Article 15.04.613 — WATER-EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING

The specific purposes of the water-efficient landscape regulations are to:

A.

Improve the appearance of the community by requiring aesthetically pleasing landscaping on public and private sites;

B.

Aid in energy conservation by providing shade from the sun and shelter from the wind;

C.

Soften the appearance of parking lots and other development through landscaping;

D.

Conserve water resources through the use of native and drought-tolerant plans and water-conserving irrigation practices;

E.

Restore natural communities and provide habitat through the reestablishment of native plants;

F.

Assist in mitigating air quality impacts by reducing or absorbing pollutants; and

G.

Minimize or eliminate conflicts between potentially incompatible but otherwise permitted land uses on adjoining lots through visual screening.

These regulations are intended to comply with the requirements of California Government Code of Regulations, Title 23, Division 2, Chapter 2.7 for a "water efficient landscape ordinance".

A.

This Article applies to the following landscape projects associated with any development requiring a building permit, design review, or a use permit:

1.

New landscape installations of 500 square feet or more;

2.

Rehabilitated landscapes with an area 2,500 square feet or more;

3.

New construction and rehabilitated landscapes that are developer-installed in single-family and multi-family projects with a landscape area equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet requiring a building permit, design review, or other discretionary permit; and

New construction landscapes that are homeowner-provided and/or homeowner-hired in single-family and multi-family residential projects with a total project landscape area equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet requiring a building permit, design review or other discretionary permit.

B.

The following are exempt:

1.

Registered local, state or federal historical sites;

2.

Ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system; and

3.

Plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and arboretums open to the public.

C.

Recognizing the special landscape management needs of cemeteries, new and rehabilitated cemeteries are only subject to the requirements of subsection 15.04.613.060(D) and Sections 15.04.613.080-090.

The following areas shall be landscaped, and may count toward the total area of site landscaping required by the zoning district regulations and other citywide or special purpose landscape regulations.

A.

Required Setbacks. All required front and street-facing side setbacks, except for areas used for exit and entry, shall be landscaped.

Figure 15.04.613.030-A: Required Setbacks

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B.

Lot Perimeters. Landscape buffers shall be installed and maintained alongside and rear lot lines between differing land uses, in accordance with the following standards.

1.

Required Landscape Buffers. Table 15.04.613.030-B(1), Required Landscape Buffers, shows when a buffer treatment is required, and of what type, based on the proposed and the adjoining use. Only the proposed use is required to provide the buffer yard. Adjoining uses are not required to provide the buffer yard. The type of buffer yard required refers to buffer yard-type designations as shown in the table and defined in subsection (2), below. "-" means that a buffer yard is not required unless required by another section of this Article.

2.

Buffer-yard Types. Table 15.04.613.030-B(2), Buffer Yard Requirements, describes the minimum width, plant materials, and wall requirements for each type of buffer yard. The listed number of trees and shrubs are required for each 100 lineal feet of buffer yard. Trees shall be planted at least 40 feet on center. Natural areas with native vegetation or alternative planting materials which achieve equivalent buffering effects may be approved by the Zoning Administrator.

Figure 15.04.613.030-B(2): Buffer Yard Requirements

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3.

Width Reduction for Adjacent Landscaped Buffer. If an equivalent landscape buffer exists on the adjacent lot, the width of the required buffer may be reduced 50 percent provided that the abutting property owners have provided a written agreement restricting the use of the adjacent landscape buffer.

C.

Building Perimeters. The portions of a building that front a public street shall have one or more landscape planters installed along a minimum 20 percent of that building face. The minimum width of the planter shall be three feet. This standard does not apply where a building is located on the front or street side property line.

Figure 15.04.613.030-C: Building Perimeters

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D.

Parking Areas. Parking areas shall be landscaped as required by Article 15.04.607 (Parking and Loading Standards).

E.

Unused Areas. All areas of a project site not intended for a specific use, including areas planned for future phases of a phased development, shall be landscaped or left in a natural state.

A.

General. Landscaping may consist of a combination of ground cover materials, shrubs, and trees. Ground cover may include grasses, shrubs, perennials, vines, or other herbaceous or non-herbaceous plants. Ground cover also includes, mulch such as gravel, rock, cinder, bark, or other permeable materials, provided that such materials present an attractive setting consistent with the intent of this Article. Landscaping may also include incidental features, such as stepping-stones, site furniture, water features, art, or other ornamental features placed within a landscaped setting.

B.

Plant Materials.

1.

Turf Allowance. The maximum amount of turf in required landscape areas is 30 percent for non-residential uses and 50 percent for residential uses, except for turf areas that comprise an essential component of a project (e.g., golf courses or playing fields), which are exempt from this limit. Turf is prohibited on slopes greater than 25 percent.

2.

Plant Selection.

a.

Any plant that is not specifically prohibited may be selected for the landscape, providing the Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU) in the landscape area does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) Methods to achieve water efficiency include one or more of the following:

i.

Protection and preservation of native species and natural vegetation;

ii.

Selection of water-conserving plant, tree and turf species, especially local native plants;

iii.

Selection of plants based on local climate suitability, disease and pest resistance; and

iv.

Selection of trees based on size at maturity as appropriate for the planting area.

b.

Plants must be selected and planted appropriately based upon their adaptability to the climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions of the project site. Methods to achieve water efficiency include:

i.

Using the Sunset Western Climate Zone System which takes into account temperature, humidity, elevation, terrain, latitude, and varying degrees of continental and marine influence on local climate;

ii.

Recognizing the horticultural attributes of plants (i.e., mature plant size, invasive surface roots) to minimize damage to property or infrastructure (e.g., buildings, sidewalks, power lines) and to allow for adequate soil volume for healthy root growth; and

iii.

Using solar orientation for plant placement to maximize summer shade and winter solar gain.

c.

Common Interest Development Guidelines. The architectural guidelines of a common interest development, which include community apartment projects, condominiums, planned developments, and stock cooperatives, may not prohibit or include conditions that have the effect of prohibiting the use of low-water use plants as a group.

C.

Water Features. Recirculating water systems must be used for water features. The surface area of a water feature must be included in the high water use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation.

D.

Soil Preparation. Prior to the planting of any materials, compacted soils must be transformed to a friable condition. On engineered slopes, only amended planting holes need meet this requirement.

E.

Mulch. A minimum three-inch layer of mulch must be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, areas receiving closely spaced plugs as a lawn alternative, or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated. To provide habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife, up to five percent of the landscape area may be left without mulch. Stabilizing mulching products must be used on slopes that meet current engineering standards. The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro-seeded applications must meet the mulching requirement. Use of organic mulch materials made from recycled or post-consumer material is preferred over inorganic materials or virgin forest products unless the recycled post-consumer organic products are not locally available.

A.

On-Site Trees. On-site trees must be provided as follows:

1.

Residential Zoning Districts. One tree for every 1,000 square feet of lot area for residential development.

2.

Mixed-Use and Commercial Zoning Districts. One tree for every 2,000 square feet of lot area.

3.

Industrial Zoning Districts. One tree for every 5,000 square feet of lot area.

4.

Off-Site Planting. If the lot size or other site conditions make planting of the required trees impractical, the Zoning Administrator may allow the trees be planted off-site at twice the ratio.

Exception for Existing Trees. If the required number and size of trees already exists on the site, the applicant shall not be required to plant new trees on-site.

B.

Street Trees. All new development must provide at least one street tree that is a minimum of 1 ½ inches diameter at breast height or 15 gallons in size for each 50 linear foot of street frontage unless the Director of Engineering and Capital Improvement Projects determines that a different number of trees is warranted because of existing conditions and the number of street trees in the vicinity. All street trees, must be installed with approved root and/or any other tree plantings within 10 feet of the public right-of-way, including sidewalks, curbs and gutters, or street surface barriers and deep water tubes (three per tree).

C.

Maintenance. All trees must be maintained to be free from physical damage or injury arising from lack of water, chemical damage, accidents, vandalism, insects and disease. Any tree showing such damage to the extent that its life would be impaired must be replaced with another tree.

A.

General Requirements. The section establishes what required documentation must be provided for all non-exempt landscape projects unless they qualify for streamlined submittal requirements. Streamlined submittals are available for two specific types of projects:

1.

Small Sites. A project with a landscape area of 2,500 square feet or less that complies with the prescriptive measures listed in subsection (H), below, are exempt from certain submittal requirements for the Landscape Documentation Package.

2.

Graywater or Rainwater Projects. For projects using treated or untreated graywater or rainwater captured on site, any lot or parcel within the project that has less than 2,500 square feet of landscape and meets the lot or parcel's landscape water requirement (Estimated Total Water Use) entirely with treated or untreated graywater or through stored rainwater captured on site is subject only to the requirements of paragraph (H)(6), below.

3.

Existing Landscape. All existing landscape over one acre in size may be required to have an irrigation audit under subsection 15.04.613.090(B) if a property owner proposes an expansion of floor area that is more than 10 percent of existing floor area or structural alterations that exceed 10 percent of the replacement cost of the building. Restrictions on overspray and runoff may be imposed as conditions of approval of a discretionary permit in order to conserve water.

B.

Landscape Documentation Package. A Landscape Documentation Package must be submitted by the project applicant for review and approval prior to start of construction. The Landscape Documentation Package must include the following elements, shown on either plan sheets or supplemental pages:

1.

Project Information Sheet. The plan information must include, but is not limited to, the following: date; project name; project address, parcel, and/or lot number(s); total landscape area (square feet) and rehabilitated landscape area (if applicable); project type (e.g., new, rehabilitated, public, private, public, private, cemetery, homeowner-installed); water supply type (e.g., potable, recycled, well) and identification of the local retail water purveyor if the project applicant is not served by a private well; checklist or index of all documents in the Landscape Documentation Package; project contacts information for the project applicant and property owner.

2.

A Landscape Design Plan: see subsection (C), below.

3.

A Water-Efficient Landscape Worksheet: see subsection (D), below.

4.

A Soil Management Plan: see subsection (E), below.

An Irrigation Design Plan: see subsection (F), below.

6.

A Grading Design Plan: see subsection (G), below.

C.

Landscape Design Plan. The Landscape Design Plan must identify all of the following, to the extent they apply:

1.

Proposed plant locations, species, and sizes.

2.

Location of any existing trees over six inches in diameter at breast height, each tree's diameter at breast height, and whether such tree is proposed for retention or removal.

Recreational areas.

4.

Areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants.

5.

Each hydrozone, labeled or identified by number, letter or other method and noted as low, moderate, high water or mixed water use. Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscape must be included in the low water use hydrozone of the water budget calculation. Each hydrozone must have plant materials with similar water use, with the exception of hydrozones with plants of mixed water use.

6.

Areas irrigated with recycled water.

7.

Type of mulch and application depth and proposed soil amendments by type and quantity.

8.

Type and surface area of water features.

9.

Hardscapes (pervious and non-pervious).

10.

Location, installation details, and 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity of on-site stormwater retention areas.

Any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies and their 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity.

12.

Any applicable graywater discharge piping, system components and area(s) of distribution.

13.

In Fire-Prone Areas. A Landscape Design Plan for projects in fire-prone areas must address fire safety and prevention. A defensible space or zone around a building or structure is required by the Public Resources Code Section 4291(a) and (b).

D.

Water Efficient Landscape Calculations and Alternatives. A fully-completed Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet (available from the Zoning Administrator)[[7]] must contain information on the plant factors, irrigation method, irrigation efficiency and area associated with each hydrozone and show:

1.

The Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU) allowable for the landscape area (LA) does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA); and

2.

The evapotranspiration adjustment factor (ETAF) for the landscape project does not, on average, exceed a factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas, exclusive of Special Landscape Areas (SLA), within the landscape project, which are calculated using an ETAF of 1.0.

Water efficiency calculations must be calculated as follows:

Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA)

MAWA = (25.92) × [(ETAF × LA) + ((1-ETAF) × SLA)]

Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU)

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3.

Variables Used in Water Efficiency Calculations.

a.

Plant Factors (PF). The plant factors range from 0 to 0.1 for very low water using plants, 0.1 to 0.3 for low water use plants, from 0.4 to 0.6 for moderate water use plants, and from 0.7 to 1.0 for high water use plants. Any and all water features must be included in the high water use hydrozone. Any and all temporarily irrigated areas must be included in the low water use hydrozone.

b.

Landscape Areas (LA). Total Landscape Area, expressed in square feet, include all areas dedicated to planting, turf, and water features, excluding footprints of building or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, pervious or non-pervious hardscapes, or other non-irrigated areas designated for non-development (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation).

c.

Special Landscape Areas (SLA). Special Landscape Areas are areas of the landscape dedicated solely to edible plants, recreational areas, areas irrigated with recycled water, or water features using recycled water.

d.

Irrigation Efficiency (IE). For the purpose of determining Estimated Total Water Use, the average IE is assumed to be 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip system devices.

e.

Hydrozone Area (HA). The square feet in the hydrozone. Note that PF x HA as used in the formula for calculating ETWU is the sum of the individual PF and respective HA calculations.

4.

Evapotranspiration Adjustment Factor (ETAF). The ETAF for a landscape project is calculated based on the plant factors and irrigation methods selected. The Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet must show that the average ETAF for Regular Landscape Areas is no greater than 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas. The ETAF for Special Landscape Areas can be up to 1.0.

E.

Soil Management Report. A Soil Management Report must include:

Analysis of Soil Samples. Soil samples must be submitted to a laboratory for analysis and recommendations.

a.

Soil sampling must be conducted in accordance with laboratory protocol, including protocols regarding adequate sampling depth for the intended plants.

b.

The soil analysis must include:

i.

Soil texture;

ii.

Infiltration rate determined by laboratory test or soil texture infiltration rate table;

iii.

pH;

iv.

Total soluble salts;

v.

Sodium;

vi.

Percent organic matter; and

vii.

Recommendations.

c.

In residential projects with multiple landscape installations, a soil sampling rate of one in seven lots or approximately 15 percent will satisfy this requirement. Large landscape projects must sample at a rate equivalent to one in seven lots.

2.

Timing of Submittal.

a.

If significant mass grading is not planned, the Soil Management Report must be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package.

b.

If significant mass grading is planned, the Soil Management Report must be submitted as part of the Certificate of Completion.

3.

Availability of Report to Landscape Professionals. The Soil Management Report must be made available, in a timely manner, to the professionals preparing the landscape design and irrigation design plans.

4.

Implementation Verification. Verification of implementation of the Soil Management Report recommendations must be submitted with the Certificate of Completion.

F.

Irrigation Design Plan. The Irrigation Design Plan, at a minimum, must contain:

1.

The location and size of separate water meters for landscape;

2.

The location, type and size of all components of the irrigation system, including controllers, main and lateral lines, valves, sprinkler heads, moisture sensing devices, rain switches, quick couplers, pressure regulators, and backflow prevention devices;

3.

Static water pressure at the point of connection to the public water supply; and

4.

Flow rate (gallons per minute), application rate (inches per hour), and design operating pressure (pressure per square inch) for each station.

5.

Design Criteria for Hydrozones.

a.

Each valve must irrigate a hydrozone with similar site, slope, sun exposure, soil conditions, and plant materials with similar water use.

b.

Sprinkler heads and other emission devices must be selected based on what is appropriate for the plant type within that hydrozone.

c.

Where feasible, trees must be placed on separate valves from shrubs, groundcovers, and turf to facilitate the appropriate irrigation of trees. The mature size and extent of the root zone must be considered when designing irrigation for the tree.

d.

Individual hydrozones that mix plants of moderate and low water use, or moderate and high water use, may be allowed if:

i.

The plant factor calculation is based on the proportions of the respective plant water uses and their plant factor; or

ii.

The plant factor of the higher water using plant is used for calculations.

e.

Individual hydrozones that mix high and low water use plants are not permitted.

6.

The installation of the water irrigation systems must allow for the current and future use of recycled water when feasible All recycled water irrigation systems must be designed and operated in accordance with all applicable City regulations and State laws.

7.

System Components.

a.

Landscape Water Meters. Landscape water meters, defined as either a dedicated water service meter or private submeter, must be installed for all non-residential irrigated landscapes of 1,000 square feet or more and residential irrigated landscapes of 5,000 square feet or more. A landscape water meter may be either:

i.

A customer service meter dedicated to landscape use provided by the local water purveyor; or

ii.

A privately owned meter or submeter.

b.

Soil Moisture or Evapotranspiration-Based Irrigation Controllers. Automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data utilizing non-volatile memory is required for irrigation scheduling in all irrigation systems.

c.

Pressure Regulating Devices. If the water pressure is below or exceeds the recommended pressure of the specified irrigation devices, the installation of a pressure regulating device is required to ensure that the dynamic pressure at each emission device is within the manufacturer's recommended pressure range for optimal performance.

i.

If the static pressure is above or below the required dynamic pressure of the irrigation system, pressure-regulating devices such as inline pressure regulators, booster pumps, or other devices must be installed to meet the required dynamic pressure of the irrigation system.

ii.

Static water pressure, dynamic or operating pressure, and flow reading of the water supply must be measured at the point of connection. These pressure and flow measurements must be conducted at the design stage. If the measurements are not available at the design stage, the measurements must be conducted at installation.

d.

Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers. Sensors (rain, freeze, wind, etc.), either integral or auxiliary, that suspend or alter irrigation operation during unfavorable weather conditions are required on all irrigation systems, as appropriate for local climatic conditions. Irrigation should be avoided during windy or freezing weather or during rain.

e.

Manual Shut-Off Valves. Manual shut-off valves (such as a gate valve, ball valve, or butterfly valve) are required, as close as possible to the point of connection of the water supply, to minimize water loss in case of an emergency (such as a main line break) or routine repair.

f.

Backflow Prevention Devices. Backflow prevention devices are required to protect the water supply from contamination by the irrigation system.

g.

Flow Sensors. Flow sensors that detect high flow conditions created by system damage or malfunction are required for all on non-residential landscapes and residential landscapes of 5,000 square feet or more.

h.

Master Shut-Off Valves. Master shut-off valves are required on all projects except landscapes that make use of technologies that allow for the individual control of sprinklers that are individually pressurized in a system equipped with low pressure shut down features.

i.

Prevent Water Waste. The irrigation system must be designed to prevent runoff, low head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where irrigation water flows onto non-targeted areas, such as adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, hardscapes, roadways, or structures.

j.

Irrigation Efficiency (IE). The irrigation system must be designed and installed to meet, at a minimum, the irrigation efficiency criteria regarding the Maximum Applied Water Allowance.

k.

Meet ASABE/ICC Standard. All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers'/International Code Council's (ASABE/ICC) 802-2014 "Landscape Irrigation

Sprinkler and Emitter Standard." All sprinkler heads must have a documented distribution uniformity low quarter of 0.65 or higher using protocols in ASABE/ICC 802-2014.

l.

Peak Water Operating Demands or Restrictions. It is highly recommended that the project applicant inquire with the local water purveyor about peak water operating demands (on the water supply system) or water restrictions that may impact the effectiveness of the irrigation system.

m.

Mulched Planting Areas. In mulched planting areas, the use of low volume irrigation is required to maximize water infiltration into the root zone.

n.

Matched Precipitation Rates. Sprinkler heads and other emission devices must have matched precipitation rates, unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer's recommendations.

o.

Head to Head Coverage. Head to head coverage is recommended. However, sprinkler spacing must be designed to achieve the highest possible distribution uniformity using the manufacturer's recommendations.

p.

Riser-Protection Components. Swing joints or other riser-protection components are required on all risers subject to damage that are adjacent to hardscapes or in high traffic areas of turf.

q.

Low Point Drainage. Check valves or anti-drain valves are required on all sprinkler heads where low point drainage could occur.

r.

Areas Less Than Ten Feet Wide. Areas less than 10 feet in width in any direction must be irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produces no runoff or overspray.

s.

Adjacent to Non-Permeable Surfaces. Overhead irrigation is not permitted within 24 inches of any non-permeable surface. Allowable irrigation within the setback from non-permeable surfaces may include drip, drip line, or other low flow non-spray technology. The surfacing of the setback may be mulch, gravel, or other porous material. These restrictions may be modified if:

i.

The landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no runoff occurs;

ii.

The adjacent non-permeable surfaces are designed and constructed to drain entirely to landscaping; or

iii.

The irrigation designer specifies an alternative design or technology and clearly demonstrates strict adherence to irrigation system design criteria. Prevention of overspray and runoff must be confirmed during the irrigation audit.

t.

Slopes Greater Than 25 Percent. Slopes greater than 25 percent shall not be irrigated with an irrigation system with an application rate exceeding 0.75 inches per hour. This restriction may be modified by the Zoning Administrator if the landscape designer specifies an alternative design or technology, and clearly demonstrates no runoff or erosion will occur. Prevention of runoff and erosion must be confirmed during the irrigation audit.

G.

The Grading Design Plan.

The Grading Design Plan must indicate finished configurations and elevations of the landscape area, including:

a.

Height of graded slopes;

b.

Drainage patterns;

c.

Pad elevations;

d.

Finish grade; and

e.

Stormwater retention improvements, if applicable.

2.

To prevent excessive erosion and runoff, project applicants may be required to:

a.

Grade so that all irrigation and normal rainfall remains on-site and does not drain on to non-permeable hardscapes;

b.

Avoid disruption of natural drainage patterns and undisturbed soil; and

c.

Avoid soil compaction in landscape areas.

H.

Prescriptive Compliance Option for Smaller Sites. Landscape projects that involve 2,500 square feet or less of landscape area may be approved through a Zoning Compliance review if the applicant meets all of the following requirements. Under this procedure, no landscape design plan needs be prepared, and requirements for a water-efficient landscape worksheet, a soil management plan, an irrigation design plan, and a grading design plan are waived.

1.

Submit a Prescriptive Compliance Landscape Documentation Package that includes the following elements:

a.

Date;

b.

Project applicant;

c.

Project address (if available, parcel and/or lot number(s));

d.

Total landscape area (square feet), including a breakdown of turf and plant material;

e.

Project type (e.g., new, rehabilitated, public, private, cemetery, homeowner-installed);

f.

Water supply type (e.g., potable, recycled, well) and identification of the local retail water purveyor if the applicant is not served by a private well;

g.

Contact information for the project applicant and property owner; and

h.

Applicant signature and date with statement, "I agree to comply with the requirements of the prescriptive compliance option of the City of Richmond's Water-Efficient Landscape Regulations."

2.

Incorporate compost at a rate of at least four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet to a depth of six inches into landscape area (unless contraindicated by a soil test);

3.

Use plant material as follows:

a.

For residential areas, install climate adapted plants that require occasional, little or no summer water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for 75 percent of the plant area, excluding edibles and areas using recycled water;

b.

For non-residential areas, install climate adapted plants that require occasional, little or no summer water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for 100 percent of the plant area, excluding edibles and areas using recycled water;

4.

Apply a minimum three-inch layer of mulch on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, areas receiving closely spaced plugs as a lawn alternative, or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated.

5.

Turf must comply with all of the following:

a.

Turf shall not exceed 25 percent of the landscape area in residential and mixed-use areas with residential dwellings;

b.

Turf is prohibited in non-residential areas;

c.

Turf shall not be planted on sloped areas that exceed a slope of one foot vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length; and

d.

Turf is prohibited in parkways less than 10 feet wide, unless the parkway is adjacent to a parking strip and used to enter and exit vehicles. Any turf in parkways must be irrigated by sub-surface irrigation or by other technology that creates no overspray or runoff.

6.

Irrigation systems must comply with all of the following:

a.

Automatic irrigation controllers are required and must use evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data and utilize a rain sensor.

b.

Irrigation controllers must be of a type that does not lose programming data in the event the primary power source is interrupted.

c.

Pressure regulators must be installed on the irrigation system to ensure the dynamic pressure of the system is within the manufacturers recommended pressure range.

d.

Manual shut-off valves (such as a gate valve, ball valve, or butterfly valve) must be installed as close as possible to the point of connection of the water supply.

e.

All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in the American National Standards Institute standard, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers'/International Code Council's (ASABE/ICC) 802-2014 "Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard." All sprinkler heads installed in the landscape must document a distribution uniformity low quarter of 0.65 or higher using the protocol defined in ASABE/ICC 802-2014.

f.

Areas less than 10 feet in width in any direction must be irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produces no runoff or overspray.

7.

For non-residential projects with landscape areas of 1,000 square feet or more, a private submeter(s) to measure landscape water use shall be installed.

8.

At the time of final inspection, the applicant must provide the owner of the property with a certificate of completion, certificate of installation, irrigation schedule, and a schedule of landscape and irrigation maintenance.

Footnotes:

--- ( 7 ) ---

The State's Model Water-efficient Landscape Ordinance includes a sample worksheet, which can be posted on the City's website and be a Microsoft Excel for or in other interactive form to make it easy to use.

A Certificate of Completion, in the form specified by the Zoning Administrator[[8]] , must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator upon completion of the installation.

A.

The Certificate of Completion must include the following six elements:

1.

Project information sheet that contains:

a.

Date;

b.

Project name;

c.

Project applicant name, telephone, and mailing address;

d.

Project address and location; and

e.

Property owner name, telephone, and mailing address;

2.

A Landscape Installation Certification of Completion that includes certification by a landscape professional that the project was installed per the approved Landscape Documentation Package. Where there have been significant changes made in the field during construction, "as-built" or record drawings must be included with the Certificate;

3.

Irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the controller;

4.

Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule;

5.

Irrigation Audit Report; and

6.

Soil Management report, if not submitted with Landscape Documentation Package, and documentation verifying implementation of soil report recommendations.

B.

The project applicant must submit the signed Certificate of Completion to the Zoning Administrator for review; and ensure that copies of the approved Certificate of Completion are submitted to the local water purveyor and to the property owner or his or her designee.

C.

The Zoning Administrator will approve or deny the Certificate of Completion within ten days of receipt. If the Certificate of Completion is denied, the Zoning Administrator must provide information to the project applicant regarding deficiencies noted and appeal procedures.

Footnotes:

--- ( 8 ) ---

The State's Model Water-efficient Landscape Ordinance includes a sample certificate.

For the efficient use of water, all irrigation schedules must be developed, managed, and evaluated to utilize the minimum amount of water required to maintain plant health. Irrigation schedules must meet the following criteria:

A.

Irrigation scheduling must be regulated by automatic irrigation controllers.

B.

Overhead irrigation must be scheduled between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. unless weather conditions prevent it. Operation of the irrigation system outside the normal watering window is allowed for auditing and system maintenance or if required by the water purveyor.

C.

Attention must be paid to irrigation run times, emission device, flow rate, and current reference evapotranspiration, so that the applied water meets the Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU). Total annual applied water must be less than or equal to the Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA).

D.

Parameters used to set the automatic irrigation controller must be developed and submitted with the Certificate of Completion for each of the following:

The plant establishment period;

2.

The established landscape; and

3.

Temporarily irrigated areas.

E.

A diagram of the irrigation plan showing hydrozones must be kept with the irrigation controller.

A.

Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance.

1.

A regular maintenance schedule must be submitted with the Certificate of Completion. This schedule must address routine inspections; auditing, adjustment and repair of the irrigation system and its components; aerating and dethatching turf areas; topdressing with compost, replenishing mulch; fertilizing; pruning; weeding in all landscape areas, and removing obstructions to emission devices.

2.

Repair of all irrigation equipment must be done with the originally installed components or their equivalents or with components with greater efficiency.

B.

Irrigation Audit Report.

1.

After completion of the installation, a landscape irrigation audit must be conducted by a City landscape irrigation auditor or a third party certified landscape irrigation auditor and submitted with the Certificate of Completion.

2.

Landscape audits shall not be conducted by the person who designed the landscape or installed the landscape.

3.

In large projects or projects with multiple landscape installations, an auditing rate of one in seven lots or approximately 15 percent will satisfy this requirement.

4.

The irrigation audit report may include, but is not limited to: inspection, system tune-up, system test with distribution uniformity, reporting overspray or run off that causes overland flow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule, including configuring irrigation controllers with application rate, soil types, plant factors, slope, exposure, and any other factors necessary for accurate programming.

All model homes that are landscaped must use signs and written information to demonstrate the principles of water efficient landscapes described in this Article.

A.

Signs must be used to identify the model home as an example of water efficient landscaping, featuring elements such as hydrozones, irrigation equipment, and others that contribute to the overall water efficient theme. Signage must include information about the site water use as designed per this Article; specify who designed and installed the water efficient landscape; and demonstrate low water use approaches to landscaping such as using native plants, graywater systems, and rainwater catchment systems.

B.

Information must be provided about designing, installing, managing, and maintaining water efficient landscapes.