Local zoning · Shasta County

Shasta County — Landscaping and Screening

Q: If my commercial property borders an R‑1 neighborhood, do I need a wall?

Yes — in urban areas a commercial or industrial use abutting an R‑1, R‑M, R‑2, R‑3 or MHP district must provide a 6‑ft solid masonry or concrete wall or planted berm along the rear or interior side lot line (the 20 ft nearest the front lot line may be only 3 ft high) under § 17.84.070(A) ; in rural areas a screened cyclone fence may be substituted ( § 17.84.070(B) ). Verify whether your site is treated as urban or rural.

Q: Do I need to submit a landscaping plan with my building permit?

Yes. All landscaping required by § 17.84.040 must be installed and maintained according to a landscaping plan that shows location, size and variety of plantings, water supply and other improvements; the plan must be submitted to and approved by the Planning Director prior to issuance of a building permit or use permit ( § 17.84.040(H) ).

Q: Can I exceed the county fence height limits if needed for screening or security?

Possibly, but exceeding the limits typically requires a use permit (or administrative permit for some accessory structures) — § 17.84.030(A)(2) allows fences to exceed the height limit if a use permit is secured; open wire fencing exceptions are also listed in § 17.84.030(A)(3) . Verify with the Planning Department for permit submittal requirements.

Q: What percentage of required landscaping has to be living plants?

At least 50% of the required landscaped area must be living plant material based on mature plant size — the remainder may be nonplant materials such as rocks or decorative hardscape ( § 17.84.040(B) ).

Q: If I have a mixed project (parking + retail + residential), which standards control?

You must apply the landscaping and screening rules in § 17.84.040 , and also follow the site development standards of the applicable district(s) (e.g., § 17.44 , § 17.56 , § 17.30 ). Where districts are combined or an ASP/overlay applies, the more restrictive standard controls . For design elements you should coordinate landscaping with the county’s design review process where applicable.

Landscaping and Screening under the Shasta County local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page explains what the Shasta County Zoning Plan (Title 17) requires for landscaping and screening in the unincorporated areas of Shasta County. It summarizes the county-wide landscaping rules, fence and zone‑wall standards, and how those requirements plug into specific zone districts (residential, commercial, industrial, the Redding Airport Specific Plan, and National Recreation Area overlays). For related procedural topics see the county overview and the county's rules on development standards, design review, and parking.

Key county rules are codified in § 17.84.040 (Landscaping), § 17.84.030 (Fences / height limits), and § 17.84.070 (Zone walls) of Title 17; those sections are applied and referenced inside individual district chapters such as the R-1, C-2, C-O, C-H, M-L, M, ASP, and NRA‑S districts. See the citations throughout for the controlling text. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel-specific interpretations.

County-wide standards (what will apply on most non‑single‑family yard projects)

Required landscaping areas and minimum contents:
- Open parking areas with five or more required spaces that abut a public street must include a 10‑foot‑deep landscaped strip measured from the street right‑of‑way (§ 17.84.040(A)(1)) .
- Large surface parking (20+ spaces) must provide a minimum of 5% of the gross parking lot area as landscaped area and plant one tree per eight spaces (§ 17.84.040(A)(2)) .
- Commercial/industrial/multi‑family yards adjoining public streets: 10‑foot landscaped yard (§ 17.84.040(A)(4)) .
- Adjacent to freeways (commercial/industrial only): 10‑foot screened landscape strip with trees spaced 40 ft on center, minimum 3 trees (§ 17.84.040(A)(5)) .
Materials, maintenance, and irrigation:
- At least 50% of the required landscaped area must be living plant material (mature size) — the remainder may be nonplant materials (§ 17.84.040(B)) .
- Required planted areas must be served by an adequate and permanent watering system unless native drought‑tolerant plants are used; all plants must be maintained alive and neat (§ 17.84.040(C),(E)) .
- A detailed landscaping plan showing plant species, sizes, irrigation, and locations must be submitted and approved by the Planning Director prior to building or use permit issuance (§ 17.84.040(H)) .
Sight lines and planting heights:
- Sight triangles: plant material inside a 30‑ft triangle at street intersections and a 15‑ft triangle at driveway intersections must be no more than 2 ft high above curb level; trees are allowed if trimmed to keep lower branches at least 6 ft above curb level (§ 17.84.040(F)) .
Borders and edging:
- Except where abutting sidewalks, required landscaped areas must be edged with a concrete curb (min. 6 in.) or a heavy timber/railroad‑tie style frame at least 6 in. in diameter or width (§ 17.84.040(D)) .
Fences, heights and materials:
- In residential and commercial districts, fences/walls/screens within required front yards or street‑side yards on corner lots may not exceed 3 ft; in residential rear or non‑street side yards the normal limit is 6 ft (exceptions possible with use permit or administrative permit) (§ 17.84.030(A)) .
- Open wire fencing (chain link) and wire placed atop walls has special exceptions under § 17.84.030(A)(3) .
- The county prohibits certain fence materials and restricts barbed/razor wire in urban residential districts; see the definition of “Fence” § 17.02.220 for prohibited materials and limits (barbed/razor wire not allowed in residential urban/suburban areas) .
Zone walls (where a heavier buffer is required):
- Where commercial or industrial uses abut urban residential districts (R‑1, R‑M, R‑2, R‑3, MHP) the county requires a solid masonry or concrete wall or planted berm 6 ft high along rear/interior side lot lines, with the exception that the 20 ft nearest the front lot line may be only 3 ft high (§ 17.84.070(A)) .
- In rural settings (commercial/industrial abutting resource or rural residential districts), a screened cyclone fence may substitute for a block wall or berm (§ 17.84.070(B)) .
Screening for trash and outdoor storage:
- All outdoor trash storage or collection facilities must be enclosed by a solid masonry wall or view‑obscuring fence at least one foot higher than the trash container; districts repeat this requirement in their site standards (common in commercial/industrial/multi‑family chapters) — see e.g., § 17.56.050(I) and § 17.46.050(I) .

Note: rules above are county zoning standards; they operate in tandem with other technical standards (stormwater, erosion control, local fire defensible space, and the California Building Standards Code—verify with the county and fire authority on WUI / defensible‑space conflicts). Linkages with parking design mean applicants should also consult the county parking guidance and submit combined landscaping/parking plans where appropriate.

District-by-district breakdown (how the county applies the rules in each zone)

Important: each district below applies only to the unincorporated areas of Shasta County. The bolded district names and section numbers are the local code references you will need.

R-1 — One‑family residential (Chapter 17.30)

Purpose & typical uses: One‑family residences, accessory dwelling units where allowed, supportive/transitional housing, limited home occupations (§ 17.30.010–020) .
Key dimensional / landscaping points: front/side/rear yard and accessory building standards are established in Chapter 17.30 and the countywide landscaping and fence rules of § 17.84.040 and § 17.84.030 apply (sight triangles, watering, 50% living materials, fence height limits) — see § 17.84.040 and § 17.84.030 for the operative landscaping and fence details.
Where it applies: fully serviced urban lots in the unincorporated county. For permitted uses and accessory dwelling unit rules see the R‑1 chapter § 17.30.020.

R-2 / R-3 / R-M — Two‑family, Multi‑family, Mobile home (Chapters 17.34, 17.36, 17.32)

Purpose & uses: duplexes (R‑2), higher‑density residential (R‑3), mobile home uses (R‑M) — each chapter lists permitted uses and the standard site/development requirements. Landscaping requirements are referenced to the county standard § 17.84.040; screening and trash enclosure rules are reiterated in the multi‑family site standards (e.g., § 17.34.060; § 17.36.).
Key items: multi‑family projects are specifically required to submit landscape and development plans and must meet the county sight‑line, irrigation and planting composition rules (§ 17.84.040(H)) .

C-2 (Community Commercial) — § 17.44

Purpose & typical uses: shopping centers, supermarkets, outdoor retail in limited cases; broad commercial uses tied to community needs (§ 17.44.010) .
Landscaping & screening: required yards adjoining public streets are landscaped to 10 ft; all commercial landscaping standards default to § 17.84.040; outdoor trash must be enclosed per the general rule (solid masonry or view‑obscuring fence at least 1 ft higher than container) (§ 17.44.050 referencing § 17.84.040 and district trash rules) .

C-O (Office Commercial) — § 17.46

Purpose & uses: professional and administrative offices; landscaping requirements are the county standard (§ 17.84.040) and screened fencing/zone wall requirements are cross‑referenced in the district site standards (§ 17.46.050(E–H)) .

C-H (Highway Commercial) — § 17.48

Purpose: traveler‑oriented commercial uses near freeway interchanges; landscaping for yards and parking abutting streets follows the county standards in § 17.84.040 (10‑ft frontage strips, parking landscaping percentages, tree counts) .

M-L (Light Industrial) and M (General Industrial) — § 17.56, § 17.58

Purpose: industrial and light industrial uses; districts explicitly state “Landscaping requirements are as specified in § 17.84.040” and reference zone walls and outdoor trash enclosure requirements in the site development standards (e.g., § 17.56.050(E–I)) .
Practical effect: when industrial property abuts residential zones the county expects the 6‑ft masonry wall or berm buffer or equivalent per § 17.84.070, and outdoor storage must be screened.

ASP (Redding Airport Specific Plan) — combined districts — § 17.80.080

The ASP chapter requires that the development standards of the underlying or combined principal district (including landscaping, screening, signing and outdoor storage) apply; but it also adds airport‑specific minimums (for example, development sites fronting Airport Road must provide a 10‑ft landscaped strip with trees spaced 40 ft on center, minimum 3 trees per lot) — see § 17.80.080(A) for the airport plan's yard/landscaping rules. For ASP parcels, the airport plan can impose different or additional screening/fencing standards; always check the ASP plan attachment to the zoning chapter.

NRA‑S (National Recreation Area — Shasta Unit) — § 17.18

Purpose & uses: to protect recreation and scenic values — landscaping/clearing rules emphasize compatibility with natural vegetation and buffers; industrial or commercial uses that harm scenic or recreational values are prohibited. The NRA chapter reiterates that buffers should be provided by distance, topography or forest cover (§ 17.18.040(D)) rather than heavy structural screening where possible. Where combined with other zones, the more restrictive standards apply.

Quick decision‑relevant standards (table)

Requirement / trigger	Standard (what the applicant must provide)	Code reference
Parking abutting public street	10 ft landscaped strip from ROW (open parking with 5+ spaces)	§ 17.84.040(A)(1)
Large parking lots	5% of gross parking area as landscaped; 1 tree / 8 spaces	§ 17.84.040(A)(2)
Commercial/industrial yards on public streets	10 ft landscaped yard	§ 17.84.040(A)(4)
Freeway‑adjacent commercial/industrial	10 ft screened landscape strip; trees 40 ft OC; min 3 trees	§ 17.84.040(A)(5)
Living material coverage	At least 50% living plant material (mature size)	§ 17.84.040(B)
Watering/Irrigation	Permanent watering system required unless native plants used	§ 17.84.040(C)
Landscape edging	Concrete curb min. 6 in. or heavy timber frame	§ 17.84.040(D)
Sight triangles	Plantings within 30 ft (streets) / 15 ft (driveways) <= 2 ft high; trees pruned 6 ft clear	§ 17.84.040(F)
Fence height (residential/commercial)	3 ft in front yard/street‑side front; 6 ft in rear/non‑street side yards (residential); exceptions by permit	§ 17.84.030(A)
Zone walls between C/I and urban residential	6 ft masonry/concrete wall or berm (3 ft for front 20 ft)	§ 17.84.070(A)
Trash enclosures	Solid masonry wall or view‑obscuring fence >= 1 ft taller than container	District site standards referencing § 17.84 (e.g., § 17.56.050(I), § 17.46.050(I))
Landscaping plan	Formal plan required and approved by Planning Director prior to building/use permit	§ 17.84.040(H)

Checklist

Submit a site plan showing all landscape areas, plant species and sizes, irrigation/water supply and maintenance plan as required by § 17.84.040(H) .
If project includes parking (≥5 spaces) and abuts a public street, provide 10‑ft frontage landscaping per § 17.84.040(A)(1) .
For large parking lots (≥20 spaces), reserve 5% of the lot area for landscaping and supply 1 tree per 8 spaces (§ 17.84.040(A)(2)) .
Provide required trash enclosure: masonry wall or view‑obscuring fence 1 ft higher than receptacle (district site standards/§ 17.84 references) .
Confirm fence heights: 3 ft max in front yards (street side) and 6 ft in rear side yards (residential) unless a permit is obtained (§ 17.84.030(A)) .
If development adjoins residential zones and is commercial/industrial, plan for a 6‑ft masonry wall or berm as required by § 17.84.070(A) unless the rural exception applies .
Coordinate with fire authority for WUI/defensible space impacts — landscaping that conflicts with defensible‑space orders may need adjustment or an alternative solution (verify with the jurisdiction).
For projects in the ASP area, verify airport plan‑specific landscaping/screening requirements (e.g., Airport Road tree spacing) in § 17.80.080(A) .
Check overlays and design review triggers (e.g., DR overlay) — design review may alter plant palette or screening requirements; consult county design review and overlay districts.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Conflicts with fire defensible‑space / WUI rules	Landscape buffers & berms can introduce combustible materials or required clearances	Confirm with local fire authority; reconcile county § 17.84.040 irrigation and planting requirements with defensible‑space orders; verify alternatives in code or ask for permit exceptions. (Verify with the jurisdiction)
ASP or other plan‑level differences	The ASP or other specific plan may impose different landscaping/screening standards (e.g., Airport Road tree spacing).	For parcels in ASP areas check § 17.80.080 and the airport plan appendices; use ASP standards when they are the minimum.
“Urban” vs “Rural” buffer treatment	§ 17.84.070 differentiates zone‑walls (masonry) in urban areas vs screened cyclone fences in rural settings.	Confirm whether your property is treated as “urban” or “rural” for the purposes of § 17.84.070; if unclear, verify with the planning director.
Landscaping plan completeness	Missing irrigation or species details can delay plan approval.	Provide species list (mature sizes), irrigation detail, maintenance responsibility, and planting schedule per § 17.84.040(H).
Trash enclosures and screening inconsistencies	District chapters repeat trash enclosure rules but sometimes add district‑specific details.	Use the district site standards (e.g., § 17.56.050(I) for M‑L, § 17.46.050(I) for C‑O) plus general § 17.84 rules to size and locate enclosures.

Plain‑English summary

In unincorporated Shasta County, the zoning code requires landscaping and screening for most commercial, industrial, multi‑family and larger parking projects: street frontages and parking get 10‑ft plant strips (and 5% of large parking lots must be landscaped), at least 50% of required landscaping must be living plants, irrigation is required, sight triangles must remain low, trash areas must be walled or screened, and fences/zone walls have strict height and material rules — all enforced through the county’s landscaping plan review and district site standards (§ 17.84.040, § 17.84.030, § 17.84.070). Always submit a landscaping plan and confirm any overlap with airport, NRA, fire or overlay rules; when in doubt, verify with the Planning Director.

Source References

Shasta County Zoning Plan (Title 17) — Landscaping: § 17.84.040
Shasta County Zoning Plan — Fences/Height limits: § 17.84.030
Shasta County Zoning Plan — Zone walls: § 17.84.070
ASP (Redding Airport Specific Plan) site development / landscaping minimums: § 17.80.080
R‑1 One‑Family Residential district: § 17.30.010–020 (permitted uses and purpose)
R‑M / R‑2 / R‑3 district development standards (yards, parking, trash): Chapters 17.32, 17.34, 17.36
Light Industrial (M‑L) site standards referencing landscaping and zone walls: § 17.56.050
General Industrial (M) site standards: § 17.58.020
NRA‑S National Recreation Area rules (buffers and protection of scenic values): § 17.18.010–040
Fence definition and prohibited materials: § 17.02.220 (Fence definition / materials)

(If you want the exact printed code language or the county’s landscape/parking standard details, I can pull the specific wording or a plan checklist from the county planning office files. For parcel‑specific buildability or conflicts with fire‑safety rules, verify with the Planning Director and local fire authority.)

Sources

Retrieved passages

Shasta County Zoning Code (Chapter 17.86.) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 73) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 22) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (section may) High relevance
CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 20) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (title shall) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 8) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (Section 17.94.030) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (Section 17.84.020) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (section may) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ VIII) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (Section 17.84.030.) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (Section 17.84.030.) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (Section 17.84.030.) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (Title 24) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 24) Medium relevance
CRC § R608.8.2.2 (SECTION CUT) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 39) Medium relevance
CBC § 5.01.020 (§ 5.01.020) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 5.01.030) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 5.02.130) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Shasta County code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping does Shasta County require for a new commercial parking lot?

For an open parking area with five or more required spaces that abuts a public street, Shasta County requires a 10‑foot deep landscape strip from the street right‑of‑way; if the lot contains 20 or more spaces the project must also landscape 5% of the gross parking lot area and provide one tree per eight parking spaces; these standards come from § 17.84.040(A)(1)–(2).

How high can I build a fence in the front yard of an R‑1 lot in unincorporated Shasta County?

Fences (or hedges/screens) in any required front yard or in a street‑side yard on a corner lot in residential districts may not exceed 3 feet in height, per § 17.84.030(A)(1); higher rear yard fences (up to 6 ft) are allowed in residential districts unless a permit is required.

If my commercial property borders an R‑1 neighborhood, do I need a wall?

Yes — in urban areas a commercial or industrial use abutting an R‑1, R‑M, R‑2, R‑3 or MHP district must provide a 6‑ft solid masonry or concrete wall or planted berm along the rear or interior side lot line (the 20 ft nearest the front lot line may be only 3 ft high) under § 17.84.070(A); in rural areas a screened cyclone fence may be substituted (§ 17.84.070(B)). Verify whether your site is treated as urban or rural.

Do I need to submit a landscaping plan with my building permit?

Yes. All landscaping required by § 17.84.040 must be installed and maintained according to a landscaping plan that shows location, size and variety of plantings, water supply and other improvements; the plan must be submitted to and approved by the Planning Director prior to issuance of a building permit or use permit (§ 17.84.040(H)).

Are native (non‑irrigated) plants accepted for required landscaping?

Yes — required planted areas must be served with an adequate and permanent watering system except where native plants that do not need a watering system are used; in such cases the irrigation exemption applies but plants must still be maintained in living condition (§ 17.84.040(C)).

What are the rules for screening trash enclosures in Shasta County?

Outside trash storage and collection facilities must be enclosed by a solid masonry wall or view‑obscuring fence at least one foot higher than the trash container; this requirement is repeated in various district site standards (see e.g., § 17.56.050(I) for the M‑L district and § 17.46.050(I) for the C‑O district) and implemented via the general landscaping/screening requirements.

Does the airport plan change landscaping requirements near the Redding Airport?

Yes. The Redding Airport Specific Plan (ASP) requires that development standards of the principal district apply but it also sets minimums that prevail where they differ; for example, lots with frontage on Airport Road must provide a 10‑ft landscaped strip with trees 40 ft on center and minimum 3 trees per lot — see § 17.80.080(A). Verify the ASP map and plan text for parcel‑specific rules.

Can I exceed the county fence height limits if needed for screening or security?

Possibly, but exceeding the limits typically requires a use permit (or administrative permit for some accessory structures) — § 17.84.030(A)(2) allows fences to exceed the height limit if a use permit is secured; open wire fencing exceptions are also listed in § 17.84.030(A)(3). Verify with the Planning Department for permit submittal requirements.

What percentage of required landscaping has to be living plants?

At least 50% of the required landscaped area must be living plant material based on mature plant size — the remainder may be nonplant materials such as rocks or decorative hardscape (§ 17.84.040(B)).

If I have a mixed project (parking + retail + residential), which standards control?

You must apply the landscaping and screening rules in § 17.84.040, and also follow the site development standards of the applicable district(s) (e.g., § 17.44, § 17.56, § 17.30). Where districts are combined or an ASP/overlay applies, the more restrictive standard controls. For design elements you should coordinate landscaping with the county’s design review process where applicable.

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