Windsor — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Town of Windsor's Zoning Code requires for landscaping, screening, fences/walls/hedges, and tree protection. It is grounded in the Town's zoning chapters (not general building or state permitting rules) and explains who must submit landscape plans, minimum planting and screening standards, and how screening interacts with use-specific zones. For zoning context see the Windsor zoning & planning overview and the Windsor Zoning pages. (§ 17.28.010; § 17.06.020)

(Note: this page stays inside the Windsor Zoning Code — for building-code requirements see the California Building Standards Code.) California Building Standards Code

Controlling rules at a glance (quick references)

• Landscape plan required: Preliminary with entitlement and Final before building permit — § 17.28.030.
• Where landscaping applies: required for all development post-adoption; setback/open-space areas, parking areas, unused areas — § 17.28.020, § 17.28.040.
• Parking-lot screening: plantings shall screen cars to 30–42 inches high — § 17.28.040.C.5.b.
• Fences/walls/hedges max heights: front & street-side: 3 ft; side/rear: 6 ft unless noted otherwise — § 17.26.030 and Table 17.26‑01.
• Screening of mechanical, loading, refuse: required where visible from streets/residential zones; method must be architecturally compatible; landscaping adjacent to walls as directed by Director — § 17.26.080.C.
• Tree protection & replacement (protected trees / in‑lieu fees / security deposits): see § 17.22.030 and tree mitigation rules § 17.36.061.

For development standards (setbacks, height, parcel coverage) that shape how much landscape/screening fits on a lot, consult the Town's development standards tables. Windsor Development Standards (§ 17.10.040; § 17.12.020).

District-by-district landscaping & screening guidance

Below are Windsor's principal base zones where landscaping and screening requirements commonly affect project design. Each subsection gives the zone name, purpose, typical uses, and the most relevant dimensional or landscape-linked standards you will need to check on a project-by-project basis.

Note: the Zoning Map and exact application of these zones determine which rules apply; see Table 17.06‑01 for the zone list. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel-specific mapping. (§ 17.06.020)

RR (Rural Residential)

• Purpose: preserve rural character and limit intensity. (§ 17.06.020)
• Typical uses: large-lot single-family homes, accessory agricultural uses. (§ 17.10.040 / Table 17.10‑02)
• Key standards affecting landscaping: very large minimum lot areas and generous setbacks (see the Residential table), so perimeter landscape buffers are typically accomplished with larger setbacks and retained trees; tree-protection rules apply for protected trees on-site (see § 17.22.030).

ER (Estate Residential) and SR (Suburban Residential)

• Purpose: estate/low-density residential living with larger lots than urban residential zones. (§ 17.10.040 table)
• Typical uses: single-family dwellings, accessory buildings.
• Key standards: setbacks and parcel coverage limits limit the space available for perimeter planting; landscaping required in setbacks and open-space areas (§ 17.28.040.A) and protected trees are regulated.

VR (Village Residential)

• Purpose: low‑density urban neighborhood character; more compact lots than ER/SR. (§ 17.10.040)
• Typical uses: smaller-lot single-family homes.
• Key standards: where lot size is smaller the code expects creative landscape design to meet setback and open-space landscape requirements; landscape plans reviewed per § 17.28.030.

MDR (Medium Density Residential) and CR (Compact Residential)

• Purpose: allow multi-unit and compact development with shared open space and required amenities. (§ 17.10.060; § 17.92.040)
• Typical uses: duplexes, apartments, townhomes, and multi-unit projects.
• Key standards: multi-unit projects must provide unit open space and landscaping; pedestrian paths must be planted with shade trees at max 30‑ft intervals and 50% of trees deciduous (multi‑unit standards, § 17.92.040.F). Tree planting minimum size in some multi‑unit standards is 15‑gallon at planting (§ 17.92.040) and projects must submit preliminary and final landscape plans per § 17.28.030.

NCMU / BMU / TC (Neighborhood Commercial, Boulevard Mixed-Use, Town Center Mixed-Use)

• Purpose: compact commercial or mixed-use areas with pedestrian orientation and higher FAR/density. (§ 17.12.020; Table 17.12‑02)
• Typical uses: shops, restaurants, housing above retail.
• Key standards affecting landscaping / screening: small or zero front-yard landscaping in Town Center must be traded for public open space or enhanced frontage treatments as allowed by the Review Authority; parking-lot landscaping and perimeter planting strips still apply where parking is present (§ 17.28.040.C). For mixed-use sites, screening requirements for mechanical, refuse and loading areas are explicitly required § 17.26.080.C.1.

CC / GC / SC / BC (Community Commercial, Gateway Commercial, Service Commercial, Boulevard Commercial)

• Purpose: larger-scale commercial uses with vehicle access. (§ 17.12.020; Table 17.12‑02)
• Typical uses: retail centers, automobile-oriented services, big-box and service uses.
• Key standards: parking-lot perimeter planting strip depth equal to the required setback or minimum 5 ft, and parking screening to 30–42 in high is required (§ 17.28.040.C.5.a–b). Outdoor storage, garden-supply areas and mechanical equipment must be screened (fence, wall, landscaping) per § 17.26.080.C–D.

PI (Public / Institutional) and OS (Open Space)

• Purpose: civic uses, parks, and permanent open-space; landscaping and tree preservation are prioritized. (§ 17.16‑02 notes)
• Typical uses: schools, parks, public facilities.
• Key standards: public-right‑of‑way landscaping has separate Subdivision Ordinance rules (Title XVI) and Town WELO applies; tree planting in public spaces may be funded/maintained differently (see tree mitigation fund rules in § 17.36.061).

Key standards and examples (decision‑relevant table)

Practical guidance & interpretation (plain-English synthesis)

• Submit a Preliminary Landscape Plan with any land‑use permit and a Final Landscape Plan before a Building Permit — the Director checks conformance (so include irrigation, plant palette (WELO), tree data, and screening details). § 17.28.030
• Treat parking as both a landscape and a screening exercise: perimeter strips and islands count toward landscaped area, but must not force pedestrians to walk through plantings; plan 30–42‑inch shrubs/hedges to screen vehicle views where required. § 17.28.040.C
• Use fencing strategically but remember height limits: front/street‑side 3 ft, side/rear 6 ft, and exceptions for noise walls (Director discretion). Where security fencing is used in nonresidential zones, special rules apply (max 8 ft including barbed wire; Director approval required). § 17.26.030; § 17.26.070; § 17.26.080.B
• Mechanical, refuse, loading and outdoor storage must be screened from neighboring residential and public streets; the Director can require visible security‑capable screening to maintain CPTED/safety while allowing inspectionability. § 17.26.080.C
• Protect existing mature/protected trees — arborist reports, replacement tree calculations, and in‑lieu fees/security deposits are well‑documented in the code. Don't assume removal is allowed without a permit. § 17.22.030; § 17.36.061

Across all zones the Review Authority may impose conditions (buffers, screening, landscaping) when issuing permits — expect conditions tailored to adjacency and use. (See variance/condition rules.) § 17.42.060 and site‑plan review chapters.

Also consult these related Town topics while designing: Windsor Parking, Windsor Design Review, Windsor Overlay Districts, Windsor Development Standards, and Windsor ADUs.

Checklist (applicant must satisfy)

• Determine the base zone and any overlays that apply; confirm zoning map/parcels. (§ 17.06.020)
• Submit a Preliminary Landscape Plan with your land‑use entitlement application. (§ 17.28.030)
• Prepare a Final Landscape Plan consistent with WELO and LID before Building Permit: show irrigation, species, sizes, and maintenance. (§ 17.28.030; Title XII WELO)
• Show parking-lot landscaping and perimeter planting strips; specify screening height (30–42 in) for car screening. (§ 17.28.040.C)
• Show screening for mechanical equipment, refuse, loading, and outdoor storage; materials must be architecturally compatible. (§ 17.26.080.C)
• Identify protected trees; if impacted, include arborist report and replacement/mitigation plan or in‑lieu fee calculation. (§ 17.22.030; § 17.36.061)
• Ensure fences/walls meet height limits in Table 17.26‑01; request Director waiver only when justified. (§ 17.26.030; § 17.26.020.B)
• Comply with any special zone requirements for open space/landscape (e.g., CR, MDR, Town Center) found in the development‑standards tables. (See Windsor Development Standards).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Windsor requires a landscape plan with most new development, expects water‑efficient planting (WELO), protects mature trees, sets specific parking-lot planting and fence‑height rules (front/street 3 ft, side/rear 6 ft), and requires screening of mechanical/refuse/loading areas; the Planning Director reviews plans and can impose site‑specific screening or buffer conditions. § 17.28.030; § 17.28.040; § 17.26.030; § 17.26.080.

Information Gaps

• The exact "instructions for preparing landscape plans" referenced in § 17.28.030.C (the Town's submittal checklist) were not included in the retrieved materials — verify with Planning. Not found in retrieved materials.
• A local approved plant palette or species list (beyond the WELO and WUCOLS references) was not included — verify with Planning or Public Works. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Fee amounts (landscape review, plan checks, in-lieu payments) are not in the zoning extracts provided — check fee schedules. Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

• Windsor Zoning Code — Landscaping: § 17.28.010 – § 17.28.040 (purpose, applicability, landscape plan approval, landscape area requirements).
• Windsor Zoning Code — Screening/Buffering & Fences: § 17.26.010 – § 17.26.080 (fences/walls/hedges, heights, screening of equipment).
• Multi‑Unit Residential design and landscape provisions (pedestrian tree spacing, plant selection, 15‑gal tree size): § 17.92.040.
• Mobile‑home park development standards (landscaping and six‑foot screening option): § 17.34.120.A.8–10.
• Parking / parking‑lot landscaping specifics: § 17.28.040.C.
• Tree replacement and in‑lieu fee rules: § 17.36.061 and tree preservation § 17.22.030.
• Table and zone classifications / development standards: Table 17.06‑01 and Table 17.10‑02 / Table 17.12‑02 (development standards for residential and commercial/mixed‑use zones).

Retrieved passages

• Windsor Zoning Code (Section 17.28) High relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (Chapter 17.58) High relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (chapter apply) High relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (Section 17.28) High relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (Chapter 17.28) High relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (Chapter 17.30) High relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (section establishes) High relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (chapter establishes) High relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (section of) Medium relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (§26-201.6) Medium relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (section of) Medium relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (Title X) Medium relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (section of) Medium relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Windsor Zoning Code (Article 2) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Windsor Zoning Code — Landscaping: **§ 17.28.010 – § 17.28.040** (purpose, applicability, landscape plan approval, landscape area requirements). (§ 17.28.010)
• Windsor Zoning Code — Screening/Buffering & Fences: **§ 17.26.010 – § 17.26.080** (fences/walls/hedges, heights, screening of equipment). (§ 17.26.010)
• Multi‑Unit Residential design and landscape provisions (pedestrian tree spacing, plant selection, 15‑gal tree size): **§ 17.92.040**. (§ 17.92.040)
• Mobile‑home park development standards (landscaping and six‑foot screening option): **§ 17.34.120.A.8–10**. (§ 17.34.120.A.8)
• Parking / parking‑lot landscaping specifics: **§ 17.28.040.C**. (§ 17.28.040.C)
• Tree replacement and in‑lieu fee rules: **§ 17.36.061** and tree preservation **§ 17.22.030**. (§ 17.36.061)
• Table and zone classifications / development standards: **Table 17.06‑01** and **Table 17.10‑02 / Table 17.12‑02** (development standards for residential and commercial/mixed‑use zones).
• Windsor_ZoningCode.md

• Official Windsor code library