Mukilteo City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
58 LANDSCAPING
§ 17.58.010 Intent.
The intent of this chapter is to establish minimum requirements and standards for landscaping and screening, as well as landscaping standards for LID BMPs, needed to promote safety, to provide screening between differing land uses, to safeguard privacy, and to protect the aesthetic assets of the community.
(Ord. 519 § 1 (part), 1985; Ord. 908 § 11 (part), 1997; Ord. 1390 § 12 (Exh. C) (part), 2016)
§ 17.58.020 Applicability.
Landscaping shall be required according to the provisions of this chapter for all uses except single-family dwellings and shall apply throughout the city.
(Ord. 519 § 1 (part), 1985; Ord. 908 § 11 (part), 1997; Ord. 1390 § 12 (Exh. C) (part), 2016)
§ 17.58.030 Landscape plans.
A.
A plan of the proposed landscaping and screening, prepared by a landscape architect licensed by the state of Washington, shall be incorporated into plans submitted for building permit review.
B.
Landscape plans shall be drawn to scale, including dimensions and distances, and shall clearly delineate the existing and proposed parking spaces or other vehicular use area, access aisles, driveways, and the location, size and description of all landscape materials using both botanical and common names.
C.
Landscape plans shall be subject to the approval of the planning director.
(Ord. 519 § 1 (part), 1985; Ord. 908 § 11 (part), 1997; Ord. 1390 § 12 (Exh. C) (part), 2016)
§ 17.58.040 Maintenance of landscaping.
Whenever landscaping is required under the provisions of this code, shrubs and trees in the landscaping and planting areas shall be maintained in a healthy growing condition. Dead or dying trees or shrubs shall be replaced immediately, and the planting area shall be maintained free of weeds and trash.
(Ord. 519 § 1 (part), 1985; Ord. 908 § 11 (part), 1997; Ord. 1390 § 12 (Exh. C) (part), 2016)
§ 17.58.045 Landscape types.
Where the following types of landscaping are required by this chapter, the minimum standards shall be followed as described below:
A.
Type I—Sight-Obscuring Fence. The minimum height shall be six feet and be constructed to create a solid sight-obscuring screen. Planting may be used in addition to the screen.
B.
Type II—Planted Sight-Obscuring Screen. The minimum height shall be five feet and consist of plant materials spaced to form a sight-obscuring screen. Native vegetation is preferred in screening areas.
C.
Type III—Ornamental Landscaping. This landscaping shall consist of a combination of trees, shrubs and other landscaping materials, and shall be designed to improve the appearance of the development but not necessarily to obscure it; provided, that the planning director may approve additional sidewalk area, pedestrian paths, or pedestrian areas associated with a use or for the public within the required landscape area. Native vegetation is preferred.
D.
Type IV—Sight-Obscuring Fence and Columnar/Pyramidal Coniferous Trees, Such as Emerald Green Pyramidalis or Leyland Cypress. The fence may not be a chain link fence with slats. The minimum height of the fence shall be six feet high. The minimum height of the trees shall be eight feet. The maximum distance between trees shall be ten feet on center.
E.
Type V—Street Frontage. A streetscape landscape zone shall be required for all streets. The purpose of these streetscape landscape improvements is to promote an aesthetic "urban" streetscape while screening parking fields from drivers and pedestrians.
1.
The streetscape landscape shall consist of a minimum five-foot-wide planting strip adjacent to the curb and a minimum five-foot- and up to a ten-foot-wide sidewalk.
2.
Landscaping shall consist of the following:
a.
Two-and-one-half-inch caliper deciduous street trees shall be planted twenty feet on center within the right-of-way planting strip. Street tree varieties to include sunset maples or those complementary to surrounding development as approved by the planning director.
b.
Evergreen groundcover shall be planted to achieve ninety percent coverage within three years of the time of planting. Low perennials are encouraged within the planter strips.
c.
Cul-de-sac street trees to be planted inside of sidewalk for fire trucks.
d.
Individual planters (e.g., half wine barrels) and hanging baskets are encouraged and may be credited as meeting some of the landscaping requirements. Other adjustments/credits to the landscape requirements may be made at the discretion of the planning director.
e.
Bioretention and other landscape-based stormwater management practices, as defined in Section 17.08.020, may be approved by the planning director for construction within the streetscape landscape zone; provided, that the aesthetic appearance of the landscaping is consistent with the intent of this section or other adopted design criteria.
(Ord. 908 § 11 (part), 1997; Ord. 981 § 4, 1999; Ord. 1102 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1390 § 12 (Exh. C) (part), 2016)
§ 17.58.047 Landscaping requirements.
The landscaping requirements matrix indicates type of landscaping required by use and zone. Landscape type descriptions are contained in this chapter.
LANDSCAPE MATRIX Table 17.58.047 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location/Zone | MR | MRD | DB | CB | CB(S) | CB(S)-2 | PCB | PCB(S) | WMU | PI | BP | IP | LI | HI |
Abutting residential designated property | Type I and 10 feet of Type II | Type I and 10 feet of Type II | Type I and 10 feet of Type II | Type I and 10 feet of Type II | 10 feet of Type II | 10 feet of Type II | Type I and 10 feet of Type II | 10 feet of Type II | Type I and 10 feet of Type II | 25 feet of Type II | 25 feet of Type II | 20 feet of Type III or 20 feet of Type V | 20 feet of Type III or 20 feet of Type V | |
Between R/W or private access road and parking areas | 25 feet of Type III or 25 feet of Type V | 25 feet of Type III or 25 feet of Type V | 10 feet of Type III or 10 feet of Type V | 10 feet of Type III or 10 feet of Type V | 5 feet of Type III or 5 feet of Type V | 5 feet of Type III or 5 feet of Type V | 30 feet of Type III or 30 feet of Type V | 5 feet of Type III or 5 feet of Type V | 5 feet of Type III or 5 feet of Type V | 30 feet of Type III or 30 feet of Type V | 30 feet of Type III or 30 feet of Type V | 5 feet of Type III or 5 feet of Type V | 5 feet of Type III or 5 feet of Type V | |
Outside storage or waste areas | Type I | Type I | Type I | Type I | Type I | Type I | Type I | Type I | Type I | Type I | Type I | Type I or 5 feet of Type II | Type I or 5 feet of Type II | |
Between public R/W if not a parking or display area | 25 feet of Type III or 25 feet of Type V | 25 feet of Type III or 25 feet of Type V | 10 feet of Type III or 10 feet of Type V | 10 feet of Type III or 10 feet of Type V | 10 feet of Type III or 10 feet of Type V | 10 feet of Type III or 10 feet of Type V | 30 feet of Type III or 30 feet of Type V | 5 feet of Type III or 5 feet of Type V | 10 feet of Type III or 10 feet of Type V | 30 feet of Type III or 30 feet of Type V | 30 feet of Type III or 30 feet of Type V | 20 feet of Type III or 20 feet of Type V | 20 feet of Type III or 20 feet of Type V | |
Abutting commercially designated property | 10 feet of Type IV | 20 feet of Type III or 20 feet of Type V | ||||||||||||
Abutting the rear lot line of commercially designated property and the structure in the LI zone is within five feet of that property line | Type I | |||||||||||||
Between R/W and commercial parking lots | 10 feet of Type III or 10 feet of Type V | 5 feet of Type III or 5 feet of Type V | 5 feet of Type III or 5 feet of Type V | 10 feet of Type III or 10 feet of Type V | ||||||||||
Type I = Sight-obscuring fence |
Type II = Planted sight-obscuring screen |
Type III = Ornamental landscaping |
Type IV = Fence and columnar tree landscaping |
Type V = Street frontage landscaping |
(Ord. 908 § 11 (part), 1997; Ord. 1026 § 10, 2001; Ord. 1102 § 2, 2004; Ord. 1262 § 5 (Exh. C), 2010; Ord. 1390 § 12 (Exh. C) (part), 2016; Ord. 1516 § 15, 2025)
§ 17.58.050 Landscaping of parking areas.
Parking areas shall be landscaped in accordance with the requirements of Section 17.56.130.
(Ord. 519 § 1 (part), 1985; Ord. 908 § 11 (part), 1997; Ord. 1390 § 12 (Exh. C) (part), 2016)
§ 17.58.060 Landscaping of required yards.
All required front and side yard areas abutting on the improved streets or highways traveled by the public shall be landscaped with planting materials such as lawn, shrubs, flowers and deciduous and evergreen trees, except those portions of the area covered by driveways or sidewalks. Native vegetation shall be used to the extent feasible. The retention of natural on-site vegetation should be encouraged as a positive alternative to the above, subject to the approval of the planning director.
(Ord. 519 § 1 (part), 1985; Ord. 908 § 11 (part), 1997; Ord. 1390 § 12 (Exh. C) (part), 2016)
§ 17.58.070 Screening between districts.
Where nonresidential or multifamily residential uses are adjacent to single-family residential zones, a sight-obscuring fence or vegetative screen shall be installed in accordance with the landscaping matrix contained in this chapter. Existing native vegetation may satisfy screening requirements; provided, that the width and density of the vegetation provides a sight-obscuring screen as intended in this section. Vegetative screens are to be kept free of weeds and debris, and the vegetation is to be maintained in a healthy condition. Vegetative screens shall not be allowed to grow to a height or width which would obstruct vision of an intersecting street as defined in Chapter 17.20. All such fences or vegetative screens shall be maintained in perpetuity. Modifications to these screening requirements can only be made if a zoning change eliminates the nonresidential or multifamily use next to a single-family residential zone.
(Ord. 519 § 1 (part), 1985; Ord. 908 § 11 (part), 1997; Ord. 1026 § 6, 2001; Ord. 1390 § 12 (Exh. C) (part), 2016; Ord. 1516 § 16, 2025)
§ 17.58.080 General landscaping requirements for PCB(S), BP and IP districts.
In addition to the specific landscaping requirements contained in this chapter, general requirements for PCB(S), BP and IP districts as contained in Chapter 17.20.
(Ord. 908 § 11 (part), 1997; Ord. 1390 § 12 (Exh. C) (part), 2016; Ord. 1516 § 17, 2025)