Barstow Municipal Code Ch. 12.12 Right-of-Way Landscaping

In order to promote the development of the city, vehicle and pedestrian safety and traffic movement, the city regulates all plants, planters or rocks in or overhanging any street or alley right-of-way.

(Code 1969, § 12.12.010; Ord. No. 273, § 1, 1968)

Every person owning or in possession of any real property abutting any street or alley in the city street system shall:

(1) Keep all trees in or overhanging a street right-of-way trimmed clear of branches or foliage to a height of 9½ feet above curb height.

(2) Keep all shrubs within the street right-of-way trimmed to a height not to exceed 30 inches above curb height.

(3) Keep all shrubs overhanging any sidewalk or street trimmed clear of sidewalk or street.

(4) Keep all shrubs overhanging an alley right-of-way trimmed clear of right-of-way.

(5) Keep all trees overhanging an alley right-of-way trimmed clear of branches or foliage to a height of 12 feet above right-of-way.

(6) The following items now and hereafter are prohibited in any street or alley right-of-way in the city street system:

a. Plants not listed in section 12.12.030.

b. Trees within 25 feet of existing or planned curb returns.

c. Cactus plants.

d. Built-up planters of wood, rock, cement or metal.

(Code 1969, § 12.12.020; Ord. No. 273, § 2, 1968; Ord. No. 417, § 1, 1976)

The following trees and shrubs may be planted in a street right-of-way:

(1) Trees.

a. Oleander.

b. Modesto ash.

c. Crepe myrtle.

d. Oak.

e. London plane.

f. Purple leaf plum.

g. Palm.

h. Sawleaf zelkoua.

i. Maidenhair.

j. Chinese pistachio.

k. Other trees that may be approved by resolution of the city council.

(2) Shrubs and groundcovers.

a. Junipers (low growing).

b. Ivy.

c. Lippia.

d. Ice plant.

e. Bacharris pilularis.

f. Other shrubs that may be approved by resolution of the city council.

(Code 1969, § 12.12.030; Ord. No. 273, § 3, 1968)

The city council may, from time to time, upon request of a majority of property owners on both sides of a block or by the city council on its own motion, adopt by resolution a specific planting plan. This plan shall designate a specific type plant which may be planted in certain street rights-of-way and may also designate other specific requirements pertaining to the care, treatment, watering and maintenance of plants. Any specific planting plan adopted by resolution of the city council shall require a permit as provided by chapter 12.08 before any plant is placed in the street right-of-way.

(Code 1969, § 12.12.040; Ord. No. 273, § 4, 1968)

(a) Written notice shall state the section violated in this chapter, the work necessary to remedy the violation and the time within which the work must be performed. The time to perform the work shall not be less than ten days. If at the end of the time specified in the notice, the work has not been performed, the city may perform the work to correct the violation of this chapter. Written notice shall be by mail to the abutting property owner or person having charge of the real property abutting the violation of this chapter.

(b) It shall be the duty of the city engineer or his authorized representative to enforce the provisions of this chapter

(Code 1969, § 12.12.050; Ord. No. 273, § 5, 1968)