Firebaugh City Zoning Code
§ 25-43.12 Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
Landscape Design Plan.
For the efficient use of water, a landscape shall be carefully designed and planned for the intended function of the project. A landscape design plan meeting the following design criteria shall be submitted as part of the landscape documentation package.
a.
A landscape design plan shall contain the following:
1.
Delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter, or other method.
2.
Identify each hydrozone as low, moderate, high water, or mixed-use water. Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscape shall be included in the low water use hydrozone for the water budget calculation.
3.
Identify recreation areas.
4.
Identify areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants.
5.
Identify areas irrigated with recycled water.
6.
Identify type of mulch and application depth.
7.
Identify soil amendments, type and quantity.
8.
Identify type and surface area for water features.
9.
Identify hardscapes, pervious and impervious.
10.
Identify location and installation details of any applicable stormwater best management practices that encourage on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater. Stormwater best management practices are encourage in the landscape design plan and examples include, but are not limited to:
11.
Identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies.
12.
Bear the signature of a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person authorized to design a landscape.
b.
Any plant may be selected for the landscape, providing the estimated total water use (ETWU) in the landscaped area does not exceed the maximum applied water allowance (MAWA). To encourage the efficient use of water, the following is highly recommended:
1.
Protection and preservation of native species and natural vegetation.
2.
Selection of water-conserving plant and turf species.
3.
Selection of plants based on disease and pest resistance.
4.
Selection of trees based on applicable local tree ordinances or tree shading guidelines.
5.
Selection of plants from local and regional landscape program plant lists.
c.
Each hydozone shall have plant materials with similar water use.
d.
Plants shall be selected and planted appropriately based upon their adaptability to the climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions of the project site. To encourage the efficient use of water, the following is highly recommended:
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 to minimize damage to property or infrastructure.
3.
Consider the solar orientation for plant placement to maximize summer shade and winter solar gain.
e.
Turf is not allowed on slopes greater than 15% where the toe of the slope is adjacent to an impermeable hardscape.
f.
The use of invasive and/or noxious plant species is strongly discouraged.
g.
Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.
h.
Where available, recycled water shall be used as a source for decorative water features.
i.
Pool and spa covers are highly recommended.
j.
A minimum of two inches 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.
k.
Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes.
l.
Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the plants selected.