Local zoning · San Leandro

San Leandro — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What landscaping is required on my San Leandro lot?

San Leandro requires a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the lot area to be landscaped; additional landscape is required in street-facing setbacks and where nonresidential uses adjoin residences. See § 2.10.336 for the minimum site landscaping rules .

Q: How many trees or what tree sizes do I need to plant?

The Code requires a minimum of one 24‑inch box (or greater) tree per 25 linear feet of landscape area and street trees at 24‑inch box spacing not to exceed 30 ft along public frontage § 2.10.336(B)(1) and § 4.16.116(B)(1) .

Q: What are the rules for screening parking lots and loading areas?

Parking lots must provide a 5‑ft landscaped strip adjacent to property lines and street frontages must be screened to 30 inches with continuous shrubs, berms, or architectural walls; loading docks must be screened by fencing, landscaping, or architectural elements § 4.16.116(C)(1) and § 2.10.334(C)(2) .

Q: Can I use chain-link fencing or corrugated metal?

Chain-link and corrugated metal fencing are generally prohibited ; permitted materials include stone, brick, wood, composite wood, tubular steel, finished concrete, or stucco unless an administrative exception is approved § 4.04.364(B)(4) .

Q: Are edible gardens or community gardens counted as landscaping?

Yes. Edible landscaping, including fruit trees and gardens, counts toward required landscaping , and community gardens must follow the community-garden rules in the Code § 2.10.336(C) and § 4.04.380 .

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

San Leandro's zoning code requires on-site landscaping, screening of parking/loading/mechanical areas, street trees, and controls on fences and walls. The city sets minimum landscape area and tree-planting rates, prescribes buffers (or masonry walls) where nonresidential or industrial uses abut housing, and makes landscape plans part of site plan review and building-permit submittals. Key rules appear in the code chapters governing site-specific landscaping, landscape plan submittal, and fences/walls: § 2.10.336, § 4.16.116, § 4.16.124, and § 4.04.364 .

(This page focuses strictly on what the San Leandro Zoning Code says about landscaping and screening; if you need help identifying a parcel’s zoning district first consult the San Leandro zoning & planning overview link below.)

Key internal links used in this page: when the topic naturally appears I refer the reader to the city's pages for parking, San Leandro Development Standards, San Leandro Design Review, San Leandro Overlay Districts, San Leandro ADUs, and the state California Building Standards Code (Title 24) when the Code cross-references building standards.

Citywide standards (core rules you will hit on most projects)

Minimum landscaped area: a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the lot area must be landscaped § 2.10.336 .
Street trees: provide street trees at spacing not to exceed 30 feet and a minimum of 24-inch box at planting § 4.16.116(B)(1) .
Tree planting within landscaped areas: one 24‑inch box tree per 25 linear feet of landscape area (minimum) § 2.10.336(B)(1) .
Parking-lot landscaping and screening: a perimeter landscape strip of at least five feet (measured from inside curb) adjacent to property lines, and street frontage screening to 30 inches using continuous shrubs, berms, or low walls § 4.16.116(C)(1) . See the city's rules for parking for related dimensional standards.
Loading and service screening: loading docks and service yards must be screened from the street by fencing, landscaping, or architectural elements; where industrial adjacencies create noise/visual impacts the code requires a landscape buffer and/or masonry wall § 2.10.334(C)(2) and § 2.12.332 .
Irrigation and maintenance: irrigation design, water-conservation measures, performance bonds or maintenance contracts, and a two-year plant establishment expectation are required for many projects; landscapes must be permanently maintained § 4.16.116(A)(2) and § 4.16.124 .
Landscape plans: conceptual and final landscape plans are required with site plan approval and building permits; final landscape plans are reviewed before a building permit can be issued § 4.16.108 .
Fences/walls/hedges: maximum heights in yards and special rules for corner lots and view-protection districts; permitted materials and prohibitions (chain-link and corrugated metal generally prohibited) § 4.04.364 .

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the most decision-relevant districts in the code for landscaping and screening. For each district I list the district label as used in the Code (bold), what the Code indicates about where it applies or how it is reviewed, and the concrete landscaping/screening rules that are specific to those districts. For purposes and full lists of permitted uses consult the base district use tables in the Code (not reproduced here). Verify parcel-specific questions with the jurisdiction.

Residential districts — RO, RS, RS-40, RS-VP, RD

Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials for the full purpose text; these are the city’s single-family and multi-family residential base districts — check the base district use tables (verify with the City).
Landscape/screening highlights:
- Yard landscaping requirement: areas within required front and corner-side yards must be landscaped except for driveways/walks, per base yard rules § 2.12.316 .
- Fences/walls: maximum three feet in required front and corner-side yards abutting a street; typical maximum seven feet elsewhere (exceptions for RO which is six feet maximum in most yards) § 4.04.364(B) .
- Corner-lot formula and view-protection: corner-lot fence height increases by formula (one foot per 2.5 feet back from the street up to a max); RS-VP has special transparency rules to protect view corridors § 4.04.364(B)(2–3) .
Where it applies: city residential neighborhoods and small-lot residential zones (confirm parcel zoning on the City zoning map).

Commercial districts — CC, CN, CR, DA-1 through DA-6 (Downtown/Transit-oriented) and neighborhood-commercial zones

Purpose / typical uses: Not quoted here; these zones allow retail, services, and mixed-use per district tables — verify with the Code and whether a DA or other Overlay applies § 4.04.x (base district sections) .
Landscape/screening highlights:
- Parking-lot perimeter planting 5 feet and street screening to 30 inches are required even where district setbacks are zero § 4.16.116(C)(1)(a–b) .
- Landscape plans are required with site plan approvals; site plan review requires that parking, loading and service areas be screened by building placement, walls, and/or landscaping § 5.12.124(B)(1–3) .
- Loading docks must be screened from view by fencing, landscaping, or architectural elements § 2.10.334(C)(2) .
Where it applies: commercial corridors and the downtown/transit-oriented districts; check San Leandro Overlay Districts for special area guidelines.

Industrial districts — IG, IL, IP, IT

Purpose / typical uses: industrial/manufacturing/warehouse uses — see base district tables (verify with Code).
Key dimensional standards and landscaping:
- Yard table example (typical minimum yards by district): IG (Front 10 ft, Side 0 ft, Corner side 10 ft, Rear 0 ft); IL similar; IP often 20 ft front and corner side (table in base district regs) § 2.12.316 .
- When an industrial parcel adjoins a residential parcel the Code requires either a landscaped buffer (a minimum 10‑ft side/rear yard used exclusively for planting, with evergreen trees spaced not more than 20 ft and minimum 15-gallon size to achieve screening up to 20 ft in five years) or a masonry wall (typically 8 ft high or as required by acoustical analysis) § 2.12.332 .
- Service areas, yards, and truck docks must be screened; the Code explicitly allows a masonry wall where noise/active service areas abut residences § 2.12.332 .
Where it applies: industrial zones and industrial parks; verify specific parcel zoning.

Special-area districts — DA‑1…DA‑6, SA‑1…SA‑3, NA‑1/NA‑2, SA (Station Areas)

Purpose / typical uses: these districts implement area plans (Downtown, Bay Fair TOD, East 14th Street South). Many landscaping and screening expectations are enforced through site plan review and the area-specific design guidelines.
District-specific notes:
- Site plan and design review in these districts requires consistency with the applicable design guidelines and often calls for "substantial landscaping" to mitigate reduced setbacks § 5.12.124(D–E) and § 2.10.336(A)(3) .
- The Bay Fair TOD and Downtown TOD strategies include mitigation measures and specific planting/landscape requirements tied to those plans (see § 2.10.340 and related EIR mitigation language) § 2.10.340 .
Where it applies: parcels inside the city’s TOD and special-area boundaries — consult the Code’s map and the city’s San Leandro Development Standards and San Leandro Design Review pages.

Public / institutional — P

Landscape/screening highlights: institutional/public projects follow the same landscape-plan submittal and maintenance expectations (conceptual and final plans, irrigation, water-budget, and maintenance) and are subject to street-tree and parking-lot planting rules § 4.16.108, § 4.16.116, § 4.16.124 .
Where it applies: public uses and properties.

Quick standards table (most decision-relevant)

Requirement	Rule / Number	Code Reference
Minimum landscaped area	10% of lot area	§ 2.10.336
Street trees	Spacing ≤ 30 ft, minimum 24‑inch box	§ 4.16.116(B)(1)
Trees in landscape areas	1 tree (24" box) per 25 ft of landscape	§ 2.10.336(B)(1)
Parking perimeter planting	5 ft minimum from curb; street screening to 30 in	§ 4.16.116(C)(1)(a–b)
Irrigation & maintenance	Automatic controllers; water budget; 2‑yr establishment; permanent maintenance	§ 4.16.116(A)(2) and § 4.16.124
Fence height (front/corner)	3 ft max in front/corner yards abutting streets	§ 4.04.364(B)
Fence height (side/rear)	6–7 ft typical max (RO = 6 ft; most R districts = 7 ft)	§ 4.04.364(B)
Industrial buffer next to residences	10 ft landscaped yard with evergreen trees ≤ 20 ft spacing OR 8 ft masonry wall	§ 2.12.332
Loading dock screening	Screened by fencing, landscaping, or architectural elements	§ 2.10.334(C)(2)
Landscape plans	Conceptual + final plans required; final plan required for building permit	§ 4.16.108

Checklist

Identify the parcel’s zoning district and any applicable overlay (Verify with the City).
Prepare a conceptual landscape plan for Site Plan Approval that shows plant palette, quantities, sizes, locations (submit per § 4.16.108). § 4.16.108
Provide a final landscape plan with species, sizes, quantities and irrigation; obtain Zoning Enforcement Official sign‑off prior to building permit issuance § 4.16.108 .
Meet minimum on-site landscaping: 10% of lot area § 2.10.336 .
Meet tree-planting minimums: one 24‑inch box tree per 25 linear feet of landscape area § 2.10.336(B)(1) .
For parking lots, provide 5‑ft perimeter planting and 30‑inch street screening; design interior tree wells and shading per § 4.16.116(C) .
If adjacent to residential, provide required buffer (landscape strip with evergreen trees or masonry wall) as required for industrial/commercial sites § 2.12.332 .
Ensure irrigation is automatic and meets water budget/MAWA guidance and Bay‑Friendly recommendations § 4.16.116(A)(2) and § 4.16.124 .
For fences/walls, comply with the height, material, and driveway-visibility rules; if deviating, file for a fence modification § 4.04.364 .
Include long-term maintenance plan or performance bond / two‑year maintenance contract when required § 4.16.124 .
Coordinate screening for mechanical equipment and refuse with § 4.04.328 and § 4.04.332 (see base district cross-references) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Which district-specific standard controls a parcel	Different districts (RO/RS/IG/IP/DA) have different yard, fence, and buffer rules	Verify the parcel zoning and overlays on the City zoning map and the Code; confirm whether a DA/SA overlay modifies landscape expectations (Verify with the jurisdiction).
Exact section for industrial-to-residential buffers	The Code gives both landscape and masonry‑wall options and references acoustical analysis	Confirm whether the project is covered by § 2.12.332 requirements and whether an acoustical study will be required .
Tree protection and grading in drip-lines	Tree preservation restrictions limit grading within a preserved tree’s drip-line	See § 4.16.112 Existing Trees on Development Sites — review for tree‑protection conditions (verify applicability) .
Front yard landscaping vs permitted hardscape	Front yard must be landscaped except for limited drive/walk areas — unclear how much hardscape is allowed	Confirm with Zoning Enforcement Official how much pedestrian/restaurant/outdoor dining hardscape is acceptable in the landscaped setback; code reference: § 2.12.316 and Chapter 4.16 .
Trees as screening vs radio interference	Telecommunications facilities allow landscaping buffers but caution that vegetation can impede RF signals	If proposing landscaping around wireless facilities, coordinate with technical RF requirements; see the telecommunications landscaping guidance § 4.04.376 .
Conflicts with state building/fire codes	Fire-code or Title 24 structural requirements may impact required walls/fences or planting near structures	Verify potential conflicts with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and local fire authority (not found in zoning text) — Verify with the jurisdiction and refer to the state code link provided.

Plain-English Summary

If you’re developing in San Leandro, plan on landscaping at least 10% of the site, planting street trees (24‑inch boxes) at roughly one every 25–30 feet, screening parking and loading with planting/low walls, and following height and material limits for fences and walls; submit both conceptual and final landscape plans and be ready to guarantee plant establishment and ongoing maintenance. See and rely on the cited Code sections for exact measurements and submittal timing § 2.10.336, § 4.16.116, § 4.16.108, § 4.04.364 .

Source References

§ 2.10.336. Minimum Site Landscaping (minimum 10% lot area; tree counts)
§ 2.10.340. Mitigation Measures (TOD EIR mitigation cross-references)
§ 2.10.334. Parking, Loading, and Screening (loading dock screening)
§ 2.12.316 (minimum yards / front/corner‑side yard landscaping requirement)
§ 2.12.332 (required separation/mitigation adjacent to residential parcels — landscape buffer OR masonry wall)
§ 4.16.108. Landscape Plan Submittal (conceptual and final plan requirements)
§ 4.16.116. Design Standards (street trees, parking lot landscaping, Bay‑Friendly guidance)
§ 4.16.124. Completion, Maintenance and Subsequent Changes (irrigation, MAWA, 2‑yr establishment, maintenance)
§ 4.04.364. Fences, Walls, and Hedges (height, materials, corner-lot formula, fence modifications)
§ 4.04.328. Screening of Mechanical Equipment and § 4.04.332. Refuse Storage Areas (cross-referenced in base district regs)
San Leandro zoning & planning overview: San Leandro zoning & planning overview (use this to locate parcel zoning and maps)
For building-standards conflicts: California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — verify overlap with fire/building codes where applicable.

Sources

Retrieved passages

San Leandro Zoning Code (Section 2.10.408) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (Section 2.10.408) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (Section 4.04.312) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (Section 4.16.124) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (Section 4.16.112) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (§ 4.04.376) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (Section 4.04.364) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (§ 5.12.124) High relevance

Cited sections

Official San Leandro code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping is required on my San Leandro lot?

San Leandro requires a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the lot area to be landscaped; additional landscape is required in street-facing setbacks and where nonresidential uses adjoin residences. See § 2.10.336 for the minimum site landscaping rules .

How many trees or what tree sizes do I need to plant?

The Code requires a minimum of one 24‑inch box (or greater) tree per 25 linear feet of landscape area and street trees at 24‑inch box spacing not to exceed 30 ft along public frontage § 2.10.336(B)(1) and § 4.16.116(B)(1) .

Do I have to submit a landscape plan and when?

Yes — a conceptual landscape plan is required with Site Plan Approval and a final landscape plan (species, sizes, quantities, irrigation) must be submitted with structural plans prior to issuance of a building permit § 4.16.108 .

What are the rules for screening parking lots and loading areas?

Parking lots must provide a 5‑ft landscaped strip adjacent to property lines and street frontages must be screened to 30 inches with continuous shrubs, berms, or architectural walls; loading docks must be screened by fencing, landscaping, or architectural elements § 4.16.116(C)(1) and § 2.10.334(C)(2) .

How tall can my fence or wall be in front and back yards?

Fences/walls in required front and corner-side yards abutting streets are limited to 3 ft maximum; side and rear yard fences are typically limited to 6–7 ft depending on district (RO = 6 ft; most R districts = 7 ft), subject to driveway visibility rules and fence-modification procedures § 4.04.364(B) .

If my industrial site borders houses, what screening is required?

Where an industrial or nonresidential site adjoins residential parcels, the Code requires either a landscape buffer (minimum 10 ft yard used exclusively for planting; evergreen trees spaced no more than 20 ft, minimum 15-gallon) or a masonry wall (typically 8 ft high or as determined by acoustical analysis) § 2.12.332 .

Can I use chain-link fencing or corrugated metal?

Chain-link and corrugated metal fencing are generally prohibited; permitted materials include stone, brick, wood, composite wood, tubular steel, finished concrete, or stucco unless an administrative exception is approved § 4.04.364(B)(4) .

Are edible gardens or community gardens counted as landscaping?

Yes. Edible landscaping, including fruit trees and gardens, counts toward required landscaping, and community gardens must follow the community-garden rules in the Code § 2.10.336(C) and § 4.04.380 .

Do I need to guarantee plant establishment or maintenance?

For significant new landscaping the Zoning Enforcement Official may require a performance bond or evidence of a two‑year maintenance contract; required landscaped areas must be permanently maintained and irrigation schedules must be automatic and water-budgeted § 4.16.124 .

Will landscaping requirements differ in special downtown or TOD districts?

Yes — projects in DA and SA special districts are reviewed against area design guidelines and TOD-specific mitigation; the Code explicitly allows site-plan findings requiring "substantial landscaping" to mitigate reduced setbacks in these districts § 5.12.124 and § 2.10.340 .

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