Alternate methods of compliance with the landscaping regulations of this chapter may be approved in accordance with the Type 1 Modification procedures of 30-4-11.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

The regulations of this article establish minimum requirements for landscaping. The regulations are intended to:

1. advance the general purposes of this ordinance;
2. promote the conservation of existing trees and vegetation;
3. ensure visual screening of unsightly areas;
4. establish appropriate buffers and visual screening features to reduce the negative impacts of glare, noise, trash, odors, lack of privacy, and visual appearance that can occur when higher intensity land uses locate near lower intensity land uses;
5. safeguard and enhance property values and protect public and private investment;
6. protect and improve environmental functions and conditions by providing ecosystem services such as shade, air purification, oxygen regeneration, filtering of stormwater runoff, and abatement of noise, glare and heat;
7. assure that the appearance of Greensboro positively contributes to the growth and economic prosperity of the city; and
8. provide realistic and effective regulations that are viewed as an asset to the community.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Except as otherwise expressly exempted pursuant to 30-10-1.3, all of the following are subject to the landscaping requirements of this article:

1. New Buildings or Uses
   Principal buildings or open uses of land constructed, reconstructed, or established after June 30, 1992.
2. Changes in Use
   Changes in use that result in an increase of 2 or more in the Land Use Classification number, in which case the landscaping requirements of this article apply to the entire zone lot.
3. Expansions
   The requirements of this article apply only to the expansion of buildings, parking areas, or open uses of land.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

The following uses and activities are exempt from the requirements of this article. This exemption does not constitute an exemption from the Water Supply Watershed District requirements of 30-12-3, the Watershed Critical Area requirements of 30-12-4, the General Watershed Area requirements of 30-12-5 or the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control requirements of 30-12-6.

1. lots occupied or to be occupied by single-family detached dwellings or two-family dwellings;
2. property lines abutting utility easements in excess of 60 feet in width and all railroad rights-of-way; and
3. property lines abutting dedicated street right-of-way that has remained unopened for a period of at least 15 years.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

More specific landscaping standards are established for some zoning districts, such as the CB, CN, TN, MU-M, MU-H and some overlay districts. See 30-10-3.  For the TN district see 30-4-7.5.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. Multi-family, nonresidential and mixed-use development is subject to standards of this section, which generally requires street planting yards abutting public rights-of-way (See 30-10-2.2), buffer planting yards between different land use classifications (See 30-10-2.3) and parking lot landscaping (See 30-10-2.6).
2. The standards of this section do not apply to multi-family, nonresidential or mixed-use development in MU-M, MU-H, TN, CN or CB districts. Development in those districts is subject to the urban landscaping requirements of 30-10-3.
3. For the CB zoning district, see the Downtown Greensboro Design Manual for applicable guidelines.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. A.
   Street planting yards must be installed abutting public street rights-of-way.
2. B.
   The required street planting yard must have a minimum width of 10 feet (as measured from the outside edge of the right-of-way or the back of the sidewalk, whichever is further from the street centerline) and include at least 2 canopy trees and 17 shrubs per 100 linear feet of required street planting yard, not including allowed driveways.
3. C.
   Some changes to these standards are permitted as found in 30-10-2.5 and 30-10-5.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Buffer planting yards are required along the perimeter of a lot or development site (except portions parallel to a public street). They are intended to mitigate potential adverse impacts that may result when higher intensity land uses are located adjacent to lower intensity land uses.

1. A.
   Type of Buffer Planting Yard Required

   1. 1.
      To determine the type of buffer planting yard required, first identify the class of the proposed (new, changed, or expanded) use and then identify the class of each existing use on adjacent sites (See Table 10-2). Then using Table 10-1, the intersection of the row associated with the proposed use and the column associated with the adjacent use shows the type of planting yard required. Staff will determine the location of planting to provide for the maximum visual buffer effect.
      

      Commentary: For sites abutting vacant property see also buffer requirements in Section 30-10-2.6(B).

1.   
   2. 2.
      A land use is considered to “exist” on an adjacent property when a building permit is issued.
   3. 3.
      If a zone lot contains uses with different land use classifications, the higher numbered land use classification applies unless the Technical Review Committee grants a Type 2 Modification in accordance with 30-4-11.
   4. 4.
      Land uses are assigned to classes in accordance with the following table (Table 10-2).

2. B.
   Buffer Planting Yard Landscaping and Design
   Required buffer planting yards must be landscaped and designed in accordance with the following requirements:

(Amended by Ord.14-48 on 4/15/14)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. Slopes of 17% to 33%
   For slopes between 17% and 33%, the Planning Director is authorized to determine the location of planting to provide the maximum visual buffer effect.
2. Steep Slope Planting Yards (Slopes of More than 33%)
   1. Tree-Covered Slopes
      If a planting yard has a slope of more than 33% but less than 50% and the required tree coverage for a planting yard exists on the slope, then the slope area will be deemed to satisfy planting yard requirements if no healthy trees or vegetation are removed and no grading or other clearing occurs.
   2. Slopes with Minimal or No Tree Cover
      If a planting yard has a slope of more than 33% but less than 50% but lacks the required tree coverage for a planting yard, then additional trees and vegetation must be provided to satisfy minimum planting yard requirements. No healthy trees or vegetation may be removed and no grading or other clearing may occur.
3. Reforestation of Slopes of Greater than 33%
   Areas having slopes of more than 33% must be reforested to provide tree cover over the entire area. All plans for reforestation must include a minimum of one tree per 400 square feet of surface area and may be made up of a mixture of deciduous hardwood and evergreen trees. The trees must be a minimum 2-inch caliper (water-wise species) or 3-inch caliper (non-water-wise species) at the time of planting. All plans for reforestation are subject to approval by the Planning Director.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

The following standards apply to street planting yards and buffer planting yards.

1. Canopy trees may be substituted for shrubs at the rate of one canopy tree for 8 shrubs and understory trees may be substituted for shrubs at the rate of one understory tree for 5 shrubs if approved by the Planning Director.
2. Understory trees shall be substituted for canopy trees at the rate of 2 understory trees for every canopy tree when planted within 20 feet of an overhead utility line as measured from the utility pole. (See Landscaping and Tree Conservation Manual)
3. On lots of record that existed prior to July 1, 1992 that are less than 55,000 square feet in area, no development is required to landscape more than 15% of the site.
4. Canopy trees from required planting yards may be relocated to the street right-of-way if all of the following conditions are met and if approved by the Planning Director:
   1. The proposed landscape plan complies with all provisions of 30-10-2;
   2. The entire street cross-section is being constructed as part of the development or the street is existing with the abutting lots devoid of street trees;
   3. Sidewalks are existing or are being installed as part of the development;
   4. There are no overhead utilities parallel to the right-of-way line; and the Engineering and Inspections Director certifies that planting would not conflict with utility maintenance and public service functions;
   5. The right-of-way width and street width complies with applicable city standards; and
   6. GDOT (or NCDOT) has determined that there is no proposed street widening or turn-lane construction along the lot frontage or other transportation infrastructure or operations issues that would conflict with the plantings.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Requiring landscaping within parking areas is intended to shade and improve the attractiveness of large areas of pavement.

1. A.
   Required Landscaping

   1. 1.
      Parking lot planting yards must include at least one canopy tree for every 12 parking spaces.
   2. 2.
      Required canopy tree areas must be located within the parking lot. They may be located in landscape islands, landscape divider medians between rows of parking, or in driveway medians.
   3. 3.
      Islands or other planting areas for canopy trees must have a minimum area of 200 square feet with a minimum dimension of 7 feet, measured in any direction. Islands or planting areas of less than 200 square feet may not be counted toward satisfying parking lot landscaping requirements.
   4. 4.
      The landowner may provide required landscape islands or planting areas using one or more of the planting area sizes below. Each parking space must be entirely within the designated distance of a parking lot planting area as specified below:

1.   
   5. 5.
      Grouping canopy trees within the same landscape island or planting area is strongly encouraged, even if this would decrease the number of islands within the parking lot.

2. B.
   When a parking lot or other vehicular use area abuts a vacant site or a site with the same land use classification as the subject site, a planting yard with a minimum width of 5 feet must be provided between the parking lot/vehicular use area and the abutting (interior) property line. This required planting area must be landscaped with at least 2 understory trees and 18 evergreen shrubs per 100 linear feet.
3. C.
   Trees used to satisfy the planting requirements for parking lot areas may not be counted toward the planting requirements for other required plantings on the site.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

For new, expanded, or rebuilt parking lots where trees are being preserved adjacent to the parking lot in order to meet the parking lot planting requirements, trees preserved in a Tree Conservation Area (TCA) and within 8 feet of the parking lot may be used to satisfy up to 50% of the required number of parking lot trees. Tree conservation areas that are “notched into” corners or edges of a parking lot are deemed to be within the parking lot, not adjacent to it. Trees in the adjacent TCA counted toward planting yard requirements may not also be counted for required parking lot trees. Extra trees in such locations may be counted. It is the landowner’s option to save trees within the parking lot. In order to do so, the critical root zone must be preserved. Credits for preserving parking lot trees are determined by the critical root zone preserved for the tree being saved (See Article 12). One tree for every 400 square feet of critical root zone preserved may be used to satisfy up to 50% of the required number of parking lot trees.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Multi-family, nonresidential and mixed-use development in RM-40, MU-M, MU-H, TN, C-N districts and any parcel adjacent and accessible to an existing or planned greenway as described in Table 7-14 of 30-7-5.1 are subject to the urban landscaping requirements of this section.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Pedestrian landscaping is required along all street frontages. Pedestrian landscaping requirements can be met by one or a combination of the following 4 options:

1. providing a street planting yard measured from the edge of the right-of-way or back of sidewalk (whichever is farther from the centerline) that includes 2 canopy trees per 100 linear feet or 6 understory trees per 100 linear feet when located within 15 feet of overhead utilities;
2. providing a minimum 10-foot wide sidewalk with canopy trees planted in tree wells (with grates) at 30-foot intervals;
3. providing a minimum 10-foot wide sidewalk that is at least 50% covered with weather-protection materials (such as canopies and awnings); or
4. providing a plaza between the building and the right-of-way a minimum of 10 feet in width along 50% of the building wall that consists of pavers or hardscape material different from the sidewalk and permanently fixed planters with vegetation.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. The perimeter of all vehicular use areas must be screened from any abutting residentially zoned property. Such screening must consist of one of the following 2 options:
   1. A 4-foot-high masonry wall; or
   2. A planting yard with a minimum width of 5 feet, a 100% sight-obscuring fence with a height of at least 6 feet and at least one evergreen understory tree per 30 linear feet of planting yard (planted on the outside of the fence).
2. The perimeter of all vehicular use areas containing 10 or more parking spaces or 400 square feet or more paved area must be screened from all abutting rights-of-way. Such screening must consist of one of the following 2 options:
   1. A minimum 5-foot wide planting yard and enough evergreen shrubs to form a continuous visual screen at least 2.5 feet in height and a maximum of 3.5 feet in height; or
   2. A minimum 5-foot wide planting yard with a combination of vegetation and open decorative fencing at least 2.5 feet in height and a maximum of 3.5 feet in height.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Requiring landscaping within parking areas is intended to shade and improve the attractiveness of large areas of pavement.

1. Required Landscaping
   Parking lot planting yards are required in parking lots containing 10 or more spaces. Parking lot planting yards must include at least one canopy tree for every 10 parking spaces.
   1. Required canopy tree areas must be located within the parking lot. They may be located in landscape islands, landscape divider medians between rows of parking, in driveway medians, or at the end of parking bays.
   2. The landowner may provide required landscape islands or planting areas using one or more of the planter sizes below. Each parking space must be entirely within the designated distance of a parking lot planting areas, as specified below:

1. 3. Grouping canopy trees within the same landscape island or planting area is strongly encouraged, even if this would decrease the number of islands within the parking lot. The Planning Director is authorized to grant a Type 1 Modification to the standards of Table 10-5 in accordance with 30-4-11.
   4. Trees used to satisfy the planting requirements for parking lot areas may not also be counted toward the planting requirements for other required plantings on the site.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

The standards of this section shall apply to landscaping located within a UMU, AO, or NS district:

1. Provide landscaping in accordance with the requirements of 30-10-2; or
2. Provide landscaping in accordance with the Urban Landscaping Requirements of 30-10-3 and a minimum 15% of the site as open space in accordance with 30-12-8.2(C)1), General, and 30-12-8.2(C)3), All Other (Non-PUD) Development.

(Amended by Ord. 13-51 on 5/7/13 and Ord. 14-13 on 1/21/14)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. General
   1. Plant species used in required planting yards must be native species or species of a locally adapted nature. Other species may be approved by the Planning Director. Refer to the Landscaping and Tree Conservation Manual, which includes drought-tolerant species and species to be planted within 20 feet of overhead utilities.
   2. The size of the required plant species is dependent on whether it is drought-tolerant. Incentives are provided to encourage the use of drought-tolerant plants in required landscape areas.
   3. Plant Genus, Species, Native Mix
      1. To curtail the spread of disease or insect infestation in a plant species, new plantings shall comply with the standards as specified below: 

1. 1. 2. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed so as to prevent the utilization of a larger number of different Genera than specified above. 

2. Canopy Tree Size
   1. Canopy trees must have a minimum height at maturity of 40 feet and a minimum crown width of 30 feet.
   2. Drought-tolerant canopy trees must have a minimum caliper size of 2 inches.
   3. Other canopy trees must have a minimum caliper size of 3 inches.
3. Understory Tree Size
   1. Understory trees must have a minimum height at maturity of 25 to 40 feet except that trees to be placed below overhead utility lines may not exceed a mature height of 20 feet.
   2. Drought-tolerant understory trees must have a minimum caliper size of 1 inch.
   3. Other understory trees must have a minimum caliper size of 2 inches.
4. Shrub Size and Type
   1. Shrubs located parallel to the edge of parking lots, access drives, loading and unloading areas and outdoor storage must be evergreen with a minimum height or spread of 18 inches at the time of planting and reach a minimum height of 36 inches and a minimum spread of 30 inches upon maturity.
   2. All other required shrubs may be evergreen or deciduous and must be at least 3 gallon in size (per ANSI standards) at the time of planting.
      
      (Amended by Ord. 21-037 on 3/16/21)

Effective on: 3/16/2021

The following standards must be met for all required planting yards.

1. Soil preparation for the entire planting yard must include the addition of organic amendments tilled to a depth of 8 to 12 inches.
2. All plantings must be mulched (including interior parking lot islands less than 500 square feet) to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. The mulch must be permanently maintained free of trash and weeds.
3. Earthen basins must be constructed around the installed plants.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Shrubs may be grouped or clustered in the required planting yards, except for perimeter landscaping adjacent to parking lots, outdoor storage, access drives and loading and unloading areas. The remainder of the materials must be distributed throughout the planting yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Any berm must be at least 3 feet in height and have a minimum crown width of 3 feet. Side slopes may not have a slope greater than 33%.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Wall planters must be constructed of masonry, stone, or pressure-treated lumber stamped for ground contact. Wall planters must be at least 30 inches in height and have an effective planting width of 7 feet (measured in any direction) if trees are to be planted. Otherwise, the planter must have an effective planting width of 4 feet (measured in any direction). Shrubs planted in wall planters must be at least 6 inches in height when planted.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Tree wells in sidewalks must provide a continuous trench with a depth of at least 3 feet to allow for better root growth and healthier trees. The trench (outside of the tree well) may be filled with structural soil mix and covered with concrete pavers. The underground portion of the tree well must be at least 8 feet in length and width. ADA approved grates must be used on all tree wells.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Parking, merchandise display, and vehicle loading areas are prohibited in street planting yards. The following are permitted in required street planting yards and buffer planting yards, provided the landscaping requirements are met and there is no interference with any sight area.

1. Landscaping features, including but not limited to, ornamental pools, planting boxes, sculpture, arbors, trellises, and birdbaths.
2. Pet shelters; at-grade patios; play equipment; outdoor furniture; ornamental entry columns and gates; flagpoles; lampposts; address posts; HVAC equipment; mailboxes; outdoor fireplaces; public utility lines, poles, pumps, and boxes; wells; fences, (see 30-9-4); retaining walls that can accommodate required landscaping; and similar structures.
3. Cornices, steps, canopies, overhanging eaves and gutters, window sills, bay windows or similar architectural features, chimneys and fireplaces, fire escapes, fire balconies, and fire towers may project not more than 2.5 feet into any required planting yard, but in no case closer than 3 feet to any property line.
4. Handicap ramps except for porches and landings.
5. Up to 15% of the required landscape area may be occupied by walkways and steps that are not connected to any above-grade structure.
6. Stormwater facility with an approved alternative compliance plan.
7. Freestanding signs that comply with 30-14-7.3(B)4).

Effective on: 1/1/1901

If the required building setback is less than the required planting yard width, the minimum required building setback governs, reducing the required planting yard width only alongside the building. The planting rate of the required planting yard still applies, although location may be modified in accordance with 30-10-5.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Where a building is located less than 10 feet from a property line, and the planting yard would be heavily shaded by buildings on both sides of the property line, the required trees and shrubs may be planted outside the shaded area to improve survivability.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Landscaping may not obstruct the view of motorists using any street, driveway, or parking aisle, subject to the standards of Chapter 16 of the City Code, Obstructions to Cross-Visibility.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. A minimum width of 5 feet, or at least half the minimum required planting yard width, whichever is greater, must be provided outside of any required easements. The majority of plantings and all structures must be located outside of utility easements.
2. When trees and shrubs are planted in a utility easement, the property owner is responsible for replacement of any required vegetation if maintenance or other utility requirements require their temporary removal.
3. Required trees and shrubs may be placed in water-quality conservation easements.
4. Required trees and shrubs may be planted in electric utility easements below overhead lines and in drainage maintenance and utility easements with approval of the Technical Review Committee. Trees to be placed below overhead utility lines may not exceed a mature height of 20 feet. (See Landscaping and Tree Conservation Manual).
5. Trees and shrubs may be planted in underground utility easements provided the root structure of the proposed tree is not anticipated to extend more than 3 feet below the ground. Shrubs may be planted, provided they are only within the outer 3 feet of the easement.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. Plant Protection
   Whenever planting yards are adjacent to parking lots or drives, they must be protected from damage by vehicles, lubricants, or fuels.
2. Responsibility
   The landowner is responsible for maintaining all required plant materials and planting areas in good health and appearance. Any dead, unhealthy, or missing plants (whether preserved or installed) must be replaced with new plant material equal in quantity and quality to the plant material required to be preserved or installed. Replacement plant material must be replanted within 180 days of the date of owner notification. The obligation for continuous maintenance is binding on any subsequent owners of the property or any other parties having a controlling interest in the property.
3. Irrigation
   Drip irrigation including drip misters are recommended for use in required planting yards during the establishment period. After establishment, supplemental watering may be reduced and used on an as-needed basis. Traditional spray irrigation is prohibited except in turf areas.
4. Pruning
   All required trees must be allowed to reach their mature size and must be maintained at their mature size. Trimming and pruning must be conducted in strict compliance with the American National Standards Institute. Topping is not an acceptable pruning practice. Topping is the reduction of a tree’s size using heading cuts that shorten limbs or branches back to a predetermined crown limit. The Planning Director may require the removal and replacement of any trees that have been topped or excessively trimmed to where the health of the trees are significantly impacted.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Any existing tree or group of trees that stands within or near a required planting area and meets or exceeds the standards of this section (30-10-4) may be used to satisfy applicable tree planting requirements, subject to the requirements of this subsection.

1. To receive credit, trees being preserved must have a minimum DBH of 4 inches and must be protected from direct and indirect root damage and trunk and crown disturbance.
2. Any trees for which credit has been received that die must be replaced in accordance with minimum tree planting requirements.
3. Trees located in a designated TCA will be credited towards the planting area requirements at the rate shown in the following table:

4. Regardless of the number or size of preserved trees in required street planting yards, there must be at least one canopy tree for every 50 linear feet of street planting yard.

Effective on: 1/1/1901