Local zoning · St. Helena

St. Helena — Landscaping and Screening

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

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Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

St. Helena’s Title 17 Zoning Code organizes landscaping and screening into citywide standards and district-specific rules that shape how edges, equipment, and open areas are designed and maintained. The code hardwires water-wise planting, buffers between sensitive uses, and objective screening for equipment and service areas, with targeted variations in the CB, MU, BPO, and I districts. Most projects also touch adjacent topics like parking, design review, and base development standards.

In plain English: “screening” means using fences, walls, berms, or densely planted vegetation to hide one use or structure from another or from the street; you must also keep plantings trimmed where visibility is required (e.g., at corners). See definition and measuring rules in § 17.32 and § 17.34.030(D).

Citywide landscaping and screening standards you will almost always use

  • Water-wise baseline. All projects subject to Chapter 17.25 must comply with California’s MWELO; St. Helena codifies this and also sets turf and hardscape caps, bans invasive species, and requires irrigation and ongoing maintenance. Key requirements include: max 25% turf in landscaped areas; pavers/gravel may cover up to 30% of required landscaping; Cal-IPC-listed invasive plants are prohibited; an irrigation system and ongoing maintenance are required. A landscape documentation package is required when Chapter 17.25 applies. See § 17.25.050(A)–(B), (D)–(F).
  • Where landscaping must go. Landscape the front and street-side setbacks (except at driveways), provide buffers on nonresidential edges next to housing, landscape building frontages on public streets, and plant the “panhandle” of flag lots. See § 17.25.040(A)–(E).
  • Parking lot landscaping. Provide trees at ratios tied to parking count/acreage; include right-of-way edge planters; curb planting areas; ensure minimum planter/well widths and protect them from wheel overhang. See § 17.25.050(C) (including Table 17.25.050(A)).
  • Screening of service areas and equipment. Rooftop equipment is fully screened in the CB, SC, MU, BPO, and I districts; ground-mounted equipment and outdoor storage are screened citywide; screening materials must match building character and be maintained; screening heights are limited by the fence-height rules. See § 17.24.090(A)–(D) and cross-reference to § 17.24.050.
  • Refuse and recycling areas. Not allowed in required setbacks or landscaped areas; must be screened from the right-of-way by landscaping (fences/walls may be used if outside setbacks); enclosures are opaque, durable, drained to sewer, and typically roofed and color-matched to the primary building unless waived in design review. See § 17.24.080(B)–(I).
  • Visibility triangle and measurement. Within visibility triangles, hedges are limited to 42 inches; tree branches must be kept 7.5 feet above grade; fence/wall height is measured from average adjacent grade. See § 17.24.050(B) and § 17.34.030(D).

Quick-reference: citywide triggers and standards

Situation Standard Applies to Code Reference
Front and street-side setbacks Must be landscaped (except at driveways) All districts § 17.25.040(A)
Nonresidential next to housing Plant buffer: 1 tree (15-gal)/20 lf + 3 shrubs/20 lf; width = 6 ft in SC, BPO, I; 4 ft otherwise All nonresidential § 17.25.040(B)
Rooftop mechanicals 100% screened from surrounding properties and the right-of-way CB, SC, MU, BPO, I § 17.24.090(A)(2)
Ground equipment and outdoor storage Screen from streets and sensitive adjacencies; compatible materials; maintain Citywide § 17.24.090(A)(1),(3)–(D)
Parking lot trees Min 15-gal size; ratios per Table 17.25.050(A) Citywide § 17.25.050(C)(2)(b) and Table 17.25.050(A)
Edge planter at parking along street Min 3 ft wide, parallel to ROW Citywide § 17.25.050(C)(2)(c)
Curbing/protection at planters 6-inch curb or equivalent; min 5 ft width for planters/tree wells Citywide § 17.25.050(C)(2)(d)–(e)
Refuse/recycling Screen from ROW with landscaping; keep out of setbacks/landscaped areas Citywide § 17.24.080(B)–(C)
Visibility triangle Hedges ≤ 42 inches; maintain tree clearance at 7.5 ft All districts § 17.24.050(B)

Fences, walls, hedges: heights that control many screens

  • In the LR-1A, LR, MR, HR, PQP, PR, WW, A-20, OS districts:
    • Front/street-side setbacks: max 3.5 ft; outside those setbacks: max 6 ft; limited exceptions for side yards and open-lattice extensions; vehicular gates set back 30 ft from curb (or 20 ft without curbs). See § 17.24.050(A).
    • Within visibility triangles citywide: hedges ≤ 42 inches; trees trimmed to 7.5 ft canopy clearance. See § 17.24.050(B).
  • In the business/industrial districts:
    • BPO: fences max 3 ft in front setback; elsewhere up to 6 ft. See § 17.18.040(C)(4).
    • I: same 3 ft in front; elsewhere up to 8 ft. See § 17.18.040(D)(6).
  • Screening height is capped by these fence heights unless a minor use permit allows more. See § 17.24.090(B).
  • How height is measured: from average adjacent grade to top of fence/wall. See § 17.34.030(D).

District-by-district landscaping and screening

LR-1A, LR, MR, HR (Residential districts)

  • Purpose/uses: Neighborhood residential (low to high density). See St. Helena Zoning for base-use details.
  • Where/how landscaping is required:
    • Landscape the front and street-side setbacks; keep driveway openings clear. See § 17.25.040(A).
    • Flag lots: landscape the panhandle alongside the driveway; fencing in the panhandle must follow the 3.5-ft limit where it lies in a front/side setback. See § 17.24.060(B)(1), (F)–(G).
    • Two-unit projects: plant evergreen screening along interior lot lines—1 fifteen-gallon plant per 5 linear feet of exterior wall (or 1 24-inch box per 10 lf), installed at 6 ft tall; a 6 ft solid fence may be used instead; submit a landscape/irrigation plan. See § 17.31.
  • Screening and fences:
    • Heights: 3.5 ft max in front/side setbacks; 6 ft elsewhere; visibility triangle and measurement rules apply. See § 17.24.050(A)–(B) and § 17.34.030(D).
  • Parking/screening touchpoints: Parking lot screening by 6-ft vegetative or solid fencing applies when 5+ spaces in a rear lot area abut residential districts. See § 17.26.050(C)(15) and Parking.

CB, MU, SC (Commercial and Mixed-Use districts)

  • Purpose/uses: Downtown core retail/restaurant (CB), mixed-use (MU), and service commercial (SC). See St. Helena Land Use.
  • Street-front planting:
    • Buildings at/near the property line on Main Street in CB/MU: no landscaped area required; extend the sidewalk to the building face with matching materials. See § 17.25.050(C)(1)(a); this exemption ties to the Historic Preservation Overlay context on Main Street.
    • Otherwise, provide planters along at least 20% of the street-facing building face (min planter width 3 ft) unless on Main Street within the Historic Preservation Overlay or on lot lines. See § 17.25.040(C) and Historic Preservation.
  • Equipment and service area screening:
    • Rooftop equipment must be fully screened in CB, SC, MU. See § 17.24.090(A)(2).
    • Refuse/recycling areas must be screened and kept out of landscaped areas/setbacks. See § 17.24.080(B)–(C).
    • Small recycling centers (if allowed) must be screened by landscaping and planned per Chapter 17.25. See § 17.22 (Recycling facilities).
  • Parking lot planting: Edge planters (3 ft min), tree ratios per Table 17.25.050(A), curbing, and planter/well widths (5 ft min). See § 17.25.050(C).
  • Fences: Citywide fence-height rules for these commercial districts are not specified in § 17.24.050. Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

BPO (Business Professional Office)

  • Purpose/uses: Office-focused areas with business/professional uses; see St. Helena Zoning.
  • Minimum landscaped area and buffers:
    • Landscape at least 15% of the lot; provide a 15-ft landscaped buffer with street trees 30 ft o.c. when abutting agricultural/residential uses. See Table 17.18.030(B) in § 17.18.030(B).
  • Street-front improvements: Where setbacks exist, improve with planters/low walls/vines, etc., to separate pedestrians from parking. See § 17.18.040(C)(3).
  • Screening/fencing:
    • Rooftop equipment fully screened. See § 17.24.090(A)(2).
    • Front fences max 3 ft; elsewhere 6 ft. See § 17.18.040(C)(4).

I (Industrial)

  • Purpose/uses: Light/heavy industrial; see St. Helena Land Use.
  • Minimum landscaped area and buffers:
    • Landscape at least 10% of the lot; provide a 25-ft landscaped buffer with street trees 30 ft o.c. along all street frontages. See § 17.18.030(B) and § 17.18.040(D)(5).
  • Required screening at edges:
    • Abutting residential: 8-ft opaque, landscaped, soundproofed wall. Abutting other nonindustrial: 8-ft opaque landscaped fence or wall. See § 17.18.040(D)(4).
  • Equipment/service areas:
    • Rooftop equipment fully screened. See § 17.24.090(A)(2).
    • Fencing: 3 ft max in front; 8 ft elsewhere. See § 17.18.040(D)(6).

A-20, W, WW (Community Agriculture and Natural Resource)

  • Purpose/uses: Agriculture (A-20), waterways (W) and water-related/wellhead protection (WW).
  • Key standards touching landscaping/screening:
    • Fence/hedge limits: 3.5 ft in front/side setbacks; 6 ft elsewhere (districts listed include A-20 and WW). See § 17.24.050(A).
    • Hardscape caps/setbacks near waterways that affect planting envelopes; see § 17.19.030(B).
    • Citywide equipment and refuse screening rules apply. See § 17.24.080–.090.

PQP, PR, OS (Public and Open Space)

  • Purpose/uses: Public/quasi-public (PQP), parks/recreation (PR), open space (OS).
  • Landscaping/screening touchpoints:
    • Fence/hedge limits: 3.5 ft in front/side setbacks; 6 ft elsewhere (districts listed include PQP, PR, OS). See § 17.24.050(A).
    • Opaque trash enclosures required unless waived; citywide screening applies. See § 17.20.040(B) and § 17.24.080.

Overlay districts that modify landscaping/screening

  • HP (Historic Preservation Overlay). Buildings facing Main Street within HP are exempt from the building-perimeter planter rule and instead extend sidewalk paving to the facade. See § 17.25.040(C) and St. Helena Historic Preservation.
  • PD (Planned Development Overlay). A PD can set project-specific landscaping and screening standards that supersede base-zone rules if adopted as part of the PD. See § 17.21.050(B)(3) and Overlay Districts.
  • MHP (Mobile Home Park Overlay). Requires perimeter screening “at street side setback lines and along all other property lines,” and requires landscaped, irrigated, and maintained setbacks per Chapter 17.25. See § 17.21.020(E)(2), (E)(4).

Parking-related landscaping and screening (high-impact, commonly missed)

  • Tree quantity/size and planter/curb specs are objective and checked at design review; see § 17.25.050(C).
  • Where a parking lot in the rear abuts a residential zone and has more than five spaces, add a 6-ft vegetative screen or solid fence/wall. See § 17.26.050(C)(15).

Screens for equipment, storage, and refuse

  • Equipment: rooftop units are fully screened in CB/SC/MU/BPO/I; all ground-mounted equipment and outdoor storage are screened citywide; screening materials should match the primary building and be maintained; screening is limited by the fence height allowed in your district. See § 17.24.090(A)–(D).
  • Refuse/recycling: keep out of required setbacks and landscaped areas; screen from the right-of-way with landscaping or appurtenant fences/walls (located outside setbacks); enclosures are opaque, durable, sized for service, elevated for drainage, and roofed/finished to match the building unless waived in design review. See § 17.24.080(B)–(I).

Plants, irrigation, and documentation

  • Allowed plant palette and layout: distribute shade trees in regular spacing; edible gardens count toward required landscaping; remove invasive species; limit turf to 25% of landscaped area; gravel/pavers up to 30% of required landscaping area. See § 17.25.050(B)(1)–(7).
  • Irrigation and maintenance: provide an approved irrigation system and maintain landscapes in “good growing condition.” See § 17.25.050(D)–(E).
  • Submittals: when Chapter 17.25 applies, submit a MWELO-compliant landscape documentation package; changes require re-approval. See § 17.25.050(F)–(G).

Checklist

  • Confirm your base district and any overlays on the parcel (HP, PD, MHP) via St. Helena Zoning and Overlay Districts.
  • Place landscaping where required: setbacks, nonresidential edges next to housing, building perimeters on public streets (watch HP/Main Street exemption), and flag-lot panhandles. Cite § 17.25.040.
  • Meet MWELO and St. Helena’s planting/irrigation limits (turf %, invasive species, irrigation, maintenance). Cite § 17.25.050(A)–(E).
  • Provide parking lot trees/planters/curbing, and residential-edge screening where required. Cite § 17.25.050(C) and § 17.26.050(C)(15).
  • Screen rooftop and ground equipment; keep screening heights within fence limits for your district. Cite § 17.24.090 and § 17.24.050.
  • Design and screen refuse/recycling areas per § 17.24.080.
  • For BPO/I, meet minimum landscaped area and required buffers; for I, include the 25-ft street buffer. Cite § 17.18.030(B) and § 17.18.040(D)(5).
  • Check visibility triangles and measure fence/wall heights correctly. Cite § 17.24.050(B) and § 17.34.030(D).
  • If proposing taller screening, confirm whether a minor use permit is needed. Cite § 17.24.090(B) and Variances and Exceptions.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Fence heights in CB/MU/SC § 17.24.050(A) lists residential/PQP/PR/WW/A-20/OS only; commercial districts may rely on district design standards or conditions Not found in retrieved materials; confirm with Planning which height limits apply in your specific commercial zone
HP/Main Street planter exemption On Main Street within HP, building-perimeter landscaping is replaced by sidewalk extension Confirm parcel’s HP status and frontage before designing frontage improvements (§ 17.25.040(C))
Screening taller than fence caps Screens cannot exceed fence height without approval Whether a minor use permit can authorize greater height for your case (§ 17.24.090(B))
Parking lot tree counts Tree ratios vary by stall count vs. per-acre canopy Apply the correct row from Table 17.25.050(A) and species canopy assumptions (§ 17.25.050(C)(2)(b))
Industrial edge treatments I-district requires 8-ft soundproofed walls next to housing and 25-ft street buffers Confirm exact edge conditions and apply § 17.18.040(D)(4)–(6) and (D)(5)
Two-unit residential screening Evergreen screening or 6-ft fence required along interior lot lines Confirm your project qualifies under Chapter 17.31 and meet the objective standards (§ 17.31)

Plain-English Summary

In St. Helena, expect to landscape your street-facing setbacks, plant buffers where businesses touch homes, add trees and planters to parking lots, and fully hide rooftop units in commercial/industrial areas. Screens can’t be taller than the fence heights allowed in your district, and your plant palette must be water-wise and non-invasive; your refuse area needs an opaque, well-drained enclosure that’s screened from the street.

Source References

  • § 17.24.050 Fences, walls, and hedges (heights; visibility triangle)
  • § 17.24.080 Refuse and recycling areas (location, screening, design)
  • § 17.24.090 Screening (equipment, outdoor storage; materials; maintenance; height cap)
  • § 17.24.100 On-site storage (ties screening height to storage stack height)
  • Chapter 17.25 Landscaping: § 17.25.040 (where to landscape); § 17.25.050 (MWELO; plants; parking lot trees/planters; irrigation; maintenance; documentation)
  • § 17.26.050(C)(15) Parking lot screening abutting residential
  • § 17.18.030(B) and § 17.18.040 (BPO/I standards: % landscaped area; buffers; required I fencing/walls; street buffers)
  • § 17.21.020 Mobile Home Park Overlay (perimeter screening; landscaped setbacks)
  • § 17.21.050 Planned Development Overlay (custom landscaping/screening standards may supersede)
  • § 17.34.030(D) Measuring fence/wall height; § 17.32 (definitions, including “screening”)
  • § 17.31 Two-Unit Projects (evergreen screening along interior lot lines; landscape plan)

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • St. Helena Zoning Code (Section 17.24.050) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
  • CBC § 5 (§ 5) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (Chapter 17.05) High relevance
  • CBC § 5 (Section 17.24.050) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (§ 5) High relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance
  • CBC § 5 (Title 17) Medium relevance
  • CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) Medium relevance
  • St. Helena Zoning Code (Chapter 17.25) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to landscape my front yard or side yard along the street?

Yes. All required front and street-facing side setbacks must be landscaped, except for driveways and walkways used for entry/exit. This applies citywide under § 17.25.040(A).

What screening is required for rooftop equipment in St. Helena?

In the CB, SC, MU, BPO, and I districts, rooftop mechanical and electrical equipment must be completely screened from surrounding properties and the public right-of-way, with materials compatible with the building. See § 17.24.090(A)(2), (C).

How tall can my fence or vegetative screen be in a residential district?

In LR-1A, LR, MR, HR (and PQP, PR, WW, A-20, OS), the maximum is 3.5 ft in front/side setbacks and 6 ft elsewhere (with limited exceptions). Corner visibility also limits hedge height to 42 inches and requires tree limb clearance to 7.5 ft. See § 17.24.050(A)–(B).

I’m building a small office (BPO). What landscaping is required?

Provide at least 15% of the lot as landscaped area and a 15-ft landscaped buffer with street trees at 30 ft on center where abutting agricultural or residential uses. Street-facing setbacks, if present, should be improved with planters or similar features. See § 17.18.030(B) and § 17.18.040(C).

What parking lot landscaping and screening rules apply?

Trees must meet size/quantity ratios in Table 17.25.050(A), and you must provide edge planters, curbing, and minimum planter/well widths. Where a rear parking lot with more than five spaces abuts residential zoning, provide a 6-ft vegetative screen or solid wall/fence. See § 17.25.050(C) and § 17.26.050(C)(15).

How are refuse and recycling areas treated?

Keep refuse/recycling outside required setbacks and landscaped areas, and screen them from the public right-of-way with landscaping (fences/walls may be used outside setbacks). Enclosures must be opaque, durable, drained to sewer, and typically roofed and matched to building materials. See § 17.24.080(B)–(I).

What extra screening/landscaping is required in the Industrial (I) district?

Along all street frontages, provide a 25-ft landscaped buffer with street trees. Where abutting residential zoning, install an 8-ft opaque, landscaped, soundproofed wall; adjacent to nonindustrial/nonresidential zoning, use an 8-ft opaque landscaped fence or wall. See § 17.18.040(D)(4)–(5).

Do two-unit residential (SB 9) projects have special landscape screening?

Yes. Evergreen landscape screening along interior lot lines is required (or a 6-ft solid fence in lieu), and a complete landscape/irrigation plan is required before building permits. See § 17.31.

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