Local zoning · Tulare

Tulare — Landscaping and Screening

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

Ask a question free See coverage

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Tulare’s zoning ordinance requires for landscaping, screening, fences/walls, and trees. It is focused on the local zoning rules (Title 10 land use chapters that functionally replace a traditional “Title 17 Zoning” structure) and points you to the controlling code sections for each rule. If you are preparing plans you will need to follow the city’s Landscape Standards and the district-specific screening/fence rules and submit the required documentation. See the city’s Tulare Zoning page for overall context and the Tulare Development Standards for dimensional/regulatory cross-references.

Note: this summary stays strictly to landscaping and screening in the zoning ordinance; building code, permitting timelines, or tenant law are outside this page. For how landscaping intersects parking design, see the Tulare Parking guidance linked in the Checklist below.

How the ordinance is organized (short)

  • The landscaping rules are implemented through a central Landscape Standards chapter (Chapter 10.52) and repeated or refined in each zoning district chapter (e.g., § 10.14.150, § 10.22.120, etc.).
  • Screening, fence, and wall limits are set per district in the district chapters: residential chapters (R-1, R-1-12.5, R-1-20, R-H, R-M), commercial chapters (C-1, C-2, C-4), industrial (M-1), agricultural (A), and overlay/downtown chapters. Each district’s screening rules point to the city-wide design standards in § 10.50.040 where applicable.

District-by-district (purpose, where it applies, key landscaping + screening rules)

Note: the ordinance repeats the same landscaping mandate in most districts (provide landscaping per Chapter 10.52). For each district below I list the primary landscaping and screening rules and the exact controlling §.

R-1 (single-family residential)

  • Purpose / Where it applies: single-family lots (see Chapter heading for the R-1 district). Verify lot-specific allowed uses in the district chapter.
  • Key landscaping rule: required landscaping per § 10.14.150, generally: all yard and setback areas visible from the street must be landscaped with live materials or artificial turf/permeable surfaces; landscaping must be installed prior to occupancy and maintained per Chapter 10.52.
  • Screening / fence limits: front and street-side yards—maximum 4 ft (top 1 ft must be see-through); hedges up to 3 ft allowed in front yards; rear and side yards—maximum 7 ft. Walls along arterials/collectors must be 6–7 ft; walls > 7 ft require Planning Commission approval to mitigate noise. See § 10.14.160.

R-1-12.5 and R-1-20 (other single-family residential variants)

  • Rules are substantively the same as R-1 for landscaping and fences: landscaping per Chapter 10.52 and the same 4 ft / 7 ft fence height scheme in the front vs. rear yards; perimeter walls for subdivisions must be neutral color and textured; pool fencing follows the Swimming Pool Act requirements cited. See § 10.12.150–160 and § 10.10.150–160.

R-H (higher-density residential)

  • Landscaping: yards/setbacks visible from streets must be landscaped and maintained per Chapter 10.52. See § 10.18.150.
  • Screening / fences: same 4 ft front / 7 ft side & rear scheme; see-through top foot requirement; walls along arterials/collectors 6–7 ft; > 7 ft by Planning Commission for noise mitigation. See § 10.18.160.

R-M (multifamily / medium-density residential)

  • Landscaping: minimums and maintenance per Chapter 10.52; district may require a minimum percentage or other specific open-space/landscape treatment (see district chapter). See § 10.16.120.
  • Screening / fences: same front-yard 4 ft / 3 ft hedge allowance, rear/side 7 ft; allowed fence materials listed; walls on arterials/collectors 6–7 ft. See § 10.16.160.

C-1, C-2, C-4 (commercial districts)

  • Landscaping: almost all commercial districts require a minimum of 5% of gross lot area to be landscaped and that all exterior areas not used for parking, storage, driveways, walkways, or loading be landscaped. See § 10.20.120, § 10.22.120, § 10.26.120.
  • Screening / fences:
    • C-2: a 7‑ft solid masonry wall is required along any side or rear property line abutting a residential zone (except front/street side yards where max height is 3 ft). See § 10.22.130.
    • C-4: where commercial adjoins residential, require 7‑ft solid wall plus a 10‑ft landscape buffer; front yard fence max 3 ft unless otherwise required. See § 10.26.130.

M-1 (light industrial)

  • Landscaping: minimum 5% landscaped unless district rules say otherwise; special buffering for logistics facilities near sensitive receptors — double-row evergreen trees, minimum 36‑inch box at planting spaced ≤ 40 ft o.c., and palm trees prohibited for that treatment. See § 10.28.120.
  • Screening / fences: where industrial adjoins residential, a minimum 7‑ft solid wall is required; open storage must be screened with 7‑ft solid walls; Director may raise heights for noise mitigation (with documentation). See § 10.28.130.

A (agricultural)

  • Landscaping: disturbed areas around buildings and parking are to be landscaped with plants/materials that blend with the environment; see § 10.36.140. Screening/fence rules reference the general design standards § 10.50.040.

Downtown Overlay / other overlays

  • Fences in the Downtown Overlay conform to § 10.50.040; maximum fence height generally 7 ft (except in pedestrian plazas); materials/colors must be compatible with building materials; parking adjacent to the street must be screened by 4‑ft wall + landscaping (overlay references and parking rules). See § 10.42.070 and § 10.42.050–060. Also consult the Tulare Overlay Districts page for procedural/design overlay requirements.

At-a-glance decision table (most decision-relevant standards)

Topic Standard / Limit Applies to (examples) Code reference
Required minimum landscaped area 5% of gross lot area (unless district excludes yard areas) Most C and M districts (and many residential rules reference Chapter 10.52) § 10.22.120, § 10.26.120, § 10.28.120
Front/street-side fence height 4 ft max; top 1 ft see-through (hedges up to 3 ft) R-1, R-M, R-H, R-variants § 10.14.160, § 10.16.160, § 10.18.160
Side/rear fence height 7 ft max (unless approved) Residential and many districts § 10.14.160, § 10.16.160
Wall along arterial/collector 6–7 ft (min 6 / max 7) Where parcels front on arterials/collectors; apply in many districts § 10.14.160, § 10.42.070
Commercial abutting residential 7‑ft solid wall + 10‑ft landscape buffer (C-4 example) C-4, C-2, M-1 similar § 10.26.130(C)(2), § 10.22.130(B)
Parking lot street screening 4‑ft solid wall + landscaping; parking setback 5 ft from property line along street Downtown Overlay & development standards § 10.42.050–060
Street trees 15‑gallon minimum; one tree per 30 ft of street frontage; spacing by mature canopy width All public street frontages for new development § 10.52.150(B)(1–4)
Landscape documentation (water efficiency) ETWU < MAWA; Landscape Documentation Package and supporting documents required Any landscape > certain size or requiring plan check § 10.52.150(A)(4) and related Landscape Documentation provisions

Practical guidance and interpretation (plain-English synthesis)

  • The city enforces a two-level approach: a citywide Landscape Standards chapter (Chapter 10.52) that sets the water-efficiency, tree, and documentation requirements, and district chapters that impose site-level rules about where landscaping must go and how tall fences/walls may be. Always do both: meet Chapter 10.52 and the district § that applies to your parcel.
  • For single-family homeowners the most common constraints you will face are the 4 ft front-yard fence cap (with the top foot see-through) and a 7 ft cap for rear and side yards; subdivision perimeter walls have additional design requirements (neutral color, texture, pilasters or articulation every 50 ft). See your R‑district chapter.
  • Commercial and industrial projects must plan for dedicated landscape area (often 5% minimum), screen trash, utilities, and parking with planting (and often a wall), and submit a Landscape Documentation Package showing ETWU/MAWA compliance.
  • If your lot is adjacent to a different zoning type (especially commercial next to residential or industrial next to residential), expect a required 7‑ft solid wall and often a landscape buffer (e.g., 10 ft in C-4). Confirm which district rules apply for the exact buffer/screening prescription.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

  • Produce a landscape plan and irrigation plan that meets Chapter 10.52 (submit the Landscape Documentation Package showing ETWU < MAWA as required). § 10.52.150(A)(3–4)
  • Install required landscaping prior to occupancy and agree to ongoing maintenance per Chapter 10.52. § 10.52.150 and district sections (e.g., § 10.14.150).
  • Provide required 15‑gallon street trees at spacing of one per 30 ft of street frontage or as otherwise required by the city; specify root barriers if trunks are within 8 ft of hardscape. § 10.52.150(B)(1–5)
  • If your parcel borders a different district type, design the buffer/wall per the adjoining-district rule (e.g., 7‑ft wall + 10‑ft buffer where C-4 abuts residential). § 10.26.130(C)(2)
  • Make sure fences use allowed materials per district (concrete/block/brick, wood, wrought iron, vinyl, chain link where allowed) and meet height limits (4 ft front / 7 ft rear) and corner sight-triangle rules. See district screening sections (e.g., § 10.14.160, § 10.22.130).
  • For parking-lot landscaping and shading, follow the parking-lot shading and screening standards: set parking back 5 ft and screen with a 4‑ft wall + landscaping where required. See the parking rules and § 10.42.050–060. Tulare Parking guidance may be useful.
  • For temporary construction/tree protection fencing, secure Director approval as required by district. See temporary fencing provisions in district chapters (e.g., § 10.26.130).
  • If you propose a wall > 7 ft for noise mitigation, be prepared to submit a noise study and obtain Planning Commission approval. See the district provisions referencing PC approval. § 10.14.160 (examples).

Links you may need on process and cross-discipline topics: see Tulare Design Review, Tulare Overlay Districts, Tulare ADUs, and California Building Standards Code for where design/safety processes intersect with landscaping (links shown in the Source References below).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Corner lot sight/visibility triangle treatment (25 ft triangle referenced for corner lot fence limit) A fence in the corner triangle must meet the lower visibility height rule (top foot see-through) or may be prohibited — affects driveway/entrance placement and fence design Verify the applicable district triangle rule on your parcel and measure the 25‑ft right triangle prior to fence installation; see § 10.14.160, etc.
When a wall > 7 ft is proposed Walls over 7 ft require Planning Commission approval and typically a noise study to justify the height (and may trigger additional design mitigation) Confirm whether the wall is for noise mitigation and whether PC approval is required; check the specific district citation (e.g., § 10.14.160).
Water-efficiency documentation (ETWU / MAWA) and exemptions Landscape plans must prove compliance or be denied; exemptions exist but have specific criteria Confirm whether your landscape qualifies for an exemption in § 10.52.040, and assemble the Landscape Documentation Package per § 10.52.080. If in doubt, verify with Planning.
Required material lists vs. homeowner preferences Allowed fence materials are explicitly limited; some materials (plywood, OSB) are excluded Check the district list for allowed materials before specifying products; see district screening sections (e.g., § 10.12.160, § 10.22.130).
Trees near hardscape / root barriers Root barriers and trunk setbacks are required in certain circumstances to protect infrastructure If tree trunk center is within 8 ft of hardscape, an 18" x 10 ft linear root barrier is required; verify species selection and spacing per § 10.52.150(B)(5).
Buffer widths for commercial/residential adjacency Some districts require a 10‑ft landscape buffer in addition to a wall (C-4) — this can impact buildable area Verify the required buffer and whether it counts toward required open space or setback; see § 10.26.130(C)(2).

If any of the above items are parcel-specific (e.g., corner-lot geometry, adjacent district boundaries), note: Verify with the jurisdiction.

Plain-English Summary

In Tulare, every new development must include landscaping that meets the city-wide Landscape Standards (Chapter 10.52) and district-specific rules; typical single-family yard fences are limited to 4 ft in front yards and 7 ft in back/side yards, commercial sites often require 5% minimum landscaping and solid 7‑ft walls where they touch residential zones, and trees/street trees must meet the planting and root-barrier rules—see the applicable district § and Chapter 10.52 for the full requirements.

Source References

  • Tulare Zoning Code (landscape & screening excerpts), Chapter/district sections cited throughout:
    • § 10.52.150 (Landscape development standards; ETWU / MAWA; Landscape Documentation Package)
    • § 10.52.150(B)(1–6) (Street tree sizing/spacing and root barrier)
    • § 10.14.150–160 (R‑1 landscaping and fences/walls)
    • § 10.12.150–160 (R‑1‑12.5 landscaping and fences/walls)
    • § 10.10.150–160 (R‑1‑20 landscaping and fences/walls)
    • § 10.18.150–160 (R‑H landscaping and fences/walls)
    • § 10.16.120–160 (R‑M landscaping and fences/walls)
    • § 10.20.120–130 (C‑1 landscaping and screening)
    • § 10.22.120–130 (C‑2 landscaping and required 7‑ft wall where abutting residential)
    • § 10.26.120–130 (C‑4 landscaping and 7‑ft wall + 10‑ft buffer where adjoining residential)
    • § 10.28.120–130 (M‑1 landscaping and 7‑ft industrial screening)
    • § 10.42.050–070 (Downtown Overlay: parking setbacks, 4‑ft parking screens, fence compatibility)
    • § 10.36.140–150 (A zone landscaping / screening references)

Internal pages to consult while preparing plans (first natural mention links):

  • Tulare Zoning & planning overview: Tulare Zoning (/us/california/tulare/zoning) — for district maps and permitted uses.
  • Tulare Development Standards (/us/california/tulare/development-standards) — for dimensional controls that interact with landscaping.
  • Tulare Parking (/us/california/tulare/parking) — for parking-lot landscape and shading requirements.
  • Tulare Design Review (/us/california/tulare/design-review) — design-level review that may affect wall/fence treatments.
  • Tulare Overlay Districts (/us/california/tulare/overlay-districts) — downtown and other overlays that change fence/landscape rules.
  • Tulare ADUs (/us/california/tulare/adu) — landscaping expectations for ADU projects may follow district rules.
  • California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes) — referenced for pool-enclosure safety requirements where applicable.

(All ordinance citations above are drawn from the uploaded Tulare Zoning Code excerpts and the city’s Landscaping chapter.)

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Tulare Zoning Code (Chapter 10.52.) High relevance
  • Tulare Zoning Code (§ 10.14.150) High relevance
  • Tulare Zoning Code (§ 10.26.110) High relevance
  • Tulare Zoning Code (§ 10.22.110) High relevance
  • Tulare Zoning Code (Chapter 10.52.) High relevance
  • CBC § 10.42.040 (§ 10.42.040) High relevance
  • Tulare Zoning Code (§ 10.52.040) High relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping does Tulare require for a new single‑family home?

You must provide landscaping per Chapter 10.52 (the city’s Landscape Standards), and all yard/setback areas visible from the street must be planted with live materials or allowed artificial turf/permeable surfaces; the landscaping must be installed prior to occupancy and maintained thereafter. See § 10.14.150 and § 10.52.150.

How tall can my fence be in my Tulare front yard?

Front and street‑side yard fences are limited to 4 ft in height (the top 1 ft must be see‑through, e.g., wrought iron); hedges up to 3 ft are also allowed in front yards. See § 10.14.160 (R‑1 example) for the exact district language.

Can a commercial property put a wall next to a house?

Yes — in many commercial districts (for example C‑2 and C‑4) the code requires a 7‑ft solid masonry wall along any side or rear property line abutting a residential zone; C‑4 also commonly requires a 10‑ft landscape buffer in addition to the wall. See § 10.22.130 and § 10.26.130.

Do I need a special planting size for street trees?

Street trees are required to be a minimum 15‑gallon size at planting and are required at a rate of one tree per 30 ft of street frontage (round up). Trees near sidewalks/curbs may require root barriers if the trunk is within 8 ft of hardscape. See § 10.52.150(B)(1–5).

Does Tulare require a percentage of a commercial lot be landscaped?

Yes — most commercial and industrial districts require a minimum of 5% of the gross lot area to be landscaped, and all exterior areas not devoted to parking, storage, driveways, walkways, or loading must be landscaped. See § 10.22.120, § 10.26.120, § 10.28.120.

Where does the code say what materials I can use for fences?

Each district’s screening section lists allowed fence materials (typical list: concrete/block/brick, latticework, wood, wrought iron, vinyl, chain link in certain yards). Check your district’s screening § (for example § 10.14.160, § 10.22.130) for the specific permitted materials.

If I want a wall taller than 7 feet, how do I proceed?

Walls greater than 7 ft may be permitted for reasons such as noise mitigation, but they typically require Planning Commission approval and supporting studies (e.g., a noise study). See the district provisions (example: § 10.14.160) for the process and standards.

Do I need to submit a water‑efficiency package for my landscaping?

Yes. Landscape projects requiring a permit, plan check, or site plan review must submit a Landscape Documentation Package demonstrating ETWU < MAWA and meet the water use efficiency provisions in Chapter 10.52. See § 10.52.150(A)(1–4).

Are there special landscape/tree rules for logistics or warehouses?

Yes. New logistics facilities within 250 ft of a sensitive receptor must include double‑row evergreen trees as a solid-screen treatment, using 36‑inch box minimum trees spaced no more than 40 ft on center (palm trees not allowed for this treatment). See § 10.28.120(D).

Does Tulare require screening for parking lots along streets?

Parking lots adjacent to a street must be set back 5 ft from the property line and screened by a minimum 4‑ft solid wall plus landscaping where required (example language in Downtown Overlay / development standards). See § 10.42.050–060.

More in Tulare code

Ask about any Tulare property

Get a cited, plain-English answer on Tulare zoning, setbacks, FAR, ADUs and permits — for any address.

Start Free Trial

More Tulare zoning topics

Tulare Zoning

Tulare Land Use

Tulare Development Standards

Tulare Parking

Tulare Design Review

Tulare Overlay Districts

Tulare Historic Preservation

Tulare Signage

Tulare Nonconforming Uses

Tulare Variances and Exceptions

Tulare overview