diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d798147d6..f61ea5bf9 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ list(APPEND INCLUDE_FILES
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/mbgl/platform/settings.hpp
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/mbgl/platform/thread.hpp
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/mbgl/renderer/query.hpp
+    ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/mbgl/renderer/layer_group.hpp
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/mbgl/renderer/renderer.hpp
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/mbgl/renderer/renderer_frontend.hpp
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/include/mbgl/renderer/renderer_observer.hpp
@@ -518,6 +519,7 @@ list(APPEND SRC_FILES
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/mbgl/renderer/image_manager.cpp
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/mbgl/renderer/image_manager.hpp
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/mbgl/renderer/image_manager_observer.hpp
+    ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/mbgl/renderer/layer_group.cpp
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/mbgl/renderer/layers/render_background_layer.cpp
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/mbgl/renderer/layers/render_background_layer.hpp
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/mbgl/renderer/layers/render_circle_layer.cpp
diff --git a/include/mbgl/renderer/change_request.hpp b/include/mbgl/renderer/change_request.hpp
index 3a6699726..e75096329 100644
--- a/include/mbgl/renderer/change_request.hpp
+++ b/include/mbgl/renderer/change_request.hpp
@@ -7,9 +7,15 @@
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace mbgl {
-
+class ChangeRequest;
+class LayerGroup;
 class RenderOrchestrator;
 
+using ChangeRequestPtr = std::shared_ptr<ChangeRequest>;
+using UniqueChangeRequest = std::unique_ptr<ChangeRequest>;
+using UniqueChangeRequestVec = std::vector<UniqueChangeRequest>;
+using UniqueLayerGroup = std::unique_ptr<LayerGroup>;
+
 namespace gfx {
 class Drawable;
 using DrawablePtr = std::shared_ptr<Drawable>;
@@ -30,20 +36,15 @@ public:
 protected:
 };
 
-using ChangeRequestPtr = std::shared_ptr<ChangeRequest>;
-using UniqueChangeRequest = std::unique_ptr<ChangeRequest>;
-using UniqueChangeRequestVec = std::vector<UniqueChangeRequest>;
-
 /**
-    Base for drawable-related change requests
+    Base for change requests based on an ID reference
  */
-class DrawableRefChangeRequest : public ChangeRequest {
+class RefChangeRequest : public ChangeRequest {
 protected:
-    DrawableRefChangeRequest(util::SimpleIdentity id)
-        : drawableID(id) {}
-    DrawableRefChangeRequest(const DrawableRefChangeRequest &) = default;
+    RefChangeRequest(util::SimpleIdentity id_) : id(id_) {}
+    RefChangeRequest(const RefChangeRequest&) = default;
 
-    util::SimpleIdentity drawableID;
+    util::SimpleIdentity id;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ public:
     AddDrawableRequest(AddDrawableRequest &&other)
         : drawable(std::move(other.drawable)) {}
 
-    void execute(RenderOrchestrator &) override;
+    void execute(RenderOrchestrator&) override;
 
 protected:
     gfx::DrawablePtr drawable;
@@ -65,29 +66,58 @@ protected:
 /**
     Remove a drawable from the scene
  */
-class RemoveDrawableRequest : public DrawableRefChangeRequest {
+class RemoveDrawableRequest : public RefChangeRequest {
 public:
     RemoveDrawableRequest(util::SimpleIdentity id)
-        : DrawableRefChangeRequest(id) {}
+        : RefChangeRequest(id) {}
     RemoveDrawableRequest(const RemoveDrawableRequest &) = default;
 
-    void execute(RenderOrchestrator &) override;
+    void execute(RenderOrchestrator&) override;
 };
 
 /**
     Change the color of all vertexes
  */
-class ResetColorRequest : public DrawableRefChangeRequest {
+class ResetColorRequest : public RefChangeRequest {
 public:
     ResetColorRequest(util::SimpleIdentity id, Color color)
-        : DrawableRefChangeRequest(id),
+        : RefChangeRequest(id),
           newColor(color) {}
     ResetColorRequest(const ResetColorRequest &other) = default;
 
-    void execute(RenderOrchestrator &) override;
+    void execute(RenderOrchestrator&) override;
 
 protected:
     Color newColor;
 };
 
+
+/**
+    Add a new layer group to the scene
+ */
+class AddLayerGroupRequest : public ChangeRequest {
+public:
+    AddLayerGroupRequest(UniqueLayerGroup&& layerGroup_, bool canReplace);
+    AddLayerGroupRequest(AddLayerGroupRequest&& other);
+
+    void execute(RenderOrchestrator&) override;
+
+protected:
+    UniqueLayerGroup layerGroup;
+    bool replace;
+};
+
+/**
+    Remove a layer group from the scene
+ */
+class RemoveLayerGroupRequest : public RefChangeRequest {
+public:
+    RemoveLayerGroupRequest(util::SimpleIdentity id)
+        : RefChangeRequest(id) {}
+    RemoveLayerGroupRequest(const RemoveLayerGroupRequest &) = default;
+
+    void execute(RenderOrchestrator&) override;
+};
+
+
 } // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/include/mbgl/renderer/layer_group.hpp b/include/mbgl/renderer/layer_group.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0b59486e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/mbgl/renderer/layer_group.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <mbgl/renderer/render_pass.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/tile/tile_id.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/util/identity.hpp>
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace mbgl {
+class LayerGroup;
+class PaintParameters;
+class RenderOrchestrator;
+class TileLayerGroup;
+
+using LayerGroupPtr = std::shared_ptr<LayerGroup>;
+
+namespace gfx {
+class Context;
+class Drawable;
+class UploadPass;
+
+using DrawablePtr = std::shared_ptr<Drawable>;
+using UniqueDrawable = std::unique_ptr<Drawable>;
+} // namespace gfx
+
+/**
+    A layer-like group of drawables, not a group of layers.
+ */
+class LayerGroup : public util::SimpleIdentifiable {
+protected:
+    LayerGroup(int32_t layerIndex);
+    LayerGroup(const LayerGroup&) = delete;
+    LayerGroup& operator=(const LayerGroup&) = delete;
+
+public:
+    virtual ~LayerGroup() = default;
+
+    int32_t getLayerIndex() const { return layerIndex; }
+
+    /// Called before starting each frame
+    virtual void preRender(RenderOrchestrator&, PaintParameters&) { }
+    /// Called during the upload pass
+    virtual void upload(gfx::Context&, gfx::UploadPass&) { }
+    /// Called during each render pass
+    virtual void render(RenderOrchestrator&, PaintParameters&) { }
+    /// Called at the end of each frame
+    virtual void postRender(RenderOrchestrator&, PaintParameters&) { }
+
+protected:
+    int32_t layerIndex;
+};
+
+/**
+    A layer group for tile-based drawables
+ */
+class TileLayerGroup : public LayerGroup {
+public:
+    TileLayerGroup(int32_t layerIndex, std::size_t initialCapacity);
+    ~TileLayerGroup() override;
+
+    void render(RenderOrchestrator&, PaintParameters&) override;
+
+protected:
+    struct Impl;
+    std::unique_ptr<Impl> impl;
+};
+
+
+} // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/renderer/change_request.cpp b/src/mbgl/renderer/change_request.cpp
index df67fd8ed..4cec5b75b 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/renderer/change_request.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/renderer/change_request.cpp
@@ -8,13 +8,29 @@ void AddDrawableRequest::execute(RenderOrchestrator &orchestrator) {
 }
 
 void RemoveDrawableRequest::execute(RenderOrchestrator &orchestrator) {
-    orchestrator.removeDrawable(drawableID);
+    orchestrator.removeDrawable(id);
 }
 
 void ResetColorRequest::execute(RenderOrchestrator &orchestrator) {
-    if (auto &drawable = orchestrator.getDrawable(drawableID)) {
+    if (auto &drawable = orchestrator.getDrawable(id)) {
         drawable->resetColor(newColor);
     }
 }
 
+AddLayerGroupRequest::AddLayerGroupRequest(UniqueLayerGroup&& layerGroup_, bool canReplace)
+    : layerGroup(std::move(layerGroup_)), replace(canReplace) {
+}
+
+AddLayerGroupRequest::AddLayerGroupRequest(AddLayerGroupRequest&& other)
+    : layerGroup(std::move(other.layerGroup)) {
+}
+
+void AddLayerGroupRequest::execute(RenderOrchestrator &orchestrator) {
+    orchestrator.addLayerGroup(std::move(layerGroup), replace);
+}
+
+void RemoveLayerGroupRequest::execute(RenderOrchestrator &orchestrator) {
+    orchestrator.removeLayerGroup(id);
+}
+
 } // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/renderer/layer_group.cpp b/src/mbgl/renderer/layer_group.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..737d3afab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mbgl/renderer/layer_group.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#include <mbgl/renderer/layer_group.hpp>
+
+#include <mbgl/gfx/upload_pass.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/renderer/paint_parameters.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/renderer/render_orchestrator.hpp>
+
+#include <unordered_map>
+
+namespace mbgl {
+
+struct TileLayerGroupTileKey {
+    mbgl::RenderPass renderPass;
+    OverscaledTileID tileID;
+    bool operator==(const TileLayerGroupTileKey& other) const {
+        return renderPass == other.renderPass && tileID == other.tileID;
+    }
+    struct hash {
+        size_t operator()(const mbgl::TileLayerGroupTileKey& k) const {
+            return (std::hash<mbgl::RenderPass>()(k.renderPass) ^
+                    std::hash<OverscaledTileID>()(k.tileID) << 1);
+        }
+    };
+};
+
+struct TileLayerGroup::Impl {
+    Impl(std::size_t capacity) : tileDrawables(capacity) { }
+    
+    using TileMap = std::unordered_map<TileLayerGroupTileKey, gfx::UniqueDrawable, TileLayerGroupTileKey::hash>;
+    TileMap tileDrawables;
+};
+
+LayerGroup::LayerGroup(int32_t layerIndex_) :
+    layerIndex(layerIndex_) {
+    
+}
+
+TileLayerGroup::TileLayerGroup(int32_t layerIndex_, std::size_t initialCapacity) :
+    LayerGroup(layerIndex_),
+    impl(std::make_unique<Impl>(initialCapacity))
+{
+}
+
+TileLayerGroup::~TileLayerGroup() {
+}
+
+void TileLayerGroup::render([[maybe_unused]] RenderOrchestrator& orchestrator, [[maybe_unused]] PaintParameters& parameters) {
+    auto pass = mbgl::RenderPass::Opaque;
+    auto id = OverscaledTileID{0,0,0,0,0};
+    auto key = TileLayerGroupTileKey{pass, id};
+    impl->tileDrawables.insert(std::make_pair(key, gfx::UniqueDrawable()));
+}
+
+
+} // namespace mbgl
+
diff --git a/src/mbgl/renderer/layers/render_background_layer.cpp b/src/mbgl/renderer/layers/render_background_layer.cpp
index 92357009d..5547f1847 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/renderer/layers/render_background_layer.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/renderer/layers/render_background_layer.cpp
@@ -4,20 +4,21 @@
 #include <mbgl/gfx/cull_face_mode.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gfx/shader_registry.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/gfx/drawable_builder.hpp>
-#include <mbgl/style/layers/background_layer_impl.hpp>
-#include <mbgl/style/layer_properties.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/map/transform_state.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/programs/programs.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/bucket.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/change_request.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/image_manager.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/renderer/layer_group.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/paint_parameters.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/pattern_atlas.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/render_pass.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/render_static_data.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/upload_parameters.hpp>
-#include <mbgl/programs/programs.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/shaders/shader_program_base.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/style/layers/background_layer_impl.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/style/layer_properties.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/util/tile_cover.hpp>
-#include <mbgl/map/transform_state.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/util/convert.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/util/logging.hpp>
 
@@ -223,6 +224,8 @@ void RenderBackgroundLayer::update(const int32_t layerIndex,
         shader = context.getGenericShader(shaders, shaderName);
     }
 
+    changes.emplace_back(std::make_unique<AddLayerGroupRequest>(std::make_unique<TileLayerGroup>(layerIndex, 10), /*replace*/true));
+
     const auto& evaluated = getEvaluated<BackgroundLayerProperties>(evaluatedProperties);
 
     // TODO: If background is solid, we can skip drawables and rely on the clear color
diff --git a/src/mbgl/renderer/render_orchestrator.cpp b/src/mbgl/renderer/render_orchestrator.cpp
index ad9490f54..4130b1dea 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/renderer/render_orchestrator.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/renderer/render_orchestrator.cpp
@@ -776,6 +776,64 @@ const gfx::DrawablePtr& RenderOrchestrator::getDrawable(const util::SimpleIdenti
     return (hit != drawables.end()) ? hit->second : noDrawable;
 }
 
+void RenderOrchestrator::onRemoveLayerGroup(LayerGroup&) {
+    
+}
+
+bool RenderOrchestrator::addLayerGroup(UniqueLayerGroup&& layerGroup, const bool replace) {
+    const auto index = layerGroup->getLayerIndex();
+    const auto result = layerGroupsByLayerIndex.insert(std::make_pair(index, UniqueLayerGroup{}));
+    if (result.second) {
+        // added
+        result.first->second = std::move(layerGroup);
+        return true;
+    } else {
+        // not added
+        if (replace) {
+            onRemoveLayerGroup(*result.first->second);
+            result.first->second = std::move(layerGroup);
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+bool RenderOrchestrator::removeLayerGroup(const int32_t layerIndex) {
+    const auto hit = layerGroupsByLayerIndex.find(layerIndex);
+    if (hit != layerGroupsByLayerIndex.end()) {
+        onRemoveLayerGroup(*hit->second);
+        layerGroupsByLayerIndex.erase(hit);
+        return true;
+    } else {
+        return false;
+    }
+}
+
+static const UniqueLayerGroup no_group;
+
+const UniqueLayerGroup& RenderOrchestrator::getLayerGroup(const int32_t layerIndex) const {
+    const auto hit = layerGroupsByLayerIndex.find(layerIndex);
+    return (hit == layerGroupsByLayerIndex.end()) ? no_group : hit->second;
+}
+
+void RenderOrchestrator::observeLayerGroups(std::function<void(LayerGroup&)> f) {
+    for (auto& pair : layerGroupsByLayerIndex) {
+        if (pair.second) {
+            f(*pair.second);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void RenderOrchestrator::observeLayerGroups(std::function<void(const LayerGroup&)> f) const {
+    for (const auto& pair : layerGroupsByLayerIndex) {
+        if (pair.second) {
+            f(*pair.second);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
 void RenderOrchestrator::updateLayers(gfx::ShaderRegistry& shaders,
                                       gfx::Context& context,
                                       const TransformState& state,
diff --git a/src/mbgl/renderer/render_orchestrator.hpp b/src/mbgl/renderer/render_orchestrator.hpp
index 6d49593c8..2882538e1 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/renderer/render_orchestrator.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/renderer/render_orchestrator.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <mbgl/renderer/layer_group.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/renderer.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/render_source_observer.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/render_light.hpp>
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <mbgl/renderer/image_manager_observer.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/text/placement.hpp>
 
+#include <map>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
 #include <unordered_map>
@@ -101,6 +103,12 @@ public:
 
     const gfx::DrawablePtr& getDrawable(const util::SimpleIdentity&);
 
+    bool addLayerGroup(UniqueLayerGroup&&, bool replace);
+    bool removeLayerGroup(const int32_t layerIndex);
+    const UniqueLayerGroup& getLayerGroup(const int32_t layerIndex) const;
+    void observeLayerGroups(std::function<void(LayerGroup&)>);
+    void observeLayerGroups(std::function<void(const LayerGroup&)>) const;
+
     void updateLayers(gfx::ShaderRegistry&,
                       gfx::Context&,
                       const TransformState&,
@@ -142,6 +150,8 @@ private:
     /// Move changes into the pending set, clearing the provided collection
     void addChanges(UniqueChangeRequestVec&);
 
+    void onRemoveLayerGroup(LayerGroup&);
+
     RendererObserver* observer;
 
     ZoomHistory zoomHistory;
@@ -173,9 +183,12 @@ private:
     RenderLayerReferences orderedLayers;
     RenderLayerReferences layersNeedPlacement;
 
-protected:
     DrawableMap drawables;
     std::vector<std::unique_ptr<ChangeRequest>> pendingChanges;
+    
+    using LayerGroupMap = std::map<int32_t, UniqueLayerGroup>;
+    LayerGroupMap layerGroupsByLayerIndex;
+
 };
 
 } // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/renderer/renderer_impl.cpp b/src/mbgl/renderer/renderer_impl.cpp
index f4f113877..ce999dca2 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/renderer/renderer_impl.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/renderer/renderer_impl.cpp
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ void Renderer::Impl::render(const RenderTree& renderTree) {
         }
     }
 
+    // Give the layers a chance to do setup
+    orchestrator.observeLayerGroups([&](LayerGroup& layerGroup){
+        layerGroup.preRender(orchestrator, parameters);
+    });
+    
     // Sort the drawables
     std::sort(drawables.begin(), drawables.end(), gfx::DrawablePtrLessByLayer(/*descending=*/true));
 
@@ -155,6 +160,11 @@ void Renderer::Impl::render(const RenderTree& renderTree) {
                 drawableGL.setVertexArray(std::move(vertexArray), std::move(vertexBuffer), std::move(indexBuffer));
             }
         }
+        
+        // Give the layers a chance to upload
+        orchestrator.observeLayerGroups([&](LayerGroup& layerGroup){
+            layerGroup.upload(context, *uploadPass);
+        });
     }
 
     // - 3D PASS
@@ -243,6 +253,11 @@ void Renderer::Impl::render(const RenderTree& renderTree) {
         }
     };
 
+    // draw layer groups, opaque pass
+    orchestrator.observeLayerGroups([&](LayerGroup& layerGroup){
+        layerGroup.render(orchestrator, parameters);
+    });
+
     parameters.pass = RenderPass::Opaque;
     parameters.currentLayer = 0;
     parameters.opaquePassCutoff = 1;
@@ -276,6 +291,11 @@ void Renderer::Impl::render(const RenderTree& renderTree) {
     parameters.opaquePassCutoff = 1;
     drawDrawables(parameters.pass);
 
+    // draw layer groups, translucent pass
+    orchestrator.observeLayerGroups([&](LayerGroup& layerGroup){
+        layerGroup.render(orchestrator, parameters);
+    });
+
     parameters.opaquePassCutoff = renderTreeParameters.opaquePassCutOff;
 
     // - TRANSLUCENT PASS --------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -318,6 +338,11 @@ void Renderer::Impl::render(const RenderTree& renderTree) {
     }
 #endif
 
+    // Give the layers a chance to do cleanup
+    orchestrator.observeLayerGroups([&](LayerGroup& layerGroup){
+        layerGroup.postRender(orchestrator, parameters);
+    });
+
     // Ends the RenderPass
     parameters.renderPass.reset();
     const bool isMapModeContinuous = renderTreeParameters.mapMode == MapMode::Continuous;