Malibu Municipal Code § 3.12 Landscaping and Fuel Modification

Cut and fill slopes and other areas disturbed by construction activities (including areas disturbed by fuel modification or brush clearance) shall be landscaped or revegetated.

A. Plant Species.

1. Plantings shall be native, drought-tolerant plant species, and shall blend with the existing natural vegetation and natural habitats on the site, except as noted in Section 3.12.1 (A)(3) of the Malibu LIP. The native plant species shall be chosen from those listed by the California Native Plant Society, Santa Monica Mountains Chapter, in their document entitled Recommended List of Plants for Landscaping in the Santa Monica Mountains, dated February 5, 1996.

2. Invasive plant species, as identified by the California Native Plant Society, Santa Monica Mountains Chapter, in their document entitled Recommended List of Plants for Landscaping in the Santa Monica Mountains, dated February 5, 1996 and identified in the City of Malibu's Invasive

Exotic Plant Species of the Santa Monica Mountains, dated March 17, 1998, that tend to supplant native species and natural habitats shall be prohibited.

3. Non-invasive ornamental plants and lawn may be permitted in combination with native, drought-tolerant species within the irrigated zone (Zone A) required for fuel modification nearest approved residential structures. Irrigated lawn, turf and ground cover shall be selected from the most drought tolerant species or subspecies, or varieties suited to the Mediterranean climate of the Santa Monica Mountains.

B. Timing of Landscaping.

1. All cut and fill slopes shall be stabilized with landscaping at the completion of final grading.

2. The building pad and all other graded or disturbed areas on the subject site shall be planted within sixty (60) days of receipt of the certificate of occupancy for the residence.

C. Landscaping Coverage Standards. Landscaping or revegetation shall provide 90 percent coverage within five years, or that percentage of ground cover demonstrated locally appropriate for a healthy stand of the particular native vegetation type chosen for revegetation.

D. Landscaping Monitoring. Required landscaping that is within ESHA or ESHA buffer shall be monitored in accordance with the provisions of this section.

1. Any landscaping, or revegetation shall be monitored for a period of at least five years following the completion of planting. Performance criteria shall be designed to measure the success of the plantings. Mid-course corrections shall be implemented if necessary.

2. Five years from the date of the receipt of the Certificate of Occupancy for the residence the applicant shall submit a landscape monitoring report, prepared by a licensed Landscape Architect or qualified Resource Specialist, that certifies that the on-site landscaping is in conformance with the approved landscape plan. The monitoring report shall include photographic documentation of plant species and plant coverage.

3. If the landscape monitoring report indicates the landscaping is not in conformance with or has failed to meet the performance standards specified in the landscaping plan approved pursuant to this permit, the applicant, or successors in interest, shall submit a revised or supplemental landscape plan. The revised landscaping plan must be prepared by a licensed Landscape Architect or a qualified Resource Specialist and shall specify measures to remediate those portions of the original plan that have failed or are not in conformance with the original approved plan. If performance standards are not met by the end of five years, the monitoring period shall be extended until the standards are met.

E. Landscape Plans. Landscape plans shall be prepared by a licensed landscape architect or qualified resource specialist for all graded or disturbed areas on the project site. The landscape plans shall include a scale map of the project site that shows the location, species, and size of each plant to be included in the site landscaping. The landscape plans shall be designed to meet the standards in Sections 3.12.1 (A) through (D) of the Malibu LIP.

A. All new development shall be sited and designed to minimize required fuel modification and brushing to the maximum extent feasible in order to minimize habitat disturbance or destruction, removal or modification of natural vegetation, and irrigation of natural areas, while providing for fire safety.

B. Development shall utilize fire resistant materials and incorporate alternative fuel modification measures, such as firewalls (except where this would have impacts on visual resources), and landscaping techniques, where feasible, to minimize the total area modified.