Local zoning · Simi Valley

Simi Valley — Landscaping and Screening

Q: Do parking lots need tree islands in Simi Valley?

Yes—parking-lot islands are required (minimum 7 ft width) with tree wells; tree wells of 4 ft × 9 ft with a six‑inch curb are specified and spacing rules apply (e.g., tree wells at intervals averaging every five parking spaces in double‑loaded rows). § 9-33.030(A)

Landscaping and Screening under the Simi Valley local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Simi Valley’s landscaping and screening rules live in the Development Code (commonly Title 17 / the Development Code) and are organized primarily in Chapter 9-33 (Landscaping Standards) together with height/location and screening rules in Article 3. The rules require plan submittals, set minimum front-yard and parking-lot landscape measures, control fences/walls/hedges and require buffers and screening for industrial/commercial uses; they also tie into district-level standards found in Article 2. See the City’s approach to overall zoning at the Simi Valley Zoning page for how these rules plug into permitted uses and standards. § 9-33.010 and related rules set the purpose and applicability, while fence and screening heights are in § 9-30.050 and § 9-30.070.

Note: this page summarizes what appears in the retrieved Development Code extracts; verify parcel‑specific details with the City. Verify with the jurisdiction.

How the Code is organized (quick map)

Purpose and applicability: § 9-33.010 and § 9-33.020.
Specific landscape design requirements (parking, front yards, buffer landscaping, artificial turf, curbs): § 9-33.030 and related subsections.
Maintenance obligations: § 9-33.040.
Fences/walls/hedges (heights, Traffic Safety Sight Area (TSSA) rules): § 9-30.050.
Screening of utilities and equipment: § 9-30.070.
District-specific dimensional and development standards (landscaping references to Chapter 9-33): Article 2 / Table 2-3 (multiple residential and open space districts).

Throughout this page, internal references useful during review include the City’s pages on parking, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, California Building Standards Code, Simi Valley Zoning, and Development Standards.

District-by-district breakdown (what matters for landscaping & screening)

The Development Code ties landscaping controls to the zoning districts in Article 2 (Table 2-3 and related use tables). The Code repeatedly directs that district landscaping minima and special buffering follow Chapter 9-33 and are applied as part of district-level development review. Where a district-specific numeric landscaping percentage or buffer is needed, the Code points back to Chapter 9-33 and Article 2; when the file extracts do not show a numerical percentage for every district, the excerpts say to comply with the Chapter and Article 2—so confirm on a parcel basis. Below are the major districts that appear in the Code excerpts with the landscaping/screening implications the ordinance establishes.

Notes on format: each sub‑section below identifies the district name (bold) and then summarizes the specific landscaping/screening provisions, the common uses, and where the rules are applied. All requirements are grounded in the cited Simi Valley Municipal Code sections below.

Residential districts — RVL, RL, RM, RMod, RE, OS

Purpose / typical uses: Primarily detached and attached residential development (single‑family and multi‑family depending on the district) referenced in Article 2. See Table 2-3 for dimensional standards.
Landscaping & screening highlights:
- Front yard landscaping: single-family front yards must be at least 50 percent landscaped (lawns, groundcover, succulents, shrubs, trees); mulch is allowed as part of plantings; up to 100 percent artificial turf may be allowed with a Zoning Clearance if it meets the glossary standard. See § 9-33.030(C).
- Parkway (street strip) landscaping: required in single‑family areas; decorative paving allowed when integrated with landscape plan; artificial turf in parkway requires encroachment permit and Public Works/City Council approvals. See § 9-33.030(D–E).
- Setbacks and landscaping are coordinated with Table 2-3 (Article 2): landscaping obligations are invoked by the district standards and Chapter 9‑33. See § 9-24.040 and Table 2-3.
- Fences/walls in residential front setbacks: solid portion limited to 42 inches; see-through fencing allowed up to 6 feet total (special provisions allow side-lot hedges up to 6 feet if set back 10 feet from the front property line). See § 9-30.050(A)(2)(a).
- Maintenance: ongoing maintenance of landscaping and irrigation systems is required. See § 9-33.040.

Where it applies: all development in the residential districts; specific reductions/exceptions (setback, paving, etc.) are described in 9‑24.050 and related notes.

Commercial districts — CR, CPD, CI

Purpose / typical uses: Neighborhood, community, and commercial retail/service uses as identified in Article 2 and Table 2‑2.
Landscaping & screening highlights:
- Street-edge landscaping: except for driveway openings and single‑family, a 10‑foot wide landscaping strip is required along property lines adjacent to a public street. See § 9-33.030(B).
- Parking-lot landscaping: landscape islands minimum width 7 ft; tree wells at intervals (tree wells 4 ft x 9 ft with 6‑inch curb) and island spacing rules are in § 9-33.030(A).
- Outdoor storage and industrial adjacencies: open storage must be confined to rear of site and completely screened using walls, earth mounds, or landscaping. For CI, CPD, and CR districts see § 9-44.110(A).
- Artificial turf: allowed up to 50 percent of the landscape area for multi‑family, commercial, and industrial properties (see § 9-33.030(E)).
- Screening of utilities/mechanical equipment from public view is required; applicants must submit a Conceptual Utility Screening Program for new development. See § 9-30.070.

Where it applies: commercial parcels, parking lots, and any project proposing outdoor storage or equipment visible from streets. See Article 4 and the CI/CR/CPD specific subsections for use‑specific standards.

Industrial districts — LI, GI

Purpose / typical uses: light and general industrial activities (see Article 2).
Landscaping & screening highlights:
- Outdoor storage must be screened from streets and property lines by walls, fencing, earth mounds, or landscaping; GI rules confine storage to the rear two‑thirds and require screening and limits on stored material height (15 ft in GI). See § 9-44.110(C).
- Site perimeter screening: exterior common boundaries of many nonresidential developments must be screened by a decorative solid wall/fence at least 6 feet high, plus a minimum 5‑foot landscaped strip with 15‑gallon (or larger) trees spaced no more than 30 feet apart (example language in mobile‑home park standards and elsewhere) — see the project‑specific standards referencing perimeter screening and Section 9-33.

Where it applies: industrial sites, yards, cargo container storage areas, and any outdoor operations visible from streets or neighboring properties.

Key numeric standards (decision‑relevant) — quick table

Requirement / topic	What the Code requires	Code Reference
Purpose & applicability of landscaping	Landscaping required for projects as set in Chapter 9‑33; plans must be approved before installation	§ 9-33.010, § 9-33.020
Front-yard landscape (single-family)	Minimum 50% of front yard area landscaped; artificial turf up to 100% with Zoning Clearance if standards met	§ 9-33.030(C)
Parkway / street-edge landscaping	Parkway must be landscaped in single-family areas; 10‑ft wide landscaped strip required along public streets for non‑SF	§ 9-33.030(B–D)
Parking lot islands / trees	Islands 7 ft wide minimum; tree wells 4 ft x 9 ft; spacing: tree wells every ~5 parking spaces; islands at interval of every ~15 spaces	§ 9-33.030(A)
Maintenance	All installed landscaping and irrigation systems must be continually maintained	§ 9-33.040
Fence/wall heights — TSSA	Inside TSSA: no fences/walls/hedges over 24 in in the public ROW without permit; private property in TSSA no greater than 36 in without permit	§ 9-30.050(A)(1)
Fence/wall heights — front yard	Outside TSSA (residential): solid fences/walls/hedges in front setback ≤ 42 in; see-through fences may be up to 6 ft total height	§ 9-30.050(A)(2)(a)
Property line fences (side/rear)	Outside front setback: fences/walls may not exceed 6 ft unless authorized	§ 9-30.050(A)(2)(b)
Buffer/screen for outdoor storage	Outdoor storage must be screened from streets/property lines by walls, fencing, mounds, or landscaping	§ 9-44.110

If you need a parcel‑level numeric landscaping percentage for a particular commercial or residential zone, the Code points to Article 2 (Table 2‑3) for district minima and Chapter 9‑33 for standards — parcel‑specific values are not fully enumerated in the retrieved excerpts. See § 9-33.030(H) and § 9-24.040.

Practical guidance & interpretation notes (plain-English)

Plan early: the Code requires landscape plans prepared per the City’s Landscape Design Guidelines and approval before installation; changes that affect plant count/irrigation need re‑submittal. See § 9-33.020(B) and § 9-32.160(D).
Parking and landscaping are linked: expect required islands, tree wells and curbing in commercial and multi‑family parking areas per § 9-33.030(A) — coordinate with parking standards early in design.
Fences & TSSA: if your lot has a Traffic Safety Sight Area near intersections, the TSSA rules drastically lower allowable fence/hedge heights (to 24 in in ROW; 36 in on private property without permit). If in doubt, ask for a TSSA determination. See § 9-30.050(A)(1).
Screening mechanical equipment & utilities: screening is mandatory and a Conceptual Utility Screening Program is required with project applications (no skirted mechanicals visible from street or abutting lots). See § 9-30.070 and § 9-30.030(A)(2).
Buffers next to residences: industrial, commercial and multi‑family projects are explicitly required to screen outdoor storage and yards from adjacent streets and residential views using walls/landscape mounds/trees; be prepared to show 6‑ft block walls or equivalent (Article 4 and § 9‑44.110).
Water and maintenance: the Code promotes water conservation (see Chapter 9‑33 purpose) and requires ongoing maintenance plans; for large/hillside projects a registered landscape architect plan and maintenance program will be required. See § 9-33.010, § 9-32.160(D–E), § 9-33.040.
Design review & variances: landscape and screening design may trigger design review or require a variance/conditional permit depending on whether alternate materials/heights or buffer reductions are requested. The Code permits Administrative Actions and Planned Development or Conditional Use processes for exceptions. See Article 5 / Administrative Actions and § 9-52.030 and § 9-52.070.

Checklist

Prepare a landscape plan consistent with the City Landscape Design Guidelines and submit with the development application (Chapter 9‑33 requirements). § 9-33.020(B)
Show parking-lot islands, tree wells, and raised curbing per § 9-33.030(A, F) and coordinate with parking standards.
Demonstrate 50% front‑yard landscaping for single‑family or alternative compliance with a Zoning Clearance (if proposing artificial turf). § 9-33.030(C)
Show screening for outdoor storage, trash and equipment with walls/earth mounds/landscaping where required (CI/CPD/CR/LI/GI rules). § 9-44.110
Dimension all fences/walls relative to the TSSA and show any permit/encroachment needs (front‑setback solid fence ≤ 42 in, see‑through up to 6 ft). § 9-30.050
Include a maintenance program for landscaping and irrigation (who, schedule, funding). § 9-33.040
If on a hillside, include slope erosion control, native/drought‑tolerant retention, and a registered landscape architect’s preliminary landscape plan if required. § 9-32.160(D)
Confirm any overlay district rules that affect landscaping (e.g., Business Park overlay, hillside/performance standards) via the overlay districts page and Article 4 specifics.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
District-specific numeric landscape minimums	Article 2 references district minima but the retrieved excerpts point back to Chapter 9‑33 without numerically listing every district percentage	Verify the district’s specific landscape % in the full Article 2 / Table 2‑3 on the official code or with Planning; the extracts do not show per-district numeric percentages. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Front-yard fence hedges & TSSA boundary	Height limits change inside the TSSA and at front setbacks (24 in / 36 in / 42 in / 6 ft combos)	Confirm exact TSSA location on parcel (TSSA defined in Article 8) and measure heights from curb/adjacent grade per § 9-30.050.
Artificial turf allowances	Different limits for single‑family (up to 100% with Zoning Clearance) vs. commercial/multi‑family (50%)	Confirm which approval is needed (Zoning Clearance vs. encroachment permit) and whether turf meets Article 8 glossary definitions. § 9-33.030(C–E)
Screening for existing vs. new outdoor storage	The Code allows screening but also ties some allowances to Conditional Use Permits	Verify whether proposed outdoor storage requires a CUP or can be authorized via Zoning Clearance/Administrative Action; see § 9-44.110.
Hillside / ridgeline treatments	Hillside landscaping rules require special planting and may restrict development near visually prominent ridgelines	If property is hillside subject to performance standards, submit preliminary landscape plans by a registered landscape architect and confirm ridge constraints in § 9-32.160.

Plain-English Summary

Simi Valley requires approved landscape plans and ongoing maintenance; front yards for single‑family homes must be mostly planted, parking lots must include islands and trees, and industrial/commercial storage areas must be screened with walls or landscaping. Fence heights are limited (especially in traffic sight areas), and many landscape elements require plan approval before installation. See Chapter 9‑33 for the bulk of the rules and Article 2 for where district standards attach. Verify parcel specifics with Planning.

Source References

Simi Valley Development Code — Chapter 9‑33 (Landscaping Standards): § 9-33.010, § 9-33.020, § 9-33.030, § 9-33.040.
Fences, walls, hedges, TSSA and screening: § 9-30.050, § 9-30.070.
District standards and Table 2‑3 (Article 2): § 9-24.040, § 9-24.050, Table 2‑3.
Outdoor storage screening and industrial/commercial buffering: § 9-44.110.
Hillside landscaping (retention, tree species, planting, plans): § 9-32.160.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Simi Valley Zoning Code (Section 9-32.110) High relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9-33) High relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (Section 9-) High relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9-34) High relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (Section shall) High relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance
CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance
CBC § 5 (§ 5) High relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (Article 8) Medium relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9-33) Medium relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (Section 9-24.050) Medium relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (Section 9-44.160) Medium relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (Section 9-44.110) Medium relevance
Simi Valley Zoning Code (Section may) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Simi Valley code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping plan do I need to submit for a new commercial development in Simi Valley?

You must submit a landscape plan prepared in compliance with the City's Landscape Design Guidelines and receive Department approval before installing landscaping; parking-lot islands, tree wells and street-edge landscaping must be shown per § 9-33.020 and § 9-33.030.

How much of my front yard must be planted on a single-family lot?

For single‑family residential areas the front yard must be at least 50 percent landscaped with natural plants (with limited allowances for decorative features); artificial turf up to 100 percent may be allowed with a Zoning Clearance if it meets the glossary standards. § 9-33.030(C)

Can I put a six‑foot block wall on my property line?

Outside the front setback, property line fences and walls may not exceed 6 feet in height as measured from the highest adjacent grade unless authorized by law. For front setbacks there are lower limits (solid portion ≤ 42 in, total with see‑through up to 6 ft per § 9-30.050(A)(2)).

Do parking lots need tree islands in Simi Valley?

Yes—parking-lot islands are required (minimum 7 ft width) with tree wells; tree wells of 4 ft × 9 ft with a six‑inch curb are specified and spacing rules apply (e.g., tree wells at intervals averaging every five parking spaces in double‑loaded rows). § 9-33.030(A)

Is screening required for outdoor storage or service yards?

Yes—outdoor storage must be screened from public and private streets and adjacent properties by walls, fencing, earth mounds, and landscaping (CI/CPD/CR/LI/GI requirements are explicit in § 9-44.110).

If my lot sits on a slope, are there special planting rules?

Hillside properties subject to performance standards must be landscaped to reduce fire risk, control erosion and retain moisture; a preliminary landscape plan by a registered landscape architect may be required and native/drought‑tolerant retention is emphasized (see § 9-32.160).

How are fences treated at intersections or on corner lots?

Within the Traffic Safety Sight Area (TSSA) fence/hedge heights are restricted (no more than 24 inches in the public right‑of‑way without permit; private property in the TSSA limited to 36 inches without permitting), and no structure may be placed in the TSSA—confirm TSSA location and measurement rules. § 9-30.050(A)(1)

Do I have to show maintenance plans for landscaping?

Yes—the Code requires submitted plans or programs for ongoing maintenance (watering, pruning, replacement, irrigation repair) as part of project submittals; the Director reviews maintenance plans for adequacy. § 9-32.160(E) and § 9-33.040.

Can I use artificial turf in the parkway or front yard?

Artificial turf in a single‑family front yard may be allowed up to 100 percent of the required landscaped area with a Zoning Clearance if it meets Article 8 definitions; in multi‑family/commercial/industrial sites artificial turf is limited to 50 percent of landscape area and parkway use needs encroachment permits. § 9-33.030(C–E)

When will screening of rooftop or ground‑mounted equipment be enforced?

Screening of new utility equipment and appurtenances is mandatory for new development and a Conceptual Utility Screening Program must be submitted with the project application; roofs should be designed to hide mechanical equipment from adjacent lots and streets. § 9-30.070, § 9-30.030(A)(2).

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