Local zoning · Santa Clarita

Santa Clarita — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What sections of the Santa Clarita code govern landscaping and screening?

The primary landscaping chapter is § 17.51.030 (Landscaping and Irrigation Standards) ; it sets applicability, design standards, turf limits, tree sizes, and MWELO compliance. Fences, walls, and measurement rules are in the property development standards (see § 17.57.070 ) and commercial/mixed‑use chapters add site‑specific rules.

Q: How much of my single‑family front yard must be landscaped in Santa Clarita?

For single‑family yards the code requires a minimum of 50% of the front yard between the house and the street curb to be landscaped with living plant material (with limits on decorative features). See the landscaping standards for details and the "landscaping" definition.

Q: What tree sizes and parking‑lot tree counts does the code require?

Parking lot landscaping requires 24‑inch box trees as a baseline; the Director can require 36‑inch boxes in some cases. The parking lot tree ratio is one tree per four parking spaces (with end‑of‑aisle requirements and planter sizes spelled out). See the parking lot landscaping subsection of the landscaping standards.

Landscaping and Screening under the Santa Clarita local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Santa Clarita's zoning code requires for landscaping, screening, buffers, fences/walls, and trees. The primary rules are in the zoning code's landscaping chapter and the property development standards; applicants must submit landscape and irrigation plans and comply with water‑efficient landscaping rules. See the City's zoning framework for context at the Santa Clarita zoning & planning overview and the specific rules under the City's zoning code and development standards. (Key controlling text: § 17.51.030 and the property development standards chapters.)

Note: This page interprets and synthesizes the City's Title 17 (Zoning) as retrieved; always verify parcel‑specific questions with the City. Verify with the jurisdiction.

How the code is organized for landscaping & screening

The core landscape and irrigation rules are in § 17.51.030 (Landscaping and Irrigation Standards); plans must follow the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance where applicable.
Fence and wall heights, permitted materials, measurement rules, and retaining‑wall rules are in the property development standards (Chapter 17.57 and related parts), notably § 17.57.070 (Walls and Fences) and related retaining‑wall guidance.
Mixed‑use and commercial/industrial chapters add overlay‑ or use‑specific screening requirements (see mixed‑use walls § 17.55.070 and commercial/industrial walls § 17.53.050).

Across the rest of the page I use the City's terms (zoning districts and overlays). For high‑level context see Santa Clarita Zoning and Santa Clarita Development Standards.

District-by-district breakdown

NU1 — Non‑Urban 1 (§ 17.32.010)

Purpose: preserve rural/non‑urban character and require development consistent with rural standards.
Typical uses: very low density residential, equestrian/rural uses (see the chapter for full use list).
Key landscaping/screening rules: street trees are generally not required but planting of oaks and other mature trees is encouraged; trail fencing must have a rustic wood appearance and fences may not block river/trail access. Front‑setback fences in Sand Canyon context (NU subareas) are limited (see § 17.39.030 for Sand Canyon special standards).
Where it applies: non‑urban areas identified in Chapter 17.32. See the code for exact boundary descriptions.

UR5 — Urban Residential 5 (§ 17.33.050)

Purpose: medium‑to‑high density multifamily housing near transit and services.
Typical uses: apartment and condominium complexes (density 18–30 du/ac).
Key landscaping/screening rules: required front and street‑side yards must be landscaped and irrigated with automatic systems; multifamily projects must provide a minimum 10% of total site area as landscaped area (multifamily standard in the landscaping chapter). Turf limits and planting sizes apply for water efficiency. (See § 17.51.030 and § 17.57.030 for multifamily front/setback rules.)
Where it applies: UR5 parcels described in § 17.33.050 and the zoning map.

Commercial & Industrial zones (Chapter 17.34 / setbacks & walls § 17.53.040–050)

Purpose: provide buffering and streetscape standards to limit impacts on adjacent residences.
Typical requirements: adequate buffering between residential and nonresidential areas, street trees, and use of landscaped berms or treatment to screen parking; landscape plans must show 24‑inch box trees in key locations and parking lot planting is regulated (tree ratios, planter widths). See § 17.51.030 and § 17.53.040 for parking setbacks/landscaped setbacks and § 17.53.050 for walls/fences when adjacent to residential.

Mixed Use (Chapter 17.55) and MU overlay

Purpose: integrate residential and commercial uses with pedestrian‑oriented design; landscapes should lighten building massing and not block storefront visibility.
Typical requirements: landscaping to accent ground floor uses; mixed‑use development must meet the general landscaping chapter and the mixed‑use design standards; walls and fences adjacent to residential require minimum 6‑foot masonry wall (with exceptions in front setback areas). See § 17.55.040 and § 17.55.070.

Sand Canyon special standards district (Sand Canyon) — see § 17.39.030

Purpose: preserve rural/equestrian character of Sand Canyon. Screening and fencing rules are specialized: non‑view‑obscuring fences up to 5 ft are permitted in the 20‑ft front yard setback; view‑obscuring walls/fences taller than 3 ft‑6 in are prohibited in the 20‑ft front yard setback; where a 5‑ft fence is used in the front setback the applicant must landscape the frontage. These are specific local exceptions to general fence rules.

Ridgeline Preservation Overlay (RP)

Purpose: protect visually sensitive ridgelines; the overlay can require special buffers, walls, landscaping, and limit engineered slopes, walls, or fences within the RP area. If the RP overlay applies, additional landscaping, buffer, and wall controls may be required as conditions of a ridgeline alteration permit. (See the RP overlay text for required submittals and authority.)

Most decision‑relevant standards (quick table)

Topic	Requirement / Typical limit	Code Reference
Core landscape rules (who must submit plans)	Projects needing an administrative or discretionary land use permit must submit landscape & irrigation plans and comply with Model Water Efficient Landscape rules	§ 17.51.030
Single‑family front yard landscape	Minimum 50% of front yard between dwelling and curb must be living landscaping (limited decorative features)	§ 17.51.030 (single‑family standards)
Multifamily landscape minimum	10% of total site area must be landscaped for new multifamily	§ 17.51.030
Parking lot trees	1 tree per 4 parking spaces; 24‑inch box minimum (36" at end of aisles), islands min 7 ft wide, curbing required	§ 17.51.030 / parking lot landscaping details
Parking/streetscape landscaped setback	5 ft minimum adjacent to ROW (10 ft for major/secondary highways)	§ 17.55.060 / § 17.53.040
Fence/wall heights — street/front adjacent	Max 42 inches in required yard adjacent to a street or driveway (48" for non‑view‑obscuring pipe/rail)	§ 17.57.070(B)
Fence/wall heights — interior side & rear	Garden wall/fence up to 6 feet; higher walls (6–15 ft) may need an adjustment	§ 17.57.070(A,C)
Retaining wall heights	Side yard view: 6 ft max; rear yard view: 8 ft max; terracing options (two 4‑ft walls) allowed	§ 17.51.020 / retaining walls in property standards
Prohibited fence materials	Barbed wire, razor ribbon, bamboo sheeting, fiberglass sheeting, chain link in required front yards (some exceptions)	§ 17.57.070(E) and related zone sections
Mechanical/utility screening	All ground‑mounted equipment, trash areas, pad‑mounted transformers must be screened with parapet/wall/landscaping acceptable to Director	§ 17.55.040 / § 17.69.030(B)

Practical guidance / plain‑English synthesis

Submit landscape and irrigation plans prepared to the Model Water Efficient Landscape standards whenever your project is discretionary or requires landscape plan review; the City requires plans and licensed landscape‑architect certification for many projects (§ 17.51.030; landscape plan review § 17.23.150).
For multifamily and nonresidential projects, plan parking lot landscaping early — the code mandates tree counts, box sizes, island widths, and curbing to protect plantings; those rules affect layout and stormwater/curb details. One tree per four stalls and 24‑inch box trees are baseline expectations.
Fences in front/street yards are tightly limited: generally keep front‑yard fences at or below 42 inches (or 48 inches if pipe/rail) and avoid chain‑link or barbed wire visible to the public; special districts (e.g., Sand Canyon) may permit non‑view‑obscuring fences up to 5 ft with frontage landscaping. Always measure height per the code's method (average ground within 3 ft of each side).
Retaining walls count toward permitted fence/wall heights when they create a fill; terracing and planting requirements apply. If you want walls above the base limits, expect to request an adjustment or design terraced living walls with planting pockets.
Oak and specimen trees receive special attention; the code requires showing existing trees on plans and the review authority will decide which to save—see the oak tree preservation provision.

Along the way you will encounter design review and possible overlay rules; see Santa Clarita Design Review and Santa Clarita Overlay Districts for whether your site triggers extra design/landscape controls. Also note accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have one narrow landscaping tree requirement if street‑facing (see Santa Clarita ADUs). Link to the state building code is provided here only to note that building standards are separate: California Building Standards Code / Title 24.

Checklist (what to include in your submittal)

Complete landscape and irrigation plans prepared to Model Water Efficient Landscape standards (submit per § 17.23.150).
Licensed landscape architect certification where required (see plan certification requirement).
Planting schedule showing sizes: 24" box (min) parking lot trees; 36" box where required by Director; turf percentages and drought‑tolerant palette for residential and multifamily projects.
Fencing/wall elevations with materials called out and height measured by code method; show relationship to any retaining wall and provide terracing/planting where needed. Refer to § 17.57.070(H) for measurement.
If in an overlay/special standards district (RP, Sand Canyon, NNA, MU, VS), include overlay‑required exhibits (buffers, gateway landscaping, fuel modification or ridgeline exhibits where applicable).
For commercial/industrial projects, show parking lot landscaping calculations (5% parking lot landscaped minimum; tree ratio; planter widths; headlight hedge where required).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Whether a proposed fence is “view‑obscuring” vs “non‑view‑obscuring”	Changes allowable height in front yards and whether additional frontage landscaping is required	Confirm classification and approval path with the Director; cite § 17.57.070(B) and local special‑district rules (e.g., Sand Canyon § 17.39.030).
Retaining wall + fence combined height on sloping lots	Retaining walls contribute to total permitted wall/fence height; measurement method affects approvals	Verify top‑of‑wall/topo method and whether terracing or adjustments are required per § 17.51.020 and § 17.57.070(G).
Oak/specimen tree protections and mitigation	Saving/removal triggers mitigation and may affect project layout and costs	Show trees on plans; verify protection/mitigation under oak preservation rules referenced in the landscaping section (see § 17.51.030 and § 17.51.040).
Whether chain‑link or certain materials are acceptable	Some zones/locations ban chain link or other materials visible to public ROW	Confirm material acceptability with Director; see § 17.57.070(E) and the mixed‑use/commercial standards.
Applicability of Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO)	MWELO triggers irrigation documentation and EAWU calculations	Determine if project meets MWELO thresholds and submit compliant landscape documentation package per § 17.51.030 and 23 CCR 490.

Plain‑English summary

If you plan changes that affect yards, parking, or utilities in Santa Clarita you will usually need a landscape and irrigation plan that meets the City's landscape chapter (§ 17.51.030), plant parking islands and trees to the required ratios, keep front‑yard fences low and decorative, avoid barred or chain‑link where visible to the public, and show existing oaks/specimen trees for review; where your site sits in an overlay (Sand Canyon, ridgeline, mixed use) expect extra buffer and design requirements.

Source References

§ 17.51.030 Landscaping and Irrigation Standards (Landscaping purpose, applicability, general standards, turf/trees/parking requirements).
§ 17.23.150 Landscape Plan Review (plan submittal / certification reference in landscaping standards).
Definitions — "Landscaping" and landscape definitions referenced in § 17.11.020.
Retaining walls and hillside/terrace guidance — development standards and terracing requirements in the property development sections (retaining walls, slope planting).
§ 17.57.070 Walls and Fences (heights, prohibited materials, measurement rules).
§ 17.53.040–050 Commercial/Industrial setbacks and walls/fences.
§ 17.55.040 / § 17.55.070 Mixed‑use architectural/landscaping and walls/fences rules.
Sand Canyon special standards district (local fence/setback exceptions) — § 17.39.030 and related subsections.
Parking and parking‑lot landscaping specifics (tree ratios, planter widths, curbing) within the landscape chapter and parking standards.
Overlays and special district policy references (Ridgeline Preservation overlay and RP overlay requirements).

If a rule or local standard above is critical for your project (e.g., whether chain‑link is permitted on a specific frontage, or exact fence height where retaining walls are present), Verify with the jurisdiction; some final determinations are at the Director's discretion or require adjustments/variances (§ 17.24.100, § 17.25.120).

Sources

Retrieved passages

Santa Clarita Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code High relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code High relevance
CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code High relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code High relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code Medium relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code (Chapter 4) Medium relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code High relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code (section shall) High relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code (§ 17.57.070.) Medium relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code Medium relevance
CFC § 4 (§ 4) Medium relevance
Santa Clarita Zoning Code Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Santa Clarita code library

Frequently asked questions

What sections of the Santa Clarita code govern landscaping and screening?

The primary landscaping chapter is § 17.51.030 (Landscaping and Irrigation Standards); it sets applicability, design standards, turf limits, tree sizes, and MWELO compliance. Fences, walls, and measurement rules are in the property development standards (see § 17.57.070) and commercial/mixed‑use chapters add site‑specific rules.

How much of my single‑family front yard must be landscaped in Santa Clarita?

For single‑family yards the code requires a minimum of 50% of the front yard between the house and the street curb to be landscaped with living plant material (with limits on decorative features). See the landscaping standards for details and the "landscaping" definition.

Do multifamily projects have a site‑wide landscaping minimum?

Yes — new multifamily residential developments must provide a minimum of 10% of the total site area as landscaped area, plus required front/street side landscaping; irrigation and turf limits apply. See § 17.51.030 and the multifamily standards.

What tree sizes and parking‑lot tree counts does the code require?

Parking lot landscaping requires 24‑inch box trees as a baseline; the Director can require 36‑inch boxes in some cases. The parking lot tree ratio is one tree per four parking spaces (with end‑of‑aisle requirements and planter sizes spelled out). See the parking lot landscaping subsection of the landscaping standards.

How high can I build a fence in a front yard or next to the street?

Generally fences or walls in a required yard adjacent to a street or driveway may not exceed 42 inches; non‑view‑obscuring pipe/rail fencing may go to 48 inches. Interior side and rear yards can have 6‑ft walls in many cases. Always measure height per the code method (average ground within 3 ft each side). § 17.57.070 covers these rules.

Are chain‑link and barbed‑wire fences allowed?

Chain‑link, barbed wire, razor ribbon and similar temporary materials are prohibited in public view and in required front yards unless the Director approves otherwise; many zones require decorative masonry or other natural‑appearing materials where visible from public rights‑of‑way. See § 17.57.070(E) and the mixed‑use/commercial standards for zone‑specific bans.

Do I need to show oak trees on the landscape plan?

Yes — the code requires existing trees (six‑inch circumference or greater) be shown on plans; oak trees are subject to oak tree preservation requirements (the review authority designates trees to be saved or removed). See the landscaping standards and oak preservation reference.

How does a retaining wall affect fence height limits?

A retaining wall that contains a fill above natural grade counts toward the permissible height; a safety railing or non‑view‑obscuring fence up to 3.5 ft is allowed at the top of such a wall but combined heights are limited. Terracing is encouraged and taller walls commonly need an adjustment. Check § 17.51.020 and § 17.57.070(G–H).

What approvals do I need to change landscaping or install a wall on an overlay or ridgeline site?

If your parcel sits in an overlay (e.g., Ridgeline Preservation, Sand Canyon, MU), additional exhibits, ridgeline alteration permits, or conditional use/adjustments can be required. The RP overlay explicitly allows the City to require special buffers, fences, walls, and landscaping as permit conditions. Verify overlay triggers and required approvals in the overlay chapters.

Where do I find the City's standards for screening utility equipment or pad‑mounted transformers?

The code requires ground‑mounted mechanical equipment and utility boxes to be screened by parapet/wall, enclosure, or landscaping to the Director's satisfaction; separate guidance (utility/PG&E guidance) is often used for transformer clearances and planting choices — include equipment locations in your site plan. See § 17.55.040 and the code's screening rules.

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