Local zoning · San Juan Bautista

San Juan Bautista — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What types of projects in San Juan Bautista must submit a landscape plan?

If you are proposing multifamily residential , a mobile home park , commercial/mixed-use , or industrial development the code requires a landscape plan that shows species, sizes, installation, irrigation and maintenance; the City Manager or Planning Commission reviews these plans (§ 11-12-020(B) and (D)) .

Q: How high can I make a fence in my San Juan Bautista front yard?

In residential zones fences, hedges, and walls may not exceed 3 ft in the required front yard; side and rear yards are limited to 6 ft ; heights are measured from the lower side grade (§ 11-04-070(J)(1–3)) .

Q: If I have an industrial lot next to homes, what screening is required?

An industrial lot that abuts a residential or commercial lot must provide a 5 ft planted strip and a masonry wall not less than 6 ft in height along the abutting portion (§ 11-12-020(B)(4)(b)) .

Q: Do parking lots need trees or planted areas?

Yes. All off-street parking areas must provide at least 10% of the lot area planted with live plant material; trees shall be at least 5 ft tall in 15-gallon containers and should be placed throughout the lot and along street frontage (§ 11-11-070(C)) .

Q: Are there special rules for landscaping or fences inside historic districts?

Yes. Projects in the City’s historic overlays are subject to historic review; front-yard fence exceptions are limited and historic design standards (Secretary of the Interior Standards and local design guidelines) apply. Confirm designation and follow the Historic Resources Board review procedure (§ 11-06; § 11-04-070(J)(1)(a)) file.

Q: Can the Planning Commission allow taller fences or smaller setbacks?

Yes. The Planning Commission can grant exceptions (e.g., increase fence/wall height by up to 2 ft for grade/topography reasons, reduce setbacks by limited percentages, or adjust site coverage) under its exceptions authority (§ 11-14-050(A)) .

Q: Where does screening of utility equipment and trash enclosures get addressed?

Landscape plans must address screening for utility boxes, trash areas, storage, blank walls and fences as part of the landscape-plan review criteria; utility stations also have special setback and landscape-screening requirements (§ 11-12-020(D)(2); § 11-04-090) file.

Q: Are irrigation and maintenance required for required plantings?

Yes. The code requires a means of irrigation for landscaped areas (explicit for mobile-home parks and implied for other required landscaped areas) and states that plant materials required by the Chapter must be permanently maintained (§ 11-12-020(B)(2)(d); § 11-12-020(C)) .

Q: Do I need design review for landscaping changes to an existing commercial site?

Establishment or expansion of parking lots or major exterior changes typically require design review; design-review findings evaluate landscape design, irrigation, and screening among other items (§ 11-18-020; § 11-11-020) file.

Q: Are there tree-planting or fire-safety conflicts I should watch for?

Yes. Tree planting should be coordinated with utilities and fire-safety rules (WUI and defensible-space requirements). The municipal code references utility screening and the Code interacts with state WUI and utility guidance — verify tree placement with the Fire Department and utility (local code references utility screening and WUI documents; verify with jurisdiction) (§ 11-04-090; state WUI guidance referenced) file.

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

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the San Juan Bautista Municipal Code requires for landscaping, screening, buffers, fences/walls, and trees in development and site work. It is drawn from the City zoning and related chapters (not state building law). Where the code requires plans or review, the City ties landscape and screening into community design and site-plan review. See the local rules for parking, setbacks and design review for how landscaping and screening interact with other standards: San Juan Bautista Parking, San Juan Bautista Development Standards and San Juan Bautista Design Review. Also check overlay rules for historic and hillside areas: San Juan Bautista Overlay Districts and San Juan Bautista Historic Preservation.

Key controlling chapters and sections: Chapter 11-12 (Landscaping) and the fence/wall and parking screening language in Chapter 11-04 and Chapter 11-11. The City requires landscape plans for certain project types and ties screening to trash, utility and parking area treatments (§ 11-12-020) .

What the code requires (high-level)

The City’s landscaping chapter states the intent to improve community character, screen unattractive features and provide pedestrian-friendly treatment (§ 11-12-010) .
Many project types must submit a landscape plan (size/species/location/installation/maintenance/irrigation): required for multifamily, mobile home parks, commercial/mixed-use, and industrial projects; individual elements and percentages are spelled out per project type (§ 11-12-020) .
Fences, walls, and hedges in residential zones have strict height limits: maximum 3 ft in required front yards and 6 ft in side/rear yards, measured from the lower grade (§ 11-04-070(J)(1)) . The Planning Commission may grant limited fence-height increases for topography/grade issues (§ 11-14-050(A)(1)) .
Where industrial sites abut residential or commercial lots the code requires a 5 ft planted buffer plus a masonry wall at least 6 ft high (§ 11-12-020(B)(4)(b)) .
Off-street parking areas have landscaping requirements (minimum 10% of lot planted; trees at least 5 ft tall in 15-gallon containers along the lot and street frontage) and screening rules when a parking lot is within 10 ft of an R district — a solid masonry wall is required (§ 11-11-070(C); § 11-11-100(A)) .
Landscape plans are reviewed by the City Manager (administrative) or Planning Commission for discretionary projects, and plans must address screening of utilities, trash, blank walls, parking, and water-conserving/drought-tolerant planting and irrigation (§ 11-12-020(D)) .
Landscape maintenance is mandatory for required plantings (§ 11-12-020(C)) .

District-by-district summary (purpose, typical uses, screening/landscape highlights)

The zoning districts below are the City’s actual district names and intents; where the landscaping/screening rules differ the controlling sections are cited.

R-1 (Low Density Residential)

Purpose: R-1 is for low-density single-family residential development; residential district intent focuses on light/air/privacy and protecting residential areas from nonresidential impacts (§ 11-02-020(A)) .
Typical permitted uses: single-family dwellings, accessory buildings, ADUs subject to the ADU chapter (§ 11-04.5) .
Landscaping/screening: All front yards and yards abutting streets must be landscaped (§ 11-12-020(A)(1)) . Residential fences/walls/hedges: max 3 ft in required front yards, 6 ft in side/rear yards (historic overlay exceptions apply) (§ 11-04-070(J)(1)) .
Where design review applies (e.g., larger additions or new homes), the project’s landscape is evaluated as part of design review (§ 11-18-020 – see Design Review page) .

R-2 / R-3 (Medium / High Density Residential)

Purpose: higher-density residential settings; code intends to protect lower density districts from impacts (§ 11-02-020(A)) .
Typical uses: multifamily, duplexes, limited accessory uses — see the use matrix (§ 11-02-050 table) .
Landscaping/screening: Multifamily developments require landscape plans. Driveways/parking areas must have a landscaped strip ≥ 5 ft from property lines and the development perimeter must have a 15 ft landscaped strip (§ 11-12-020(B)(1)(a–b)) . Parking-lot plantings and screening rules in Chapter 11-11 also apply (§ 11-11-070(C); § 11-11-100) .

C (Commercial)

Purpose: C provides small-scale commercial centers that serve nearby residents; standards prevent adverse effects on neighboring residential districts (§ 11-02-020(B)) .
Typical uses: retail, services, limited mixed uses (see use matrix) (§ 11-02-050) .
Landscaping/screening: Commercial and Mixed-Use sites require not less than 10% of lot area landscaped and street-facing setbacks must be landscaped (§ 11-12-020(B)(3)) . Parking area landscaping and screening are governed by Chapter 11-11 (§ 11-11-070; § 11-11-100) .

MU (Mixed Use)

Purpose: MU encourages vertical or horizontal mixing of commercial and residential uses and pedestrian-oriented development (§ 11-02-020(C)) .
Typical uses: ground-floor commercial with upper-floor residential; also allows ADUs with conditions (§ 11-04.5; § 11-02-050) file.
Landscaping/screening: 10% landscaping requirement like commercial; design review frequently applies and landscape plans must address pedestrian environment and screening (§ 11-12-020(B)(3); § 11-18-020) file.

I (Industrial)

Purpose: I (Industrial) is intended for primarily light industry and agricultural services (§ 11-02-020(D)) .
Typical uses: agricultural services, light manufacturing, warehousing — see use matrix (§ 11-02-050) .
Landscaping/screening: Industrial must provide at least 10% landscaping and when adjoining residential or commercial lots must provide a 5 ft planted strip plus a masonry wall ≥ 6 ft tall along the abutment (§ 11-12-020(B)(4)(a–b)) . Outdoor storage in I district must be screened and placed in side/rear yards (§ 11-04-080(B)) .

P / PF / A / Park, Public Facilities, Agriculture

Purpose and basic standards for P, PF, and A appear in § 11-02-020(E–G); park and public-facility projects are required to meet landscaping rules in Chapter 11-12 and PUDs that include public open space need comprehensive landscape plans (§ 11-05-030(H)) file.

Overlay Districts (Historic: HD / NRHD; Hillside overlay)

Historic districts have special design review and additional findings; the Historic Resources Board reviews projects that affect resources and the City can apply Secretary of the Interior Standards (§ 11-06 and § 11-18) file. In historic overlays, the usual front-yard fence height limit (3 ft) is emphasized and any exceptions are tightly controlled (§ 11-04-070(J)(1)(a)) .
Hillside overlay rules require specific landscaping / tree planting / view-shed mitigation elements as part of hillside development permits; see the Hillside Overlay regulations (§ 11-08) for pre-application and landscape submittal requirements (§ 11-08-050 et seq.) .

Quick standards & screening table (decision-relevant)

Requirement / Topic	Code requirement (San Juan Bautista)	Code Reference
Front-yard landscaping required	All front yards and yards abutting streets must be landscaped	§ 11-12-020(A)(1)
Multifamily landscape strips	Parking/drives separated from property lines by 5 ft landscaped strip; perimeter landscape 15 ft	§ 11-12-020(B)(1)(a–b)
Commercial / MU / Industrial minimum landscape	10% of lot area landscaped (C, MU, I)	§ 11-12-020(B)(3)(a); (B)(4)(a)
Industrial buffer to residential/commercial	5 ft planted area + masonry wall ≥ 6 ft along abutting portion	§ 11-12-020(B)(4)(b)
Parking-lot planting	≥10% of parking lot area planted; trees min 5 ft tall, 15-gal container along lot/street	§ 11-11-070(C)
Parking-lot screening next to R district	Where parking boundary is < 10 ft from an R district, screen with solid masonry wall (max allowed height by Title)	§ 11-11-100(A)
Fence/wall heights (residential)	Max 3 ft in required front yard; 6 ft in side/rear yards (heights measured from lower grade)	§ 11-04-070(J)(1–3)
Exceptions (Planning Commission)	Fence height may be increased up to +2 ft for grade/topography; Planning Commission may grant exceptions to setbacks/site coverage/height/parking	§ 11-14-050(A)(1–5)
Landscape plan review elements	Screening for utility boxes, parking, trash, blank walls; drought-tolerant plantings; irrigation and maintenance plan	§ 11-12-020(D)(2–3)

Checklist

Submit a landscape plan when required (multifamily, mobile-home park, commercial/MU, industrial) showing species, sizes, irrigation, installation, and maintenance (§ 11-12-020(B)) .
Provide required plant percentages: 10% lot landscaping for commercial/MU/I; 40% open-area landscaped for mobile-home parks; 10% of parking-lot area planted (§ 11-12-020(B)(2–4); § 11-11-070(C)) file.
For multifamily, include 5 ft planting strip next to drives and 15 ft perimeter landscaping (§ 11-12-020(B)(1)) .
If the project places parking within 10 ft of an R district, show the required solid masonry wall/screen (§ 11-11-100(A)) .
If industrial/commercial abuts residential, show the 5 ft planted buffer and 6 ft masonry wall where required (§ 11-12-020(B)(4)(b)) .
Confirm fence/wall heights comply with 3 ft front / 6 ft side/rear limits (or secure Planning Commission exception) and measure height from the lower grade (§ 11-04-070(J); § 11-14-050(A)(1)) file.
Provide irrigation plans and a maintenance assurance when required; PUDs and large developments may require a maintenance surety (§ 11-12-020(B)(2)(d); § 11-05-030(H)) file.
If in an historic district or hillside overlay, obtain the required design review and follow the Secretary of the Interior standards or hillside plan submittal rules (§ 11-06; § 11-08) file.
Coordinate with design-review submittal requirements (landscape, plant palettes, screening) so landscaping is part of the site-plan package (§ 11-18-030(B), § 11-12-020(D)) file.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Historic-overlay fence rules	Historic overlay stricter front-yard fence controls and additional design review apply	Verify whether the parcel is in the HD or NRHD overlay and follow § 11-06 historic review rules; confirm fence height allowances (§ 11-04-070(J)(1)(a); § 11-06) file
Exact district setbacks/coverage for a parcel	Development standards table contains district-specific setbacks and FARs; landscaping interfaces with setbacks and coverage	Confirm the parcel's zoning and consult the development standards table and notes (see § 11-02 and the development-standards table) — Verify with the jurisdiction (§ 11-02-010; development-standards table) file
When a masonry wall is required	Walls are required where I districts abut R/C; parking lots near R districts require masonry screens	Confirm adjacency and distances and show the masonry wall detail on the landscape/site plan: § 11-12-020(B)(4)(b) and § 11-11-100(A) file
Tree-species vs. utilities/fire safety	The code requires trees but utilities and WUI/fire rules may impose clearance restrictions	Verify PG&E and state WUI/tree clearance guidance; coordinate with utility and Fire Department (Utility screening and WUI provisions referenced; verify with jurisdiction) — Not all tree-clearance details are local code text; see § 11-04-090 (utility stations) and state WUI guidance file
Which projects require a landscape plan	The code lists project types but other chapters trigger design review/submittal	Confirm whether the project is discretionary (Design Review § 11-18) or ministerial; if discretionary, landscape plan review goes to Planning Commission (§ 11-12-020(D); § 11-18-020) file
Parking-lot planting calculation	Parking landscaping % is per lot area and islands are required; calculation affects layout and stormwater	Verify the parking-lot landscaping calculation with City staff and show islands/island tree sizes and irrigation (§ 11-11-070(C); § 11-11-090)

Plain-English summary

San Juan Bautista requires front-yard landscaping, plan-level landscaping for multifamily/commercial/industrial projects, and specific screening where uses or parking abut homes — small projects should follow the residential fence rules (3 ft front, 6 ft side/rear) while larger or nonresidential projects must submit landscape plans that show irrigation, planting, and screening of trash, utilities and parking (§ 11-12-020; § 11-04-070; § 11-11) filefile.

Source References

San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-12 LANDSCAPING — § 11-12-010, § 11-12-020 (Intent and landscaping requirements)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-04 Required Yards & special uses — § 11-04-070(J) (Fences, walls, hedges) and § 11-04-090 (Utility stations) file
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-11 PARKING — § 11-11-070(C) (parking lot planting), § 11-11-080, § 11-11-090, § 11-11-100(A) (screening)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-14 EXCEPTIONS — § 11-14-050 (Planning Commission exceptions including fence height)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-02 ZONING DISTRICTS and use matrix — § 11-02-010, § 11-02-020, § 11-02-050 (district list, intents, use matrix)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-18 DESIGN REVIEW — § 11-18-020, § 11-18-030, § 11-18-040 (design-review applicability and findings)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, ADU rules and accessory-dwelling standards — Chapter 11-04.5 (ADUs / JADUs)
Hillside overlay and hillside design guidance — Chapter 11-08 (Hillside overlay applicability, preapplication and landscape elements)

Note: This page synthesizes the SJBMC provisions above. For parcel-specific or development-trigger questions, Verify with the jurisdiction.

Sources

Retrieved passages

San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Chapter 11-12) High relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Article 2.) High relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code High relevance
CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Chapter 11-11) High relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Chapter shall) Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (section elevation) Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code Medium relevance
CFC § 080 (Section is) Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Chapter 11-04.5) Medium relevance
CBC § 080 (Chapter as) Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Chapter 11-25) Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Chapter 11-01) Medium relevance
CBC § 2017 Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code Medium relevance
CMC § 151 Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Title is) Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Section shall) Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Chapter 11-19) Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Chapter 11-09) Medium relevance
San Juan Bautista Zoning Code (Article 1.) Medium relevance

Cited sections

San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-12 LANDSCAPING — **§ 11-12-010**, **§ 11-12-020** (Intent and landscaping requirements) (Chapter 11-12)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-04 Required Yards & special uses — **§ 11-04-070(J)** (Fences, walls, hedges) and **§ 11-04-090** (Utility stations) file (Chapter 11-04)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-11 PARKING — **§ 11-11-070(C)** (parking lot planting), **§ 11-11-080**, **§ 11-11-090**, **§ 11-11-100(A)** (screening) (Chapter 11-11)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-14 EXCEPTIONS — **§ 11-14-050** (Planning Commission exceptions including fence height) (Chapter 11-14)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-02 ZONING DISTRICTS and use matrix — **§ 11-02-010**, **§ 11-02-020**, **§ 11-02-050** (district list, intents, use matrix) (Chapter 11-02)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, Chapter 11-18 DESIGN REVIEW — **§ 11-18-020**, **§ 11-18-030**, **§ 11-18-040** (design-review applicability and findings) (Chapter 11-18)
San Juan Bautista Municipal Code, ADU rules and accessory-dwelling standards — Chapter **11-04.5** (ADUs / JADUs)
Hillside overlay and hillside design guidance — Chapter **11-08** (Hillside overlay applicability, preapplication and landscape elements)
SanJuanBautista_ZoningCode.md
2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.md

Frequently asked questions

What types of projects in San Juan Bautista must submit a landscape plan?

If you are proposing multifamily residential, a mobile home park, commercial/mixed-use, or industrial development the code requires a landscape plan that shows species, sizes, installation, irrigation and maintenance; the City Manager or Planning Commission reviews these plans (§ 11-12-020(B) and (D)) .

How high can I make a fence in my San Juan Bautista front yard?

In residential zones fences, hedges, and walls may not exceed 3 ft in the required front yard; side and rear yards are limited to 6 ft; heights are measured from the lower side grade (§ 11-04-070(J)(1–3)) .

If I have an industrial lot next to homes, what screening is required?

An industrial lot that abuts a residential or commercial lot must provide a 5 ft planted strip and a masonry wall not less than 6 ft in height along the abutting portion (§ 11-12-020(B)(4)(b)) .

Do parking lots need trees or planted areas?

Yes. All off-street parking areas must provide at least 10% of the lot area planted with live plant material; trees shall be at least 5 ft tall in 15-gallon containers and should be placed throughout the lot and along street frontage (§ 11-11-070(C)) .

Are there special rules for landscaping or fences inside historic districts?

Yes. Projects in the City’s historic overlays are subject to historic review; front-yard fence exceptions are limited and historic design standards (Secretary of the Interior Standards and local design guidelines) apply. Confirm designation and follow the Historic Resources Board review procedure (§ 11-06; § 11-04-070(J)(1)(a)) file.

Can the Planning Commission allow taller fences or smaller setbacks?

Yes. The Planning Commission can grant exceptions (e.g., increase fence/wall height by up to 2 ft for grade/topography reasons, reduce setbacks by limited percentages, or adjust site coverage) under its exceptions authority (§ 11-14-050(A)) .

Where does screening of utility equipment and trash enclosures get addressed?