Suisun City — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Suisun City zoning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening (including buffers, fences/walls, trees, and parking-lot landscaping). It is specific to Suisun City Municipal Code zoning chapters (Title 18 — zoning chapters and tables) and points you to the exact controlling code sections so you can verify parcel‑specific issues with the city. Where the code delegates requirements (for example, water‑efficient landscaping), the controlling pointer is shown so you can follow up with the referenced chapter.

Note: For building-code matters (fire separation, structural work or other Title 24 requirements) see the California Building Standards Code; this page only treats zoning landscaping and screening rules. Suisun City Zoning & planning overview

Key citywide rules (quick synthesis)

• Residential front yards: hardscape (including driveways/walkways) in the front yard may not exceed 60% of the front yard; remaining visible front yard must be landscaped (§ 18.36.070(C)(1)(a)–(b)) .
• Side/rear yards visible from public spaces: combined visible rear + side yard hardscape is limited to 60%; remaining visible areas must be landscaped (§ 18.36.070(C)(2)(a)–(b)) .
• Tree and hedge maintenance: minimum clearances are 7 ft over walkways and 10 ft over roadways; hedges trimmed to back edge of walkway (§ 18.36.070(C)(1)(c), (2)(c)) .
• New residential developments: one tree required per residential property for new development; plantings must follow the approved landscape plan (§ 18.36.070(C)(1)(g)) .
• Fences/walls: general residential side & rear fences behind the front setback may not exceed 6 ft; front-yard fence height caps are lower (example: 3 ft in RL/RM front yards) — see the fence height table and Chapter 18.34 (§§ 18.34.010, 18.34.050) .
• Chain‑link fences: generally not permitted in residential front/side/rear yards; limited exceptions allow chain‑link on vacant commercial parcels and specific plan waterfront parcels with conditions (§ 18.34.050(D)–(F)) .
• Parking-lot landscaping and screening: unenclosed parking areas must be screened when visible from public streets or more‑restrictive adjacent uses; minimum 10% of the total parking area must be landscaped, planters every other row, perimeter landscaped strip 5 ft wide (unless waived) and trees are minimum 15‑gallon size (§ 18.42.050(I)–(J)) .
• Soundwalls: discouraged; where required they must be masonry or similar and include breaks and decorative/landscape treatments (§ 18.34.060) .
• Water‑efficient landscaping: the zoning tables reference water‑efficient landscaping rules administered under Title 20 (follow Title 20 for irrigation, plant lists, and submittal requirements) (see development standards tables pointing to Title 20) .

For parking-specific design and plant‑use details, consult the city’s parking rules and the parking chapter here: Suisun City Parking. For the numeric development standards (setbacks, lot coverage, heights) referenced by screening/fence rules, see Suisun City Development Standards. For review processes that affect front-yard driveways and some screening decisions, see Suisun City Design Review. If an area is inside a special overlay or waterfront plan, consult Suisun City Overlay Districts. For ADU siting relationships to yards and fencing, see Suisun City ADUs. For any construction that triggers building-code separations or materials, consult the California Building Standards Code.

District-by-district breakdown (where the ordinance ties landscaping/screening to districts)

Note: the Suisun City Zoning District list is established in the code (Table 18.06.01). The zoning districts and the code use district‑specific development standards tables that reference fences/walls and water‑efficient landscaping. Where district tables point to Chapter 18.34 or Title 20, the controlling landscaping/screening rules are the chapters cited below. See the municipal code Table 18.06.01 for the district list and the individual development tables referenced in each subsection.

RL (Low‑Density Residential)

• Purpose & typical uses: single-family homes and accessory uses (listed in the underlying land-use tables) — see Table 18.31.01 development standards for RL.
• Landscaping/screening rules that apply here: residential yard restrictions on hardscape 60% front and visible side/rear (§ 18.36.070(C)(1)–(2)) and residential fence height maximum 6 ft behind the front setback (front yard fence caps shown in Table 18.34.01) (§ 18.34.010) .
• Where it applies: all RL lots; design review/encroachment permit required for front‑yard driveway changes (§ 18.36.070(C)(1)(f)) .

RM (Medium‑Density Residential)

• Purpose & typical uses: duplexes, small multi‑unit buildings; development standards point to Table 18.31.01.
• Landscaping/screening: residential yard landscaping and fence rules same as RL (see §§ 18.36.070; 18.34.x). Multi‑family fencing adjacent to publicly accessible areas must be at least 50% open rather than solid (§ 18.34.050(A)) .

RH1 / RH2 (High‑Density Residential 1 & 2)

• Purpose & typical uses: higher density apartments/multi‑family (see Table 18.31.01).
• Landscaping/screening: same baseline yard rules as other residential districts. Multi‑family pool enclosures and playgrounds have specific fencing minimums (pool enclosures 6 ft minimum) (§ 18.34.050(B)) .

RMU (Residential Mixed‑Use)

• Purpose & typical uses: mixed residential/commercial projects (see table).
• Landscaping/screening: development tables reference fences/walls chapter; fronting commercial uses must still meet parking‑lot screening and landscaped perimeter rules under Chapter 18.42 (if parking provided) (§ 18.32.010 and § 18.42.050) .

CR / CMU / CSF / O (Commercial zones: CR, CMU, CSF, O)

• Purpose & typical uses: retail, service/fabrication, mixed‑use commercial, offices; see Table 18.32.01.
• Landscaping/screening: parking‑lot landscaping 10% minimum, perimeter strip 5 ft (unless waived), screening methods acceptable include low masonry walls 3.5 ft high, evergreen plantings reaching 3.5 ft within 18 months, berms 3.5 ft high, or combinations (§ 18.42.050(I) & (J)) . Chain‑link fences allowed on vacant commercial parcels under conditions (§ 18.34.050(E)) .

APS / OS / P / PQP / PUD / DWSP (Parks, Public, Agricultural, Planned Unit Development, Waterfront Specific Plan)

• Purpose & typical uses: parks/open space, public/quasi‑public, agriculture, PUDs, and the waterfront district specific plan. See Tables 18.33.01 and 18.06.01 for exact district descriptions and development standards.
• Landscaping/screening specifics: PUD and specific plan submittals require a landscape plan as part of the preliminary development plan (PUD application must include a landscape plan) (§ 18.72.040(A)(3)) . The waterfront specific plan (DWSP) may allow chain‑link on vacant parcels with green mesh (§ 18.34.050(F)) .

Decision‑relevant table (selected standards)

Checklist (what an applicant must submit / satisfy for landscaping & screening)

• A landscape plan showing location/species of trees, shrubs, irrigation design and hardscape percentages (required for projects and PUDs; see § 18.72.040(A)(3)) .
• Demonstrate front/side/rear yard hardscape does not exceed 60% where required and that visible areas are landscaped per § 18.36.070 .
• If providing parking, show 10% parking-area landscaping, planters, tree sizes, and 5 ft perimeter strip (or request waiver) per § 18.42.050 .
• Fence/wall details showing height, material, and measurement method (especially on slopes and retaining walls) per Chapter 18.34 (include how you measure from grade/retaining wall) (§§ 18.34.040, 18.34.050) .
• If a front‑yard driveway or curb-cut is proposed, include evidence of an encroachment permit application and plan for design review approval (§ 18.36.070(C)(1)(f)) .
• If on a vacant commercial or waterfront specific plan parcel and proposing chain‑link, show compliance with the limited exceptions (per § 18.34.050(E)–(F)) .
• For projects referencing water‑efficient landscaping standards, include Title 20 compliance (irrigation, plant lists, calculations) — see development standards tables pointing to Title 20 (§ tables) .
• Expect planning/design‑review conditions if screening affects visibility, safety, or circulation; design review authority reviews safety and security for parking lot landscaping (§ 18.42.050(J)(1)) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Suisun City requires most front and visible yards to be mostly landscaped (no more than 60% hardscape), limits residential fence heights to 6 ft in back/side yards and lower caps in front yards, requires 10% parking‑area landscaping and specific screening methods for parking and storage areas, and generally prohibits chain‑link in residential yards — see Chapters 18.34, 18.36, and 18.42 for the exact rules and measurement methods.

Source References

• Suisun City Municipal Code — Chapter 18.36, Yards (front, side, rear rules; front/rear/side yard landscaping and hardscape limits) — § 18.36.070.
• Suisun City Municipal Code — Chapter 18.34, Fences and Walls (height limits by district, chain‑link rules, storage‑yard fencing, soundwall standards) — §§ 18.34.010–18.34.070.
• Suisun City Municipal Code — Chapter 18.42, Parking and Loading (parking landscaping, screening, planter and tree requirements) — § 18.42.050 (I–J).
• Suisun City Municipal Code — Development standards tables and zoning districts (examples: Table 18.31.01; Table 18.32.01; Table 18.33.01) — various development tables reference fences/walls and water‑efficient landscaping.
• PUD application content (landscape plan required) — § 18.72.040(A)(3).

If you need the specific text of any cited subsection or the full development‑standards table for a specific district (for example to confirm front‑yard setback distance plus fence allowance on a particular lot), tell me the parcel address or APN and I will point you to the exact table row and any relevant overlay rules (Verify with the jurisdiction).

Retrieved passages

• Suisun City Zoning Code (Chapter 18.42) High relevance show source text
• Suisun City Zoning Code (Chapter 8.12) High relevance show source text
• Suisun City Zoning Code (section are) Medium relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) Medium relevance show source text
• Suisun City Zoning Code (Chapter 18.42) Medium relevance show source text
• Suisun City Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• Suisun City Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• Suisun City Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Suisun City Municipal Code — Chapter 18.36, Yards (front, side, rear rules; front/rear/side yard landscaping and hardscape limits) — **§ 18.36.070**. (Chapter 18.36)
• Suisun City Municipal Code — Chapter 18.34, Fences and Walls (height limits by district, chain‑link rules, storage‑yard fencing, soundwall standards) — **§§ 18.34.010–18.34.070**. fileciteturn0file4turn0file5 (Chapter 18.34)
• Suisun City Municipal Code — Chapter 18.42, Parking and Loading (parking landscaping, screening, planter and tree requirements) — **§ 18.42.050 (I–J)**. (Chapter 18.42)
• Suisun City Municipal Code — Development standards tables and zoning districts (examples: Table 18.31.01; Table 18.32.01; Table 18.33.01) — various development tables reference fences/walls and water‑efficient landscaping. fileciteturn0file12turn0file10turn0file6
• PUD application content (landscape plan required) — **§ 18.72.040(A)(3)**. (§ 18.72.040)
• SuisunCity_ZoningCode.md

• Official Suisun City code library