Local zoning · Woodland

Woodland — Landscaping and Screening

Q: Do I need a landscape plan for a small remodel in Woodland?

If the remodel increases the building square footage by 10% or more , or if it's a new nonresidential, multifamily, or single‑family subdivision, or includes new irrigated landscaping over 500 sq ft , then a landscape plan is required and is reviewed under Development Review Tier 1 (§ 17.64.040.B–C ) .

Q: What opacity do my buffer plantings need to achieve?

Required screen planting must reach 75% opacity in summer and 60% in winter within three years of planting; shrubs used for buffer planting should be a minimum 5‑gallon size and buffer counts apply per Table 17.64.040.E‑2 (§ 17.64.040.E.3.k and Table E‑2) .

Q: Are there special rules for trees during construction?

Yes. Before construction begins you must install a Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) fence at the dripline for trees to be preserved; activities within the TPZ (storage, soil disturbance, cutting roots >2" without approval) are restricted (§ 17.64.040.N.1–3 ) .

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

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Woodland's Zoning Code organizes landscaping, buffering, screening, and fence/wall rules primarily in Chapter 17.64 (General Site Standards — Landscaping) and Chapter 17.70 (Screening Standards). These chapters set minimum landscape area percentages by zone, parking-area planting and tree requirements, opacity and buffer-type standards along common property lines, and material/height rules for fences and walls; they apply to most new development, renovations above specified thresholds, and outdoor storage or equipment that is visible from public rights-of-way or lower‑intensity zones (§ 17.64.040, § 17.70.010) . For projects that trigger review, provide the required landscape plan and comply with state water‑efficiency rules and local tree protections (§ 17.64.040.B–D) .

This page explains what the code actually requires (not building code, permitting mechanics, or tenant law), shows where rules differ by zone, and gives practical checklists and verification items.

Note: Where the page references other topics in the city menu, follow those links for related processes (e.g., zoning, development standards, parking, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

What the Code requires (district-by-district landscaping & screening)

Below are the Woodland zones called out by the landscaping chapter and the code provisions that most directly affect project design. For each zone the emphasis is on the landscaping/screening requirements in Chapter 17.64 and the screening rules in Chapter 17.70; for full use tables and dimensional standards consult the City's zoning resources and the applicable zone chapters (see Woodland Zoning and Woodland Development Standards).

General purpose for all zones: Promote permanent, water‑efficient landscaping, transitions between land uses, preserve tree canopy, and implement the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (§ 17.64.040.A) .

R‑H (High‑density Residential)

Purpose / where it applies: Residential zone; landscaping rules applicable to new multifamily/residential subdivisions and changes that trigger building permits (§ 17.64.040.B) .
Key landscaping standard: 20% minimum net lot landscape area required for R‑H (§ 17.64.040.E.1.a) .
Buffering & screening: When adjacent to lower‑intensity zones the required common property line buffer type is set by Table 17.64.040.E‑1 and Type details in Table 17.64.040.E‑2 (see buffer widths, tree/shrub counts, and fence material requirements) (§ 17.64.040.E.3–4) .

Community/Mixed‑Use Zones (CMU‑WM, CMU‑E, CMU‑K, CMU‑G, CMU‑F)

Purpose / typical context: Community‑scale mixed‑use/commercial corridors (see zoning maps) — landscaping rules apply for new nonresidential and multifamily projects (§ 17.64.040.B) .
Key landscaping standard: 10% minimum net lot landscape area for these CMU variants (§ 17.64.040.E.1.b) .
Street‑facing walls and planter requirements and building perimeter planting apply per § 17.64.040.E.2–4; screening rules for outdoor storage and service elements apply (§ 17.70.010–020) .

CMU‑A, CCMU, NMU (Other Mixed‑Use / Neighborhood‑Mixed)

Key landscaping standard: 15% minimum net lot landscape area (§ 17.64.040.E.1.c) .
Building perimeter planting: nonresidential fronting public streets must provide planters along at least 20% of the building face, min 3 ft wide (§ 17.64.040.E.4) .

RC‑F (Regional/Commercial/Factory‑front)

Key landscaping standard: 15% minimum landscape area (§ 17.64.040.E.1.d) .
Outdoor storage and industrial uses have higher screening and surfacing requirements (screen to 8 ft where applicable; see § 17.64.100 and § 17.64.040 cross‑refs) .

Employment Zones: IF, IG, BP

Purpose / context: Industrial and business parks; additional site design standards for landscaping and buffer between employment and lower intensity zones (§ 17.56.070.M) .
Key landscaping standard: 15% minimum landscape area (§ 17.64.040.E.1.e) .
Special rules: 10‑ft landscaped strip between parking areas in front of buildings and the right‑of‑way required; additional buffer requirements in § 17.56.070.M.4 and screening of all outdoor storage per Chapter 17.70 .

Downtown / Mixed‑Use / DX

Building perimeter planting exceptions: the planter requirement does not apply to DX zones for building faces (§ 17.64.040.E.4.a) .
Chain‑link fencing is prohibited in Residential and Downtown zones; more protective materials and design are required for street‑facing fences (§ 17.64.030.F.5.a) .

Public or Open Space; R‑L or N‑P

Buffer matrix: Table 17.64.040.E‑1 shows required buffers between these zones and adjoining zones (Type 1 or Type 2 buffers) and Table 17.64.040.E‑2 defines the plant/fence quantities and widths (§ 17.64.040.E.3, Tables E‑1 & E‑2) .

Key numeric standards (quick reference table)

Requirement	Standard / Value	Code Reference
Minimum net landscape area — R‑H	20%	§ 17.64.040.E.1.a
Minimum net landscape area — CMU‑WM/CMU‑E/CMU‑K/CMU‑G/CMU‑F	10%	§ 17.64.040.E.1.b
Minimum net landscape area — CMU‑A/CCMU/NMU/RC‑F/IF/IG/BP	15%	§ 17.64.040.E.1.c–e
Parking-area interior landscaping	≥ 6% of interior parking area; minimum tree wells 6'×6'	§ 17.64.040.F.1, F.4
Building perimeter planting (nonresidential)	Planters along 20% of building face; min 3 ft width	§ 17.64.040.E.4
Front setback fence height limit	3 ft. 6 in. (3.5 ft) in required front setback	§ 17.64.030
Rear & interior side fence/wall height	7 ft. max (behind required front setback)	§ 17.64.030.D.4
Roadway‑facing wall height	6 ft. typical; higher with documented need/noise study (mounding rules apply)	§ 17.64.030
Screening for outdoor industrial storage	8 ft. minimum screening; combination of wall/fence + landscaping	§ 17.64.040 and § 17.64.100
Screen planting opacity	75% summer / 60% winter within 3 years	§ 17.64.040.E.3.k
Buffer types (Type 1 / Type 2)	Type 1 = 10 ft width; Type 2 = 15 ft width; tree/shrub counts per Table E‑2	Table 17.64.040.E‑2 (§ 17.64.040.E)
Landscape plan & permitting	Landscape plan required; Development Review Tier 1 for new/rehab landscaping	§ 17.64.040.C.1–2

Practical guidance / how to design to comply

Start with a landscape plan drawn to the code checklist in § 17.64.040.C; the plan must show property lines, easements, structures, grading, planting list with botanical/common names, container sizes, and distance of trees to structures (large trees not closer than 15 ft, medium not closer than 10 ft) (§ 17.64.040.C.iii–iv) .
Use drought‑tolerant species and follow the City’s water conservation requirements (MWELO, CalGreen, Woodland Chapters 12.48 Trees and 13.32 Water Conservation) (§ 17.64.040.D) .
Provide automated irrigation with rain shut‑off valves and plan for maintenance funding or a Landscape Maintenance Agreement; the City may require security to guarantee upkeep (§ 17.64.040.D, 17.64.040.N, and § 17.64.040.12 ) .
For screening mechanicals, trash enclosures, and outdoor storage use either landscaping ≥ 3 ft tall at maturity or architectural screens matching building materials; outdoor storage visible from rights‑of‑way must be fully screened and may require 8 ft screening (§ 17.64.040.C.g, Chapter 17.70) .
Coordinate parking lot trees/planters with vehicle circulation and the parking standards in Chapter 17.68; minimum planter sizes and interior landscaping percentages are mandatory (§ 17.64.040.F, § 17.68.090) .
If the project is subject to design review, the reviewing authority will evaluate landscape compliance as part of that process (see design review and § 17.100.050) .

Checklist

Prepare a full landscape plan meeting the minimum content in § 17.64.040.C (plant list with botanical/common names, sizes, spacing; grading; irrigation) .
Demonstrate minimum net landscape area per zone (see Table 17.64.040.E‑1) (§ 17.64.040.E.1) .
Show parking lot landscaping and tree wells per § 17.64.040.F and coordinate with Woodland Parking standards .
Provide screening details for service areas, HVAC, and outdoor storage per Chapter 17.70 (opacity, materials, and height) .
Identify any existing trees to preserve and include tree protection measures during construction per § 17.64.040.N and Woodland Chapter 12.48 (Trees) .
Install automated irrigation with rain shut‑off and confirm MWELO/CalGreen compliance (§ 17.64.040.D) .
Provide maintenance funding/agreement and schedule; be prepared to post security if requested (§ 17.64.040.12, § 17.64.040.N.5) .
For fences/walls: dimension and material callouts showing compliance with street‑facing height/material rules (§ 17.64.030) .
Submit materials for Development Review Tier 1 if required for landscaping (§ 17.64.040.C.2) and coordinate with design review if applicable .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
"Alternative buffering" options	Director can approve alternatives (wing walls, translucent materials, building placement) which affects permit review and timeline (§ 17.64.040.E.3.c)	Confirm in pre‑application meeting whether proposed alternative is acceptable; obtain written finding from Director.
Chain‑link fence exceptions	Chain‑link is generally prohibited in Residential and Downtown zones; exceptions for powder‑coated chain link may be allowed in IF/IG (§ 17.64.030.F.5)	Verify material allowances with the Director and whether the parcel's zone permits exceptions.
Screening height/security tradeoffs	Screening height for industrial storage defaults to 8 ft, but may be modified for security with concurrence of Police Chief (§ 17.64.040.E.3 and § 17.64.100)	Confirm Police Chief concurrence early if higher screening is proposed for security.
Tree preservation vs. new construction	Tree removal on vacant/undeveloped or nonresidential projects triggers Chapter 12.48 requirements (§ 17.64.040.B.6)	Submit arborist report; check replacement/mitigation obligations with City Arborist.
Front setback fence exceptions	A fence up to 7 ft is allowed in some cases where it is an extension of the primary structure within a five‑foot setback (§ 17.64.030.D.3.i )	Verify exact front setback distances on the parcel and whether the primary structure qualifies for this exception.
Applicability thresholds	Landscaping rules apply to new nonresidential, multifamily, subdivisions, irrigation >500 sq ft, and modifications >10% building area (§ 17.64.040.B)	Confirm whether your project crosses any of the listed thresholds; if close, verify with Planning staff.

Plain‑English Summary

Woodland requires most new buildings, large remodels, and projects with new parking or outdoor storage to provide permanent, drought‑tolerant landscaping, parking lot trees/islands, and screening of service yards; minimum landscape areas and buffer types depend on the zone (e.g., R‑H 20%, many mixed‑use/commercial and employment zones 15% or 10%) and specific fence/wall heights, screening opacity, and planting quantities are spelled out in Chapter 17.64 and Chapter 17.70 (§ 17.64.040, Chapter 17.70) .

Source References

Woodland Zoning Code, Chapter 17.64, General Site Standards — Landscaping: § 17.64.040 (purpose, applicability, landscape plan contents, buffer tables, parking landscaping, irrigation, timing) .
Woodland Zoning Code, Chapter 17.64, Fences, Walls, and Hedges: fence/wall heights, materials, chain‑link limitations: § 17.64.030 .
Woodland Zoning Code, Chapter 17.70, Screening Standards: applicability to equipment, outdoor storage, and screening requirements: § 17.70.010–020 .
Parking, loading and related landscape tie‑ins (off‑street parking landscape minimums and design): § 17.68.090 and cross references to § 17.64.040.F .
Nonconforming property improvements (when additions trigger landscape and screening upgrades): § 17.80.060.B .
Tree protection during construction and maintenance/TPZ rules: § 17.64.040.N and Woodland Municipal Chapter 12.48 (Trees) .
Tables and buffer definitions (Table 17.64.040.E‑1 and Table 17.64.040.E‑2) specifying buffer types, widths, and plant counts: § 17.64.040.E and related Figures/Tables .

Sources

Retrieved passages

CBC § 17.64.040 (§ 17.64.040.) High relevance
CGBSC § 030 High relevance
CGBSC § 100.130 High relevance
Woodland Zoning Code (Chapter 17.70.) High relevance
Woodland Zoning Code (§ 17.80.060.) High relevance
Woodland Zoning Code (Chapter 17.72.) High relevance
Woodland Zoning Code (Chapter 17.72.) High relevance
CGBSC § 17.64.040 (§ 17.64.040.) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Woodland code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a landscape plan for a small remodel in Woodland?

If the remodel increases the building square footage by 10% or more, or if it's a new nonresidential, multifamily, or single‑family subdivision, or includes new irrigated landscaping over 500 sq ft, then a landscape plan is required and is reviewed under Development Review Tier 1 (§ 17.64.040.B–C) .

What minimum percentage of my lot must be landscaped?

Minimum net lot landscape percentages vary by zone; for example R‑H = 20%, many CMU variants = 10%, and CMU‑A/CCMU/NMU/IF/IG/BP = 15% — see Table 17.64.040.E‑1 in § 17.64.040.E.1 for the full list and apply the number for your parcel's zone .

How tall can my front yard fence be?

Fences in the required front setback (and within five feet of a corner side yard) may not exceed 3 ft 6 in. (3.5 ft) unless a specific exception applies; see § 17.64.030 for exceptions and material rules, including prohibition of chain‑link in residential and downtown zones .

Do parking lots need trees or planters?

Yes — at least 6% of the interior of required parking areas must be permanent landscaping (in addition to shading/other rules). Each tree must be in a minimum 6'×6' tree well or a continuous planting area at least 6 ft wide; see § 17.64.040.F and coordinate with parking standards .

What opacity do my buffer plantings need to achieve?

Required screen planting must reach 75% opacity in summer and 60% in winter within three years of planting; shrubs used for buffer planting should be a minimum 5‑gallon size and buffer counts apply per Table 17.64.040.E‑2 (§ 17.64.040.E.3.k and Table E‑2) .

How are outdoor service yards and industrial storage screened?

All outdoor storage and service yards visible from a public right‑of‑way or adjacent lower‑intensity zone must be screened — often to 8 ft — with a combination of walls/fences and landscaping, or an equivalent solution; modifications for security require concurrence from the Director and the Police Chief (§ 17.70.010, § 17.64.100, § 17.64.040.E) .

When must landscaping be installed?

The code requires that all required landscaping be installed prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the building (§ 17.64.040.E.l) .

Are there special rules for trees during construction?

Yes. Before construction begins you must install a Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) fence at the dripline for trees to be preserved; activities within the TPZ (storage, soil disturbance, cutting roots >2" without approval) are restricted (§ 17.64.040.N.1–3) .

Can I substitute a wall for a planting buffer?

The Director may approve alternative buffering/screening measures provided the alternative achieves the same purpose; acceptable alternatives are listed in § 17.64.040.E.3.c (wing walls, louvers, building placement, etc.), but you should confirm acceptance during review .

Do these landscaping rules apply to ADUs?

Landscaping applicability depends on whether the ADU or associated work triggers a building permit or other discretionary approvals; landscaping rules are tied to the thresholds listed in § 17.64.040.B. For ADU‑specific rules also consult the City's ADU guidance and California ADU law; see Woodland ADUs and state ADU rules (/us/california/california-adu-laws) for overlap with local landscaping triggers . ---

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