Chapter 19.432 — Development Standards—Landscaping

A. In all RM zones, permanent landscaping materials shall be integrated into the required setbacks, parking areas, and private frontages, except for areas within the required setback occupied by permitted encroachments.

B. A minimum of 20 percent of the total site shall be permanently maintained with landscaping. Stormwater retention areas may count towards the landscaping requirement. Required setbacks, corner landscaping, and paved pedestrian pathways shall not be counted toward this requirement.

C. All portions of the developed site that are not occupied by other permitted buildings, structures, or facilities, shall be permanently maintained with landscaping.

D. Except for single-family uses (one detached single-family dwelling on a lot), all portions of a developed site not occupied by other permitted facilities shall be permanently landscaped.

E. All landscape installation or rehabilitation shall meet the requirements of the City's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance to ensure that the design, installation, and maintenance of landscaping conserves water.

F. Parking Lot Landscaping Improvements.

1. Landscaped Buffers Along Streets. Except at driveway and walkway openings and as required for Vision Clearance, the required setback areas for parking areas of Section 19.436.080 shall be landscaped with one (1) or a combination of the following requirements:

   • a. Ornamental masonry wall or hedge, 2 feet high, at the perimeter of the parking area facing a street.

   • b. Landscaped berm, 10 feet wide and 2 feet high.

2. Landscaped Buffers Along Alleys. Except for driveways and walkways, a minimum 4-foot landscaped planter shall be provided along all parking areas adjacent to an alley with no vehicular overhang permitted.

3. Interior Landscaping. All open parking areas (e.g., non-structured, non-garage) and the project perimeter shall be landscaped such that:

   • a. Planters with a total landscaped area equaling a minimum of 25 square feet per parking space shall be provided and distributed evenly throughout the open parking area including one (1) tree (minimum 36-inch box) for every eight (8) single- or doubleloaded parking spaces.

   • b. Trees with a total shaded area (e.g., the area under the tree canopy 15 years after installation) equaling a minimum of 50% of the square footage of the open parking area shall be provided and distributed throughout the open parking area.

   • c. Landscaped areas shall include a three-tiered planting system consisting of ground cover, shrubs and vines, and trees. The use of grass is strongly discouraged outside of active recreational areas.

   • d. All portions of a parking area not improved for parking aisles, walkways, access ways or parking stalls shall be landscaped. Any portion of the parking area not landscaped shall be paved. At all boundaries between landscaped areas and paving, a 6-inch-high concrete curb shall be provided unless specifically excluded as part of the project's Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP).

G. Drought-Tolerant Species. A minimum of 75 percent of non-turf landscaped areas shall be planted with native or drought-tolerant planting materials, as widely recognized within the horticultural industry or as recommended by a California-licensed Landscape Architect, to bring interest and beauty to the landscape, support biodiversity, and reduce the need for pesticides and excessive irrigation. Landscape selection shall be in compliance with the City's Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance.

H. Turf and Synthetic Turf. Turf areas shall be limited to activity or recreation areas and shall have a 10-foot minimum diameter. Synthetic turf may be used as a substitute for natural turf for the purposes of water conservation, or in high activity or foot-traffic areas.

I. Non-Plant Material. Crushed rock, mulch, pebbles, stones, and similar non-plant materials shall be allowed up to 20% of the total required landscaping.

J. Mulch. Landscaped areas shall be top-dressed with a bark chip mulch or an approved alternative to avoid exposed bare soil.

(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)

A. A landscape and irrigation plan for any newly established landscape area shall be submitted for zoning compliance review and approval.

B. The landscape and irrigation plan shall clearly identify the following criteria:

1. Property lines and property address.

2. Streets, driveways, walkways, recreational areas, and other paved areas.

3. Pools, water features, fences, and retaining walls.

4. Existing and proposed buildings and structures.

5. Landscaping materials, trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover, turf, and other vegetation. Planting symbols shall be clearly drawn and plants labeled by botanical name, common name, container size, spacing, water usage, and quantities of each group of plants indicated.

6. An approximate calculation of the total landscape area.

C. A landscape and irrigation plan with new landscaped areas of 500 square feet or more, or 2,500 square feet of rehabilitated landscape area shall be prepared and/or certified by a licensed landscape architect or contractor, certified irrigation designer, or other licensed or certified professional in a related field.

D. Minimum acceptable plant sizes shall be determined by policy of the Director and/or as conditions of approval for an administrative action pursuant to Division 1 but in no case shall:

1. Trees be less than 15-gallon size, with 25 percent of all trees on a project site planted at a minimum 24-inch box size.

2. Shrubs and vines be less than 5-gallon size, with a 15-gallon minimum size where required for screening. The minimum planter width for shrubs is 3 feet.

3. Groundcover be less than 1-gallon size.

4. Street trees be planted less than one (1) tree per 25-35 linear feet of sidewalk length.

E. Landscape and irrigation plans shall be submitted prior to the issuance of permits for such work or prior to the issuance of any permits (i.e., building permits) for any associated work approved by an action of the Director.

(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)

A. All landscaping shall be permanently maintained in a clean, healthy, and attractive condition. This includes pruning, weeding, removal of litter, fertilizing, replacement of plants when necessary, and the appropriate watering of all landscaping.

1. Landscaping designs shall include one (1) or more of the following planting design concepts:

   • a. Specimen trees (48-inch box or more) in informal groupings or rows at major focal points.

   • b. Use of planting to create shadow and patterns against walls.

   • c. Use of planting to soften building lines and emphasize the positive features of the sit.

   • d. Use of flowering vines on walls, arbors, or trellises.

   • e. Trees to create canopy and shade, especially in parking areas and passive open space areas.

   • f. Berms, plantings, and walls to screen parking lots, trash enclosures, storage areas, utility boxes, etc.

2. Plant materials shall be placed so that they do not interfere with the lighting of the premises or restrict access to emergency apparatus such as re hydrants or re alarm boxes. Trees or large shrubs shall not be planted under overhead lines or over underground utilities if their growth might interfere with such public utilities. Trees and large shrubs shall be placed as follows:

   • a. A minimum of 6 feet between the center of trees and the edge of a driveway, a water meter, gas meter, and sewer laterals.

   • b. A minimum of 20 feet between the center of trees and the beginning of curb returns at intersections to keep trees out of the line-of-sight triangle at intersections.

   • c. A minimum of 15 feet between the center of trees and large shrubs to utility poles and streetlights.

   • d. A minimum of 8 feet between the center of trees or large shrubs and fire hydrants and Fire Department sprinkler and standpipe connections.

B. Curbs Required. All landscape planters shall be separated from all parking and loading spaces, parking aisles, and driveways with a minimum 6-inch-high concrete curb. In addition, for any such landscape area adjacent to a public sidewalk, in which the grade of the planter is higher than the sidewalk and which is planted with ground cover other than a hydroseeded or sodded lawn, a minimum 6-inch-high concrete curb shall be provided alongside the public sidewalk to preclude soil erosion across such sidewalk.

(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)

A. All required landscaping shall be provided with a permanent underground irrigation system. The irrigation system shall consist of piped water lines terminating in an appropriate number of sprinklers or other outlets to insure complete coverage of water for plants within the landscaped areas.

B. Any permanent, underground irrigation system, whether required or not, shall comply with the following criteria:

1. Permits are required prior to installation of any permanent, underground irrigation system.

   • a. Off-Site Work. Irrigation systems exclusively in City rights-of-way require permits issued by the Construction Services Division of Public Works. Any system within City rights-of-way shall meet the minimum requirements outlined under Engineering Standard No. ISP-1.

   • b. On-Site Work. On-site and combination on-site and off-site installations shall comply with the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. Permit fees shall be in accordance with the applicable sections of the City Code.

2. Backflow Prevention Devices. All irrigation systems shall be protected by an approved type and size of backflow prevention devices, as required by the Public Works Department, to be painted green and screened by landscaping.

3. All sprinkler heads shall be adjusted and maintained to minimize overspray upon public access ways in order to reduce the undermining of surface areas and to reduce water waste.

4. Sprinkler heads and risers shall be protected from car bumpers. "Pop-up" heads shall be used near curbs and sidewalks. The landscape irrigation system shall be designed to prevent run-off and overspray.

5. Irrigation systems shall be maintained in good working order.

C. In addition to the requirements of subsection B of this section, any required permanent underground irrigation system for a development with 500 square feet or more in landscape area shall comply with the following criteria:

1. Each irrigation system shall be equipped with an automatic controller capable of operating valve stations to set days and length of time.

2. Each irrigation system shall be equipped with a rain sensing override device which automatically shuts off the irrigation system when it rains.

3. Whenever possible, landscape irrigation shall be scheduled between 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. to avoid irrigation during times of high wind or high temperature.

4. For larger developments, the following criteria may be required when considered appropriate under a department policy of either the Planning Division or Public Works Department.

   • a. A soil moisture sensing device may be required where appropriate to measure soil moisture and maintain efficient irrigation schedules.

b. A separate landscape water meter may be required.

(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)