Woodlake — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Woodlake's zoning ordinance requires for landscaping and screening (fences, walls, hedges, and buffers) across local zones. The core landscape rules live in Chapter 17.52 (landscape standards) and zone-specific screening rules are embedded in each zone chapter (e.g., R-VL, R-L, R-M, R-H, PO, MU, C-N, I, PF, OS) — see § 17.52.010–060 and the zone sections cited below for the controlling text . Before you draw final plans, check the city's rules for parking and setbacks/development standards as those determine where landscaping and walls must be placed: see Woodlake Parking and Woodlake Development Standards.

(First mention links: parking, development standards, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, California Building Standards Code).

How the code is organized (quick)

• The city's landscape policy and plan submittal rules are in Chapter 17.52; plan content, MWELO compliance, minimum landscape locations, and maintenance are set out there (§ 17.52.010–060) .
• Each zoning district chapter adds screening/fence/wall rules (height limits, material lists, special masonry-wall requirements where a commercial/industrial site backs to residential) — see the district summaries below and the cited § numbers.

District-by-district breakdown

Note: For each district the ordinance text gives landscaping obligations (often referencing Chapter 17.52) and separate screening/fence/wall rules. Where the ordinance does not include a full permitted-uses list in the retrieved materials, the entry below says "Not found in retrieved materials" and you must verify with the land-use table.

R-VL (Very Low‑density Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: Not fully listed in retrieved materials; verify with the local land use table.
• Landscaping: All projects must provide landscaping as prescribed by Chapter 17.52; front/street-visible setbacks must be landscaped with live plant materials (exceptions for driveways). Required landscaping must be installed prior to occupancy and maintained per § 17.12.150 and § 17.52.050 .
• Screening / fences / walls: Front and street-side yards: maximum 3 ft (a fence may be 4 ft if > 50% open). Rear and interior side yards: min 6 ft, max 7 ft. Height measured from the highest adjoining finish grade. Temporary fencing for tree/resource protection requires director approval § 17.12.160 .
• Where it applies: all land mapped R‑VL; site-plan review applies to housing projects (verify parcel applicability) § 17.12.160 .

R-L (Low‑density Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the land-use table.
• Landscaping: Yard and setback areas visible from the street must be landscaped (or up to 100% artificial turf/permeable surface where the code allows); install before occupancy and maintain per § 17.14.150 and § 17.52.050 .
• Screening / fences / walls: Front/street-side max 3 ft (or 4 ft if > 50% open). Rear/interior side: 6–7 ft. Ground-level differences: use the highest finish grade to measure height. Temporary fencing for trees/archaeology requires director review § 17.14.160 .
• Practical note: R‑L explicitly allows artificial turf/permeable surfaces in visible setbacks in the text excerpt; verify plant palette for neighborhood compatibility § 17.14.150.B .

R-M (Medium‑density Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Landscaping: Required per Chapter 17.52; install within six months of occupancy in many residential zones § 17.16.160 and § 17.52.050 .
• Screening / fences / walls: Front/street-side max 3 ft (or 4 ft if > 50% open); rear/interior side 6–7 ft; measurement from highest finish grade § 17.16.170 .

R-H (High‑density Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Landscaping: Yard/setback landscaping required as per § 17.18.150 referencing Chapter 17.52; installation timing and maintenance obligations mirror other residential zones § 17.18.150 .
• Screening / fences / walls: Same front/rear rules: 3 ft front max (see-through allowance to 4 ft), rear/interior 6–7 ft, measured from highest grade § 17.18.160 .

PO (Professional Office)

• Purpose / typical uses: The PO zone is for professional and non‑retail commercial offices near neighborhoods § 17.26.010 .
• Landscaping: Permanent landscaping in a setback not less than 15 ft from a lot line adjoining a street; required landscaping before occupancy and maintained per § 17.26.120 and § 17.52.050 .
• Screening / fences / walls: Front/street-side max 3 ft (or 4 ft if > 50% open); rear/interior side 6–7 ft; for arterial/collector streets a landscaped berm + wall combination of 6–7 ft is expected; materials limited to specific types (chain link, concrete/block, lattice, wood, wrought iron per zone text) § 17.26.130 .

MU (Mixed‑Use)

• Purpose / typical uses: The MU zone allows commercial and residential uses in a mixed environment § 17.24.010 .
• Landscaping: Areas not covered by structures or hardscape must be landscaped; required landscaping installed before occupancy and maintained per § 17.24.120 and § 17.52.050 .
• Screening / fences / walls: Where a MU lot abuts residential/PO/PF, a 7‑ft solid masonry wall is required along side/rear lines except in front/corner side yards where max is 4 ft. Open/outdoor storage must be fully screened behind a 7‑ft wall (site plan review can modify) § 17.24.130 .

C‑N / C‑S (Neighborhood/Shopping Commercial)

• Purpose / typical uses: Commercial uses (see land-use table).
• Landscaping: Commercial sites must provide landscaping in setbacks; the minimum setback landscaping width differs by zone: 15 ft in some commercial contexts (e.g., C‑N per § 17.20.120) and other chapters echo similar rules — confirm applicable chapter for your parcel § 17.20.120 .
• Screening / fences / walls: Many commercial chapters require a 7‑ft solid masonry wall where side/rear abut residential zones, with reduced height within 15 ft of a street property line on reversed corner lots; director can increase heights for noise mitigation; no fence > 4 ft and less than 66% open may be placed in front of street landscaping § 17.20.130 .

I (Industrial)

• Purpose / typical uses: Industrial uses per land‑use table.
• Landscaping: Setback landscaping required; many I‑zone rules require a 10 ft setback planting strip from lot line adjoining a street and require parking-edge landscaping (see § 17.28.120 and § 17.28.110). Install/maintain per Chapter 17.52 .
• Screening / fences / walls: Where industrial abuts residential, a 7‑ft solid masonry wall is required along side/rear property lines except reduced height close to street corners; open storage must be inside a 7‑ft min wall; razor wire/electrified fencing allowed only with Director approval where not adjacent to residences § 17.28.130 .

PF (Public Facilities)

• Purpose / typical uses: Public facilities and services (see zone); PF chapters emphasize compatibility next to residences § 17.30.010 et seq. .
• Landscaping: Building setback areas visible from a public street must be landscaped; setback planting often required per Chapter 17.52 § 17.30.130 .
• Screening / fences / walls: Fences/walls up to 7 ft allowed (front/corner-side yards limited to 4 ft except certain exceptions); where PF abuts residential, a block wall min 7 ft is required § 17.30.140 .

OS (Open Space)

• Purpose / typical uses: Conservation, recreation corridors, flood control, landscape corridors § 17.32.010 .
• Landscaping: Disturbed areas must be landscaped with natural plants to blend with the environment per § 17.32.130 and Chapter 17.52; screening requirements are referenced in § 17.32.140 .

Key code standards (decision‑relevant) — at a glance

Practical guidance / interpretation (plain-English)

• If your lot is next to a residential zone and you operate a commercial or industrial site, plan for a 7‑ft solid masonry wall along the shared property line unless the code language for your exact zone provides a waiver near the corner — the city commonly reduces wall height within 15 ft of a street property line on reversed-corner lots; see § 17.20.130 and related zone sections .
• For single-family yards expect 3 ft front fences and 6–7 ft backyard walls; measure heights from the highest adjoining finish grade and use the allowed materials lists in your zone chapter as you pick fencing materials § 17.12.160, § 17.16.170 .
• Landscape and irrigation plans must comply with the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), include hydrozones/WUCOLS/MAWA calculations, and be prepared by a licensed landscape professional (or director‑approved pro) before installation § 17.52.040 .
• Expect plan checks to coordinate with site planning (site plan review, design review) where projects involve new fences/walls, open storage, or housing projects — check the city's design review page for process steps and the site-plan review triggers (see design review).

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

• Prepare a landscape concept plan showing botanical/common names, hydrozones, and locations of trees/shrubs per § 17.52.030 .
• Submit landscape and irrigation construction plans prepared by a State‑licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, or director‑approved professional when required; include WUCOLS/MAWA and separate tree/shrub irrigation systems per § 17.52.040 .
• Meet setback landscaping widths required by the applicable zone (10 ft, 15 ft, etc.) — see the zone chapter that applies to your parcel (e.g., § 17.28.120, § 17.26.120, § 17.20.120) .
• For sites abutting residential zones, include required masonry wall details (7 ft) or an explanation for any proposed variation § 17.20.130, § 17.24.130 .
• If fence/wall heights exceed standard limits (e.g., for noise mitigation), include supporting documentation such as a noise study to request an increase by the Director § 17.20.130.2 .
• Coordinate landscape/irrigation plan approval with any required site plan review or design review processes and check parking‑edge landscaping standards in Chapter 17.54 (see parking and design review).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Woodlake requires most visible yards and setback strips to be landscaped under Chapter 17.52, with submittal-quality landscape and irrigation plans that meet the State's water-efficiency rules; fences and walls are limited in height (typically 3 ft front, 6–7 ft rear) with 7‑ft masonry walls commonly required where commercial/industrial sites abut residential zones — check the specific zone chapter that applies to your parcel and get Director/site-plan review if you need exceptions § 17.52.050, § 17.20.130, § 17.12.160 .

Source References

• Chapter 17.52 — Landscape Standards, purpose, applicability, plan submittal and minimum contents (see § 17.52.010–060) .
• R‑VL zone — Screening, fences and walls (§ 17.12.160) — front 3 ft, rear 6–7 ft, allowed materials list .
• R‑L zone — Landscaping and screening (§ 17.14.150, § 17.14.160) — front landscaping requirements; artificial turf allowance; fence rules; temporary fencing for tree protection .
• R‑M / R‑H zones — landscaping and fence/wall rules (§ 17.16.160–170, § 17.18.150–160) .
• PO zone — setback landscaping (15 ft) and fence rules (including berm + wall on arterials) (§ 17.26.120–130) .
• MU zone — mixed-use landscaping and required 7‑ft masonry walls where abutting residential (§ 17.24.120–130) .
• C‑N / C‑S / I / PF zones — zone chapters with landscaping setback widths and 7‑ft masonry-wall/open-storage screening rules (§ 17.20.120–130, § 17.28.120–130, § 17.30.130–140) .
• Open Space (OS) — landscape / screening references (§ 17.32.130–140) .
• For building‑code level requirements affecting pool enclosures and other safety features, consult the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and applicable state statutes (referenced in § 17.16.170.G.2) .

Retrieved passages

• Woodlake Zoning Code (Chapter 17.52.) High relevance show source text
• Woodlake Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Woodlake Zoning Code (Chapter 17.52.) High relevance show source text
• Woodlake Zoning Code (Chapter 17.52.) High relevance show source text
• Woodlake Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Woodlake Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Woodlake Zoning Code (section by) High relevance show source text
• Woodlake Zoning Code (section of) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **Chapter 17.52 — Landscape Standards**, purpose, applicability, plan submittal and minimum contents (see **§ 17.52.010–060**) . (Chapter 17.52)
• **R‑VL zone — Screening, fences and walls** (**§ 17.12.160**) — front **3 ft**, rear **6–7 ft**, allowed materials list . (§ 17.12.160)
• **R‑L zone — Landscaping and screening** (**§ 17.14.150**, **§ 17.14.160**) — front landscaping requirements; artificial turf allowance; fence rules; temporary fencing for tree protection . (§ 17.14.150)
• **R‑M / R‑H zones** — landscaping and fence/wall rules (**§ 17.16.160–170**, **§ 17.18.150–160**) . (§ 17.16.160)
• **PO zone** — setback landscaping (**15 ft**) and fence rules (including berm + wall on arterials) (**§ 17.26.120–130**) . (§ 17.26.120)
• **MU zone** — mixed-use landscaping and required **7‑ft** masonry walls where abutting residential (**§ 17.24.120–130**) . (§ 17.24.120)
• **C‑N / C‑S / I / PF zones** — zone chapters with landscaping setback widths and **7‑ft** masonry-wall/open-storage screening rules (**§ 17.20.120–130**, **§ 17.28.120–130**, **§ 17.30.130–140**) . (§ 17.20.120)
• **Open Space (OS)** — landscape / screening references (**§ 17.32.130–140**) . (§ 17.32.130)
• For building‑code level requirements affecting pool enclosures and other safety features, consult the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and applicable state statutes (referenced in **§ 17.16.170.G.2**) . (Title 24)
• Woodlake_ZoningCode.md

• Official Woodlake code library