Local zoning · San Luis Obispo County

San Luis Obispo County — Landscaping and Screening

Landscaping and Screening under the San Luis Obispo County local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

This page distills how the San Luis Obispo County Land Use Ordinance (Title 22) regulates landscaping, fencing, walls, and visual screening in the unincorporated areas. The county’s rules live primarily in countywide standards and are refined by planning-area/overlay standards where scenic resources or corridor design apply. Landscaping often pairs with setbacks, parking, and design review to reduce visual impact and buffer uses.

Key idea: Screening can be a solid fence or wall, a berm plus plantings, or a planting design that achieves a specified level of view blockage at maturity; solid fencing is required next to residential uses where screening is mandated (§ 22.10.080.E).

Countywide standards that apply everywhere in unincorporated areas

Fencing and screening — where required and how high
- Where required: Within urban and village reserve lines (except Agriculture), and in the Commercial Retail and Recreation land use categories in rural areas, fencing and/or screening must be provided. Unless otherwise specified, the minimum screening height is six feet (§ 22.10.080.A).
- Heights, locations, materials, and permits are governed by § 22.10.080.C–E (see table below). Solid fencing is required where screening is next to residential uses; landscape or berm substitutions are allowed elsewhere only if they meet strict performance timelines (§ 22.10.080.E).
- Location adjustments: The Director can allow a required fence/wall to sit at or within the setback line if the area between the fence and property line is landscaped (or left in native vegetation in rural areas), via the adjustment procedure (§ 22.10.080.B.2; § 22.70.030).
- Gateposts/superstructures over entries may reach 14 ft 6 in (with conditions and building permit) (§ 22.10.080.D).
Baseline landscaping and landscape plans
- What must be landscaped: Setbacks required by § 22.10.140 (unless fully enclosed and screened), all unused site areas not assigned to a use, parking areas (per § 22.18.060.F–G), special-use sites where Article 4 requires buffering or screening, and locations required by project conditions. Chapter 22.16 lists these locations (Chapter 22.16; cross-references to § 22.10.140 and § 22.18.060.F–G).
- Landscape plan submittal: A landscape plan is required when § 22.16.020 triggers it; plan content and submittal standards are in § 22.16.040. County maintains plant lists and offers three compliance pathways (Plant List, Plant List Adjustment, or Modification) — see the second table below (§ 22.16.040; § 22.70.030).
- Functional objectives: Plantings and irrigation must demonstrate survival potential, achieve screening/erosion control within a reasonable time, and use efficient irrigation; the plan must depict grading, planting, irrigation, and details (§ 22.16.040).
Parking- and site-related screening
- Parking lots: Landscape within and around lots is required under the parking construction standards (§ 22.18.060.F–G; cross-referenced by Chapter 22.16).
- In planned developments, uncovered residential parking must be screened by landscaping or architectural screening; lots are segmented by landscaped breaks, and service/work bays must face away from streets or be screened by landscape (Planned Development standards; see § 22.22.145.B–C).
Substituting landscaping for walls/fences
- Allowed if a landscape professional certifies 60% view blockage within 18 months and 100% within 36 months, and you post security to install a solid fence if the target isn’t met (§ 22.10.080.E.1). Berms can substitute if the combined berm + planting meet the required height (§ 22.10.080.E.2).
Setbacks and what can go in them
- Setbacks exist partly to provide space for privacy, landscaping, and recreation (§ 22.10.140). Fences/walls in setbacks are controlled by § 22.10.080.C (e.g., only 3 ft solid in the front yard by default).
Scenic corridor and Sensitive Resource Area triggers
- Highway Corridor Design Standards in the San Luis Obispo sub-area/South County require a landscape plan and at least 50% view screening of structures at plant maturity, plus mitigation plantings for cut/fill slopes and low-water irrigation. Projects not qualifying for ministerial review must include a visual analysis and use drought-tolerant, often evergreen screening to buffer development (Highway Corridor Design Standards and SRA combining designation). § number not found in retrieved materials; see planning-area standards excerpted here.

Decision-relevant standards at a glance

Topic	Key rule in unincorporated areas	Code Reference
Where screening is required	Within urban/village reserve lines (except AG), and in CR/REC in rural areas; min. screening height 6 ft unless otherwise specified	§ 22.10.080.A
Front setback fences	3 ft solid allowed in all categories; open 6 ft 6 in allowed in AG, RL, RR, RS; solid 6 ft 6 in in RSF/RMF only with Minor Use Permit	§ 22.10.080.C (table)
Side/rear property line fences	Up to 6 ft 6 in without permit; in CR, CS, IND, up to 12 ft with Zoning Clearance	§ 22.10.080.C (table)
Substitute landscaping for a wall	Allowed with certification (60% at 18 months; 100% at 36 months) and security to install fence if not met	§ 22.10.080.E.1
Berms as screening	Allowed if berm + plantings meet required height; max slope 3:1	§ 22.10.080.E.2
Landscape plan required	When Chapter 22.16 triggers it; plan content and plant-list pathways in § 22.16.040	§ 22.16.040
Parking lot landscaping	Required per Parking Lot Construction Standards; also landscape buffers often required by area plans	§ 22.18.060.F–G (cross-referenced)
Scenic corridors (SRA/Highway)	Provide ≥50% view screening at maturity; low-water irrigation; visual analysis if discretionary	Planning Area Standards — § not found; see excerpts

Landscape plan pathways (how to comply)

Method	Core approach	Who can prepare	Review	Code Reference
Plant List	100% of plants from County’s area-specific plant list	Applicant or landscape professional	Staff approval	§ 22.16.040; Notes (1),(4)
Plant List Adjustment	≥80% from plant list; ≤20% non-list, no added turf	Landscape professional	Staff approval via Adjustment	§ 22.16.040; § 22.70.030; Notes (2),(4)
Modification	Not using plant list methods; show water-efficient design	Landscape professional	Staff approval with water-use calcs	§ 22.16.040; Notes (3),(4)

District-by-district guide (unincorporated areas)

Note: “Districts” here are County land use categories under Title 22. Screening obligations vary mainly by location (e.g., in front setbacks) and by whether you’re within urban/village reserve lines. Always cross-check area/overlay standards in Overlay Districts.

Agriculture (AG) and Rural Lands (RL)

Purpose/typical uses: Working landscapes and rural uses; fencing often relates to agricultural operations. Not found in retrieved materials (uses overview).
Screening/landscaping focus:
- Open wire fences of any height are allowed in AG/RL without a land use permit (§ 22.06.040.C.2).
- Front setback: up to 3 ft solid; open up to 6 ft 6 in permitted (§ 22.10.080.C).
- Outside setbacks: up to 6 ft 6 in solid without permit; up to 12 ft open without permit; up to 12 ft solid with Zoning Clearance (§ 22.10.080.C).
Where it applies: Parcels mapped AG or RL outside incorporated cities; Chapter 22 applies countywide (§ 22.01.050).

Residential Rural (RR) and Residential Suburban (RS)

Purpose/typical uses: Large-lot residential in rural/suburban settings. Not found in retrieved materials (uses overview).
Screening/landscaping focus:
- Front setback: 3 ft solid allowed; open up to 6 ft 6 in allowed in RR/RS (§ 22.10.080.C).
- Side/rear: up to 6 ft 6 in allowed without permit (§ 22.10.080.C).
- Landscape plans required when triggered by § 22.16.020; plan content per § 22.16.040.
Notable area standards: Some RS/RR sub-areas require screening to achieve 80% view coverage within 5 years (example: Willow/Via Concha rural character standard; § number not found) and tree planting to blend with surroundings (planning-area excerpts).

Residential Single-Family (RSF) and Residential Multi-Family (RMF)

Purpose/typical uses: Urban residential. Not found in retrieved materials (uses overview).
Screening/landscaping focus:
- Front setback: only 3 ft solid is by right; a solid fence up to 6 ft 6 in in the front setback needs a Minor Use Permit in RSF/RMF (§ 22.10.080.C).
- Uncovered residential parking must be screened by landscaping or architectural screening in planned developments (§ 22.22.145.B.1).
- Common gathering areas must limit irrigated turf consistent with Chapter 22.16 (§ 22.22.145.F).

Commercial Retail (CR)

Purpose/typical uses: Retail/services. Not found in retrieved materials (uses overview).
Screening/landscaping focus:
- Property-line fences up to 12 ft may be allowed with Zoning Clearance (§ 22.10.080.C).
- Templeton/Highway 101: minimum 25-ft landscaped setback to buffer and screen foreground views from the corridor; retain background views (planning-area standard; § number not found).

Commercial Service (CS)

Purpose/typical uses: Service commercial/light industrial. Not found in retrieved materials (uses overview).
Screening/landscaping focus:
- Along public roads, solid fences/walls must be high-quality materials; solid wood is not allowed unless continuously screened with landscaping (Templeton standard; § number not found).
- Business park areas require minimizing fences/walls except when screening outdoor storage/noise; utilities screened/landscaped; parking segmented by landscaping (§ 22.22.145.C; PD standards applied).

Office & Professional (OP)

Purpose/typical uses: Office/professional services. Not found in retrieved materials (uses overview).
Screening/landscaping focus: Follow countywide standards; in mixed-use PDs, screen service/mechanical areas from public streets (§ 22.22.145.C.3).

Industrial (IND)

Purpose/typical uses: Industrial uses. Not found in retrieved materials (uses overview).
Screening/landscaping focus:
- Tank Farm Road Corridor: 25-ft setback for screening landscape; dense screening, berming, and solid fencing/walls required along visible edges (planning-area standard; § number not found).
- Edna/Buckley Roads: dense screening, berms, and fencing/walls with a natural/agrarian palette (planning-area standard; § number not found).
- Property-line fences up to 12 ft may be allowed (Zoning Clearance) (§ 22.10.080.C).

Recreation (REC)

Purpose/typical uses: Recreation/parks. Not found in retrieved materials (uses overview).
Screening/landscaping focus:
- In rural areas, REC is one of the categories where screening may be required by § 22.10.080.A.
- Some areas require reclaimed water for landscape irrigation to reduce groundwater demand (planning-area standard; § number not found).

Public Facilities (PF) and Open Space (OS)

Purpose/typical uses: Public infrastructure and preserved open lands. Not found in retrieved materials (uses overview).
Screening/landscaping focus: Follow countywide standards; verify site-specific plan/overlay requirements. Not found in retrieved materials (PF/OS-specific screening rules).

Overlays and corridor design that commonly add landscaping/screening

Sensitive Resource Area (SRA) and Highway Corridor Design Standards
- Zoning Clearance path: If development is near designated scenic highway/railroad, locate on rear half of parcel; provide landscaping to achieve 80% view coverage at maturity; submit a landscape plan per Chapter 22.16 (ministerial) — otherwise shift to discretionary review with a visual analysis (planning-area standard; § number not found).
- Discretionary path: Provide native/drought-tolerant screening, emphasize evergreen trees/large shrubs; target at least 50% view screening of structures at maturity and mitigate graded slopes with plantings and low-water irrigation (planning-area standard; § number not found).

Checklist

Confirm if you are in unincorporated San Luis Obispo County and identify your land use category and any overlays in Zoning and Overlay Districts (§ 22.01.050).
Determine if screening is required (urban/village reserve lines; CR/REC in rural) and what height/materials are allowed (§ 22.10.080.A, C–E).
If substituting landscaping for a fence/wall, secure a professional certification and performance security to meet 18- and 36-month view-blockage milestones (§ 22.10.080.E.1).
Prepare a landscape plan if required, using the Plant List, Plant List Adjustment, or Modification pathway; show irrigation and plant palette per § 22.16.040.
Landscape all required locations: setbacks, unused areas, parking areas, and any special-use buffers (Chapter 22.16; see cross-refs to § 22.10.140 and § 22.18.060.F–G).
In planned developments or where required by conditions, screen utilities, trash, loading, and work bays from public streets with architecture and/or landscape (§ 22.22.145.C).
If in a scenic corridor/SRA, confirm the percent screening target and submit any required visual analysis (planning-area standards; § number not found here).
For fences/walls over 6 ft 6 in or special structures (e.g., 12-ft walls in CR/CS/IND), confirm permit type and compliance with the California Building Standards Code (§ 22.10.080.C Notes).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Front-yard fences in RSF/RMF	Only 3 ft solid is by-right; 6 ft 6 in solid needs a Minor Use Permit	Exact design, visibility, and sight-distance findings in § 22.10.080.C Notes (4)
Substituting landscaping for a required wall	Missed performance milestones can force fence installation	Certification, bonding, and 18/36-month targets in § 22.10.080.E.1
Scenic corridor targets (50% vs. 80%)	Corridor/overlay dictates screening intensity	Which planning-area/overlay applies; percent screening in SRA/Highway Corridor standards (exact § not found)
Parking lot landscape/screening	Missing lot landscaping can delay approvals	Applicable parts of § 22.18.060.F–G and conditions of approval; see Development Standards
Business-park/industrial edges	Some corridors require dense screening, berms, and walls	Whether Tank Farm Rd./Edna–Buckley standards apply (planning-area standards; § not found)
Chain link	Often disallowed in PD commercial/industrial; allowed with slats only in limited industrial contexts	PD standards (§ 22.22.145.C.1.f) and § 22.10.080.E.3 for slatted chain-link in Industrial

Plain-English Summary

If you’re in the unincorporated county, expect to landscape your setbacks, unused site areas, and parking, and to screen storage, utilities, and parking from public view. Solid fences/walls or equivalent landscape berms/plantings are often required, but plant-only screening is allowed if you quickly reach view-blockage targets — and scenic corridors can require up to half or more of a building to be screened by mature landscaping.

Source References

§ 22.10.080 Fencing and Screening — where required; heights; materials; substitutions; location adjustments; gateposts.
§ 22.10.140 Setbacks — purpose; what’s allowed in setbacks (incl. landscaping/fences).
§ 22.16.040 Landscape Plans — submittal triggers, plan content, plant list pathways.
Chapter 22.16 (Landscaping Standards) — required landscape locations; links to setbacks and parking standards. § number not found for “Location of landscape” excerpt; see cross-refs to § 22.10.140 and § 22.18.060.F–G.
§ 22.18.060.F–G Parking Lot Construction Standards — landscaping within/around parking (cross-referenced by Ch. 22.16).
§ 22.22.145 Planned Development — screening of parking, service areas; no chain-link in PD commercial/industrial.
Planning Area/Overlay examples (Article 9, exact §§ not in retrieved excerpts): Highway Corridor/SRA screening targets (≥50% at maturity; 80% in some cases); Tank Farm/Edna–Buckley industrial edge screening; Templeton/Highway 101 landscaped setbacks.
§ 22.01.050 Applicability — Title 22 applies in unincorporated areas (outside Coastal Zone).

Sources

Retrieved passages

San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Section 22.10.140) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Title shall) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Section 22.62.060.) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Section 22.06.030) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Title shall) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Chapter 6) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Chapter 22.16.) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Chapter 22.20) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Article 9) Medium relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Section 22.108.050A.4.g) Medium relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Section 22.06.030) Medium relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Section 22.06.060c) Medium relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Section 22.06.030) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Section 22.70.030) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Section 22.10.080) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Title to) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Chapter 22.16) High relevance
San Luis Obispo County Zoning Code (Section 22.30.480) High relevance

Cited sections

Official San Luis Obispo County code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a landscape plan for a project in unincorporated San Luis Obispo County?

Often yes. When Chapter 22.16 triggers landscaping (e.g., setbacks, parking, buffers), you must submit a landscape plan that shows grading, planting, and irrigation and either uses the County’s plant list, an 80% plant-list “Adjustment,” or a water-efficiency “Modification” (§ 22.16.040).

Can I use plants instead of a required fence or wall?

Yes, but only if a landscape professional certifies you’ll block 60% of views within 18 months and 100% within 36 months, and you post security to install a solid fence if you miss the target. Berms can also substitute if the combined berm + planting meet the required height (§ 22.10.080.E.1–2).

What fence can I build in my front yard in RSF or RMF?

By right, a 3-foot solid fence. A 6-foot-6-inch solid fence in the front setback needs a Minor Use Permit with findings on safety, visibility, and need. Other combinations vary by category, so verify your land use category against § 22.10.080.C.

Do I have to screen parking and trash in commercial or industrial projects?

Yes. Countywide and PD standards require screening parking, loading, utilities, and service areas from public streets with architectural or landscape treatments. Parking areas must include landscape breaks and buffers (§ 22.22.145.C; § 22.18.060.F–G).

How do scenic corridor or SRA overlays change landscaping?

They typically require landscape screening to reduce visibility from scenic roads, with targets like at least 50% view screening at maturity, low-water irrigation, and sometimes 80% coverage near corridors. Projects may need a visual analysis if not meeting the ministerial path (planning-area standards; § number not found).

What are the rules for 12-foot walls or fences?

In CR, CS, and IND, fences up to 12 ft on property lines can be allowed with a Zoning Clearance. Such walls must also meet the California Building Standards Code and any area-plan design/material standards (§ 22.10.080.C and notes).

Are chain-link fences allowed?

Chain-link is disallowed in many PD commercial/industrial settings, while slatted chain-link with landscaping can substitute for a wall only in Industrial areas and not next to other land use categories (§ 22.22.145.C.1.f; § 22.10.080.E.3).

Do agricultural or rural parcels have different fence rules?

Yes. Open wire fences of any height are allowed in AG and RL without a land use permit. Front setbacks allow up to 3 ft solid or 6 ft 6 in open fences; other locations allow taller fences per § 22.10.080.C and § 22.06.040.C.2.

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