Inglewood Municipal Code § 5-116 Landscape Maintenance

The property owner shall permanently and continuously maintain all landscaping and irrigation in a neat, clean and healthy condition, including removal of weeds and litter, proper pruning, mowing of lawns, fertilizing and watering; and replacement of diseased and/or dead plants and malfunctioning or missing irrigation system components.

(Ord. 93-20 7-20-93)

A schedule of landscape irrigation audits, for all nonexempt projects, satisfying the following conditions shall be submitted to the Planning and Building Department Director and part of the landscape documentation package.

(a) At a minimum, audits shall be in accordance with the State of California Landscape Water Management Program as described in the "Landscape Irrigation Auditor Handbook," which is hereby incorporated by this reference. (Landscape Irrigation Auditor Handbook, June 1990, version 5.5 (formerly Master Auditor Training).)

(b) The schedule shall provide for landscape irrigation audits to be conducted by certified landscape irrigation auditors at least once every five years.

(c) Audits shall be reviewed by the City Water Services Division and maintained by the Planning Division.

(Ord. 93-20 7-20-93; Ord. 08-05 4-22-08)

(a) Upon completing the installation of the landscaping and the irrigation system, an irrigation audit shall be conducted by a certified landscape irrigation auditor prior to the final field observation. (See "Landscape Irrigation Auditor Handbook" referenced in Section 5.116.1.)

(b) A licensed landscape architect or contractor, certified irrigation designer, or other licensed or certified professional in a related field shall conduct a final field observation. The certificate shall specifically indicate that plants were installed as specified, that the irrigation system was installed as designed, and that an irrigation audit has been performed, along with a list of any observed deficiencies.

(c) Certification shall be accomplished by a completed certificate of substantial completion to be delivered to the Planning Division, to the retail water supplier, and to the owner of record. A sample of this form, which shall be provided by the City, is contained in the Guidelines for Water Efficient Landscapes of Chapter 12.

(d) Failure to comply with the above provisions shall be grounds for the Director to withhold final approval of the project or utility service in accordance with the authorized administrative policies and procedures of the City of Inglewood.

(Ord. 93-20 7-20-93)

(a) Information shall be maintained about designing, installing and maintaining water-efficient landscapes in the Main Library and in the Planning Division of the Planning and Building Department.

(b) Model Homes. At least one model home that is landscaped in each project consisting of ten or more homes shall demonstrate via signs and information the principles of water-efficient landscape described in the Guidelines for Water Efficient Landscapes in Chapter 12.

(1) Signs shall be used to identify the model as an example of a water-efficient landscape and featuring elements such as hydrozones, irrigation equipment and other which contribute to the overall water efficiency.

(2) Information shall be made available to prospective residents about designing, installing and maintaining water-efficient landscapes.

(Ord. 93-20 7-20-93; Ord. 08-05 4-22-08)

Water Management. All existing landscaped areas to which the City provides water that are one acre or more, including golf courses, green belts, common areas, multifamily housing, schools, businesses, parks, cemeteries and publicly owned landscapes shall have a landscape irrigation audit at least every five years. At a minimum the audit shall be in accordance with the California Landscape Water Management program as described in the "Landscape Irrigation Auditor Handbook," which is hereby incorporated by this reference. (See "Landscape Irrigation Auditor Handbook," Department of Water Resources, Water Conservation Office, June 1990, version 5.5.)

(1) If the project's water bills indicate that water consumption is less than or equal to the maximum applied water allowance for that project site, an audit shall not be required. Reports and declarations of compliance shall be reviewed by the Water Services Division.

(2) Recognition of projects that stay within the maximum applied water allowance is encouraged.

(Ord. 93-20 7-20-93)