § 87.417–§ 87.418 (San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances) (§ 87.417)
• Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO): § 86.604(a)–(e) (wetlands/buffers, floodway, floodplain fringe, steep slopes) (San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances) (§ 86.604)
• Conservation Subdivisions/Open Space: § 81.401; Table 81.401.1 (County Subdivision Ordinance) (§ 81.401)
• SanDiegoCounty_ZoningCode.md

• Official San Diego County code library