1500-06-050 - Residential Landscaping Design Criteria

The following landscaping criteria shall be required of all residential development unless otherwise determined by the County as not applicable or appropriate based on a particular project's use, scale, location or other distinct circumstance:

A.

R-2, R-3, and R-4 Districts. A minimum of one tree for each 30 feet of street frontage shall be planted within each required front and street side irrigated landscape setback. A variety of tree and plant species shall be incorporated as selected from the Landscape Plant Materials List maintained by the Development Services Department. Not more than 25 percent of any planter or landscaped area may be covered with hard surfaces such as gravel, landscaping rock, artificial turf, decorative concrete or other impervious materials. Bus shelters are excluded from this limitation.

B.

All Residential Districts. Required trees shall be a minimum 15-gallon size at time of planting and planted in accordance with County standards. Trees and shrubs shall be planted so as to minimize impacts to sidewalks or individual driveways and away from leach lines as specified on the Landscape Plant Materials List maintained by the Development Services Department.

C.

Water Efficiency. All applicable development in the County shall comply with the current Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance prepared by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), as required by the California Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (Government Code Section 65591 et seq.). If conflicts occur between the Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance and this Zoning Code or other County regulations, the more restrictive shall apply.

D.

Completion of Landscape Requirements. All landscaping shall be installed consistent with approved plans and specifications, in a manner designed to promote and maintain healthy plant growth. Landscaping shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of this Chapter upon the following:

1.

All of the required landscaping is installed in conformance with the requirements and standards; or

2.

An agreement is on file with the County which may include a financial deposit which guarantees that the required landscaping shall be installed within a reasonable period of time after issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy. At such time as the landscaping is completed a final certificate of occupancy may be issued.

E.

Maintenance. All plant materials shall be maintained by the property owner in good growing condition and shall be free from physical damage or injury arising from lack of water, chemical damage, insects, and diseases. Plant materials showing such damage shall be replaced with the same or similar species from the Landscape Plant Materials List maintained by the Development Services Department. Planting areas shall be kept free from weeds, debris, and undesirable materials that may be detrimental to safety, drainage or appearance. Any shrubs, trees, or other foliage which, in the opinion of the Director, obscures safe sight distance from driveways and corners shall be trimmed by the property owner to a condition satisfactory to the Director.

(Ord. of 6-28-2022)