Local zoning · Soledad

Soledad — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What fence heights are allowed in Soledad?

The code allows fences/walls up to 8 ft in many locations but front or street-side yard heights are lower and subject to sight-distance rules; the general fence materials and sight-distance rules are in § 17.36.010 , and the industrial chapter clarifies maximums and exceptions in § 17.30.060 .

Q: How should I screen mechanical equipment or transformers?

Mechanical equipment must be screened on all sides from view from rights-of-way or public use areas; the industrial development standards require screening for compressors, HVAC, transformers, etc., in § 17.30.060 C.1 . Also follow any utility-provider clearances and the site's design handbook if applicable.

Q: If my commercial site borders housing, what buffering is required?

The code requires adequate buffering between commercial/industrial sites and residential uses; the director determines the type/amount during site-plan review and may require walls, landscaping or noise attenuation measures (see § 17.26.040(H) , § 17.28.040(H) and § 17.36.010 ) ( .

Q: Do downtown (C-1 / C-C) projects have different landscaping rules?

Yes. Downtown C-1 and the C-C community commercial district have rules that emphasize pedestrian design; C-C development follows the Community Commercial Design Handbook for landscaping and screening and the handbook prevails where it conflicts with the zoning text ( § 17.22.140 ) .

Q: Who decides buffer type/height if code is not prescriptive?

The code frequently gives the director or planning commission discretion (depending on the district and the level of review); verify at intake whether your project will be director-level or commission-level review and ask for written conditions (see multiple district provisions and § 17.44.010 ) .

Q: Do I need a separate design review for landscaping?

Landscaping is a standard element of site plan and development-plan review; in some districts (e.g., C-C ) special design-review processes or handbooks apply. Check the Soledad Design Review page and the site plan rules § 17.44.010 to confirm requirements .

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This reference summarizes what the City of Soledad's zoning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening (fences, walls, buffers, mechanical- and storage-screening) across Soledad's zoning districts. It is grounded in the local municipal code—especially the property development standards and site-plan rules—and highlights district-specific requirements, typical review triggers, and what to show on plan submittals. For rules on parking design, see the Soledad Parking page; for setbacks and other dimensional rules, see Soledad Development Standards. Also check Soledad Zoning and Soledad Land Use for context on where landscaping requirements apply.

Key city-wide rules (what applies everywhere)

Fences, hedges and walls: Materials, sight-distance, and maximum heights are controlled citywide under § 17.36.010; permitted materials and sight-distance rules are in § 17.36.010 (see ).
- The general chapter applies to all districts: maintenance, prohibited fence materials (barbed wire, aluminum/fiberglass metal siding except by approval), and sight distance obligations are set in § 17.36.010 .
Site plan / landscape submittal: When site plan review is required, the plan must show the location and type of landscaping, walls/fences and other items listed in § 17.44.010 .
Parking-lot/site landscaping: Off-street parking and its landscaping/screening requirements are in § 17.36.020 .
Mechanical equipment & outdoor storage screening: Screening of mechanical equipment and outdoor storage areas is required; specifics for industrial/business districts and exceptions appear in district development rules and in § 17.30.060 (industrial additional regs) and related sections .

Below is a district-by-district breakdown of the code provisions that control landscaping and screening. Each subsection gives the district name in bold, its basic purpose (from the ordinance), the key landscaping/screening rules you will need to follow, and the controlling code citations.

R-1 (single-family residential) — where it applies: residential neighborhoods

Purpose & typical uses: single-family homes; accessory structures. See the R-1 chapter and site-plan rules for lot-level standards. The code requires a landscaped, maintained front yard and controls fence heights in yards. See related standards in the R-1 chapter and the site plan chapter. Key rules:

Front and side yard landscaping and minimum front-yard depth are required per the R-1 property development language; the district requires landscaped front yards and sets front/side/rear yard dimensions and fence allowances (see § 17.10.050 for site-plan review requirements and R-1 yard rules; see also § 17.36.010 for fences/walls) (, ).
Fences/hedges/walls up to 3 ft may occupy any yard area; up to 6 ft permitted in street-side yards where abutting nonresidential uses (see § 17.36.010 and R-1 yard rules) (, ).
Where fencing adjoins alleys/drainage channels a site-plan approval can permit fences up to 8 ft (subject to § 17.36.010(D)) . Practical: For an R-1 parcel expect to show a planted front yard, fence location/height/materials, and demonstrate sight-line compliance.

R-1.5 / R-2 / R-3 (low- to high-density multifamily) — multifamily development

Purpose & typical uses: multifamily units and supporting uses (see chapters). Key landscaping/screening items:

These residential districts require landscaped and maintained front yards and regulate fence heights similar to R-1: 3 ft in most yards; 6 ft allowed in street-side yards where abutting nonresidential; taller structures may be approved by CUP (see § 17.11.040 / § 17.12.040 / § 17.14.040 and § 17.36.010) (, , , ).
Multifamily projects > certain sizes must show common open space design and landscaping integrated with private open space per district rules (see R-2 / R-3 chapters) . Practical: Show common-area planting, privacy buffers between residential buildings, and fences with materials called out; landscaping often evaluated at site plan review (see § 17.44.010) .

C-1 (Retail Central Business) and C-C (Community Commercial) — downtown and neighborhood commercial

Purpose & typical uses: retail and pedestrian-oriented uses in downtown and community-commercial areas (see § 17.24.010 and § 17.22.010). Landscaping/screening expectations:

In C-1, yards may be reduced but where a side or rear yard abuts a residential district the yard shall be landscaped and maintained; fences/walls required to buffer nonresidential impacts — see § 17.24.040 and § 17.36.010 (, ).
In the C-C district the city adopted a Community Commercial Design Handbook; the handbook contains detailed landscaping and screening guidelines that govern projects in that district and takes precedence where it conflicts with the code (see § 17.22.140 and the development-plan requirements § 17.22.040) (, ). Practical: For a commercial site in downtown or community-commercial areas, expect to meet both § 17.36.010 and handbook-design standards; submit a development plan showing planting, walls, and screening per § 17.44.010 (, ).

H-C (Highway Commercial) and C-2 (Community Commercial/General commercial) — highway- and corridor-oriented commercial

Purpose & typical uses: roadside and highway-facing commercial, larger lot retail/service uses (see Chapter 17.28 and Chapter 17.26). Landscaping/screening expectations:

Front yards in H-C must be landscaped and maintained; no parking in front yard is allowed; buffer requirements apply where H-C abuts residential (see § 17.28.040 / § 17.28.050 and § 17.36.010) (, ).
Commercial districts commonly require buffering (wall/landscaping) between commercial and residential properties; the director determines the type/amount of buffering during site-plan review (see § 17.26.040(H) and § 17.36.010) (, ). Practical: Expect the director to require either a masonry wall + exterior planting or equivalent screening to mitigate light/noise/glare where adjacent to residences.

BP (Business Park) and M (General Industrial) — industrial/business parks

Purpose & typical uses: BP for light-industrial/office campus with enhanced landscaping; M for broader industrial uses (see § 17.30.020 and related industrial chapter). Landscaping/screening specifics:

Maximum fence heights and front-yard standards are modified by district rules; industrial chapter sets additional property development rules for fences, walls, screening of mechanical equipment, and outdoor storage (see § 17.30.060(A–E) for fence heights, interior setbacks and screening) .
In BP and M districts, when a side yard abuts a residential district, landscaped setbacks are required (BP: 15 ft minimum adjacent to residential — sometimes 25 ft in M) and outdoor storage visible from a public right-of-way must be enclosed by a minimum 6‑ft masonry wall with landscaping on the exterior (see § 17.30.060 A.2–3, D and district standards) .
Mechanical equipment must be screened on all sides from view from rights-of-way or public use areas; wind turbines and some remote M-district equipment are excluded in limited circumstances (see § 17.30.060 C.1 . Practical: Industrial proposals will typically require a detailed screening and planting plan, masonry walls where storage faces streets, and demonstration that mechanical equipment is fully screened.

Quick reference table — decision-relevant standards

Requirement	Typical rule / value	Code reference
Fence / wall general rules (materials, sight distance)	Materials allowed; maintenance; sight-distance controls; site-plan exceptions for height	§ 17.36.010
Max fence height (general)	Up to 8 ft (except front/street-side yards where lower limits apply per district)	§ 17.30.060 A.1 and § 17.36.010
Fencing adjacent to residential or outdoor storage visible to street	6‑ft masonry wall with exterior landscaping (for outdoor storage); director may approve alternatives	§ 17.30.060 A.3, D
Screening of mechanical equipment	Required on all sides from ROW/public use areas	§ 17.30.060 C.1
Parking-lot landscaping / off-street parking	Landscaping requirements for parking areas; see Table 17.36.020	§ 17.36.020
Landscape design for C-C district	Community Commercial Design Handbook adopted as policy; handbook governs landscaping & screening where conflict exists	§ 17.22.140
Site plan contents (what to submit)	Site plan must show walls/fences, landscaping location/type, parking, lighting, etc.	§ 17.44.010

Practical guidance and interpretation

Whenever a project triggers site plan review, the city expects a complete landscape and screening plan: show planting types, irrigation, wall/fence materials, and how mechanical equipment and outdoor storage will be hidden from public view; this is required by § 17.44.010 .
The code frequently vests discretion in the director or the planning commission to specify what buffering is necessary between commercial/industrial uses and residences; expect site-specific conditions and possible mitigation (see, e.g., § 17.26.040(H), § 17.28.040(H), § 17.30.060(A–D)) (, , ).
Commercial projects within the C-C district must follow the Community Commercial Design Handbook for details on walls, plant palettes, and screening; where the handbook conflicts with the code the handbook controls (§ 17.22.140) .
For projects that include or affect on-site parking, coordinate landscaping plans with the Soledad Parking rules and the city's parking chapter § 17.36.020 .

Checklist (what an applicant must provide / satisfy)

Completed site plan showing location and type of landscaping, plant species or palette, and irrigation plan per § 17.44.010 .
Fences/walls plan with materials, heights, and sight-distance demonstration; confirm materials comply with § 17.36.010 .
Screening strategy for mechanical equipment (enclosures, plantings, or walls) referenced to § 17.30.060 C.1 if in industrial/district contexts .
Outdoor storage plan showing full enclosure by 6‑ft masonry wall + exterior landscaping where visible from public rights-of-way (or approved alternative) per § 17.30.060 D .
Parking-lot landscaping plan conforming to § 17.36.020 and any district-specific lot landscape setbacks .
If in C-C, include the Community Commercial Design Handbook checklist and show how landscape/screening requirements are met (§ 17.22.140) .
Demonstrate buffers/setbacks where commercial/industrial uses abut residential — the director will set specifics at site plan review (see district chapters and § 17.36.010) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Director/Commission discretion on buffer type/amount	Code gives the director/commission authority to determine buffering for many commercial/industrial edges (subjective decisions increase project uncertainty)	Verify which authority (director vs commission) will decide and request clear written conditions; check district-specific clauses (e.g., § 17.26.040(H), § 17.28.040(H))
Conflicts between Design Handbook and code in C-C	Handbook language can override zoning text for design and landscaping; applicant must follow handbook where it conflicts (possible surprises at approval)	Confirm which handbook version is in effect and request handbook checklist from planning staff (§ 17.22.140)
Exact planting/species acceptability	The code requires landscaping but does not list an exhaustive plant palette citywide	Ask the director or design-review authority for accepted plant lists or reference the Community Commercial Design Handbook; verify water/irrigation standards at review (§ 17.44.010)
Outdoor storage visible to ROW — masonry requirement	Code requires masonry wall + exterior landscaping for visible storage; alternatives are allowed only by director/commission	Verify whether the director will accept chain link + screening for your site under § 17.30.060 D
Fire-safety / clearance near fences/trees	Code requires maintenance and sight-line; wildland-urban-interface or fire rules may add non-landscaping clearance requirements	Verify with Fire Authority and see building-code/WUI guidance (Not found in retrieved materials for WUI specifics; verify with jurisdiction)

Plain-English Summary

Soledad requires you to show and maintain landscaped yards, place and design fences to meet sight-line and material rules, and screen mechanical equipment and outdoor storage so they are not visible from streets or public spaces. The exact buffer type (wall vs plantings) and planting amount are often set during site plan or design review, and the city frequently requires masonry walls and exterior planting where industrial or storage areas face public rights-of-way. Verify district specifics with planning staff before finalizing plans (see § 17.36.010, § 17.44.010, and industrial rules § 17.30.060) .

Source References

Soledad Zoning Code, 17.36.010 - Fences, hedges and walls, (see rules on permitted materials, sight distance, maintenance and alley exceptions) — § 17.36.010
Soledad Zoning Code, 17.36.020 - Off‑street parking (parking landscaping and table reference) — § 17.36.020
Soledad Zoning Code, 17.44.010 - Site plan (contents and review) (requires location/type of landscaping on site plans) — § 17.44.010
Chapter 17.30 (Industrial), 17.30.060 - Additional property development regulations (fences, screening of mechanical equipment, outdoor storage and heights) — § 17.30.060
Community Commercial / C‑C district design rules, § 17.22.140 (Community Commercial Design Handbook governs landscaping and screening) — § 17.22.140
C-1 Retail Central Business District property development rules (yards, landscape and fence rules) — § 17.24.040
H‑C district landscaping/fence buffer requirements and front-yard landscaping rules — § 17.28.040 / § 17.28.050
Additional district property standards citing fence/landscape requirements: R-1/R-1.5/R-2/R-3 chapters and site-plan sections referenced above (see § 17.10.050, § 17.11.050, § 17.12.050, § 17.14.010)

Sources

Retrieved passages

Soledad Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (Section 17.36.010) High relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (Section 17.36.010) High relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (section applies.) Medium relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (Section 17.38.040) Medium relevance
CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) Medium relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (Section 17.36.010) Medium relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (Section 17.36.010.) Medium relevance
Soledad Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Soledad code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to show landscaping on my site plan in Soledad?

Yes. When site plan review is required the plan must include the location and type of landscaping; the city lists that requirement in § 17.44.010 and will review landscaping along with fences, lighting and parking during approval .

What fence heights are allowed in Soledad?

The code allows fences/walls up to 8 ft in many locations but front or street-side yard heights are lower and subject to sight-distance rules; the general fence materials and sight-distance rules are in § 17.36.010, and the industrial chapter clarifies maximums and exceptions in § 17.30.060 .

Does Soledad require masonry walls for outdoor storage?

Yes — where outdoor storage would be visible from a public right-of-way or public use area the code requires full enclosure with a minimum six‑foot masonry wall and landscaping on the exterior side, unless an alternative is approved by the director or commission (§ 17.30.060 D) .

How should I screen mechanical equipment or transformers?

Mechanical equipment must be screened on all sides from view from rights-of-way or public use areas; the industrial development standards require screening for compressors, HVAC, transformers, etc., in § 17.30.060 C.1 . Also follow any utility-provider clearances and the site's design handbook if applicable.

If my commercial site borders housing, what buffering is required?

The code requires adequate buffering between commercial/industrial sites and residential uses; the director determines the type/amount during site-plan review and may require walls, landscaping or noise attenuation measures (see § 17.26.040(H), § 17.28.040(H) and § 17.36.010) ( .

Do downtown (C-1 / C-C) projects have different landscaping rules?

Yes. Downtown C-1 and the C-C community commercial district have rules that emphasize pedestrian design; C-C development follows the Community Commercial Design Handbook for landscaping and screening and the handbook prevails where it conflicts with the zoning text (§ 17.22.140) .

Are there exceptions to the fence/material prohibitions (e.g., barbed wire)?

Barbed wire and certain metal sidings are generally prohibited as fence materials, but the planning director can grant architectural approval under circumstances and with adjoining owner approval; see § 17.36.010 for the prohibition and exception mechanism .

Will parking-lot landscaping rules apply to my project?

If your project includes off-street parking the landscaping rules in § 17.36.020 apply; parking areas must meet the code’s landscaping and screening expectations and are reviewed during site-plan approval .

Who decides buffer type/height if code is not prescriptive?

The code frequently gives the director or planning commission discretion (depending on the district and the level of review); verify at intake whether your project will be director-level or commission-level review and ask for written conditions (see multiple district provisions and § 17.44.010) .

Do I need a separate design review for landscaping?

Landscaping is a standard element of site plan and development-plan review; in some districts (e.g., C-C) special design-review processes or handbooks apply. Check the Soledad Design Review page and the site plan rules § 17.44.010 to confirm requirements .

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