Local zoning · San Joaquin

San Joaquin — Landscaping and Screening

Q: How tall can my backyard fence be?

Standard maximums are 6 ft in required rear and side yards and 3 ft in front yards; corner‑lot sight triangles cap plantings and fences to 3 ft within the defined area. Commercial/manufacturing districts may permit fences up to 8 ft with City Manager approval; over‑height solid fences are capped at 8 ft in any case. § 154.293

Q: Do I have to use drought‑tolerant plants for required landscaping?

Yes — the code requires the use of native and/or drought tolerant plant material consistent with water‑efficient landscapes , and the city has adopted the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as binding. § 154.292 ; § 154.291

Q: Can I plant a street tree right next to the curb?

Street trees must be enclosed in tree wells to prevent sidewalk upheaval, and the code prohibits planting a tree within five feet of any structure or under eaves/overhangs; coordinate size/species and placement with Public Works. § 154.292

Q: What must I show on the site plan related to landscaping and screening?

Your site plan must include location of landscaping, walls and fences (height and materials) , off‑street parking and access, and other elements listed in the site plan filing contents. Including the landscape/irrigation sheet with the site plan speeds review. § 150.081 ; § 154.292

Q: If my existing fence was built before the current code, can I repair it?

Legal nonconforming fences and site features may be maintained and repaired as necessary, but repairs or alterations may not increase the nonconformity; if work would increase the nonconformity you may need to bring the feature into compliance. § 154.324

Q: Does the landscaping code tell me exact plant species to use?

The code requires native and/or drought‑tolerant species consistent with the State WELO but does not list a strict species list in the sections retrieved. The city’s building/planning departments and the adopted Model WELO provide the plant lists and irrigation standards to follow. § 154.292 , § 154.291

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page explains what the City of San Joaquin’s zoning code requires for landscaping, screening, buffers, fences/walls/hedges, and trees. It summarizes the standards that trigger landscape plans, who must submit them, mandatory maintenance, allowable fence heights, and screening for service areas (trash, transformers, etc.) — all cited to the local code. For project-level questions about interpretation or parcel‑specific applicability, verify with the City planning staff. See the city's rules on development standards and the citywide zoning rules for context.

Important high-level citations: the local Development Code adopts the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and contains local landscaping and fencing standards in § 154.291–§ 154.294.

Key standards (plain list)

Landscape and irrigation plans required for all new projects, defined to include new building construction, expansions over 50% of floor area, and demolition/rebuilds; plans required on a separate sheet when a CUP is required — § 154.292.
Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance adopted (State WELO adoption) — § 154.291.
Landscape installation and maintenance required prior to final occupancy; landscaping must be kept healthy and replaced as needed — § 154.292.
Tree setback: no tree may be planted within five feet of any structure or under an eave/overhang; street trees must be in tree wells — § 154.292.
Fences/walls/hedges: maximum 3 ft in front yards; 6 ft in required rear/side yards; special sight‑triangle restriction on corner lots and 12‑inch offset from sidewalks — § 154.293. Commercial/manufacturing may exceed 7 ft up to 8 ft with City Manager/designee approval; barbed wire generally prohibited without a use permit — § 154.293.
Screening of trash receptacles for new multi‑family, office, industrial and commercial developments — masonry 5‑ft walls on sloped pad and landscape screening — § 154.294.
Site plans must show walls/fences/landscaping and are submitted as part of site plan (site plan contents list) — § 150.081.
Nonconforming fences/landscaping may be continued but repairs cannot increase nonconformity; see legal nonconforming rules — § 154.324.

Standards table (decision‑relevant)

Requirement	Rule	Code Reference
Landscape & irrigation plans required for new construction, >50% expansion, demolition/rebuild; CUP projects submit separate sheet	Submit to Planning; install before final occupancy; maintain landscaping	§ 154.292
State Model WELO adopted (water‑efficient designs required)	Must comply with California Model WELO	§ 154.291
Tree planting setback	No tree within 5 ft of structures; street trees in tree wells	§ 154.292
Fence/wall/hedge heights (residential)	3 ft max in front yards; 6 ft max in required side/rear yards; corner sight triangle = 3 ft limit	§ 154.293
Fence exceptions (commercial/industrial)	Fences over 7 ft may be allowed up to 8 ft with City Manager approval; solid fences cannot exceed 8 ft	§ 154.293
Trash receptacle screening (new multi‑family/commercial/industrial/office)	5‑ft high solid masonry enclosure on sloped pad + landscape screening	§ 154.294
Site plan contents required (walls, fences, landscaping)	Site plans must show walls/fences (height/material) and landscaping locations	§ 150.081

District-by-district breakdown

Note: the code organizes development standards by zoning district. The ordinance includes dedicated development standard tables and permitted uses for each district; below are the districts with landscaping/screening implications and the controlling code citations. Where a specific landscaping rule for a district is not stated in the retrieved materials, the entry says "Not found in retrieved materials" and suggests verification.

R-1 (Single‑Unit Residential)

Purpose and where it applies: the R-1 district permits single‑unit detached dwellings and accessory uses; it is the city’s standard low‑density residential district. See permitted uses table and district purpose in § 154.052.
Typical permitted uses: single‑family residences, accessory buildings, parks, home occupations (see the R‑1 use table) — § 154.052.
Key dimensional standards relevant to landscaping/site design: maximum lot coverage 45%, front setback 20 ft, max building height 35 ft, side/rear yard dimensions and lot size minima are listed in § 154.052. These dimensions determine how much of the lot remains available for required landscaping and tree placement.
Landscaping & screening application: R‑1 projects that are new construction or expansions over the threshold require a landscape and irrigation plan and must meet the citywide landscape and tree rules (see § 154.292). For fences, the general fence height limits apply (3 ft front / 6 ft side/rear) — § 154.292, § 154.293.

R-2 (Multi‑Family Residential)

Purpose and where it applies: R-2 supports multi‑family housing per § 154.060 and related tables; landscaping is particularly important where multiple units share common open space.
Typical permitted uses: multi‑family dwellings, parks, daycare (permitted table) — § 154.061.
Key dimensional standards: see R‑2 development standards in the district section; setbacks and lot coverage guide where landscaping occurs. (Specific numeric table: Not found in retrieved materials for the full R‑2 standards table — verify with the code.) Verify actual R‑2 numeric standards with Planning. Not found in retrieved materials.
Landscaping & screening application: Same citywide landscape rules apply; multi‑family projects specifically must screen trash enclosures and submit landscape/irrigation plans for new construction — § 154.292, § 154.294.

R-4 (Higher‑density Residential)

Purpose and permitted uses: R-4 tables and standards appear at § 154.082, which lists density, coverage, height and setback expectations that affect landscaping area.
Typical uses: higher‑density residential, multi‑family, parks; accessory structures and ADUs where allowed (see district table).
Landscaping & screening application: R‑4 developments typically trigger landscape plans for new construction; trash enclosure and screening requirements apply for multi‑family/office/commercial projects — § 154.292, § 154.294.

Commercial (C) and Main‑Street / C‑MS

Purpose and where it applies: C (Commercial) purpose and permitted uses are described in § 154.110–§ 154.111; C‑MS (Main Street Commercial) has its own permitted‑uses table and development standards at § 154.122.
Typical uses: retail, eating/drinking establishments, offices, some mixed residential (varies by zone).
Key dimensional standards: C‑MS has specific development standards (see § 154.122 for details); those standards affect allowable building footprint and therefore landscape area. Not all numeric values for C‑MS landscaping are shown in the retrieved snippets — verify with the full code. Not found in retrieved materials for full numeric table.
Landscaping & screening application: commercial and main‑street projects must provide landscape/irrigation plans for applicable projects; trash/recycling receptacles must be screened per § 154.294. Fence height exception for commercial/manufacturing districts is in § 154.293 (fencing over 7 ft up to 8 ft with City Manager approval).

PSP (Parks, Schools, Public)

Purpose and standards: PSP district standards and uses are summarized in § 154.102; setbacks and lot coverage are listed there and are relevant to siting landscaping and physical buffers.
Landscaping & screening application: PSP projects that are new construction will trigger landscape plan requirements and must comply with WELO adoption and any location‑specific screening needs (e.g., fencing around fields subject to DRA for height). § 154.292, § 154.021.

R‑M, C‑G, C‑H, M‑1, M‑2 (Mixed/Commercial/Manufacturing)

Purpose and where it applies: these zone names appear throughout site‑plan and district lists; site plan review is specifically required before development in R‑M, C‑G, C‑H, M‑1, M‑2 zones per § 150.080 and § 150.081 (site plan contents).
Typical uses: industrial, larger commercial, and multi‑use areas (see district tables in the code; specific permitted‑use tables for each district were not fully returned in the retrieved snippets). Not found in retrieved materials for complete permitted‑use lists for each of these zones. Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the code.
Landscaping & screening application: manufacturing and commercial sites commonly require greater screening for storage, equipment, and dumpsters; trash receptacle screening is required for new multi‑family, office, industrial and commercial developments (§ 154.294). Fence height exceptions in manufacturing/commercial are in § 154.293. Site plan must show landscaping and fence/wall details (§ 150.081).

Practical guidance / interpretation notes

Treat § 154.292 as the central landscaping rule: it triggers the need for a landscape & irrigation plan; it mandates drought‑tolerant/native plantings consistent with the State WELO; and it requires installation before final occupancy and ongoing maintenance.
Show fences and walls on your site plan at the outset (height and material), because § 150.081 requires fences and walls be included and § 154.293 limits heights; the Planning Director and City Manager can grant exceptions via administrative approvals, CUPs, or DRAs where the code allows.
For trash enclosures and equipment yards, the code expects solid screening (e.g., masonry) plus landscaping; design those on the same sheet as your landscape plan to streamline review under § 154.294 and § 154.292.
If your project abuts a residential zone or noise‑sensitive use, expect the city to require extra landscaping to screen parking, storage, and noise sources per § 154.292(F). Plan species and densities accordingly.

(For related topics, see the city pages for parking, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, the city development standards, and the California Building Standards Code.)

Checklist (what an applicant must provide)

A site plan that includes walls, fences (height & material), and the location of landscaping and trees per § 150.081.
Landscape and irrigation plan for any applicable project: new buildings, expansions >50% of floor area, or demolition/rebuilds; CUP projects submit a separate landscape sheet — § 154.292.
WELO compliance (design to State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance) — § 154.291.
Tree plan that avoids planting within 5 ft of structures and shows tree wells for street trees — § 154.292.
Trash/dumpster enclosure details and screening for multi‑family, office, industrial and commercial projects — § 154.294.
For fences: demonstrate compliance with the 3 ft front / 6 ft side‑rear rule (and corner sight‑triangle) or include justification/permit for taller fences in commercial/manufacturing — § 154.293.
Maintenance plan or note committing to ongoing maintenance and replacement of plant materials as required by § 154.292.
If any existing landscaping or fences are nonconforming, include documentation and show proposed repairs/modifications; comply with § 154.324 on nonconforming site features.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Applicability threshold for landscape plans (what counts as “new project”)	The code ties plan requirement to construction/expansion thresholds (e.g., >50% floor area). Missing the threshold could delay occupancy	Confirm whether your project’s proposed scope meets § 154.292 triggers; verify with Planning. § 154.292
Fence height exceptions in commercial/manufacturing	City Manager may allow fences >7 ft up to 8 ft — but a CUP or appeal may be required for other over‑height requests	If you need taller fences, confirm the approval path and whether a CUP or DRA is required under § 154.293. § 154.293
Trees vs. utilities / fire safety clearance	The zoning code sets a 5‑ft setback, but utility or fire codes (or Title 24 / local Fire Department) may impose additional clearance rules	Verify tree species, location, and clearances with Building, Public Works, and Fire; the code’s local tree setback is § 154.292; check Title 24 and fire agency rules separately. § 154.292 California Building Standards Code
Transformer / utility pad setbacks and screening	The code requires screening but does not list clearances for equipment; utilities may have specific safety clearances (not in zoning code)	For transformer clearance specifics, confirm with the utility and building/fire departments; screening requirements are in § 154.294, but pad clearances may be outside the zoning text. § 154.294
Nonconforming fences/landscaping	Repairs cannot increase nonconformity; replacing or altering nonconforming features may trigger conformity requirements	Check § 154.324 for allowed repairs and the rule that alterations must not increase nonconformity. § 154.324
District‑specific numeric standards missing from snippets	Some district numeric tables (e.g., C‑MS full table) were not fully present in the retrieved snippets	Verify district numeric development standards (lot coverage, setbacks, landscape percentage if any) in the full code for the subject parcel — see the district sections (e.g., § 154.052, § 154.082, § 154.102, § 154.122)

Plain‑English summary

If you build, expand, or rebuild in San Joaquin you will almost always need a landscape and irrigation plan that follows California’s water‑efficient rules, plant drought‑tolerant/native species, install the landscaping before final occupancy, and maintain it; fences are limited to 3 ft in front yards and 6 ft in side/rear yards unless the code’s limited exceptions apply — see § 154.291–§ 154.294 for the controlling rules.

Source References

San Joaquin Development Code — adoption and general purpose statements; see § 154.001, § 154.002 for scope and intent.
Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance adoption — § 154.291.
Additional landscaping requirements, landscape/irrigation plans, tree setback, maintenance — § 154.292.
Fencing, walls, hedges, fence height limits and exceptions — § 154.293.
Trash/dumpster enclosure screening requirements — § 154.294.
Site plan filing contents (walls, fences, and landscaping listed) — § 150.081.
R‑1 Development Standards (examples of setbacks and lot coverage that affect landscaping) — § 154.052.
R‑2 purpose and permitted use summary — § 154.060–§ 154.061.
R‑4 development standards — § 154.082.
PSP development standards — § 154.102.
C (Commercial) district purpose and permitted uses — § 154.110–§ 154.111.
C‑MS district development standards reference — § 154.122 (verify full table in code).
Nonconforming structures and site features (fences, landscaping) — § 154.324.

Sources

Retrieved passages

San Joaquin Zoning Code (§ 154.292) High relevance
San Joaquin Zoning Code (§ 154.293) High relevance
San Joaquin Zoning Code (§ 154.290) High relevance
CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) Medium relevance
San Joaquin Zoning Code (§ 15.28.010) Medium relevance
San Joaquin Zoning Code (title report) Medium relevance
San Joaquin Zoning Code (§ 16.28.010) Medium relevance
San Joaquin Zoning Code (§ 15.16.030) Medium relevance
San Joaquin Zoning Code (§ 154.146) Medium relevance
San Joaquin Zoning Code (§ 154.190_et) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official San Joaquin code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I always need a landscape and irrigation plan for a small home addition in San Joaquin?

Not always — the code requires landscape and irrigation plans for new building construction, expansions of buildings over 50% of existing floor area, and demolition/reconstruction; smaller additions under those thresholds may not trigger the requirement but may still be subject to site plan review. Always confirm with Planning before submitting. § 154.292

How tall can my backyard fence be?

Standard maximums are 6 ft in required rear and side yards and 3 ft in front yards; corner‑lot sight triangles cap plantings and fences to 3 ft within the defined area. Commercial/manufacturing districts may permit fences up to 8 ft with City Manager approval; over‑height solid fences are capped at 8 ft in any case. § 154.293

Do I have to use drought‑tolerant plants for required landscaping?

Yes — the code requires the use of native and/or drought tolerant plant material consistent with water‑efficient landscapes, and the city has adopted the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as binding. § 154.292; § 154.291

Are dumpsters and trash enclosures required to be screened?

Yes — the ordinance requires that trash receptacles for new multi‑family, office, industrial and commercial developments be screened with landscaping and constructed on a sloped concrete pad with five‑foot‑high solid masonry walls. § 154.294

Can I plant a street tree right next to the curb?

Street trees must be enclosed in tree wells to prevent sidewalk upheaval, and the code prohibits planting a tree within five feet of any structure or under eaves/overhangs; coordinate size/species and placement with Public Works. § 154.292

What must I show on the site plan related to landscaping and screening?

Your site plan must include location of landscaping, walls and fences (height and materials), off‑street parking and access, and other elements listed in the site plan filing contents. Including the landscape/irrigation sheet with the site plan speeds review. § 150.081; § 154.292

Does the City allow barbed wire fences?

Barbed wire or similar materials are prohibited within the city unless a use permit is obtained and extraordinary circumstances are found; barbed wire cannot be used within 3 ft of a public right‑of‑way even with a permit. § 154.293

If my existing fence was built before the current code, can I repair it?

Legal nonconforming fences and site features may be maintained and repaired as necessary, but repairs or alterations may not increase the nonconformity; if work would increase the nonconformity you may need to bring the feature into compliance. § 154.324

Does the landscaping code tell me exact plant species to use?

The code requires native and/or drought‑tolerant species consistent with the State WELO but does not list a strict species list in the sections retrieved. The city’s building/planning departments and the adopted Model WELO provide the plant lists and irrigation standards to follow. § 154.292, § 154.291

If my commercial project sits next to housing, can the city require extra trees or walls to screen it?

Yes. The code explicitly allows additional landscaping beyond minimums to screen parking/storage/trash, to buffer stationary noise sources, and to soften continuous wall expanses when necessary for compatibility with adjacent residential uses. Expect staff to impose conditions through site plan review or CUP/DRA as needed. § 154.292(F); § 154.021

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