Chapter II — Landscape Design Standards

Contents: D3-14 - Purpose of Chapter D3-15 - Reserved D3-16- Definitions D3-17 - Applicability D3-18 - Landscape Plan Approval Required D3-19 - Landscape Location Requirements D3-20 - Landscape Area Requirements D3-21 - Landscape Standards D3-22 - Landscape Requirements D3-23 - Maintenance of Landscape Areas D3-24 - Landscaping Education

This Chapter provides landscape standards for proposed development to improve the livability and attractiveness of the City, and to protect the public comfort, health, safety, and welfare by: A. Preserving and enhancing the visual character of the community, and providing cooling shade; B. Enhancing and increasing compatibility between abutting land uses and public rights-of-way by providing landscape screening and buffers; C. Providing for the conservation and safeguard of water resources through the efficient use of water, appropriate use of plant materials, and regular maintenance of landscaped areas; and D. Ensuring that landscape installations do not create hazards for motorists or pedestrians.

D3-16- Definitions

See Municipal Code section C4-121.

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 644

A. Applicable projects. The requirements of this Chapter are applicable to the following projects. 1. All new construction, with the exception of new single family residences on individual parcels, including the following: a. Commercial developments; b. Industrial developments; c. Model homes; d. Public projects; e. Residential developments (single-family subdivisions and multi-family dwelling units); and f. Temporary developments; 2. All rehabilitated landscaping for existing commercial, industrial, and multi-family dwelling units. B. Non-applicable projects. These requirements shall not apply to individual single-family residential parcels. C. Timing of Landscape Plan submittal and implementation. See Municipal Code section C4-122.

A. Landscape Plan. A Landscape Plan shall be submitted as part of an application for a land use entitlement for new development, or the significant expansion or redevelopment of an existing use. The Zoning Administrator shall determine if a Landscape Plan shall be submitted for ARB review and approval. 1. For the purposes of this Section, "significant expansion" means a 25 percent or greater increase in the ground floor footprint of a building, or a 25 percent or greater increase in the total floor area of a development or land use. 2. For residential developments the plan shall cover areas of the site visible from public streets; for other development, the plan shall cover all areas of the site required to be landscaped by Section D3-19 (Landscape Location Requirements), below.

No Building Permit shall be issued and no construction activity shall commence on the site until the Zoning Administrator has verified that the Landscape Plan submitted with the Building Permit application is as approved.

B. Content. A Landscape Plan shall contain all of the information identified in the Department handout for preparing Landscape Plans, and required by Municipal Code section C4-122 and the California State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), Sections 490 – 495, Chapter 2.7, Division 2, Title 23 in the California Code of Regulations. C. Statement of surety. Landscaping is the final phase of a project, and the one most often underdeveloped. To insure completion, the Zoning Administrator may require that a statement of surety in the form of cash, performance bond, letter of credit, or certificate of deposit shall be posted with the City, in an amount equal to 150 percent of the total value, or another amount determined by the Zoning Administrator, of all plant materials, installation, irrigation, and maintenance, for a two-year period. The cost of materials shall be provided by the Registered Landscape Architect responsible for the project. The Zoning Administrator may require statements of surety for phased projects, a legitimate delay in landscape installation due to seasonal requirements (including adverse weather conditions) and similar circumstances where it may not be advisable or desirable to install all of a project's landscaping before occupancy of the site.

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 645

D. Minor changes to approved plans. Landscape Plan approval may include the Zoning Administrator authorizing minor changes from the requirements of this Chapter.

Landscaping shall be provided in the locations specified below. A. Unused areas. All areas of a project site not intended for a specific use shall be landscaped except where landscaping would adversely affect existing drainage or erosion control plans, or it is determined by the Zoning Administrator that landscaping is not necessary to fulfill the purposes of this Chapter. B. Parking areas. Parking areas shall be landscaped in compliance with the following requirements. Parking lot landscaping, may be counted toward fulfilling the landscape area requirements identified in Section D3-20 below 1. Landscape materials. Landscape materials shall be evenly-distributed throughout the parking lot using a combination of trees, shrubs, ground cover, mulch, gravel, and other xeriscape areas as approved by the review authority. At the time of planting, the size of the shrubs and trees shall be in compliance with D3-21(B). 2. Curbing. Areas containing plant materials should 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 and/or to filter/retain runoff on site may be approved by the Zoning Administrator. 3. Runoff. Parking lot landscaped areas shall be designed to filter/retain runoff on site. 4. Location of landscaping. To the extent possible, parking lot landscaping should be located so that pedestrians are not required to cross landscaped areas to reach structure entrances from parked cars. This should be achieved through proper orientation of the landscaped fingers and islands. If parking lot landscaping must be located in a manner that requires pedestrian access across landscaped areas, pedestrian access shall be accommodated. 5. Bumper overhang areas. To increase the parking lot landscaped area, a maximum of two feet of the parking stall depth may be landscaped with low-growth, hearty materials in lieu of paving, allowing a two-foot bumper overhang while maintaining the required parking dimensions. 6. Parking lot perimeter landscaping. Parking area perimeters shall be landscaped as follows. The Zoning Administrator may adjust the tree spacing requirements of this Subsection based upon the growth characteristics and proper maintenance practices for the species of trees proposed. a. Location and size of landscape areas. 1. Adjacent to streets. Parking areas for nonresidential uses adjoining a public street shall be designed to provide a 10-foot landscaped planting strip between the street right-of-way and parking area. Parking areas for residential uses shall not be located within the required setback areas and the minimum width of the landscape planting strip shall be equal to the required setbacks. 2. Screening plant materials. The landscaping shall be designed and maintained to screen cars from view from the street and shall be a height of between 30 and 36 inches. 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. 3. Shade trees. Shade trees shall be provided at a minimum rate of one for every 30 linear feet of landscaped area, and may include areas of clustered trees. City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 646

b. Adjacent to side or rear property lines. Parking areas for nonresidential uses shall provide a perimeter landscaped strip at least five feet wide (inside dimension) where the parking area adjoins a side or rear property line. Trees shall be provided at the rate of one for each 30 linear feet of landscaped area. c. Adjacent to structures. When parking areas are located adjacent to nonresidential structures, a minimum five-foot wide landscape strip (inside dimension) shall be provided adjacent to the side and rear of the structure and shall include trees planted at the rate of one for each 30 linear feet of landscaped area. d. Adjacent to residential use. Parking areas for nonresidential uses adjoining residential uses shall provide a landscaped buffer with a minimum 10-foot width between the parking area and the common property line bordering the residential use. A solid masonry wall or fence and landscape buffer shall be provided along the property line to address land use compatibility issues (e.g., glare, light, or nuisance noise). One tree shall be provided for each 30 linear feet of landscaped area. 7. Interior parking lot landscaping. Landscaping is required within parking lots to provide shade, reduce pavement heat gain and adjacent building heating during the summer, soften the appearance of large paved areas, and serve as storm water treatment areas. a. Shading requirement. Canopy trees shall be provided throughout the parking area and perimeter at the equivalent of one tree for every four spaces, to provide shade. Palms and other small canopied trees are not considered shade trees. b. Planter dimensions. Planters with trees shall have a minimum interior dimension of five feet by five feet. All ends of parking lanes shall be separated from drive aisles by landscaped islands. c. Larger projects. Parking lots with more than 100 spaces shall provide a concentration of landscape elements at primary entrances, including specimen trees, flowering plants, enhanced paving, and project identification. D. Pools and Patios. The surface area of a permanent swimming pool or spas, or uncovered patios may be counted toward meeting the landscape requirement for multi-family uses.

Landscaping shall be provided in the locations and amounts specified in this Section, except for single- family dwellings located on individual single-family residential parcels. A. Specific zone landscaping requirements. 1. Each development shall provide and maintain landscaped areas in compliance with Table 3-6 below for the applicable zone. Landscaped areas are inclusive of the landscaping required by Section D3-19 (Landscape location requirements), above, and inclusive of any pedestrian-oriented open space (e.g., courtyards, plazas, etc.). Additional landscaping may be required through the development review process to provide visual relief or contrast, or to screen incompatible features. TABLE 3-6 - MINIMUM LANDSCAPED AREA BY ZONE Zone Percentage of Lot RM, RMH, RH, and RVH 15% OA, OL, CC, CR, M-1, and M-2 20% DMU-N, DMU-S, MUX, MUR, CT, MC, and CCMU 15% RC, HR, RE, RS 50% CC-R, CT-R, CS-R 30%

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 647

2. All required landscaping, irrigation, and equipment shall be installed prior to final inspection unless a bond or other surety is provided in compliance with Section D6-33 (Performance Guarantees). B. New single-family developments. New single-family developments, except for single-family dwellings located on individual single-family residential parcels, shall provide landscaping with an automatic irrigation system for the area of the site between the street curb and the front of the structure from side property line to side property line. The landscape design shall include trees, shrubs, and ground cover and shall emphasize water-conserving plant materials and irrigation to the greatest extent feasible. Turf areas shall be limited to 50 percent of the total landscaped area. (Ord. No. 534, § 1 (Exh. A-2), 10/14/2025)

Effective on: 11/13/2025

Landscape areas and materials shall be designed, installed, and maintained in compliance with this Section and Section D3-23 (Maintenance of Landscape Areas), below. A. General design standards. The following features shall be incorporated into the design of the proposed landscape and shown on the required Landscape Plans: 1. Landscaping shall be planned as an integral part of the overall project design and not simply located in excess space after parking areas and structures have been planned; 2. Pedestrian access to sidewalks or structures shall be considered in the design of all landscaped areas; 3. Landscaping adjacent to driveways and parking shall be protected from vehicle damage through the provision of minimum six-inch high and six-inch wide concrete curbs or other types of barriers approved by the Zoning Administrator (exception from curb requirements may be granted by the Zoning Administrator for storm water treatment purposes); 4. Landscaped planter areas shall have a minimum inside width of five feet where trees are provided and four feet where turf or shrubs are provided; 5. Landscaped areas shall be irrigated and designed to filter/retain runoff in compliance with Municipal Code section C4-122; 6. Hardscaped areas shall only be as large as necessary to provide for efficient pedestrian circulation through a required landscaped area; and 7. Where fences or walls are provided as required screening, a minimum 10-foot wide landscaped area shall be located on the residential side of the fence or wall. If the commercial side of the fence or wall is visible from a street or adjacent property, a five-foot wide landscaped area shall be provided adjacent to the fence or wall. If adjacent to a parking area, the area may be counted towards meeting the required interior parking lot landscaping. B. Plant materials. Plant materials shall be selected and installed to comply with the following requirements: 1. A mix of plant materials shall be provided in compliance with the following: ● Trees. Thirty percent of the mix of trees shall come in 24 inch boxes and 70% shall come in 15 gallon containers. ● Shrubs. Twenty-five percent of the mix of shrubs should come in five gallon containers and the balance in one gallon containers. ● Groundcover. One hundred percent coverage should occur within two years.

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 648

● Calculations documenting the required mix shall be shown on the Landscape Plan; 2. Plant materials shall be selected for: energy efficiency and drought tolerance; adaptability and relationship to San Ramon environment; color, form and pattern; ability to provide shade; soil retention, fire resistiveness, etc. The overall landscape plan shall be integrated with all elements of the project, such as buildings, parking lots and streets, to achieve desirable microclimate and minimize energy demand. 3. Plant materials shall emphasize drought-tolerant and/or native species; 4. Trees and shrubs shall be planted and maintained so that they do not interfere with service lines and traffic safety sight areas; 5. Trees planted near public sidewalks or curbs shall be of a species and maintained in a manner which prevents physical damage to the curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and other public improvements; 6. Ground cover shall be of live plant material. Bark, colored rock, gravel, and similar materials may be used in combination with a living ground cover. Non-plant materials may be approved for use in limited areas by the Zoning Administrator; 7. If existing landscaping is to be retained, a note shall be provided on the Landscape Plan stating that any existing landscaping indicated on the approved Landscape Plan for retention that is damaged or removed during construction shall be repaired or replaced subject to the approval of the Zoning Administrator; 8. Maximize energy efficiency by incorporating drought tolerant canopies, deciduous vines, and trellises to shade south and westward facing walls, to cool them in summer months. C. Irrigation. Irrigation systems shall comply with the following standards and as required by Municipal Code section C4-122 and the California State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), Sections 490 – 495, Chapter 2.7, Division 2, Title 23 in the California Code of Regulations. 1. Recycled water, if available, shall be utilized for landscape irrigation systems as appropriate for the landscape materials and consistent with storm water regulations. Absent the immediate availability of recycled water, recycled water infrastructure (i.e. purple pipe, etc.) shall be installed if recycled water is reasonably available to the project site in 15 years. 2. An irrigation system may include graywater subject to Chapter 15 of the California Plumbing Code.

See Municipal Code section C4-122 and as required with the California State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), Sections 490 – 495, Chapter 2.7, Division 2, Title 23 in the California Code of Regulations.

A. Maintenance required. All landscaped areas shall be permanently maintained in a healthful and sound condition at all times, in compliance with the approved Landscape Plan. Irrigation systems and their components shall be maintained in a fully functional manner consistent with the originally approved design and the provisions of this Chapter. The maintenance required by this Section shall include adjusting, checking, and repairing irrigation equipment; resetting automatic controllers; aerating and de-thatching turf areas; adding/replenishing fertilizer, mulch, and soil amendments; insect control; the replacement of dead or diseased plants; pruning; watering; and weeding all landscaped areas.

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 649

B. Water waste prohibited. Water waste in existing developments resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation leading to excessive runoff, low head drainage, overspray, and other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, roadways, structures, or walks is prohibited.

The project applicant shall provide information to prospective buyers of new single-family homes regarding water-efficient landscaping techniques. A sample of the information to be provided shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for approval prior to issuance of a Building Permit.