Local zoning · San Fernando

San Fernando — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What landscaping size and types does San Fernando require for new development?

San Fernando requires a minimum 15‑gallon size for newly planted trees and 5‑gallon shrubs; landscape must emphasize drought‑tolerant and native species and artificial turf and invasive species are prohibited — see § 106-347 .

Q: What are the fence height limits for a single‑family property?

In R‑1 and other residential zones a front yard or street‑side fence/hedge is limited to 4 ft (non‑view obscuring), and side/rear yard fences are limited to 6 ft , measured from the higher existing grade — § 106-375 .

Q: Do I need a building permit for a wall or fence in San Fernando?

Yes — any fence, wall or security gate over 6 ft in height or containing masonry components requires a building permit and building inspector approval (initial footing/pole hole inspection and final inspection) — § 106-379—§ 106-380 .

Q: If I put a second‑story unit within 50 feet of my neighbor’s backyard, what is required?

If a second story is within 50 ft of the side or rear yard of a single‑family lot you must provide screening measures to preserve privacy (landscape screens, window placement offsets, louvers, wing walls, translucent glazing, etc.); sufficiency is determined by the Planning & Preservation Commission — § 106-364(a) .

Landscaping and Screening under the San Fernando local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of San Fernando regulates landscaping and screening in its zoning code (development standards and fencing/wall rules). It synthesizes planting size, species choices, maintenance, parking-lot landscape, screening of equipment and upper-floor privacy, and detailed fence/wall height and material rules that apply across residential, commercial, industrial, overlay and specific-plan zones. Where the code gives a permit trigger or discretionary authority, I note that and point you to the controlling provisions. See the citywide zoning context first at the San Fernando zoning & planning overview and the specific regulatory detail in San Fernando Zoning and San Fernando Development Standards.

Important cross-links used below: when the code ties landscaping to parking requirements, see San Fernando Parking; when a project may require architectural or discretionary review, see San Fernando Design Review; overlays are discussed under San Fernando Overlay Districts; accessory dwelling rules interact with site landscaping and are noted at San Fernando ADUs; for building-permit thresholds reference the California Building Standards Code.

Key citywide rules (what the ordinance requires, in plain English)

All new development must provide landscape on areas not devoted to paving or building; the city may waive in limited circumstances by director determination — § 106-346 .
The code sets plant-sizing and composition minimums: minimum tree size is 15‑gallon, shrubs 5‑gallon, special spacing for screening hedges, and prohibits artificial turf and invasive species — § 106-347 .
Landscape must be maintained in healthy condition and irrigation systems kept working — § 106-348 .
Screening rules require privacy measures where multi-story development sits within 50 ft of single-family rear/side yards and mandate screening of mechanicals, dumpsters and loading areas by 6‑ft solid walls/fences (or equivalent) — § 106-364 .
Citywide fences/walls rules measure height from the higher natural/established grade and set distinct height limits by zone and yard location; building permits are required for fences/walls over 6 ft or containing masonry components — § 106-374, § 106-379 .
For commercial/industrial sites adjacent to residences the code requires a 6–7 ft masonry wall and additional architectural treatment and landscape beyond 6 ft, including anti-graffiti coating and a 5‑ft planting strip when adjacent to a right-of-way — § 106-74, § 106-104, § 106-376 .

Below I break this down by zoning district and overlay so you can see how landscaping and screening are applied to real projects in San Fernando.

R-1 (Single-Family Residential)

Purpose & typical uses: Single-family dwellings and accessory uses; landscaping expectations support residential character and street tree planting. See residential development standards at § 106-44 .
Landscaping: New development must provide landscaping per Division 4 requirements; the code specifically expects a minimum of one 15‑gallon native canopy tree in a street-facing setback when feasible — § 106-165/§ 106-347 .
Fences/walls: In front yards (and street-facing side yards on corner lots) fences/hedges are limited to 4 ft (measured from existing finish grade) and must be non-view‑obscuring at street frontage; side/rear fences limited to 6 ft; building permit required if over 6 ft or with masonry pillars — § 106-375 .
Where it applies: all lots zoned R-1 citywide; landscaping plans are required for multi-unit or significant changes (see plan submittal rules) — § 106-379 .

R-2 and R-3 (Multi‑family Residential)

Purpose & typical uses: Duplexes, small multi-family, and larger apartment uses. Designed to protect adjacent single-family yards and provide on‑site open/landscaped areas — § 106-44 .
Landscaping: Required for common open space; minimum planting and irrigation standards apply; lawn/groundcover and tree sizes as in § 106-347; parking-lot tree ratios apply to surface lots in mixed-use settings and community projects — § 106-347 .
Fences/walls: 6 ft maximum side/rear; in multi‑family zones a non-view obscuring fence up to 6 ft is allowed along a street-facing side yard (outside front setback) for corner lots — § 106-375 .
Where it applies: properties under R-2/R-3 designations across city; commission may require additional walls/landscape for compatibility when approving RPD or larger projects — § 106-165 .

RPD (Residential Planned Development overlay)

Purpose & typical uses: Flexible multi-unit residential developments that must demonstrate compatibility with nearby uses and provide common open space and landscape. See Building Form and Location Standards in Table 106-165.2 for dimensional controls (setbacks, heights, lot coverage) — Table 106-165.2 / § 106-165 et seq. .
Landscaping & screening: The Planning Commission can require walls, fencing and landscaping; a landscape plan with irrigation and maintenance assurances is mandatory for common open areas — § 106-165 / § 106-166 .
Key dimensional standards (examples from the RPD table): front setback 15–25 ft (20 ft avg), maximum height 35 ft/2 stories, maximum lot coverage 50% — Table 106-165.2 .

C-1 / C-2 (Commercial) and MUO (Mixed‑Use Overlay)

Purpose & typical uses: Retail, service, offices, and mixed residential/commercial. The MUO permits combined residential or mixed projects on parcels zoned C-1/C-2 — § 106-74, § 106-173—106-174 .
Landscaping: Commercial sites must meet Division 4 landscape standards; surface parking must include a minimum 2% landscaped area, a 5‑ft buffer between parking and the public right-of-way, and one canopy tree per four parking spaces for surface parking — § 106-165 / § 106-347 .
Fences/walls and buffers: When abutting residential zones a 6‑ft wall is required (director may require a 7‑ft wall in SC or industrial adjacency); walls over 6 ft adjacent to right-of-way require architectural treatments and a 5‑ft planting strip — § 106-74, § 106-376 .
Where it applies: Commercial corridors, downtown and MUO-designated blocks — coordinate with San Fernando Design Review and San Fernando Overlay Districts for context-sensitive standards.

SC (Service Commercial) and Industrial (M-1 / M-2)

Purpose & typical uses: Service commercial, light industrial, warehousing; M zones for industrial uses. These zones emphasize functional operations but require landscape screens to soften edges with residential neighbors — § 106-101—106-104 .
Landscaping: Landscaping required per Division 4; industrial sites may be allowed reduced landscaping by director action in limited cases (see modification allowances) — § 106-346 / § 106-189 Not found in retrieved materials for some modification cross-references; see § 106-346 for modification authority .
Fences/walls: Where industrial abuts residential a 7‑ft wall is required; along other property lines a 6‑ft wall/fence is permitted (but not in front setbacks) — § 106-104 / § 106-376 . Industrial walls adjacent to public right-of-way must incorporate pilasters, cornices or other decorative elements and anti‑graffiti coatings when over 6 ft — § 106-376 .

Specific‑plan zones and Mixed‑Use & overlays

Specific plans (SP) and overlays (e.g., MUO, RPD) layer additional landscape/screening requirements and require submission of landscape plans and maintenance assurances; the planning commission can require protective walls, fences or landscaping as conditions of approval — § 106-131—106-166 / § 106-165 .

Decision‑relevant standards (quick reference table)

Topic	Key standard or threshold	Code Reference
Minimum tree size (new)	15‑gallon	§ 106-347
Shrub minimum / hedge spacing	5‑gallon shrubs; hedge spacing 2–4 ft var.	§ 106-347
Artificial turf	Prohibited	§ 106-347(1)
Parking-lot landscaped area (mixed-use surface lots)	Min 2% of lot; 1 tree per 4 spaces; 5‑ft buffer to ROW	§ 106-165 / § 106-347
Screening of mechanicals/dumpsters	6‑ft solid wall/fence or equivalent screen	§ 106-364(b)(1)
Multi-story privacy trigger	If 2nd story is within 50 ft of single‑family side/rear yards: screening required	§ 106-364(a)
Fence height — front/side-street setback (residential)	4 ft max; non-view obscuring	§ 106-375(1)
Fence height — side/rear (residential)	6 ft max	§ 106-375(2)
Fence height — commercial/industrial (non-view obscuring)	8 ft allowed; view-obscuring 6 ft, director can allow 8 ft sound walls with justification	§ 106-376
Building permit required for walls/fences	Over 6 ft or containing masonry components	§ 106-379

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for landscaping & screening)

Prepare a scaled landscape plan showing all planting locations, sizes (15‑gal trees, 5‑gal shrubs), irrigation, and maintenance provisions per § 106-347—106-348 .
Show location, height (measured from higher existing grade), materials, and finish of all fences/walls; note building-permit triggers if over 6 ft or masonry components per § 106-374—106-379 .
For parking lots: demonstrate 2% minimum landscaped area, 5‑ft buffer to ROW, and 1 tree / 4 spaces where applicable — § 106-165 / § 106-347 .
For projects with 2nd‑story units within 50 ft of single‑family yards, include privacy screening measures (landscape, louvering, window offsets) and justification per § 106-364(a) .
If proposing walls > 6 ft adjacent to public right‑of‑way, include architectural details, pilasters, finish materials and anti‑graffiti coating notes per § 106-376 .
Submit landscape plan with building/land-use application; include watering system and maintenance assurance as required by review authority — see § 106-165 / § 106-166 / § 106-346 .
Verify whether design review or planning commission conditions apply (RPD, MUO, specific plans) — consult San Fernando Design Review and San Fernando Overlay Districts.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Director discretion/modifications	The director may reduce or modify landscaping or fence height limits (up to defined amounts) — can change project requirements	Confirm whether your parcel has prior approvals or whether the director intends to exercise modification authority; check § 106-346 and modification allowances elsewhere
Location of grade measurement	Fence height is measured from the higher of the two adjoining grades — could reduce allowable height on sloped lots	Verify existing finish grade and show spot elevations on plans; see § 106-374(1)
Applicability in overlays / specific plans	SP, MUO, RPD can impose additional or different landscaping/screening conditions	Confirm overlay/specific-plan text for site (see § 106-131—106-166 and MUO text)
Trees vs. public improvements	Trees within 10 ft of sidewalks must be deep‑rooted or use a root barrier — conflicts with utility locations	Field-verify utility locations and tree spacing setbacks per § 106-347(6) and (7)
“Sound wall” approval standard	Director may approve an 8‑ft sound wall adjacent to residential only with a noise study — added cost and delay	If proposing >6 ft near residences, be prepared to provide or agree to a noise study per § 106-376
Title/Chapter identification	The uploaded materials use section numbers in the 106‑xxx range; the explicit “Title 17” label was not located in the retrieved text	Verify code title reference with the City Attorney/Public Works or the online municipal code; Not found in retrieved materials.

Plain‑English summary

San Fernando requires real landscaping (no artificial turf), minimum plant sizes, working irrigation, and maintained plantings; it mandates screening of mechanicals, dumpsters and second‑story privacy measures, and sets fence/wall height limits (front yard 4 ft, side/rear 6 ft, commercial/industrial up to 8 ft with special requirements). Show a landscape plan and fence details early — the director or planning commission commonly conditions approvals. Key rules: § 106-347—106-348, § 106-364, § 106-374—106-379.

Source References

San Fernando Municipal zoning excerpts: Landscape planting, modification, maintenance: § 106-346—§ 106-348 .
Tree preservation on private property: § 106-350 .
Parking-lot and mixed‑use landscape rules, tree requirement: § 106-165 (mixed‑use development landscaping) and § 106-347 .
Screening (privacy & equipment): § 106-364 .
Walls and fences (measurement, heights, materials, permits): § 106-374—§ 106-381, especially § 106-375—§ 106-376, and permit/inspection § 106-379—§ 106-380 .
Commercial & industrial development standards (landscape & walls): § 106-74, § 106-104 .
RPD (Residential Planned Development) building form & landscape obligations: Table 106-165.2, § 106-165—§ 106-166 .

Sources

Retrieved passages

San Fernando Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
San Fernando Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance
San Fernando Zoning Code High relevance
San Fernando Zoning Code (article III.) High relevance
San Fernando Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
San Fernando Zoning Code (Article V) High relevance
CBC § 3 (§ 3) High relevance

Cited sections

Official San Fernando code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping size and types does San Fernando require for new development?

San Fernando requires a minimum 15‑gallon size for newly planted trees and 5‑gallon shrubs; landscape must emphasize drought‑tolerant and native species and artificial turf and invasive species are prohibited — see § 106-347 .

When is a landscape plan required with an application?

A landscape plan is required with development applications that include common open areas, parking lots, or multi‑unit projects; the plan must show plant locations, sizes, irrigation, and maintenance and be approved as part of project review — see § 106-165 / § 106-166 .

How does the code require me to screen mechanical equipment or dumpsters?

Mechanical equipment, garbage receptacles and loading areas must be screened on all sides by a permanent screen equal to the highest piece of equipment, typically a 6‑ft solid wall or fence (or equivalent architectural screen) — § 106-364(b)(1–3) .

What are the fence height limits for a single‑family property?

In R‑1 and other residential zones a front yard or street‑side fence/hedge is limited to 4 ft (non‑view obscuring), and side/rear yard fences are limited to 6 ft, measured from the higher existing grade — § 106-375 .

Do I need a building permit for a wall or fence in San Fernando?

Yes — any fence, wall or security gate over 6 ft in height or containing masonry components requires a building permit and building inspector approval (initial footing/pole hole inspection and final inspection) — § 106-379—§ 106-380 .

What if my commercial site sits next to homes — do I need a wall?

Commercial and industrial properties abutting residential zones are required to construct a 6‑ft wall at minimum; the code requires a 6–7 ft treated wall and may allow an 8‑ft sound wall if the director finds it needed and a noise study supports it — § 106-74 / § 106-376 .

Are there special rules for parking‑lot landscaping?

Yes — for mixed‑use surface parking the code requires a minimum 2% of parking area landscaped, a 5‑ft landscape buffer between parking and the public right‑of‑way, and one parking-lot canopy tree per four parking spaces — § 106-165 / § 106-347 .

If I put a second‑story unit within 50 feet of my neighbor’s backyard, what is required?

If a second story is within 50 ft of the side or rear yard of a single‑family lot you must provide screening measures to preserve privacy (landscape screens, window placement offsets, louvers, wing walls, translucent glazing, etc.); sufficiency is determined by the Planning & Preservation Commission — § 106-364(a) .

Can the director approve exceptions to landscape or fence rules?

Yes. The community development director has authority to modify certain landscape requirements (small percentage adjustments) and to administratively approve fences/walls exceeding maximum heights up to specified modification limits; verify the applicable modification provisions — § 106-346, § 106-374(10) .

Where do planting selections need to comply with an adopted tree plan?

New and replacement tree species must conform to the City of San Fernando Urban Forest Management Plan or be approved by the community development director; spacing from hydrants and meters is also required — § 106-347(8) .

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