Local zoning · Whittier

Whittier — Landscaping and Screening

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

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Whittier Municipal Code requires for landscaping and screening (including buffers, trees, hedges, fences, walls, and equipment/refuse screening) in each relevant zoning context. It draws directly from the city’s zoning and design standards (Title 18) and the objective design standards that control tree counts, landscape buffer widths, fence/wall heights, and screening for mechanical or refuse areas. Key rules cited below are from the Whittier Municipal Code; verify site- or parcel-specific interpretations with the City of Whittier. See the citywide zoning menu for related topics such as parking, design review, overlays, ADUs and the California Building Standards Code.

How to read the citations

Every requirement below is tied to a municipal code section using the § symbol and is followed by the file preview citation from the retrieved ordinance text so you can check the source: for example § 18.10.030 .

District-by-district breakdown

Note: Chapter and section references below are the ordinance locations that contain the landscaping/screening requirements summarized. Where the code applies citywide (e.g., fence height tables, refuse enclosures, parking buffers) those sections are referenced rather than repeating them in every zone.

R-E (Single-Family Residential Estate)

Purpose & where it applies: Established as R-E (Single-Family Residential Estate) in the zoning map list § 18.08.010 .
Landscaping & screening summary:
- Front-yard and required setbacks must be landscaped and irrigated to city commercial/residential landscape guidelines (citywide rule) — see general yard and landscaping requirements in § 18.10.030 (walls/fences and landscape rules) and definitions § 18.06.120 .
- Fences and retaining walls follow the residential fence table (maximum non-view obscuring fence heights based on lot width and exceptions for arterial/collector adjacency) — see Table 18.10.030(D) and § 18.10.030 .

Typical permitted uses: Underlying single-family uses shown in § 18.08.010 . (For complete use lists, consult the specific zone chapter.)

R-1 (Single-Family Residential)

Purpose & where it applies: R-1 is the single-family zone in the zoning table § 18.08.010 .
Key landscaping/screening rules:
- Minimum front-yard landscaping expectations: a large portion of the front yard must be planted in living material (see residential landscaping guidance and the 60% front yard planting expectation in the residential design guidance) — see § 18.10.030 .
- Fences in front/street-side yards must generally be non-view obscuring and height-limited according to lot width (see Table 18.10.030(D) and related notes) — § 18.10.030 .

Typical permitted uses: single-family dwelling and residential accessory uses as indicated in the R-1 chapter and zoning map § 18.08.010 .

R-2 (Light Multiple Residential)

Purpose & where it applies: R-2 is the light multiple residential zone listed at § 18.08.010 .
Landscaping/screening highlights:
- Open space and private open space minimums and landscaped areas are required (see R-2 development standards) — see the R-2 development standards and landscaping requirements in the R-2 chapter (development review and yard/landscaping text) § 18.16 (see the R-2 development rules in the code excerpt) .
- Where a driveway lies in a required side yard and units face that yard, a minimum five-foot landscaped strip is required between driveway and building (walkway encroachments limited) — see the R-2/R-3/R-4 landscaping provisions in the residential chapters § 18.10.030 / related zone chapters .
- Interior lot lines often require a six-foot view-obscuring fence/wall between multi-family and single-family zones (see residential fencing tables and R-3/R-4 fencing rules) — § 18.10.030 and Chapter 18.22 / R-3–R-4 rules .

Verify precise R-2 numeric development standards and permitted uses with the R-2 chapter text in the code for site-specific questions. Not all R-2 detailed dimensional rules are repeated here; see the source section referenced above.

R-3 (Medium Multiple Residential) and R-4 (Heavy Multiple Residential)

Purpose & where it applies: R-3 and R-4 are medium- and heavy-density residential zones listed in § 18.08.010; Chapter 18.22 contains R-4 purpose and permitted use material and development standards for R-3/R-4 are in their respective chapters § 18.22.010 / § 18.22.020 .
Landscaping & screening (multi-family specifics):
- Tree quantity and sizes: Small projects require at least one 24-inch box tree per unit (or equivalent) and larger projects have per-unit tree-count formulas (e.g., one tree per ten units for larger projects; one and a half 36-inch box trees per unit in some standards for five+ units) — see § 18.93.090 and supporting multi-family landscaping text .
- Walls and fences for multi-family: desirable durable materials, prohibition on chain-link in front or street-side yards, walls not to exceed six feet in required yard areas (front yard limits lower, e.g., 42 inches in certain front/street yards) — see residential fence table Table 18.10.030(D) and multi-family walls guidance § 18.10.030 / § 18.93.090 .
- Refuse and mechanical screening: Solid waste enclosures for large projects must be walled with a minimum six-foot-high decorative block wall with capped wall and metal gate, and be screened by landscaping where visible — § 18.93.090 (solid waste enclosure rules) .

C-2 / C-2-HO (General Commercial with Housing Overlay)

Purpose & where it applies: C-2-HO development standards are summarized in Table 18.30.040 (development standards table) and the C-2-HO table includes explicit landscape requirements for setback areas and adjacent-to-residential conditions § 18.30.040 .
Key landscaping/screening items:
- Setback landscape: Setback areas must be 100% planted and where adjacent to single-family zones require 5 ft minimum planter areas and 20 ft on-center tree spacing (Table 18.30.040) — see § 18.30.040 .
- Whittier Boulevard / arterial frontage: special buffer rules call for larger trees and spacing (e.g., 36‑inch box, 40–45 ft on-center depending on table row) — § 18.30.040 .
- Parking and drive-through screening: parking perimeters and drive-through aisles must be screened with berms/low walls 36–42 inches high or equivalent plantings; a landscape plan prepared by a licensed landscape architect is required for many projects — see commercial standards and design guidelines § 18.30.040 / § 18.93.090 .

M (Manufacturing)

Purpose & where it applies: Manufacturing zones (M) and their standards are in the manufacturing chapter (see M-chapter references in the code and cross-references) § 18.34.050 and related manufacturing design guidelines .
Manufacturing-specific screening:
- Where an M lot abuts an R-zoned property, the lot must have and maintain a view-obscuring wall of not less than six feet and not more than twelve feet along common side/rear lot lines; exceptions/height increases for noise attenuation or security are handled through minor conditional use permits or conditional use permits (up to 16 feet for noise attenuation in limited cases) — see § 18.34.050 .
- New manufacturing walls must follow the manufacturing design guidelines and anti-graffiti/landscaping maintenance requirements; landscaping in front of walls must be irrigated and maintained — see § 18.34.050 and § 18.98.040 (manufacturing design guidelines) .

Parking structures and non-residential parking areas

Purpose: Provide separation, screening and pedestrian-friendly treatment for parking that abuts streets or residential zones. See Chapter 18.99 for parking structure design guidelines and Chapter 18.48 for parking standards (referenced below).
Key numerical standards:
- Parking-structure setback/landscaping and screening provisions (including minimum tree sizes, plant palette, and 36‑inch box tree minimums for structures) are in § 18.99.110 and related § 18.99 subsections; trees and shrubs for structures are specified (e.g., 36‑inch box trees and 15-gallon shrubs) — see § 18.99.110 .
- Perimeter parking screening along streets: the code states a landscaped buffer at the street of at least fifteen feet width (or ten feet if bermed) with trees 30 ft on-center and a screening feature 36–42 inches in height (low wall, ornamental metal fence, or bollards) — design guideline excerpts specifying these buffer widths appear in the design standards and parking-related text (referenced under development/design guidance) § 18.99 / design standards .
- Surface parking must be separated from buildings by a five-foot landscaped strip in many non‑residential contexts — see design and parking standards § 18.99 / § 18.48 .

Quick standards table (decision-relevant)

Standard / Situation	Requirement	Code reference
Definition: "Landscaping"	Planting/maintenance of trees, shrubs, groundcovers, hardscape, structural features	§ 18.06.120
Residential fence heights (front/street-side, by lot width)	Non-view obscuring fence max: 36" (≤60' lots), 42" (61–99'), 5'6" (≥100')	Table 18.10.030(D) / § 18.10.030
Rear / interior yard wall height	6 ft maximum; exception to 8 ft next to commercial/manufacturing/Greenway Trail	§ 18.10.030(D)
Multi-family tree counts / sizes	Small projects: 1 tree (24" box) per unit; Large projects: 1 tree per 10 units or unit-based formulas in ODS	§ 18.93.090
Parking perimeter street buffer	15 ft buffer (or 10 ft if bermed); trees ~30 ft on-center; screening 36–42 in wall/fence/hedge or bollards	(Design guideline / parking standards excerpt) § 18.99 / development standards
Parking structure tree/shrub sizes	36‑inch box trees and 15‑gallon shrubs; irrigation required	§ 18.99.110
Manufacturing (M) adjacent to R zones	View‑obscuring wall 6–12 ft along side/rear lot lines; higher allowed by permit for noise/security	§ 18.34.050
Refuse enclosure	Enclosed with minimum 6‑ft decorative block wall + solid metal gate; screened with landscaping	§ 18.93.090 / refuse rules
Design review authority for fences/landscape	Director/Design Review Board reviews landscape plans, fence design exceptions, and discretionary screening for parking/large projects	§ 18.56.045 (Approval authority)

Checklist

Prepare a landscape plan showing all required buffers, tree spacing, tree sizes, irrigation, and screening elements (many projects require a licensed landscape architect) — see § 18.30.040 and § 18.93.090 .
Confirm fence/wall heights and materials meet Table 18.10.030(D) and material standards (no chain link in front/street-side yards; durable materials required) — § 18.10.030 .
Show refuse/mechanical screening per § 18.93.090 (solid enclosures, six-foot walls, gates) .
Show parking-perimeter buffers and parking-lot planting islands (tree boxes, 4–5 ft strips) and vehicle stop curbing per § 18.99 / § 18.48 .
Identify if project abuts an R-zoned lot, the Greenway Trail, railroad, or arterial street (special wall/height/buffer rules apply) — see § 18.34.050 and § 18.10.030 .
Confirm whether design review, minor CUP, or conditional use permit is required for unusual wall heights (>8 ft), noise attenuation walls, or fence exceptions — see § 18.56.045 and the M-zone provisions § 18.34.050 .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Whether a proposed fence/wall exceeds the front/street-side height limits	Front/street-side fence height limits vary by lot width and setback; noncompliance triggers design review or permit	Verify lot width and applicable lot‑width band in Table 18.10.030(D) and consult § 18.10.030
Which chapter controls a specific project’s tree-count requirement	Tree counts are in multiple places (multi-family ODS, MU/C-2 tables, parking structure rules) and differ by project type	Confirm whether the project is multi-family (see § 18.93.090) or commercial/mixed‑use (see § 18.30.040)
When a taller wall can be approved for noise attenuation or security	Manufacturing and some commercial sites may apply for higher walls (up to 12–16 ft) but require acoustical/permit findings	Confirm conditional use / minor CUP criteria in § 18.34.050 and design guidelines § 18.98.040
Landscape plan submittal scope and licensed professional requirement	Several sections state the city may require a licensed landscape architect — inadequate plans will delay approval	Verify submittal checklist and requirement in the applicable zone (e.g., § 18.30.040, § 18.93.090)
Confusing overlap between design guidelines and numeric zoning standards	Design guidelines recommend features (e.g., berms, green walls) but numeric standards (setbacks, heights) are mandatory	Use numeric standards as baseline (e.g., Table 18.10.030(D) and § 18.30.040); treat guidelines as mandatory when adopted into the chapter (see each cited §)

Plain-English Summary

Whittier’s zoning code requires permanent landscaping and visible screening for parking, mechanical equipment and trash areas, sets specific tree counts and minimum tree sizes for multi‑family and commercial projects, and limits fence/wall heights (tighter limits in front yards and special allowances when a property borders manufacturing or arterial streets). Many projects require a landscape plan (often prepared or stamped by a licensed professional) and may need design review or a conditional-permit if they exceed standard heights or propose nonstandard materials. See the cited code sections to match rules to your specific site: § 18.10.030, § 18.93.090, § 18.99.110, § 18.30.040, § 18.34.050.

Source References

Definitions: § 18.06.120 (Landscaping and landscaped areas)
Residential walls/fences / Table: Table 18.10.030(D) and § 18.10.030 (Wall, fences and retaining walls in residential zones)
Zones list (R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, M, etc.): § 18.08.010
R-4 purpose & permitted uses: § 18.22.010 and § 18.22.020 (R-4 chapter)
Multi-family landscaping and screening (trees, utilities, solid waste enclosures): § 18.93.090
Parking structure landscaping and screening: § 18.99.110 (Landscaping, screening and amenities) and related § 18.99 provisions
Commercial C-2-HO development & landscape table: Table 18.30.040 / § 18.30.040
Manufacturing zone wall/screening and noise/height exceptions: § 18.34.050 (M-zone wall/fence rules) and cross-reference to manufacturing design guidelines § 18.98.040
Approval authority / design review triggers (landscape, fences, parking screening): § 18.56.045 (Director/design review board approval authority)
Parking standards and diagrams (Appendix B): Appendix B and Chapter 18.99 / 18.48 for parking layouts and landscape fingers

Sources

Retrieved passages

Whittier Zoning Code (§ 20) High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (chapter as) High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Section plans) High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Section 18.48.070) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (§ 9308) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (section and) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Chapter 18.47) Medium relevance
CGBSC § 21155 (Section 21155) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code High relevance
CBC § 18.10.030 (Section 18.10.030) High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Section 8.32.060) High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Chapter 18.56) Medium relevance
CBC § 18.10.030 (Section 18.10.030) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Section 18.10.030) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Section 18.34.050) High relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Chapter 8.32) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Section 18.44.070C) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code (Title 18) Medium relevance
Whittier Zoning Code Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Whittier code library

Frequently asked questions

What landscaping does Whittier require for multi‑family projects?

Multi‑family projects must meet tree count and size standards in the objective design standards: small projects generally require at least one 24‑inch box tree per unit and larger projects have per‑unit tree formulas (for example, one tree per 10 units or other unit-based calculations) and must provide irrigation and maintenance per approved plans — see § 18.93.090 .

How tall can a fence or wall be in a front yard in Whittier?

Front/street‑side fence height is limited by lot width under Table 18.10.030(D): 36 inches maximum for lots ≤60 ft, 42 inches for 61–99 ft, and 5 ft 6 in for lots ≥100 ft, with special exceptions available through design review or minor permits in limited situations — § 18.10.030 .

Do I need to screen my HVAC, transformer, or trash area?

Yes. Ground‑mounted equipment must be screened from adjacent properties and primary/secondary frontages by enclosures or landscaping consistent with building materials and colors; solid waste enclosures for large projects require a minimum six‑foot decorative block wall and solid gate — § 18.93.090 .

What landscaping is required between a commercial parking lot and the street?

When parking faces a street, a landscaped buffer is required (guidelines describe 15 ft buffer or 10 ft if bermed), trees planted on spacing requirements and a screening feature 36–42 inches tall (low wall, ornamental fence, or bollards) — the parking/streetscape standards and design guidelines address this — see the applicable parking and design sections § 18.99 and related design guidance .

If my property is next to manufacturing (M) how tall can the screen wall be?

A lot in M that shares side/rear lines with an R‑zoned lot must maintain a view‑obscuring wall 6–12 ft tall; walls higher than this for noise attenuation/security require conditional use permit findings and technical justification (acoustical studies) — § 18.34.050 .

Who reviews landscape plans and fence exceptions in Whittier?

The Director of Community Development reviews many landscape, fence, sign and small permit items; the Design Review Board hears projects that exceed director thresholds or require design review (e.g., front-yard fence design exceptions, large projects or parking screening for discretionary permits) — § 18.56.045 .

Are chain‑link fences allowed?

Chain‑link fencing and “tennis windscreens” are explicitly prohibited within front and street‑side yards in residential and many multi‑family contexts; the code favors durable, attractive materials like wrought iron, textured block, or formed concrete — see § 18.10.030 and multi‑family guidelines § 18.93.090 .

What tree sizes does Whittier expect at planting for larger non‑residential projects or parking structures?

Parking structures and many non‑residential projects specify 36‑inch box trees as the minimum for required trees and 15‑gallon minimum for shrubs; irrigation and maintenance plans are required — § 18.99.110 .

If my lot is on an arterial or Whittier Boulevard, are there special buffer rules?

Yes. For parcels adjacent to Whittier Boulevard or an arterial/collector, the code requires a landscaped buffer (10 ft minimum) with trees at spacing and visibility requirements and may require a landscape plan prepared by a licensed landscape architect — see § 18.30.040 and the arterial buffer guidance in the development standards .

When can landscaping be reduced or altered?

The approval authority may require modifications or allow alternative development standards where strict adherence prevents viable development — alternative standards and findings are described in § 18.10.040 and development standards modification procedures (conditional/variance processes) — § 18.10.040 .

Ask about any Whittier property

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

Start Free Trial