13.3.1 PROJECT REQUIREMENTS[2] — Belmont Zoning Code

(a) Landscape design features must occupy at least 10% of the gross site area unless the district regulations specify otherwise.
(b) Required landscape design features must consist of one or more of the following:

1 Amended by Ord. 2025-1192, §55, 12/9/2025

2 Amended by Ord. 2025-1192, §56, 12/9/2025

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  - (1) Plantings of live plant materials. 

  - (2) Large-scale sculptures, fountains and similar urban art related to building design. 

  - (3) Specially designed plazas, courtyards, sitting areas or walkways.

(c) For new or substantially altered landscape plans, preferred tree and plant species identified in the City’s preferred tree species list and the Green Infrastructure Plan, as applicable, must comprise at least 75% of the overall planting materials, except as required to meet water efficiency and vegetation management requirements. For the purposes of this subsection, “substantial alteration” means altering more than 50% of the site’s total landscape area.
(d) Landscape plans must be consistent with the Water Efficiency in Landscape Ordinance (WELO), adopted by the City’s water provider, Mid-Peninsula Water District (MPWD), as applicable.
(e) Unless specifically exempted by the Fire Marshal, properties within high or very high fire hazard severity zones must include vegetation management plans (VMP), as part of the landscape plan submittals.
(f) All landscaped areas including, but not limited to, lawns, shrub areas, ground cover areas, tree wells and raised or on grade planters must be equipped with a complete underground irrigation system.
- (1) The system must be operated by an automatic time clock when the number of sprinkler control valves is five or more.
- (2) When the landscaped areas are small or of such design as to warrant, in the judgment of the Community Development Director, the irrigation of all or some planting areas may be accomplished by quick coupler valves or hose bibs.
(g) All new surface parking lots must include landscaping and screening consistent with Sections 8.2.3(j) and 8.2.3(l), respectively.
13.3.2 LANDSCAPE PLANS.
- (a) All landscape plans must be prepared by a landscape architect licensed by the State of California except for total landscaped areas of not more than 500 square feet.
- (b) Landscape plans must show the existing and proposed features and information described below.
  - (1) Existing Features
    - (A) The location of existing trees, their common and botanical name, size, condition, disposition.
    - (B) Other natural features proposed to be retained on the site.
  - (2) Proposed Features.

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  - (A) The location and design of proposed landscaped areas and the varieties of plant materials to be planted therein and all other landscape features. 

  - (B) A complete description of materials, designs and colors for proposed features other than live plant materials.

(C) A planting pallet or table that lists the number of a particular type of plant, whether the plant is California native or locally acclimated, and the level of drought tolerance.
13.3.3 CONSTRUCTION PLANS. Adequate and appropriate irrigation construction plans, and specifications must be submitted as part of the building permit application unless the project is found by the Community Development Director to be small in scope and can be adequately described in written form.
13.3.4 MAINTENANCE. The applicant and property owner are responsible for maintenance of approved landscapes as follows.
- (a) All new plantings of live plant material must be sufficient and properly irrigated.
- (b) Diseased or dead plant materials must be replaced where the installation of such plant material was provided for in the application.
- (c) All existing landscape design features to remain, and new proposed landscape features must be maintained in a viable and operable condition.
- (d) Trees to be retained must be protected against injury during construction. Tree protection methods as outlined in " the City of Belmont Standard Tree Protection Measures," or as recommended by the project arborist and approved by the Community Development Director must be followed.