This chapter implements the California Department of Water Resources Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) as adopted by the California Water Commission. In the event of any conflict between this chapter and the latest version of the MWELO, the provisions of the state adopted ordinance shall apply. The landscaping provisions contained in this chapter are provided to:

A.

Enhance the aesthetic appearance of development in all areas of the city by providing standards relating to the quality, quantity, and functional aspects of landscaping;

B.

Help mitigate land use compatibility conflicts between different land uses;

C.

Preserve natural vegetation and incorporate native plants, plant communities, and ecosystems into landscape design;

D.

Protect the environment by increasing on-site infiltration, controlling soil erosion, and reducing runoff;

E.

Protect wildlife habitat and foster biodiversity;

F.

Reduce heat and glare generated by development;

G.

Promote public health, safety and welfare by minimizing the impacts of all forms of physical and visual pollution, preserving the integrity of neighborhoods, and enhancing pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety;

H.

Promote the conservation of potable and recycled water by encouraging the preservation of existing plant communities, encouraging the planting of natural or uncultivated areas, and encouraging the appropriate design, installation, maintenance, and management of landscape areas so that water demand can be decreased, runoff can be minimized, and flooding can be reduced without a decline in the quality or quantity of landscape areas;

I.

Retain the land's natural hydrological role within the Santa Ana Watershed and promote the infiltration of surface water into the groundwater in the Chino Basin by reducing compaction, and incorporating organic matter that increases water retention;

J.

Promote productive plant growth that leads to more carbon storage, oxygen production, and shade;

K.

Conserve water by capturing and reusing rainwater and graywater wherever possible and selecting climate appropriate plants that need minimal supplemental water after establishment;

L.

Acknowledge that landscape water use accounts for more than sixty percent of all domestic water use in the Chino Basin;

M.

Promote and encourage the inclusion of low water use plants in landscape design plans;

N.

Minimize the use of cool season turf;

O.

Maximize the use of recycled water and other water conserving technology for appropriate applications;

P.

Promote public education about water conservation and efficient water management;

Q.

Reduce or eliminate water waste; and

R.

Be at least as effective in conserving water as the model ordinance adopted pursuant to Government Code section 65595.

(Ord. 2015-008, § 1, 2015.)

A.

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all landscape projects that meet the following requirements:

1.

New construction projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than five hundred square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review.

2.

Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than two thousand five hundred square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review.

3.

Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area of two thousand five hundred square feet or less which require a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review may comply with the performance requirements of this ordinance by either completing the landscape document package or conform to the prescriptive measures contained in section 20.19.070.

4.

For projects using treated or untreated graywater or rainwater captured onsite, any lot or parcel within the project that has less than two thousand five hundred square feet of landscape and meets the lot or parcel's water requirement (estimated total water use) entirely with treated or untreated graywater or through stored rainwater captured on site is subject only to section 20.19.070.

B.

All landscape areas that were approved pursuant to the requirements of subdivision A and were installed after December 1, 2015 are subject to programs/audits by the city to ensure the applied water does not exceed the approved maximum applied water allowance (MAWA).

1.

Existing residential properties not subject to the requirements of subdivision A shall comply with minimum landscape requirements and the minimum on-site landscape planting requirements in section 20.19.040.B.7.

C.

All rehabilitated landscape areas that are one acre or more and were installed before December 1, 2015 are limited to preparing the water efficient landscape worksheet for existing landscape areas in section 20.19.030.C.

D.

The use of artificial turf is permitted within the City of Chino. Any installation of artificial turf shall comply with section 20.19.040.B.

E.

The provisions of section 20.19.060 shall apply to all new or rehabilitated development projects.

F.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:

1.

Registered local, state, or federal historical sites;

2.

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

3.

Botanical gardens and arboretums open to the public.

(Ord. 2015-008, § 1, 2015.)

Prior to the installation of landscaping and irrigation systems as required by this chapter, a landscape documentation package shall be submitted to the director of community development for review and approval. The documentation package shall be prepared by, and bear the seal of, a landscape architect registered with the State of California, and shall include the following elements:

A.

Water conservation concept statement. A water conservation concept statement shall be provided on the cover sheet of each landscape documentation package, which serves as a checklist to verify that all required elements of the landscape documentation package have been provided and that it includes a narrative summary of the project. The water conservation concept statement is available at the community development department.

B.

Water efficient landscape worksheet. A project applicant shall complete the water efficient landscape worksheet, which contains information on the plant factor, irrigation method, irrigation efficiency, and area associated with each hydrozone. Calculations are then made to show that the evapotranspiration adjustment factor (ETAF) for the landscape project does not exceed a factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas, exclusive of special landscape areas (SLA). The ETAF for SLA shall not exceed 1.0. The ETAF for a landscape project is based on the plant factors and irrigation methods selected. The maximum applied water allowance (MAWA) is calculated based on the maximum ETAF allowed and expressed as annual gallons required. The Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU) is calculated based on the plants used and irrigation method selected for the landscape design. ETWU must be below the MAWA. In calculating the MAWA, a project applicant shall use the following reference evapotranspiration (ETo);

Source: State of California Model Water Efficiency Ordinance (Historical data extrapolated from 12-month normal year ETo Maps and U.C. publication 21426)

1.

ETWU calculations shall use the following requirements:

a.

The plant factor used shall be from WUCOLS or from horticultural researchers with academic institutions or professional associations as approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). The plant factor ranges from 0.0 to 0.1 for very low water using plants, 0.1 to 0.3 for low water use plants, 0.4 to 0.6 for moderate water use plants, and from 0.7 to 1.0 for high water use. The ranges shall be used to adjust for micro-climate conditions.

b.

All water features shall be included in the high water use hydrozone and temporarily irrigated areas shall be included in the low water use hydrozone.

c.

All special landscape areas shall be identified and their water use calculated as shown in the water efficient landscape worksheet.

2.

The ETWU shall be calculated for each parcel/lot separately and for the project as a whole.

3.

ETAF for new and existing (non-rehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0.

C.

Existing landscape areas. Per section 20.19.020.C., all existing landscape areas of one acre or more and installed before December 1, 2015 are limited to preparing the water efficient landscape worksheet for existing landscape areas, unless existing landscaping is rehabilitated as described in section 20.19.020.A.2. The MAWA for existing landscape areas shall be calculated as: MAWA = (ETo)(0.62)(0.8)(LA). Existing special landscape areas shall be allotted additional water, as appropriate, for the needs of the landscape area.

D.

Landscape design plan. The landscape design plan shall be fully dimensioned and detailed, and shall include the following materials and information:

1.

A scaled site plan indicating site perimeter, the geographic features surrounding the site, north arrow, topography, vegetation, and other site features such as approximate slope percentage, solar exposure, and orientation.

2.

Location of all buildings, parking areas, and any other improvements on the project site.

3.

Location and description of all plant material to be installed or preserved (including street trees), light standards, parkway treatments, fences and walls, and curbing and hardscape treatments (including type and finish).

4.

A full plant legend calling out all plant types by botanic and common name, number and size of plants, and planting distances. All exotic species shall be identified. Verification shall be provided that none of the species listed by the California Invasive Plant Council as invasive in the area are included in the planting plan.

5.

Location and type of all passive and active recreation equipment and amenities, including outdoor equipment provided for employee welfare (such as benches, tables, etc.).

6.

Location of all ground mounted equipment, including transformers, fire equipment, utility boxes, etc.

7.

Tree staking, plant installation, soil preparation details, and other applicable planting and installation details.

8.

Calculation of the total landscape area to determine water use.

9.

Location of any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies as discussed in 20.19.040.

10.

Location of any applicable graywater discharge piping, system components, and area of distribution.

11.

Any other such information that may be required by the director of community development that is reasonable and necessary to determine that the landscape design plan meets the requirements of this chapter.

E.

Irrigation design plan. This section applies to landscaped areas requiring permanent irrigation, not areas that require temporary irrigation solely for the plant establishment period. The irrigation design plan shall be separate from, but use the same format and scale as the landscape design plan, and shall include the following information:

1.

The location and size of separate water meter(s) used for landscape irrigation purposes. Dedicated water service meters for landscaping only shall be installed for all non-residential irrigated landscapes of one thousand square feet but not more than five thousand square feet (the level at which California Water Code section 535 applies) and residential landscapes of five thousand square feet or greater. A landscape water meter may either be:

a.

A customer service meter dedicated to landscape; or

b.

A privately owned meter or submeter.

c.

A hydrometer that is a master valve, flow sensor and mechanical meter in one.

2.

The location, type, and size of all components of the irrigation system, including automatic controllers, main and lateral lines, valves, sprinkler heads, recycled water systems, moisture sensing devices, rain cut-off switches, quick couplers, and backflow prevention devices.

3.

The static water pressure at the point of connection to the public water supply.

4.

The flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM), application rate in inches per hour (IPH), and design operating pressure in pounds per square inch (PSI) for each station.

5.

Flow sensors that detect high flow conditions created by system damage or malfunction are required for all non-residential developments and residential landscapes five thousand square feet or larger.

6.

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.

7.

Proposed recycled water irrigation systems.

a.

The installation of recycled water irrigation systems shall be required to allow for the current and future use of recycled water to adjacent landscape areas.

b.

Irrigation systems shall make use of recycled water unless it is not available. In areas where recycled water is not currently available, but may be available in the foreseeable future, irrigation systems shall be designed to allow for the conversion from potable to recycled water.

c.

The recycled water irrigation systems shall be designed and operated in accordance with city and state codes.

d.

Landscape areas using recycled water are considered special landscape areas. The ET adjustment factor for new and existing (no-rehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0.

8.

An irrigation schedule that identifies the runtime (in minutes per cycle), suggested number of cycles per day, and suggested number of days per week.

9.

The amount of applied water (in one hundred cubic feet) recommended on a monthly and annual basis.

10.

A regular maintenance schedule for checking, adjusting, and repairing irrigation equipment and resetting automatic controllers.

11.

An automatic irrigation system with a smart irrigation controller, utilizing either real time evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data, stand alone or in conjunction with historical date and non-volatile memory shall be provided for all landscape areas for irrigation scheduling in all irrigation.

12.

Landscape irrigation systems shall be designed so that, to the greatest extent practical, overspray is eliminated. This can be accomplished through the use of low-trajectory spray nozzles to reduce the effect of wind velocity on the spray system and by placing sprinkler heads to reduce direct overspray onto non-pervious areas.

13.

For the purpose of determining estimated total water use, average irrigation efficiency is assumed to be .075.

14.

Sprinkler heads and emitters shall have consistent application rates within each control valve circuit. Sprinkler heads shall be selected for proper area coverage, application rate, operating pressure, adjustment capability, and ease of maintenance.

15.

All irrigation systems shall be designed to prevent runoff, over-spray, low head drainage, and other similar conditions. Soil types and infiltration rates shall be considered when designing irrigation systems. Irrigation systems shall be designed, constructed, managed, and maintained to achieve as high an overall efficiency as possible.

16.

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

17.

Overhead irrigation shall not be permitted within twenty four inches of any non-permeable surfaces. Allowable irrigation within the setback from non-permeable surfaces may include drip, drip line, or other low flow non-spray technology. The setback area may be planted or unplanted. The surfacing of the setback may be mulch, gravel, or other porous material. These restrictions may be modified if:

a.

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

b.

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

c.

The irrigation designer specifies an alternative design or technology that will prevent overspray and runoff.

18.

Non-turf areas on slopes greater than twenty-five percent shall be irrigated with drip irrigation or other low volume irrigation technology.

19.

Graywater systems promote the efficient use of water and are encouraged to assist in on-site landscape irrigation. All graywater systems shall conform to the California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5, and Chapter 16) and any applicable ordinance standards. See section 20.10.020 (A)(4).

20.

All irrigation systems shall include:

a.

A smart irrigation controller or other equivalent technology which automatically adjusts the frequency and duration of irrigation events in response to changing weather conditions. The planting areas shall be grouped and irrigated in relation to hydrozones based on similarity of water requirements (i.e. turf separate from shrub and groundcover, full sun exposure areas separate from shade areas, and top of slope separate from toe of slope);

b.

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 off features;

c.

Anti-drain check valves shall be installed on all sprinkler heads and drip emitters where low point drainage could occur;

d.

A pressure regulator when the static water pressure exceeds the maximum recommended operating pressure of the irrigation system;

e.

A manual shutoff valve(s) to prevent water loss resulting from a leak in the irrigation system;

f.

Backflow prevention devices; and

g.

All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 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.

Grading plan.

1.

For the efficient use of water, grading of a project site shall be designed to minimize soil erosion, runoff, and water waste. A grading plan shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package.

a.

The project applicant shall submit a grading plan that indicates finished configurations and elevations of the landscape area, including:

1.

Height of graded slopes;

2.

Drainage patterns;

3.

Pad elevations;

4.

Finish grade; and

5.

Stormwater retention improvements, if applicable.

b.

To prevent excessive erosion and runoff, it is highly recommended that project applicants:

1.

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

2.

Avoid disruption of natural drainage patterns and undisturbed soil; and

3.

Avoid soil compaction in landscape areas.

G.

Soil management plan/report. In order to reduce runoff and encourage healthy plant growth, a soil management report shall be completed by the project applicant, or his/her designee, as follows:

1.

Submit soil samples to a laboratory for analysis and recommendations.

a.

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

b.

The soil analysis shall include:

1.

Soil texture;

2.

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

3.

pH;

4.

Total soluble salts;

5.

Sodium;

6.

Percent organic matter;

7.

Recommendations.

c.

In projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e. production home developments) a soil sampling rate of one in seven lots or approximately fifteen percent will satisfy this requirement. Large landscape projects shall sample at a rate equivalent to one sample per acre of landscape area at random locations.

2.

The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall comply with one of the following:

a.

If significant mass grading is not planned, the soil analysis reports shall be submitted as a part of the landscape documentation package.

b.

If significant mass grading is planned, the soil analysis report shall be submitted as part of the certificate of completion.

3.

The soil analysis report shall be made available, in a timely manner, to the professionals preparing the landscape design plans and irrigation design plans to make any necessary adjustments to the design plan.

4.

The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall submit documentation verifying implementation of soil analysis report recommendations with a certificate of completion.

H.

Irrigation schedules.

1.

An irrigation program with monthly irrigation schedules shall be required for the plant establishment period, for the established landscape, and for any temporarily irrigated areas.

2.

The irrigation schedule shall include:

a.

Irrigation interval (days between irrigation);

b.

Runtime (in minutes per cycle), suggested number of cycles per day, and frequency of irrigation for each station;

c.

The amount of applied water (in one hundred cubic feet) recommended on a monthly and annual basis;

d.

Amount of applied water scheduled to be applied on a monthly basis;

e.

Application rate setting;

f.

Root depth setting;

g.

Plant type setting;

h.

Soil type;

i.

Slope factor setting;

j.

Shade factor setting; and

k.

Irrigation uniformity or efficiency setting.

3.

The total amount of water for the project shall include water designated in the estimated total water use calculation, plus water needed for any water features (considered as a high water using hydrozone).

4.

Automated irrigation of landscape areas shall be scheduled between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. to avoid irrigating during times of high wind, high temperature, and high water usage. Automated irrigation outside of the 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. period is allowed for irrigation audits and irrigation system maintenance.

5.

Irrigation scheduling shall use automatic irrigation systems and evapotranspiration data such as those from the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) weather stations or soil moisture monitoring systems to apply the appropriate levels of water for different climates.

6.

For implementation of the irrigation schedule, particular attention must be paid to irrigation run times, emission device, flow rate, and current ETo, so that applied water meets the estimated total water use. Total annual applied water shall be less than or equal to the MAWA. Actual irrigation schedules should be based on current time ETo data (e.g. CIMIS or soil moisture sensor).

I.

Maintenance schedule.

1.

Landscape irrigation shall be maintained to ensure water efficiency. A regular maintenance schedule shall include, but not be limited to checking, adjusting, and repairing irrigation equipment; resetting automatic controllers; aerating and dethatching turf areas; top dressing with compost, replenishing mulch; fertilizing; and pruning and weeding.

2.

Repair of irrigation equipment shall be done with the originally specified materials or their equivalents with components of greater efficiency.

3.

A project applicant is encouraged to implement established landscape industry sustainable best practices for all landscape maintenance activities.

J.

Certificate of completion.

1.

Upon completion of the installation of landscaping and irrigation systems, a certified landscape irrigation auditor shall conduct an irrigation audit.

2.

A licensed landscape architect or contractor, or other licensed or certified professional in a related field, shall conduct a final field inspection and shall prepare a certificate of completion, which shall be filed with the director of community development. The certificate of completion shall specifically indicate that plants were installed as specified by the landscape design plan, that the irrigation system was installed as specified by the irrigation design plan, and that an irrigation audit has been performed.

a.

All landscape and irrigation audits shall be conducted by a certified landscape irrigation auditor. Landscape audits shall not be conducted by the person who designed the landscape or installed the landscape.

b.

In projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e. production home developments) a soil sampling rate of one in seven lots or approximately fifteen percent will satisfy this requirement. Large landscape projects shall sample at a rate equivalent to one sample per acre of landscape area at random locations.

c.

For new construction and rehabilitated projects installed after December 1, 2015 as described in section 20.19.020, the project applicant shall submit an irrigation audit report with the certificate of completion to the city that may include, but 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.

3.

The certificate of completion shall include the following:

a.

Date;

b.

Project name;

c.

Project applicant name, telephone, and mailing address;

d.

Project address and location;

e.

Property owner name, telephone, and mailing address;

f.

Certification by either the signer of the landscape design plan, the signer of the irrigation design plan, or the licensed landscape contractor that the landscape project has been installed per the approved landscape documentation package;

1.

Where there have been significant changes made in the field during construction, these "as-built" or record drawings shall be included with the certification.

2.

A diagram of the irrigation plan showing hydrozones shall be kept with the irrigation controller for subsequent management purposes.

g.

Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule;

h.

Irrigation audit report; and

i.

Soil analysis report and documentation verifying implementation of soil report recommendations.

(Ord. 2015-008, § 1, 2015.)

A.

Stormwater management and rainwater retention.

1.

The applicant shall incorporate twenty-four-hour retention or infiltration capacity of stormwater management practices into the project design that minimize runoff, increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration, and improve water quality as necessary to comply with applicable stormwater regulations.

2.

The applicant is encouraged to incorporate stormwater management practices into the project design that minimize runoff, increase on-site infiltration, and improve water quality if not specifically required by stormwater regulations.

3.

All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to maximize water retention and infiltration as noted in section 20.19.040.B.3.

B.

Minimum on-site planting requirements.

1.

General requirements.

a.

Trees shall not be placed where they interfere with site drainage or require frequent pruning in order to avoid interference with overhead utilities.

b.

Trees should be grouped together to simulate natural tree stands. A design that places trees in a linear or symmetric pattern is not encouraged, with the exception of street trees.

c.

When more than ten trees are to be planted to meet the requirements of this chapter, a mix of tree sizes shall be provided as specified by Table 20.19-1 (Minimum Tree Size Mix).

Table 20.19-1 MINIMUM TREE SIZE MIX

d.

When more than ten trees are to be planted to meet the requirements of this chapter, a mix of tree species shall be provided as specified by Table 20.19-2 (Minimum Tree Species Mix).

Table 20.19-2 MINIMUM TREE SPECIES MIX

e.

In addition to the on-site trees required by this chapter, street trees of a minimum fifteen-gallon or larger shall be installed at an average spacing of every thirty feet and shall comply with the applicable standard drawings of the city's public works department.

2.

Selection of plant materials.

a.

Any plant may be selected for the landscape area, providing the ETWU in the landscape area does not exceed the MAWA. Methods to achieve water efficiency shall include one or more of the following:

1.

Protection and preservation of native species and natural vegetation;

2.

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

3.

Selection of trees based on tree shading guidelines, and size at maturity as appropriate for the planting area;

4.

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

b.

Each hydrozone shall have plant materials with similar water use except under the following circumstances:

1.

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

a.

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

b.

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

c.

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

d.

Where feasible, trees shall 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 shall be considered when designing irrigation for the tree.

e.

Plants shall 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 shall include one or more of the following;

1.

Use 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;

2.

Recognize 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), allow for adequate soil volume for healthy root growth; and

3.

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

f.

Plant material should be planted in drifts to appear as filled-in masses, instead of spotty placement of individual shrubs. There should be a minimum of one plant per twenty-five square feet (one plant per five foot by five foot).

g.

Installation of turf on slopes greater than twenty-five percent shall not be permitted where twenty-five percent means one-foot of vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run x 100 = slope percent).

h.

High water use plants, characterized by a plant factor of 0.7 to 1.0, are prohibited in street medians.

i.

A landscape design plan for projects in fire-prone areas shall address fire safety and prevention. A defensible space or zone around a building or structure is required per public resources code section 4291(a) and (b). Avoid fire-prone plant materials and highly flammable mulches.

j.

Invasive species of plants, such as those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council, shall be prohibited.

k.

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

3.

Soil preparation, mulch and amendments.

a.

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

b.

Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the plants selected.

c.

For landscape installations, compost at a rate of a minimum of four cubic yards per one thousand square feet of permeable area shall be incorporated to a depth of six inches into the soil. Soils with greater than six percent organic matter in the top six inches are exempt from adding compost and tilling.

d.

A minimum of three-inch layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, creeping or rooting groundcovers, or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated.

e.

Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes that meet current engineering standards.

f.

The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro-seeded applications shall meet the mulching requirement.

g.

Organic mulch materials made from recycled or post-consumer shall take precedence over inorganic materials or virgin forest products unless the recycled post-consumer organic products are not locally available.

4.

Artificial turf.

a.

Artificial turf may be incorporated into the landscaping of a project. The type and quantity of artificial turf to be incorporated into the landscaping of a project shall be submitted for review as part of the landscape documentation package.

b.

Artificial turf shall consist of lifelike individual blades of grass that emulate real grass in look and color.

c.

A proper drainage system shall be installed underneath the turf to prevent excess runoff or pooling of water.

d.

Artificial turf shall be installed and maintained, per manufacturer's recommendations, to effectively simulate the appearance of a well-maintained lawn.

e.

The use of indoor or outdoor plastic or nylon carpeting as a replacement for artificial turf or natural turf is prohibited.

f.

Artificial turf shall be installed in combination with natural plant materials (i.e. trees, shrubs, and groundcover) to enhance the overall landscaping design.

g.

Artificial turf may be used to satisfy up to thirty percent of the minimum landscape coverage required for a project. Any such request shall be submitted for review as part of the landscape documentation package and must be approved by the director of community development.

h.

Artificial turf shall not be included as part of the landscape area when calculating the MAWA.

i.

Artificial turf may be incorporated into existing landscaping, and may be used to satisfy a portion of the minimum landscape coverage requirement. Any such request shall be submitted for review and must be approved by the director of community development.

5.

Water features.

a.

Recirculating water systems shall be used for decorative water features.

b.

Where available, recycled water shall be used as the source for decorative water features (excluding swimming pools and spas).

c.

The surface area of a decorative water feature shall be included in the high water use hydrozone of the water budget calculation.

C.

Requirements for zoning districts.

1.

New residential development projects. The following standards shall apply to all new residential development projects:

a.

Developments of detached single-family dwellings shall provide front yard landscaping and permanent automatic irrigation in the front yard of each lot. Furthermore, appropriate shrubs and trees shall be provided and a variety of landscape designs shall be provided for use throughout the subdivision.

b.

Planned developments shall provide landscaping in accordance with part C.1.a of this section. Furthermore, all common areas shall be provided with full landscape improvements and permanent automatic irrigation. For the purposes of this part, "planned development" means a subdivision of detached or attached single-family dwellings sharing common open space facilities.

c.

Multiple-family developments shall be provided with full landscape improvements and permanent automatic irrigation.

d.

Within residential projects, on-site trees shall be provided as specified by Table 20.19-3 (Minimum On-Site Tree Requirements of Residential Projects).

Table 20.19-3 MINIMUM ON-SITE TREE REQUIREMENTS OF RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

2.

Existing Single Family Residential Zoning Districts. The following shall apply to existing single-family front yard landscaping, including modifications, turf removal and/or rehabilitation.

a.

The required front yard landscape as outlined in Table 20.04-3 (minimum landscape coverage, seventy percent for RD1 and RD2, sixty percent for RD4.5 and fifty percent for RD8), exclusive of hardscape areas for driveways or vehicle access shall be landscaped. This landscaped area should include the following, to provide for a balance of landscaping material with the goal of installing efficient landscaping and irrigation that will decrease the demand for water;

1.

A maximum of twenty-five percent of the required landscape area may be planted with turf as defined in section 20.24.

2.

No more than thirty percent of the required landscape area should utilize artificial turf. Artificial turf shall be designed and installed as outlined in section 20.19.040.B.4.

3.

A minimum of fifty percent of the required landscape area should be planted with water efficient plant material as defined in section 20.19.040.B.2.

4.

A maximum of twenty-five percent of the required landscape area should be covered with other hardscape material as defined in section 20.24.

It is encouraged that the planted material consist primarily of native plant or climate appropriate species and those that require less water during warmer months. The use of primarily non-native, high water demand, plant material or desertscape is discouraged. A mixture of this type of plant material to satisfy the requirements above is acceptable.

b.

Irrigation systems should be designed to meet the minimum standards as outlined in section 20.19.070.B.e.

3.

Commercial and industrial zoning districts. The following standards shall apply to commercial and industrial development projects:

a.

A minimum of twenty trees per gross acre shall be provided. Exceptions from this standard (an increase or decrease in the minimum standard) may be granted/required by the director of community development upon consideration of the following factors:

1.

Building height(s) and setbacks(s);

2.

Size and quantity of landscape areas along the street frontage, within the surface parking areas, and around the building perimeter;

3.

Presence of special landscape features and treatments; and

4.

Extent of textural treatment on buildings and articulation of building elevations visible from the street.

b.

Those portions of a property which are not used for drive entries, parking, or approved outdoor uses shall be fully landscaped; all unpaved areas shall be landscaped; and all future development phase areas shall be hydroseeded in a manner that is consistent with the MAWA.

D.

Planting standards and specifications.

1.

Trees shall conform to the minimum measurements specified by Table 20.19-4 (Minimum Tree Size Specifications).

Table 20.19-4 MINIMUM TREE SIZE SPECIFICATIONS

2.

All tree and plant pits, vine pits, hedge trenches, and shrub beds shall be excavated as follows:

a.

All pits shall be generally circular in outline, with vertical sides, deep enough to allow one to two inches of the root ball to be above the existing grade and a minimum of two and a half times the diameter of the root ball. Plants should rest on undisturbed existing soil or well-compacted backfill; and

b.

Areas designated for shrub beds shall be cultivated to at least one and a half feet in depth. Areas designated for vines or groundcovers shall be cultivated to a depth of one foot.

3.

Sheared hedges are discouraged and should be replaced with plants that can grow to their natural shape and size. Shearing is not only labor-intensive, but contributes to constant waste material.

4.

All landscape materials shall be installed using planting soil of a type appropriate to the individual plant material and the soil conditions in which the planting is occurring, per the soil management plan.

5.

In order to reduce the transpiration rate of plant material during the installation process, antitranspirants should be used. Antitranspirants reduce the amount of water loss through the leaves of plant material during installation, thereby reducing the amount of water required for the survival of the plants. Plant installations are encouraged during the fall season, and should be avoided in the middle of the summer season.

6.

To minimize damage to paved areas due to tree root growth, trees located within five feet of any paved surface shall be provided with root barriers. Root barriers should be linear and not encircling the tree, which will result in encircled roots and stunted growth.

7.

All twenty-four-inch or smaller size trees shall be double-staked. All thirty-inch or larger box trees shall be provided with guy wires or reinforced double-stakes.

E.

Landscape maintenance.

1.

The owner or assigns of any lot or parcel subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be responsible for the maintenance of said land in good condition so as to present a healthy, neat, and orderly landscape area.

2.

All landscape areas shall be maintained in a healthy, pest-free condition.

a.

Upon a determination of the director of community development that a plant is dead or severely damaged or diseased, the plant shall be replaced by the property owner(s) in accordance with the standards specified in this chapter.

3.

All pruning should be accomplished according to good horticultural standards. Trees shall only be pruned as necessary to promote healthy growth.

4.

All watering of planted areas shall be managed so as to maintain healthy flora, make plant material more drought tolerant, avoid excessive turf growth, minimize fungus growth, stimulate deep root growth, and minimize the leaching of soil nutrients.

5.

Watering of plants and trees should be of sufficient quantity to thoroughly soak the root ball of the plant and surrounding area, thereby promoting deep root growth and drought tolerance.

6.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) shall be used to mitigate weeds, fertilize with organic matter, and minimize the use of pesticides and herbicides.

7.

Irrigation systems shall be constantly maintained to eliminate wastewater due to loss of head, broken pipes, or misadjusted nozzles.

F.

Tree replacement.

1.

The following standards apply to multi-family development, common areas in residential development, and non-residential development. Single-family homes are exempt from the provisions in this section for trees under fifteen inches in diameter.

2.

Mature trees shall not be removed without prior written approval of the Director of Community Development or his designee. For the purposes of this section, mature trees shall include: oak trees with trunks more than eight inches in diameter at breast height; other trees with trunks more than ten inches in diameter at breast height; and multi-trunk trees with a total circumference of thirty-eight inches or more at breast height.

3.

Any removed mature tree(s) requires replacement as designated in the chart below with a species designated by the director of community development or his designee.

TABLE 20.19-4.1 MINIMUM SIZE OF REPLACEMENT TREE

4.

An arborist report shall be provided at the property owner's expense for any tree(s) proposed to be removed that are ten inches or larger in diameter to document the health and viability of the tree(s) and to make a recommendation as to the feasibility of maintaining or removing the tree(s). The arborist shall be certified by the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture).

5.

If the tree(s) to be removed are dead, severely damaged, diseased, or causing a public hazard such as uprooting sidewalks, destroying underground infrastructure or displacing building foundations, the tree shall be replaced by the property owner(s) at a one-to-one (1:1) ratio. The size of the replacement tree(s) shall be based on the trunk diameter of the tree(s) to be removed as shown in Table 20.19-4.1.

6.

In the event that the number of replacement trees shown in Table 20.19.4-1 cannot be planted on-site, the director of community development may consider an off-site location to plant the replacement trees or accept an in-lieu fee based on International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) guidelines or other method approved by the director of community development. In-lieu fees collected shall be deposited into a tree replacement fund to be used for tree planting at alternate locations in the city.

7.

All pruning should be accomplished according to good horticultural standards. Trees shall only be pruned as necessary to promote healthy growth.

8.

All watering of planted areas shall be managed so as to maintain healthy flora, make plant material more drought tolerant, avoid excessive turf growth, minimize fungus growth, stimulate deep root growth, and minimize the leaching of soil nutrients.

9.

Watering of plants and trees should be of sufficient quantity to thoroughly soak the root ball of the plant and surrounding area, thereby promoting deep root growth and drought tolerance.

10.

Integrated pest management (IPM) shall be used to mitigate weeds, fertilize with organic matter, and minimize the use of pesticides and herbicides.

11.

Irrigation systems shall be constantly maintained to eliminate wastewater due to loss of head, broken pipes, or misadjusted nozzles.

(Ord. 2015-008, § 1, 2015; Ord. 2016-005, §§ 12, 13, 2016)

A.

Parking facilities for ten or more vehicles shall comply with the following standards for landscaping within surface parking lots:

1.

Street frontage landscaping. When a parking lot is located adjacent to a public or private street, a main drive aisle that functions as a street, or a common drive aisle designed to serve three or more users, a landscaped strip shall be provided for the purpose of shielding parked cars from view of passing motorists and pedestrians, and to establish coordination among architecturally diverse buildings, creating a pleasing, harmonious appearance along roadways. Street frontage landscaping shall be provided as specified by Table 20.19-5 (Street Frontage Landscape Requirements).

Table 20.19-5 STREET FRONTAGE LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS

* The landscape strip may not contain any paved surfaces, except pedestrian walkways or vehicular drives that cross the strip.

2.

Perimeter landscaping. Parking lots shall be provided with perimeter landscaping for the purpose of defining parking areas and preventing two adjacent lots from becoming one large expanse of paving. Perimeter landscaping shall be a minimum of 5.5 feet in width. The requirement for perimeter landscaping shall not preclude any need to provide vehicular access between abutting lots or parcels.

3.

Interior landscaping. Within parking areas, landscaping shall be incorporated to provide shade, color, interest, and a hierarchy of vehicular circulation through the parking lot. Such landscaped areas shall have a minimum width of six feet and a minimum length of not less than the longest abutting parking stall.

4.

Interior parking lot landscape requirements. Landscaping shall be provided as specified in Table 20.19-6 (Residential/Commercial Interior Parking Lot Landscape Requirements) and Table 20.19-7 (Industrial Interior Parking Lot Landscape Requirements). For the purposes of this part, interior landscaping shall be defined as any landscaped area surrounded on at least two sides by parking spaces or drive aisles, excluding those areas around the site or building perimeter.

Table 20.19-6 RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL INTERIOR PARKING LOT
LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS

Table 20.19-7 INDUSTRIAL INTERIOR PARKING LOT LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS

5.

Landscape islands. All rows of parking spaces shall be provided with landscape islands at each row terminus to protect parked vehicles, ensure visibility, confine moving traffic to drive aisles and driveways, and provide space for landscaping. Additionally, landscape islands shall be provided as needed to prevent more than ten vehicles from being parked side-by-side in an abutting configuration.

An island for a single row of parking spaces shall be landscaped with at least one tree and vegetative groundcover. An island for a double row of parking spaces shall contain not less than two trees and vegetative groundcover.

6.

Concrete curbs. All landscape areas within parking areas shall be separated from parking spaces, drive aisles, and driveways by a continuous, raised concrete curb to protect landscape areas from encroachment by vehicular traffic, unless the concrete curb is designed or removed to allow parking area drainage into landscape areas for the purposes of stormwater treatment and on-site retention. The concrete curb shall be a minimum of six inches high by six inches wide, except where a landscape area is parallel and adjacent to a parking stall, the curb shall be a minimum of six inches high by twelve inches wide to provide an area for persons to step when entering or exiting a motor vehicle.

7.

Shade trees. Within parking areas, shade trees shall be placed in such numbers and locations so that fifty percent of the parking stalls are shaded within fifteen years of planting. However, at a minimum, at least one tree shall be provided for every four parking spaces, with the maximum spacing between trees or clusters of trees not to exceed thirty feet.

8.

Permanent landscape areas. Within parking areas, all areas not used for driveways, maneuvering areas, parking spaces, or walkways, shall be permanently landscaped with suitable materials and permanently maintained in accordance with landscape plans approved by the director of community development.

9.

Parking stalls. To increase parking lot landscaped area, a maximum of two feet of the parking stall depth may be landscaped in lieu of paving surface, while maintaining the required parking space dimensions.

10.

Innovative landscaping approaches. Rainwater shall be managed on-site with designs that encourage infiltration, evapotranspiration, and water re-use by:

a.

Utilizing permeable paving for parking spaces, drive aisles, overflow parking, and other hard surfaces in the parking lot;

b.

Planting trees, shrubs and other permeable landscaping throughout the parking lot to provide shade and places for water infiltration;

c.

Creating bio-retention areas, such as swales, vegetated islands and overflow ponds; and

d.

Incorporating opportunities to harvest rainwater (active or passive) from rooftops and other hard surfaces for landscape irrigation.

A.

Publications.

1.

Education is a critical component to promote the efficient use of water in landscapes. The use of appropriate principles of landscape and irrigation design, installation, management, and maintenance that save water is encouraged in the community.

2.

Homebuilders shall provide information packets to residents purchasing new single-family residential homes regarding the design, installation, management, and maintenance of the specific water efficient landscapes and irrigation systems installed in their homes. This information shall be reviewed and approved by the director of community development prior to issuance of any building permits.

a.

Signs shall be used to identify the model as an example of a water efficient landscape featuring elements such as hydrozones, irrigation equipment, and others that contribute to the overall water efficient theme. Signage shall include information about the site water use as designed per the local ordinance; 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.

Model homes.

1.

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

2.

Signs shall be used to identify the models landscape area as an example of a water efficient landscaping featuring elements such as hydrozones, irrigation equipment, and other features that contribute to the overall water efficient theme.

(Ord. 2015-008, § 1, 2015.)

A.

This section contains prescriptive requirements which may be used as a compliance option to the landscaping requirements found elsewhere in this Chapter, as described in section 20.19.020.

B.

Compliance with the following items is mandatory and must be documented on a landscape plan in order to use the prescriptive option:

a.

Submit a landscape documentation package which includes the following elements:

1.

Date;

2.

Project applicant;

3.

Project address (if available, parcel number);

4.

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

5.

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

6.

Water supply (potable or recycled) and identify if the City of Chino is the water provider;

7.

Applicant contact information;

8.

Applicant signature and date with the statement "I agree to comply with the requirements of the prescriptive compliance option to the MWELO.

b.

Incorporate compost at a rate of at least four cubic yards per one thousand square feet to a depth of six inches into the landscape area (unless contra-indicated by a soil test).

c.

Plant material shall comply with all of the following:

1.

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

2.

A minimum three-inch layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, creeping or rooting groundcovers, or direct seeding applications where mulch is much contraindicated.

d.

Turf shall comply with all of the following;

1.

Turf shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the landscape area in residential areas, and there shall be no turf in non-residential areas.

2.

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

3.

Turf is prohibited in parkways less than ten 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.

e.

Irrigation systems shall comply with the following;

1.

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

2.

Irrigation controllers shall be of a type which does not lose programming date in the event the primary power source is interrupted.

3.

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

4.

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

5.

All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in the ANSI standard, 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.

6.

Areas less than ten feet in width in any direction shall be irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produce no runoff or overspray.

7.

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

C.

At the time of final inspection, the permit 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.

(Ord. 2015-008, § 1, 2015.)