Chapter 17.310 — LANDSCAPING

The purposes of this Chapter are to:

A. Establish uniform landscape standards for new projects, as well as provide a mechanism to require the upgrade of existing landscaping in developments when improvements are proposed.

B. Enhance the aesthetic appearance of developments throughout the City by providing standards related to the quality and functional aspects of landscaping.

C. Increase compatibility between abutting land uses, and between land uses and public rights-of-way, by providing landscape screening or buffers.

D. Provide for the conservation of water resources through the efficient use of irrigation, appropriate mix of plant materials, recycling water elements, and regular maintenance of landscaped areas.

E. Enhance and increase the compatibility of abutting land uses and public rights-of-way by providing landscape screening and buffers where appropriate.

(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)

A. New Projects. All new proposed development shall provide landscaping in compliance with the requirements of this Chapter as applicable.

B. Existing Uses. Improvements to existing use shall provide landscaping in compliance with the requirements of § 17.610.020, Table 6-1 (Requirements for Major and Minor Improvements). If the amount of required landscaping cannot be accommodated because of existing buildings or other physical constraints of a site, the applicant shall provide landscaping toward meeting the landscape requirements that the Director determines can be reasonably accommodated.

C. Exceptions. This Chapter shall not apply to landscaping for single-family and two-family projects other than for specific setback requirements (§ 17.310.020.A.) and maintenance requirements (§ 17.310.025.E.). (Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)

For the purpose of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

Hardscape. Constructed landscape elements, including items such as colored or textured concrete, pavers, wood decks, rockwork, masonry planters, wood box planters, water features, walls, and fences.

Hardscape Areas. Areas including patios, decks, walkways and paving.

Hydrozone. A portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs that are served by a valve or set of valves with the same schedule.

Infiltration Rate. The rate of water entry into the soil expressed as a depth of water per unit of time (e.g., inches per hour).

Landscaped Area. The open space area (entire parcel less the building footprint, driveway, and parking area) developed with ornamental plant material and hardscape. Water features are included in the calculation of the landscaped area.

Landscaping. Ornamental live plant materials (trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover or turf), in containers or at grade, and decorative hardscape areas.

Overspray. Water that is delivered beyond the planted area.

Plant Materials. Trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover, turf or any other ornamental live plants.

Planted Area. Areas, including live ornamental plant materials, installed within open space landscaped areas. Parkway. Land area between street curb and sidewalk.

Runoff. Water that is not absorbed by the planted area to which it is applied, and flows from the area. For example, runoff may result from water that is applied at too great a rate (application rate exceeds infiltration rate) or where there is a severe slope.

Street Trees. Trees planted within a public street right-of-way.

Turf. A single-bladed grass or sod.

(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)

Landscaping shall be provided in the locations specified below.

A. Setbacks. Setbacks shall comply with the maximum front yard paving requirements by zoning district in Article 2 (Zoning Districts, Allowable Land Uses and Zone-Specific Standards). All front and street side setback areas not occupied by driveways, parking areas, walkways, building projections and approved hardscape areas, shall be landscaped in compliance with this Chapter. Interior side and rear setbacks shall be landscaped when visible to the public.

B. Unused Areas. All areas of a project site or a vacant lot not intended for a specific use, including areas held for future development, shall be landscaped.

C. Parking Areas and Parkways. Parking areas shall be landscaped in compliance with the following requirements:

1. Plant materials. Plant materials shall be evenly distributed throughout the parking lot to the extent feasible using a combination of trees, shrubs, and ground cover.

2. Curbing. Areas containing plant materials shall be bordered by a concrete curb at least six inches high and six inches wide. Alternative barrier design to protect landscaped areas from damage by vehicles may be approved by the Director.

3. Location of planted area. Parking lot landscaping shall be designed so that pedestrians are not required to cross planted areas to reach building entrances from parked cars. This should be achieved through proper orientation of the planted fingers and islands.

4. Bumper overhang areas. To increase the parking lot planted area, a maximum of one and a half feet of the parking stall depth may be planted with low-growth, hearty materials in lieu of paving, allowing a two-foot bumper overhang, including the six-inch required curbing, while maintaining the required parking dimensions. See Figure 3-6 (Bumper Overhang Area).

Figure 3-6 Bumper Overhang Area

5. Parking lot perimeter landscaping. Parking area perimeters shall be planted as follows. The Director may adjust the tree spacing requirements of this Subsection, based upon the growth characteristics and proper maintenance practices for the species of trees proposed. See Figure 3-7 (Parking Lot Perimeter Landscaping Requirements) at top of next page.

Figure 3-7 Parking Lot Perimeter Landscaping Requirements

a. Adjacent to streets. Parking areas for non-residential uses adjoining a public street shall be designed to provide a landscaped planting strip between the street right-of-way and parking area with a minimum width of five feet (inside dimension).

i. Screening plant materials. The landscaping shall be designed and maintained to screen cars from view from the street, and plant materials shall be selected to provide a minimum height of 36 inches at time of planting. The Director may approve screening of less than 36 inches, when deemed necessary to protect the public interest. Screening materials may include a combination of plant materials, earth berms, solid masonry walls, raised planters, or other screening devices to meet the intent of this requirement; however, screening materials may not use only solid masonry walls without plant cover.

ii. Shade trees. Shade trees shall be provided at a minimum rate of one for every 20 linear feet of landscaped area and may include areas of clustered trees.

b. Adjacent to residential use. Parking areas for non-residential uses adjoining residential uses shall be designed to provide a landscaped planting strip between the parking area and the common property line bordering the residential use with a minimum width of five feet (inside dimension). One tree shall be provided for each 20 linear feet of the landscaped planting strip.

i. A solid masonry wall with a minimum height of six feet shall be provided along the property line to address land use compatibility issues, such as nuisance noise and light or glare.

ii. For properties adjoining alleys, a planting strip of two feet shall be provided on the public right-of-way side of a required masonry wall.

6. Interior parking lot planted areas. Planted areas are required within parking lots to provide shade, reduce pavement heat gain, and soften the appearance of large paved areas. See Figure 3-8 (Examples of Interior Parking Lot Landscaping) below.

a. Planter islands. Planter islands with a minimum width of five feet (inside dimension) and at least one tree shall be provided at the beginning and end of every parking row. In addition, a planter island with a minimum width of five feet (inside dimension) with a shade tree shall be provided at minimum every four spaces within a parking row.

b. Larger projects. Parking lots with more than 150 spaces shall provide a concentration of landscape elements at primary entrances. Such elements may include specimen trees, flowering plants, enhanced paving, and project identification, as determined by the Director.

Figure 3-8 Examples of Interior Parking Lot Landscaping

(Ord. No. 2020-013 § 2 (part); Ord. No. 2022-008; Ord. No. 2024-006; Ord. No. 2025-008, Exhibit A (part))

A. General Requirements.

1. Minimum width of landscaped areas. Landscaped areas that may be counted toward required landscaping shall have a minimum width of three feet, exclusive of the curb, wall, and footing below. In addition, the landscaped tree planters shall have a minimum width of four feet in compliance with § 17.310.025.B.1.d. below.

2. Live Plant Material. All required landscape areas per § 17.310.020 (Landscape Area Requirements) and § 17.210.030.A. (Open Space Requirements for Multiple-Family Residential) shall be planted with a minimum 75% live plant material. The remaining 25% of required landscape areas or setbacks may consist of crushed rock, redwood chips, pebbles, stone, and similar natural non-living material.

3. Concrete curb required. When in or adjacent to a parking area or drive aisle, planted areas shall be protected

with a minimum six-inch high concrete curb above the surrounding pavement or ground level.

4. Maintenance required. Landscaping shall be continuously maintained free of weeds, debris, litter, or temporary signage. This is intended to include proper pruning of trees and shrubs, mowing of lawns, weeding, removal of litter, fertilizing, replacement of plants when necessary, and the regular water of all plants.

5. Irrigation required. All planted areas shall be provided with a permanent automatic irrigation system. This watering system shall consist of piped water lines terminating in an appropriate number of sprinklers, bubblers, drip emitters, or hose bibs, to insure a sufficient amount of water for plants within the planted area.

B. Planting Material.

1. Trees.

a. Trees shall be planted a minimum of three feet from any structure or wall.

b. Newly planted trees shall be staked in compliance with City standards. Stakes and ties on trees shall be checked regularly for correct functions. Stakes and ties shall be adjusted to avoid creating abrasions or girdling on trunks or branches, and removed after trees are well-established.

c. The minimum width of planters containing trees shall be four feet clear, interior dimensions, exclusive of curbs, walls, and footing below.

d. Trees in landscape planters less than ten feet in width, or located closer than five feet from pavement, curbs, or a permanent structure, shall be provided with root barriers.

e. Number of trees.

• i. Parking area: Refer to § 17.310.020.C. (Parking Areas and Parkways).

• ii. Front/Street Side setbacks: One per 40 linear feet of frontage when the required setback is ten feet or

• greater in depth.

iii. Balance of site: One per 500 square feet of landscaped area. See also landscaping requirements for common open space in § 17.210.030.A. (Open Space Requirements for Multiple-Family Residential).

iv. Street trees: One per 25 to 40 foot length of street frontage, depending on the tree species and canopy width at maturity, as per the Culver City Urban Forest Master Plan or Washington National Transit Oriented Development District Streetscape Plan.

• f. Minimum tree container sizes for all trees on a site shall be specified as follows:

• i. At least 20% of the trees shall be 36-inch box size or larger.

• ii. At least 30% of the trees shall be 24-inch box size or larger.

iii. The remaining 50% shall be 15-gallon size or larger. The Director may accept certain species of on-site trees

at less than 15-gallon size, if it is determined that the survival/establishment chances are enhanced when planted at a smaller size.

iv. The Director may reduce the minimum tree container sizes required based on site conditions.

• g. Street trees shall be 24-inch box size or larger.

2. Ground cover and shrubs.

• a. All planted areas should emphasize drought-tolerant plant materials wherever possible.

• b. Artificial shrubs, ground cover, or turf shall not be allowed.

• c. All shrubs shall be planted from a minimum five-gallon-size containers. One-gallon-size containers may be

allowed for shrubs that are not commonly available in five-gallon-size containers, subject to approval by the Director.

C. Plant selection and grouping.

1. Plants having similar water use shall be grouped together in separate high, medium, and low hydrozones.

2. Plants shall be selected appropriately, based upon their adaptability to the climatic, geological, and topographical

conditions of the site. The use of drought-tolerant plant materials and locally appropriate California Native Plants is encouraged wherever possible.

D. Irrigation.

1. Runoff and overspray.

• a. Soil types and infiltration rate shall be considered when designing irrigation systems.

• b. Irrigation systems shall be designed to eliminate runoff, overspray, or other similar conditions where any water

• flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, walks, roadways, or structures.

c. To eliminate runoff, proper irrigation equipment and schedules, including repeat cycles, shall be used to closely match water application rates to soil infiltration rates.

2. Equipment.

a. A separate landscape water meter shall be installed for all projects, except for any project with a landscaped area of less than 5,000 square feet.

b. Automatic control systems, including an automatic rain shut-off device, shall be required for all irrigation systems.

c. Plants that require different amounts of water shall be irrigated by separate valves. If one valve is used for a given area, only plants with similar water requirements shall be used in that area.

d. Anti-drain (check) valves shall be installed at strategic points on all slopes to prevent low-head drainage.

e. Irrigation heads and emitters shall have matched precipitation rates within each control valve circuit. Sprinkler heads shall be selected for proper area coverage, application rate, operating pressure, adjustment capability, and ease of maintenance.

E. Maintenance.

1. Irrigation equipment shall be continuously maintained in good working condition to assure water conservation,

eliminate overspray and runoff.

2. Litter and weeds shall be removed from all landscaped areas on a regular basis.

3. Turf areas shall be mowed and fertilized on a regular basis, and kept green. Accumulations of leaves, twigs, bark,

and other similar materials shall be removed on a regular basis.

4. Landscaping shall be maintained in a manner consistent with a project's approved final landscape plan.

Maintenance of the approved planted areas shall consist of regular watering, pruning, fertilizing, and mulching under a schedule approved as part of the landscape plan.

5. Landscaping maintenance shall include the removal of dead, decayed, diseased, or hazardous trees, weeds, and debris constituting unsightly appearance, dangerous to public safety and welfare, or detrimental to neighboring properties or property values. Compliance shall be by removal, replacement, or maintenance as determined by the Director.

6. All plant materials that, due to lack of maintenance, accident, damage, disease, or other cause, fail to show a healthy appearance and growth shall be replaced. Replacement plants shall conform to all standards that govern the original planting installation, approved landscaping plan, or as approved by the Director.

7. Before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued, a landscape maintenance agreement ensuring continued maintenance of the planted areas shall be filed with the Division and approved by the Director. (Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)

A. Preliminary Landscape Plan. A preliminary landscape plan shall be submitted as part of an application for all development projects with the exception of single-family and two-family residential projects, and shall include the following minimum information:

1. Proposed and existing buildings and structures.

2. Proposed parking areas.

3. Proposed landscaped areas.

4. A calculation of the total hardscape and planted areas.

5. Preliminary list of plant materials.

B. Final Landscape Plan. Following approval of a land use permit, final landscape and irrigation plans, prepared and signed by a California-licensed landscape architect or licensed landscape contractor, shall be submitted to the Division prior to the issuance of a building permit. The final landscape and irrigation plan shall include the following minimum information. Other information, as deemed necessary by the Director, including a grading design plan, hardscape plan, and/or soils analysis, may also be required.

1. Landscape design plan specifications. The landscape design (planting and hardscape) plan(s) shall be drawn on project base sheets at a scale that accurately and clearly identifies the following:

a. Plant materials, trees, shrubs, ground cover, turf, and other vegetation. In addition to the new plant materials, all existing plants to remain, and all existing plants to be removed or relocated, shall be identified. Planting symbols shall be clearly drawn, and plants labeled by botanical name, common name, container size, spacing, and quantities of each group of plants indicated.

• b. Property lines and street names.

• c. Streets, driveways, walkways, steps, and other paved areas.

• d. Pools, ponds, water features, fences, and retaining walls.

• e. Designation of hardscape areas.

• f. Existing and proposed buildings and structures, including pad elevations, if applicable.

• g. Natural features, including rock outcroppings, existing trees, and existing shrubs, that will remain.

• h. Tree staking, plant installation, soil preparation, and any other applicable planting and installation details.

• i. A calculation of the total planted area and percentage of turf area.

• j. Designation of recreational areas.

• k. Landscape installation specifications.

• l. Landscape maintenance specifications, including landscape contractors' maintenance period.

2. Irrigation design plan specifications. The irrigation design plan shall be drawn on project base sheets, at the same scale as the landscape design plan, and shall accurately identify:

• a. Location and size of separate water meters for the landscaped areas as required, including service line and size.

• b. Location and size of the point of connection (POC) for the existing or modified irrigation system.

• c. Location, type and size of all components of the irrigation system, including automatic controllers, main and

lateral, valves, sprinkler heads, moisture-sensing devices, rain switches, quick couplers, backflow prevention devices, and automatic rain shut-off devices.

• d. Static water pressure at the point of connection to the public water supply.

• e. Flow rate (gallons per minute), application rate (inches per hour), and design operating pressure (psi) for each

• remote control valve and head radius or water coverage for each head (diameter for full heads).

• f. Estimated annual water use, expressed in inches per square foot of landscaped area per year.

• g. Hydrozones of high, medium, and low water usage shall be differentiated by color or patterning. All plants

• listed on the plant list or legend shall be classified and grouped by category of hydrozone.

C. Certificate of Completion. A Certificate of Completion, signed and sealed by the licensed landscape architect or licensed landscape contractor that prepared the plans, and submitted after installation and inspection of the project, shall be submitted prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)