Local zoning · Tehama

Tehama — Landscaping and Screening

Q: What landscaping rules apply in Tehama’s Residential district?

Landscaping in Residential (R) is governed indirectly by the development standards : building coverage, front/side/rear setbacks, and height limits that determine how much planting or screening fits on a lot (e.g., 35% coverage; 15 ft front setback; side yards total 20% of lot width) — see § 17.12.050 .

Q: How tall can my fence or screening wall be along the street in Tehama?

A fence in the front‑yard setback may be no taller than 4 ft unless made of vision‑permeable material; side and rear yard fences may be up to 6 ft ; fences above 6 ft require a city council use permit for unusual circumstances — see § 17.20.010 .

Q: Who can approve a fence taller than 6 feet or an atypical screening wall?

A use permit from the city council is required for a fence above 6 ft ; the council will evaluate compatibility, scale, neighborhood character, and other impacts per § 17.20.010.E .

Landscaping and Screening under the Tehama 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 Tehama's zoning ordinance (Title 17) actually requires about landscaping, screening, buffers, fences, and trees — and where the code is silent. Tehama's Title 17 is concise: it establishes broad zoning districts (not an elaborate landscape manual), sets fence limits, and gives development standards for the Residential (R) district; many detailed planting/screening rules common in larger cities are Not found in retrieved materials. See the City zoning summary and the ordinance chapters for context via the city's Tehama Zoning page and the Tehama Development Standards overview.

Important cross-references you may need while planning: Tehama treats landscaping as part of site development standards (see Development Standards and parking rules) and sometimes as part of discretionary review; ADU siting interacts with landscape/open-space rules (see ADUs). If your proposal touches construction/fire aspects, confirm applicable state codes such as the California Building Standards Code.

What the Tehama ordinance actually says (district-by-district)

Notes on citation style: every legal requirement below is grounded in the ordinance text and shown with the controlling §. The file excerpts used are the City of Tehama Title 17 (Zoning) print/export available in the provided materials; each cited § is followed by the file-search result marker showing where that text was retrieved.

Residential (R) — Chapter 17.12

Purpose & where it applies: The Residential (R) district implements the General Plan "residential (R)" land use and is the default designation for platted lots in the city (purpose and designation). See § 17.12.010 and § 17.12.020 and zoning district designation at § 17.08.010 .
Typical permitted uses: single-family and two-story dwellings, multifamily housing, ADUs/JADUs (reference to ADU chapter), child day care homes and small community care facilities; see § 17.12.030 .
Key dimensional/development standards that affect landscaping and screening:
- Maximum lot coverage (single‑family): 35%; front yard setback: 15 ft; side yards must total at least 20% of lot width and be no less than 6 ft each (corner street side 10 ft); rear yard minimum 20 ft (main residence) — see § 17.12.050 (development standards) .
- Multifamily coverage and setbacks are different (e.g., 65% coverage; height up to 35 ft depending on stories) — see § 17.12.050 .
Practical effect: landscape area available for screening is constrained by the coverage and setbacks above; front-yard fences are limited (see Fences below).

Business overlay — Chapter 17.14

Purpose & where it applies: overlay over parts of town to allow mixed uses and special rules; see § 17.14.070–080 for lot division and housing streamlining references. Landscaping obligations for the overlay are not specified separately in the excerpts retrieved — see § 17.14.070 and § 17.14.080 .
Practical effect: when a property is in the Business overlay, landscape/screening obligations are governed by the underlying district standards (often Residential (R)) and any project-specific conditions imposed through discretionary approvals; verify with the planning authority.

Open‑Space — Chapter 17.16

Purpose & permitted uses: Open‑Space is reserved for park, river-bank access, wildlife preservation and similar uses; improvements are subject to planning commission review — see § 17.16.010 .
Practical effect: screening/planting in open‑space is typically conservation-oriented; commercial-style screening rules do not apply here.

Fences & wall rules (citywide) — Chapter 17.20

Key regulatory limits on fences (affects screening by hedges/walls/fences):
- Side and rear yard fences: not to exceed 6 ft.
- Front yard fences within the front-yard setback may not exceed 4 ft unless the material does not block vision (the area immediately in front of the house is subject to the 4‑ft rule; remainder of the front yard setback is treated as side yard and may be 6 ft) — see § 17.20.010.A–B .
- No fence over 6 ft without a city council use permit for unusual circumstances — see § 17.20.010.C–E .
Practical effect: solid walls or tall evergreen hedges used as screening must respect the height limits; tall screening in front setbacks will trigger additional review or require transparent materials to meet the 4‑ft rule.

Utility/transformer/parking-lot screening — not specified in Title 17

The Tehama zoning ordinance does not contain a detailed matrix of species, planter sizes, or parking-lot tree requirements in the excerpts retrieved. For engineering/utility screening details applicants commonly follow utility guidance (example: PG&E Greenbook landscape screening for pad‑mounted transformers) and state/local building/fire clearance rules; those practices are advisory unless the city imposes them as conditions. The Greenbook design ideas and clearances are Not found in Title 17 but are available in the provided materials as industry guidance .

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant standards and permitted uses

Topic	Decision-relevant rule / limit	Code Reference
Front-yard fence height	4 ft max in front setback unless vision-permeable	§ 17.20.010.B
Side/rear fence height	6 ft max (use permit may allow more)	§ 17.20.010.A, C–E
Single-family lot coverage	35% maximum main building coverage	§ 17.12.050
Single-family setbacks	Front 15 ft; side total 20% of lot width (min 6 ft); rear 20 ft	§ 17.12.050
Multifamily coverage / height	65% coverage; height 2–3 stories / up to 35 ft per standards	§ 17.12.050
Permitted uses in Residential (R)	Single-family, multifamily, ADUs, child day care, small community care	§ 17.12.030
Open‑space permitted uses	Parks, river access, wildlife preservation, scenic beauty	§ 17.16.010

How to interpret "landscaping" in Tehama practice (plain-English synthesis)

The Tehama ordinance treats landscaping primarily through broad district development standards and fence rules rather than through a standalone "landscape standards" chapter. For most residential projects you must meet setbacks, lot-coverage and fence height rules (see § 17.12.050 and § 17.20.010) and any conditions placed by a discretionary permit. If you need technical planting matrices, irrigation, parking-lot shade requirements, or utility clearances, those are not spelled out in Title 17 excerpts and are typically handled by other documents (utility specs, the California codes, or as permit conditions) — Verify with the jurisdiction. See the city Development Standards page for the administration path and the local Overlay Districts where special rules may apply.

Practical guidance for applicants (original synthesis)

Treat the front setback as precious: tall opaque screening there is effectively limited to 4 ft unless transparent. Use low walls or hedges under 4 ft or transparent fencing (rail, picket, metal mesh) where you want visibility (see § 17.20.010.B–C) .
Design screening behind the front setback to work inside the 35% lot coverage (single-family) constraint and the required side/rear yards: calculate mature plant spread to avoid encroaching into required setbacks § 17.12.050 .
If you plan a taller retaining wall or an opaque 6+ ft fence for screening, expect a use permit (city council considerations; compatibility and neighborhood character are explicit factors in § 17.20.010.E) .
For ADUs: landscaping/open-space rules cannot be used to unreasonably preclude an ADU of minimum state-protected sizes; consult Chapter 17.60 and state ADU rules (local standards may apply but cannot conflict with state ADU protections) — see ADU chapter references in § 17.04.050 and related ADU guidance .

Checklist

Provide a site plan showing existing property lines, setbacks, driveway, and building footprints (required for manufactured homes too) — see § 17.24.010 for site-plan requirement for manufactured homes .
Show proposed fence/wall locations and heights; ensure front-setback fences are ≤ 4 ft (or vision‑permeable) and side/rear fences ≤ 6 ft or supply grounds for a use permit § 17.20.010 .
Demonstrate that proposed plantings do not make the building coverage exceed 35% (single-family) or 65% (multifamily) and that setbacks remain compliant § 17.12.050 .
If your project is in the Business overlay or Open-space district, show compliance or request any required planning-commission review § 17.14.070–080; § 17.16.010 .
For tall or nonstandard fences/walls, prepare findings of compatibility/neighborhood character for a use permit per § 17.20.010.E .
Verify whether utility/transformer screening requires additional clearances or protection per the utility provider (Title 17 is silent on specific species/clearances; industry guidance exists) .
If the lot is in a wildfire-prone area or project triggers subdivision/zoning changes, confirm fuel‑modification/fuel‑break requirements with fire authority and state WUI rules (local applicability may follow state guidance) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
No detailed plant/irrigation standards in Title 17	The code gives fence heights and development standards but no plant lists, container sizes, or irrigation requirements — gaps create uncertainty for landscape design and enforcement	Verify with planning staff whether the city applies a landscape checklist or requires native/fire‑smart plantings; request any staff handouts or permit checklists. If on a utility easement, verify utility screening rules with the utility provider .
Screening of utility equipment (transformers, meters)	Not specified in Title 17; utilities often require clearances that can conflict with screening planting choices	Confirm utility (e.g., PG&E) clearance and preferred screening approaches before planting; follow utility Greenbook guidance as advisory (Not found in Title 17) .
Wildfire/fuel-modification expectations	Tehama code excerpts do not set parcel-level fuel-modification rules; state WUI code and local fire agencies may require hardscape or noncombustible materials near structures	If in WUI or proposing subdivision/more intense development, consult the fire authority and the state WUI guidance; local application of CCR Title 14 §1276 may require setbacks/fuel breaks — Verify with jurisdiction .
Use permits for nonstandard fences/walls	Use permit criteria require findings about neighborhood character; outcomes are discretionary and unpredictable	For fences >6 ft or otherwise atypical screening, budget for discretionary review and prepare compatibility/design rationale per § 17.20.010.E .

Plain‑English Summary

Tehama's zoning rules relevant to landscaping and screening are short: fences in front yards must be 4 ft or transparent; side/rear fences are 6 ft max; residential lot coverage and setbacks (e.g., 35% coverage, 15 ft front setback) control how much planting you can place; detailed landscape species/lists/parking‑lot shade rules are Not found in Title 17 — verify with planning and utility providers for site‑specific conditions and wildfire/fuel‑modification requirements § 17.20.010; § 17.12.050; § 17.16.010 .

Source References

City of Tehama, Title 17 — Zoning: Chapter 17.08 (Zoning districts—area established) § 17.08.010
City of Tehama, Title 17 — Residential District: § 17.12.010, § 17.12.020, § 17.12.030, § 17.12.050 (development standards)
City of Tehama, Title 17 — Business overlay: § 17.14.070–080
City of Tehama, Title 17 — Open‑Space District: § 17.16.010
City of Tehama, Title 17 — Fences: § 17.20.010 (fence height, use permits)
City of Tehama, Title 17 — ADU references and definitions: § 17.04.050 (ADU defined; see Chapter 17.60)
Industry guidance for screening utility equipment (illustrative, not City ordinance): PG&E Greenbook — Landscape Screen for Pad‑Mounted Transformers (design ideas, clearances)
State wildland-urban interface guidance (for fuel-modification and setbacks) — 2025 California Wildland‑Urban Interface Code (relevant excerpts on setbacks, fuel breaks)

Sources

Retrieved passages

CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance
CBC § 198 (Chapter 17.16) Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
CWUIC § 1276.01 (Chapter 5._) Medium relevance
CWUIC § 1.11 (Chapter 1) Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code Medium relevance
CBC § 0479 Medium relevance
CEC § 66314 (§ 66314) Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code (Chapter 17.30) Medium relevance
CBC § 198 (Chapter 17.24) Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code Medium relevance
CBC § 1.10.1 (Section 1.10.1._) Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code Medium relevance
Tehama Zoning Code Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Tehama code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping rules apply in Tehama’s Residential district?

Landscaping in Residential (R) is governed indirectly by the development standards: building coverage, front/side/rear setbacks, and height limits that determine how much planting or screening fits on a lot (e.g., 35% coverage; 15 ft front setback; side yards total 20% of lot width) — see § 17.12.050 .

How tall can my fence or screening wall be along the street in Tehama?

A fence in the front‑yard setback may be no taller than 4 ft unless made of vision‑permeable material; side and rear yard fences may be up to 6 ft; fences above 6 ft require a city council use permit for unusual circumstances — see § 17.20.010 .

Do I need design review or a permit for a tall hedge used as a privacy screen?

If the hedge is within the front setback and would exceed the 4‑ft sight-line rule, expect review and you may be required to use a transparent solution or apply for discretionary approval (use permit) for nonstandard screening under § 17.20.010.E (compatibility findings) — Verify with planning .

Does Tehama have a plant list or irrigation standards I must follow?

Not found in the retrieved Title 17 materials. Title 17 does not include a detailed plant species matrix or irrigation specs; applicants typically follow utility or city handouts (if any) and state codes where applicable. Ask planning staff for any local landscape checklist or standards — Not found in retrieved materials.

Can landscaping requirements block an ADU in Tehama?

State ADU law restricts using landscaping/open‑space rules to unreasonably preclude ADUs; Tehama references ADUs in Title 17 (see Chapter 17.60). Local objective standards may apply but cannot be used to deny an ADU of the minimum state‑protected size — see Chapter 17 references to ADUs and state ADU guidance (see § 17.04.050 and Chapter 17.60) .

Are there wildfire/fuel‑modification planting rules I must follow?

Tehama Title 17 excerpts do not set parcel‑level fuel‑modification rules; however, state Wildland‑Urban Interface guidance and the local fire authority may require noncombustible materials, setbacks, or fuel breaks for certain projects or subdivisions — verify with the fire authority and planning staff; see state WUI excerpts for the kinds of measures that can apply .

Can I plant trees in the parking area to meet shade/tree requirements?

Title 17 excerpts did not include a parking‑lot shade tree requirement; statewide green building standards and codes include parking‑area tree/ shading rules, but local application depends on whether the city enforces those standards for your project — verify with planning and building and consult the Tehama Parking page for local parking rules .

Who can approve a fence taller than 6 feet or an atypical screening wall?

A use permit from the city council is required for a fence above 6 ft; the council will evaluate compatibility, scale, neighborhood character, and other impacts per § 17.20.010.E .

What do I show on the landscape portion of my site plan in Tehama?

At minimum, show property lines, footprints with setbacks, proposed fence/wall heights, planting locations and sizes at planting/maturity (so staff can verify setbacks/coverage), and any utility equipment requiring screening; manufactured‑home applicants must provide site plan and building material photos per § 17.24.010.G .

Does Tehama require a fuel break or buffer for new subdivisions?

The City code excerpts do not directly impose fuel breaks on standard residential parcels, but when projects involve multiple new parcels or changes in zoning/use intensity, state WUI guidance and the local fire authority may require fuel breaks/fuel modification — check with the fire authority; see CCR Title 14/WUI excerpts for triggers and design expectations .

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