Wasco — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Wasco’s zoning code (Title 17 Zoning) sets citywide, district-specific, and overlay add-ons for landscaping, fencing, and screening. Most projects with new or rehabilitated landscaped area must meet the city’s water‑efficient standards and submit a landscape plan, and commercial/industrial edges near homes often require solid walls and planting buffers. This page distills the parts of Title 17 that control Landscaping and Screening only.

Most new or rehab landscape areas of 500 sq ft or more must meet Wasco’s water-efficient landscape standards and submit a plan prepared by a licensed professional; commercial/industrial edges next to homes generally require a solid, six-foot masonry wall and landscaping. See § 17.34.010–.020 and § 17.30.080.

What triggers landscaping and screening in Wasco

• Water‑efficient landscape compliance applies to new projects with a total landscaped area ≥ 500 sq ft, and to rehabilitated landscape areas ≥ 2,500 sq ft; a landscape design package by a licensed landscape architect or contractor is required for applicable projects and for any artificial turf in front or street-side yards per § 17.34.010 and § 17.34.020 .
• When commercial or industrial property adjoins a residential zone, a solid 6 ft masonry or concrete block wall must be placed on the property line (not in the residential front yard or a street-side setback) per § 17.30.080(A)(1) .
• Citywide design rules require screening of ground-mounted mechanical equipment and utilities from public view; residential A/C must be ground-mounted and screened per § 17.30.060(A) .

Citywide baseline standards (apply in all districts unless stated)

• Landscape plan and WELO compliance:
  • All landscape/irrigation plans must meet Wasco’s standards and the State’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO), per § 17.34.030 and § 17.34.010 .
• Required coverage/planting:
  • Required setback areas must have living groundcover or approved nonliving groundcover; all soil surfaces must be covered, per § 17.34.030(A)(1) .
  • Trees in required landscape setbacks: at least one tree (minimum trunk diameter 2 in at 4 ft above grade) per 20 ft of frontage; spacing varies by species; additional siting/spacing rules apply, per § 17.34.030(A)(2)(a), (d) .
  • Shrubs: at least 75% of shrubs must be 5‑gallon size; space for 50% ground coverage at maturity in required setbacks, per § 17.34.030(A)(3) .
• Parking lots and shade:
  • Plant trees at a ratio of 1 tree per 3 stalls; design for 50% shade coverage of the lot in 10 years, per § 17.34.030(A)(5) .
  • Lots with 6+ spaces: provide landscape islands of at least 80 sq ft at max intervals of 10 continuous stalls, each with a minimum 15‑gallon tree; perimeter and island curbing at 6 in unless waived, per § 17.34.030(C)(1)–(3) .
• Buffers along major roads:
  • Provide buffer planting along freeways and major arterials to visually screen uses and reduce noise, in addition to any other screening required, per § 17.34.030(C)(5) .
• Park strips:
  • Street‑tree/park strip standards include drought‑tolerant trees every 30 ft (drip‑irrigated) and approved drought‑tolerant groundcover; no turf or easily displaced materials, per § 17.34.030(A)(8) .
• Fences and walls (general):
  • Heights are controlled by Table 3‑1: typically 4 ft in front setbacks and up to 7 ft in side/rear, with additional street‑side and sight‑distance limits; measurement is from the lowest adjacent grade unless adjusted for grade differences, per § 17.30.030(A) and Table 3‑1 notes .
  • Materials: chain link is generally prohibited except in the I‑L, I‑H, and C‑S districts; razor wire is prohibited; barbed or electrified fencing allowed only in A‑E or R‑R for animal control, per § 17.30.030(A)(7) .
• Screening and storage:
  • Outdoor business activities across a street or alley from a residential district must be screened by a concrete block or masonry wall and landscaped along the wall frontage to a height set by the planning director; do not stack materials above wall height, per § 17.30.080(A)(2) .
  • Trash receptacles must be screened from off‑site views; methods and location approved by the planning director, per § 17.30.080(A)(6) .

Residential landscape specifics

• Front yards:
  • Maximum paving in required front yard for driveway/parking access is 40%, plus up to 10% for walkways/uncovered patio; drought‑tolerant landscaping and automatic irrigation required, per § 17.34.030(B)(3), (b) .
  • Provide at least 2 drought‑tolerant shade trees in the front yard from the city’s master list; if a required park strip gets a street tree, the front‑yard count drops to 1, per § 17.34.030(B)(2), (c) .
  • Turf may not exceed 25% of the total landscaped area; all plant materials must be WUCOLS low or very low; living plant material must cover ≥ 50% of front yard landscape within one year, per § 17.34.030(B)(5)–(7) .
• Pools:
  • The pool area must be screened on all sides by a 6 ft solid wood fence, solid masonry wall, or similar barrier (perimeter fencing may suffice if approved); shield equipment to prevent noise, per § 17.30.110(B)(2) .
• Mechanical/utility equipment:
  • Residential A/C units must be ground‑mounted and screened from view, per § 17.30.060(A)(2) .

Commercial and industrial edges

• Where C/I adjoins a residential zone:
  • Require a 6 ft solid masonry wall at the property line (not in required front or street‑side setbacks), per § 17.30.080(A)(1) .
  • Outdoor activities across a street/alley from residential must add a masonry wall plus landscaping along the wall to a height determined by the planning director; storage cannot exceed wall height, per § 17.30.080(A)(2) .
• Conduct of uses in certain commercial districts:
  • In the C‑N, C‑O, C‑R, C‑H, and C‑D districts, business operations must occur entirely within enclosed buildings, with limited exceptions (e.g., parking/loading, service stations, outdoor dining, nurseries/garden shops), per § 17.30.080(A)(3) .
• Chain link allowances:
  • Chain link fencing is allowed only in I‑L, I‑H, and C‑S; it remains subject to height/location limits and does not substitute for required masonry walls where those are mandated, per § 17.30.030(A)(7)(c) and § 17.30.080(A)(1) .
• Parking lot screening and shade:
  • Parking island, tree ratio, and shade coverage standards apply citywide to commercial, industrial, and multifamily lots per § 17.34.030(A)(5), (C)(1)–(3) .

Overlays and special districts that affect landscaping/screening

• Historic Downtown Combining District (H‑D):
  • Landscaping in H‑D must conform to § 17.34.030 unless modified by the planning director or the separate Historic Downtown Policy and Design Plan; downtown projects undergo design review specific to the district .
  • Not found in retrieved materials: a codified § number for H‑D rules that require 50% transparency for fences/walls along streets and that parking lots along downtown streets be screened by landscaping or a wall+landscape combination. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Precise Development Plan Combining District (P‑D):
  • Landscaping standards are determined at P‑D plan approval; Table 2‑12 references additional requirements in § 17.24.050(D), and P‑D plans must demonstrate “superior” development that can include greater landscaping or buffers, per the P‑D combining district provisions (see Table 2‑12 notes and findings) .
• Specific Plan Overlay:
  • Landscaping is determined by the adopted specific plan; Table 5‑2 references § 17.24.020(D) for additional requirements (verify plan‑specific standards at entitlement), per the specific plan overlay table .
• Cluster Combining District (C‑L):
  • Landscaping follows the base zone; projects must be “superior” to base zoning and can do this by providing greater landscaping or buffers with adjacent properties (C‑L table and criteria) .

District-by-district notes (Landscaping and Screening)

• R‑1 (and other residential base districts)

  • Purpose (as applied to landscaping/screening): achieve water‑efficient, shaded streetscapes and quality front yards through tree, turf, and irrigation standards.
  • Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
  • Key standards: front-yard paving limits (40% for access + 10% walks), 2 drought‑tolerant trees, turf ≤ 25%, WUCOLS low/very‑low plants, and ≥ 50% living coverage in one year, per § 17.34.030(B)(2)–(7); fences per Table 3‑1; pools screened by 6 ft solid fence/wall per § 17.30.110(B)(2) .
  • Where it applies: citywide on residential lots.

• R‑R (Rural Residential)

  • Purpose: allow animal control fencing while maintaining residential character.
  • Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
  • Key standards: barbed/electrified fencing may be used only for animal control; otherwise follow citywide heights/materials; landscaping per § 17.34.030; see § 17.30.030(A)(7)(b) for fencing allowances .
  • Where it applies: rural residential areas (verify mapped boundaries).

• A‑E (Agricultural Estate)

  • Purpose: permit agricultural animal control fencing with rural landscape standards.
  • Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
  • Key standards: barbed/electrified fencing allowed only for animal control; landscaping per § 17.34.030; fence heights per Table 3‑1; see § 17.30.030(A)(7)(b) .
  • Where it applies: agricultural‑estate areas (verify mapped boundaries).

• C‑N, C‑O, C‑R, C‑H, C‑D (commercial districts)

  • Purpose: keep operations indoors, clean street edges, and buffer nearby homes.
  • Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
  • Key standards: operations in enclosed buildings with limited exceptions per § 17.30.080(A)(3); when abutting residential, provide 6 ft masonry wall per § 17.30.080(A)(1); parking lot landscape/shade per § 17.34.030(A)(5), (C); chain link is not listed as allowed fencing material in these districts per § 17.30.030(A)(7)(c) .
  • Where it applies: commercial zones as mapped in the Wasco Zoning.

• C‑S (Service Commercial)

  • Purpose: accommodate service uses with practical, durable fencing where appropriate.
  • Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
  • Key standards: chain link allowed as a fence material per § 17.30.030(A)(7)(c); however, a 6 ft masonry wall is still required where abutting residential per § 17.30.080(A)(1); parking landscape/shade per § 17.34.030(A)(5), (C) .
  • Where it applies: C‑S areas (verify mapped boundaries).

• I‑L (Light Industrial) and I‑H (Heavy Industrial)

  • Purpose: enable secure industrial sites with appropriate materials and strong residential buffers.
  • Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
  • Key standards: chain link allowed per § 17.30.030(A)(7)(c); outdoor operations across from residential must provide a masonry wall plus landscape screening, with storage kept below wall height, per § 17.30.080(A)(2); parking/landscape islands and shade apply per § 17.34.030(C) .
  • Where it applies: industrial zones as mapped in the Wasco Land Use.

• H‑D (Historic Downtown Overlay)

  • Purpose: preserve downtown character, streetscape, and pedestrian orientation.
  • Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
  • Key standards: landscaping must conform to § 17.34.030 unless modified through H‑D guidelines; projects are subject to downtown design review per the H‑D program .
  • Where it applies: mapped H‑D area (verify boundaries in the Overlay Districts).

Practical cross-refs and approvals

• Parking lot planting/island and shade ratios are checked alongside parking layout reviews; landscape islands/curbing can affect stall counts and drive aisles (see § 17.34.030(C)) .
• Exterior changes in the H‑D overlay go through design review; the H‑D guidelines can modify § 17.34.030 standards for downtown projects (verify early) .
• Trash enclosures and utility screening are also coordinated with development standards and can affect site plan approvals per § 17.30.060 and § 17.30.080 .
• Fence height/material exceptions may require administrative relief; consult Variances and Exceptions if Table 3‑1 limits or material prohibitions are at issue (see § 17.30.030, Table 3‑1) .
• If your landscape/screening involves an ADU or residential expansion, coordinate with Wasco ADUs and California ADU law. State California housing laws sometimes affect setbacks and site design; however, building methods fall under the California Building Standards Code and are outside this page’s scope.

Key standards at a glance

Checklist

• Confirm your project triggers WELO and plan requirements (≥500 sq ft new, ≥2,500 sq ft rehab) per § 17.34.010–.020 .
• Prepare a compliant landscaping/irrigation plan with tree/shrub sizes, spacing, and coverage per § 17.34.030(A) .
• For residential fronts: verify paving limits, tree count, turf cap, and WUCOLS ratings per § 17.34.030(B) .
• For parking areas: add islands, trees, shade coverage and curbing per § 17.34.030(A)(5), (C) .
• If near homes: design a 6 ft masonry wall and landscape buffer per § 17.30.080(A) .
• Select allowed fence materials for your district; avoid prohibited materials; confirm heights per § 17.30.030(A) and Table 3‑1 .
• Screen trash enclosures and mechanical/utility equipment per § 17.30.080(A)(6) and § 17.30.060(A) .
• If in H‑D or a specific overlay, coordinate with downtown guidelines or your specific/precise plan approvals and design review .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Wasco expects drought‑tolerant, water‑efficient landscaping with trees and shade in parking lots, and solid masonry walls plus planting to buffer homes from commercial or industrial sites. Front yards have limits on paving and turf, and many fences are capped at 4 ft in front and 7 ft on the sides/rear, with chain link allowed only in certain commercial/industrial districts.

Information Gaps

• Exact codified § numbers for Historic Downtown fence transparency and downtown parking screening rules: Not found in retrieved materials (verify with the city).
• Full purpose/typical permitted uses for specific base districts (R‑1, C‑N, C‑O, etc.): Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

• Wasco Municipal Code — § 17.34.010 Purpose and applicability; § 17.34.020 Landscape plan required; § 17.34.030 Landscape requirements (General, Residential, and C/I/MF standards)
• Wasco Municipal Code — § 17.30.030 Fences and walls (heights/materials, Table 3‑1)
• Wasco Municipal Code — § 17.30.060 Mechanical equipment and utilities (screening)
• Wasco Municipal Code — § 17.30.080 Screening and storage (C/I abutting or facing residential; trash enclosure screening)
• Wasco Municipal Code — § 17.30.110 Swimming pools (screening)
• Wasco Municipal Code — Historic Downtown overlay excerpt referencing § 17.34.030 and downtown design review (H‑D)
• Wasco Municipal Code — P‑D combining district table (Table 2‑12) and “superior development” criteria referencing § 17.24.050(D) (landscaping by P‑D plan approval)
• Wasco Municipal Code — Specific Plan overlay table (Table 5‑2) referencing § 17.24.020(D) (landscaping determined by specific plan)

Retrieved passages

• Wasco Zoning Code (Section 17.34.030) High relevance show source text
• Wasco Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text
• Wasco Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text
• Wasco Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Wasco Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 3 (Chapter 17.36) High relevance show source text
• Wasco Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) Medium relevance show source text
• Wasco Zoning Code (chapter with) High relevance show source text
• Wasco Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text
• Wasco Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance show source text
• Wasco Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Wasco Municipal Code — § 17.34.010 Purpose and applicability; § 17.34.020 Landscape plan required; § 17.34.030 Landscape requirements (General, Residential, and C/I/MF standards) (§ 17.34.010)
• Wasco Municipal Code — § 17.30.030 Fences and walls (heights/materials, Table 3‑1) (§ 17.30.030)
• Wasco Municipal Code — § 17.30.060 Mechanical equipment and utilities (screening) (§ 17.30.060)
• Wasco Municipal Code — § 17.30.080 Screening and storage (C/I abutting or facing residential; trash enclosure screening) (§ 17.30.080)
• Wasco Municipal Code — § 17.30.110 Swimming pools (screening) (§ 17.30.110)
• Wasco Municipal Code — Historic Downtown overlay excerpt referencing § 17.34.030 and downtown design review (H‑D) (§ 17.34.030)
• Wasco Municipal Code — P‑D combining district table (Table 2‑12) and “superior development” criteria referencing § 17.24.050(D) (landscaping by P‑D plan approval) (§ 17.24.050)
• Wasco Municipal Code — Specific Plan overlay table (Table 5‑2) referencing § 17.24.020(D) (landscaping determined by specific plan) (§ 17.24.020)
• Wasco_ZoningCode.md