Local zoning · Stanton

Stanton — Landscaping and Screening

Q: Are there special landscape buffers for Beach Boulevard and Katella Avenue?

Yes — Table 3‑4 in § 20.315.040.B requires a 10‑ft landscaped street‑side buffer for frontages on Beach Boulevard and Katella Avenue (other arterials/collectors have 5 ft ).

Landscaping and Screening under the Stanton 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 Stanton's Zoning Code requires for landscaping, screening, buffers, and fences/walls. The rules that control planting, minimum landscape areas, screening between uses, mechanical-equipment screening, fence heights and materials, irrigation and drought‑tolerance are found mainly in § 20.315.040, § 20.315.050, § 20.305.080, and Chapter 20.310 (Fences, Walls and Hedges). See the City's zoning context at the Stanton planning landing page and the Stanton Zoning menu for zone maps and related rules.

Important internal links for related reviews and standards you’ll likely need when you design landscapes or walls: read how landscaping interacts with Stanton Development Standards, Stanton Parking rules for parking-lot planting, Stanton Design Review for projects that require review, Stanton Overlay Districts for special mixed‑use standards, and the ADU rules at Stanton ADUs. If you must check building-code issues (clearances above a fence, decking next to planting, or rooftop equipment screens) consult the California Building Standards Code.

What the Stanton Zoning Code requires — quick synthesis

Screening between dissimilar zones (for example nonresidential next to residential) must use a combination of plant materials and a solid decorative wall (installed per the Fences/Walls Chapter) with a minimum 5‑foot landscape strip next to the wall, unless the Director approves an alternative — § 20.305.080.
Minimum landscaped areas and buffer widths for multi‑family and nonresidential projects are set by § 20.315.040 (including Table 3‑4 for landscape buffer widths). All required planting must generally be drought‑tolerant and from the City’s approved plant list (or Director‑approved equivalent).
Parking‑lot landscape rules (minimum planter widths, tree wells, screening between parking and sidewalks/streets) are enforced via the off‑street parking chapter; required planting inside parking areas counts toward overall landscaping minima — see § 20.320.110 and the landscaping chapter § 20.315.040.
Fence and wall rules (measurement, maximum heights, permitted materials, prohibitions such as barbed wire except under limited IG conditions, and permit/review steps) are in Chapter 20.310; fence height measurements and combined wall/retaining‑wall maxima are in § 20.310.040 and material rules are in § 20.310.050.
Irrigation, water‑efficient standards, and thresholds for when a full MWELO‑equivalent irrigation plan is required are in § 20.315.050 (e.g., new landscapes ≥ 500 sq ft and rehabilitated landscapes ≥ 2,500 sq ft are specifically called out).

District-by-district breakdown (where landscaping & screening matter)

Note: Stanton zones and development standards appear throughout Article 2 and Article 3 of the Zoning Code; the primary place that ties landscaping requirements to zones is § 20.315.040 (landscape standards) and the zone‑specific development tables (e.g., Table 2‑3 for residential zones).

RE — Residential Estate (RE)

Purpose & typical uses: large‑lot single family residential; emphasis on open space and tree canopy.
Landscaping focus: residential projects must meet the landscaping/paving standards called out for residential zones; replacement of removed trees is required in some development contexts (see plant replacement rules). § 20.315.040 applies.
Dimensional/key standards: consult Table 2‑3 for setbacks and lot sizes; landscaping minima are enforced by § 20.315.040 and front/setback paving rules in § 20.320.080.C.

RL — Low Density Single‑Family (RL)

Purpose & typical uses: standard single‑family neighborhoods. Landscaping and front yard planting are required; street trees and tree spacing guidance are part of frontage standards. § 20.315.040 governs required materials and drought tolerance.

RM — Medium Density Residential (RM)

Purpose & typical uses: multi‑unit housing up to the RM density. Multi‑family projects and nonresidential land uses must provide minimum landscaped area based on impervious coverage (see § 20.315.040.A.1). Screening of trash and service areas by six‑foot masonry walls and landscaping is required for multi‑family developments.

RH — High Density Residential (RH)

Purpose & typical uses: higher density multi‑family. Additional setbacks where RH abuts lower density zones are specified in Article 4; storage/trash screening, window offsets and privacy measures are required (see § 20.420.060 for multi‑family architectural and screening requirements).

CN & CG — Commercial Neighborhood & Commercial General

Purpose & typical uses: retail and service uses. Nonresidential developments that abut residential zones must provide screening at shared lot lines (planting + decorative wall) and appropriate landscape buffers per Table 3‑4 in § 20.315.040. Fuel/service stations and car washes have use‑specific landscape and screening rules (see service‑station standards).

BP — Business Park and IG — General Industrial

Purpose & typical uses: office parks (BP) are intended to have campus landscaping and screened service areas; IG permits light industrial uses and may allow security measures (barbed wire) under narrow conditions. Chain‑link is limited and must be screened when visible from public rights‑of‑way — see Chapter 20.310.

Mixed‑Use Overlay Zones (e.g., GLMX, SGMX)

Purpose & typical uses: overlay zones encourage pedestrian‑oriented mixed uses. Landscaping requirements for open space and plazas reference Chapter 20.315 for plant materials and maintenance; minimum plaza/open‑space landscaping is required and must be visible/accessible. See the Mixed‑Use chapter and § 20.315.040.

Key decision‑relevant standards (table)

Topic	Key standard / requirement	Code reference
Required screening where nonresidential abuts residential	Planting + solid decorative wall; min. 5 ft landscape strip adjacent to screening wall (Director may waive in some cases)	§ 20.305.080
Minimum landscaped area (multi‑family / nonresidential)	Landscaped area = remainder of lot after impervious limits (see Table 2‑3 example); landscaping must meet chapter standards	§ 20.315.040.A
Landscape buffer widths (nonresidential zones)	Street side: 10 ft (Beach Blvd/Katella) or 5 ft other arterials; side/rear abutting residential = 5 ft	Table 3‑4 (§ 20.315.040.B)
Turf / artificial turf limits	Live turf ≤ 25% of landscape area (may be up to 50% with justification); artificial turf allowed per Table 3‑5 with separation details	§ 20.315.040.H–I
Plant size & screening for dwelling separation	Evergreen screening plants: 15‑gallon per 5 ft of wall (or 24” box per 10 ft); 6 ft tall at installation or a solid 6 ft fence alternative	Two‑unit / dwelling screening text (see code excerpts)
Fence height measurement / combined wall + retaining	Height measured from highest finished grade adjacent to either side; combined fence + retaining wall may be allowed up to 10 ft total in slope cases (solid fence limit 6 ft)	§ 20.310.040
Barbed/razor wire	Prohibited except in IG and subject to Director approval and location restrictions	§ 20.310.050
Irrigation / MWELO thresholds	New landscapes ≥ 500 sq ft require compliant irrigation plans; larger rehabilitations ≥ 2,500 sq ft have additional requirements	§ 20.315.050

Practical guidance and interpretation (plain English, Stanton‑specific)

If your property is in any Stanton zone that is developing or changing use, expect to show a landscape plan that follows § 20.315.040 (plant palette, tree/shrub sizing, groundcover, irrigation) and to install drought‑tolerant plantings from the City’s approved list; projects above the irrigation thresholds must follow § 20.315.050 irrigation/water‑conservation rules.
When a nonresidential lot touches a residential zone, prepare to build a decorative masonry wall and a planting strip next to it — the default is a planted buffer + wall with a minimum 5‑foot landscape strip; the Community Development Director can approve alternative screening if it meets the same intent. Do not assume you can substitute a short fence; the code explicitly requires plant materials plus a decorative wall unless waived. § 20.305.080 governs.
For fences on sloping ground, the code measures height from the higher adjacent grade; you cannot stack a tall retaining wall and then claim extra fence height without hitting the combined maximums (see § 20.310.040). If you want a privacy screen above a front yard retaining wall, note the open‑work and pilaster rules apply.
Mechanical equipment (ground‑ or roof‑mounted) must be screened from public view and adjacent residential zones; expect to submit a mechanical equipment plan for Director approval showing permanent screening that is as high as the equipment when visible. § 20.305.080(B).
Projects with required parking will need the parking‑lot planting details in your landscape plan (tree wells, planter widths, turf limits); parking‑lot landscapes count toward overall landscape requirements per § 20.315.040.A.2. Link your site design to the Stanton Parking standards early.

Checklist — what an applicant must provide (preparing for submittal)

A fully‑dimensioned landscape and irrigation plan that includes planting list, sizes, spacing, irrigation details and hardscape/ART turf specs (see § 20.315.040.C).
Proof that required landscaped area meets the code minima (compute impervious coverage and landscaped remainder per § 20.315.040.A).
Screening plan for any mechanical equipment visible from right‑of‑way or adjacent residential property, with elevations and screening heights (§ 20.305.080.B).
Fence/wall elevations and height calculations (show how height is measured from adjacent grade; show combined retaining wall + fence height where applicable) — Chapter 20.310 rules apply.
If landscape area ≥ 500 sq ft (new) or rehab ≥ 2,500 sq ft, include irrigation design meeting § 20.315.050 (MWELO‑equivalent) and water‑conservation notes.
Plant material schedule showing species from the City’s approved plant list or Director‑approved equivalents and showing required sizes (e.g., 15‑gallon, 24" box, 36" box for replacement trees where applicable).
Landscape certificate (signed) upon installation and any required surety (bond or equivalent) if the Director requires it for a two‑year maintenance period (§ 20.315.040.D–F).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
City’s “approved plant list” details	Code requires plants from the City list but full list text/location is not in the provided excerpts	Verify the current Stanton approved plant list with the Planning Department (Not found in retrieved materials).
Exact fence height where retaining wall exists	Height measurement rules are strict and depend on up‑slope vs down‑slope calculations	Measure slopes, show section drawings, and refer to § 20.310.040 for combined limits.
Director waivers for screening/wall/landscape strip	The Director may waive or approve substitutes — discretionary outcomes vary case-by-case	If you plan an alternative, ask for a pre‑application meeting and confirm criteria under § 20.305.080.A.5.
Tree removal / replacement cost schedule	Replacement tree sizes and the option to pay a fee are referenced, but the fee schedule is external	Confirm the City’s tree‑replacement cost schedule and arborist submittal standards (Not found in retrieved materials).
Artificial turf performance specifics	The code gives performance items (warranty, drainage) but the Director can add requirements	Submit manufacturer docs and be prepared for Director‑level conditions per § 20.315.040.I.

Plain‑English summary (homeowner)

If you’re planting or building a fence in Stanton, you must follow the City’s landscaping chapter: use drought‑tolerant plants from the City’s list, meet minimum planting areas and buffers, screen mechanicals and trash enclosures, and follow the fence‑height and material rules. Expect to include a landscape and irrigation plan with your permit application, and to build a decorative wall plus planting where a nonresidential site touches a residential zone. Key rules live in § 20.315.040, § 20.315.050, § 20.305.080, and Chapter 20.310.

Information Gaps

The exact current text of the City’s approved plant material list is not included in the retrieved files (Not found in retrieved materials).
The City’s tree‑replacement cost schedule referenced in the tree‑removal/replacement rules is not present in the provided excerpts (Not found in retrieved materials).
Any adopted city policy documents or specific plans (e.g., Livable Beach Boulevard Mobility Plan) that create local plant palettes or design palettes may impose additional planting or screening details beyond the code text; those documents were mentioned but the full text is not included here (Verify with the jurisdiction).

Source References

Stanton Zoning Code, § 20.315.040 (Landscape Standards) — landscaping area, buffers, plant materials, turf & artificial turf rules.
Stanton Zoning Code, § 20.315.050 (Irrigation Plans and Water Conservation Standards) — MWELO thresholds and irrigation plan triggers.
Stanton Zoning Code, § 20.305.080 (Screening and Buffering) — required screening between zones and mechanical equipment screening.
Stanton Zoning Code, Chapter 20.310 and § 20.310.040 / § 20.310.050 (Fences, Walls, Hedges; height measurement; materials/prohibitions).
Stanton Zoning Code, Table 2‑3 and related development standard references (residential zone standards, landscape cross‑references).
Stanton Zoning Code, § 20.420.060 (Architectural design and screening for multi‑family projects — storage/trash screening).
Stanton Zoning Code, service‑station and personal‑storage facility standards requiring setback landscaping and 6‑ft screening walls — Article 4 use standards (e.g., service station & personal storage sections).

Sources

Retrieved passages

CFC § 150 (section is) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (§ 20.305.080.) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (§ 20.305.110.) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (§ 20.400.260.) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (§ 20.305.080.) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (§ 20.400.270.) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (Article 4) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (§ 20.315.040.) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (Chapter and) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (Chapter 20.220.) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (Section can) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (section must) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (section unless) High relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (§ 20.400.360.) Medium relevance
Stanton Zoning Code Medium relevance
Stanton Zoning Code (§ 20.440.070.) Medium relevance
CPC § 1.04.080 (Section 1.04.080) Medium relevance
Stanton Zoning Code Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Stanton code library

Frequently asked questions

Do nonresidential sites that touch residential property always need a wall in Stanton?

Yes — when a nonresidential land use is proposed adjacent to a residential zone the default requirement is a combined screen of plant materials plus a solid decorative wall at the common lot line and a minimum 5‑foot landscape strip adjacent to the wall; the Director may approve an alternative if it meets the code intent. § 20.305.080.

What are Stanton’s basic landscape‑plan submittal requirements?

A complete landscape submittal must include a planting plan, planting list with sizes, irrigation plan and details for artificial turf (if used); this content requirement is in § 20.315.040.C and the landscape certificate/installation timing rules are in § 20.315.040.D–E.

How much of my commercial site must be landscaped?

Each multi‑family residential or nonresidential site must provide minimum landscaped areas based on the zone’s impervious surface coverage standard — compute landscaping as the remainder of the lot area after permitted impervious coverage; see § 20.315.040.A.1 and the zone tables (e.g., Table 2‑3).

Can I use artificial turf in Stanton and are there limits?

Yes — artificial turf is allowed in many zones but is subject to performance standards (manufacturer warranty, drainage, separation from living planting beds) and area limits in § 20.315.040.I and Table 3‑5; live planting must still account for a minimum percentage of landscape (10% live material for single‑family landscapes with artificial turf).

What size plants must I use for screening between dwellings?

For dwelling separation/screening referenced in the two‑unit/dwelling rules, the code requires at least one 15‑gallon plant per 5 linear feet of exterior wall (or one 24‑inch box per 10 linear feet), with specimens at least 6 ft tall at installation — or a solid 6‑ft fence as an alternative (see the zoning text excerpts). Verify planting spacing with your landscape architect.

How does Stanton measure fence height on sloping lots?

Fence height is measured from the highest finished grade abutting either side of the fence; for fences on slopes or retaining walls a solid fence of 6 ft may be allowed as measured from the upslope side provided total combined height (fence + retaining wall) does not exceed 10 ft measured from the down‑slope side (§ 20.310.040).

Do I have to screen rooftop HVAC units?

Yes. Roof‑mounted mechanical equipment visible from public rights‑of‑way or adjacent residential zones must be screened (parapets or opaque screen walls as tall as the equipment). The mechanical‑equipment screening rules and Director approval requirements are in § 20.305.080.B.

Are there special landscape buffers for Beach Boulevard and Katella Avenue?

Yes — Table 3‑4 in § 20.315.040.B requires a 10‑ft landscaped street‑side buffer for frontages on Beach Boulevard and Katella Avenue (other arterials/collectors have 5 ft).

If my parking lot is visible from a residential zone, what screening is required?

Parking areas visible from abutting residential zones must be screened by a permanent structure (a 6‑ft view‑obscuring wall/fence or a 10‑ft wide landscaped area with trees/shrubs adequate to obscure headlight glare); see the parking/condominium screening standards and § 20.315.040 for parking‑lot landscape counting.

Can the Community Development Director approve alternatives to code landscaping?

Yes — the Director has explicit authority to waive or approve substitutes to certain screening and buffering requirements if the alternative meets the intent, or if site constraints make the standard infeasible (§ 20.305.080.A.5). Always request a Director pre‑application meeting where possible.

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