This chapter shall apply to all new landscaping for public and private development, and cemeteries.

The requirements of this chapter are intended to integrate with other regulations and conform to other sections of the Code pertaining to setbacks, open space and the treatment of exterior spaces. In the event of ambiguity between this chapter and another provision of this Code, the more restrictive provision shall control.

The Community Development Department shall evaluate all projects for conformance with these standards.

Decisions of the Zoning Administrator are appealable to the Planning Commission. Decisions of the Planning Commission are appealable to the City Council, according to the appeal provisions of Chapter 41 of Title 12 of the Municipal Code.

The following private or public development projects within the City of Santa Maria shall be required to comply with Section 492.4 of the California Department of Water Resources Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, which includes specific water use calculations.

Any project with an aggregate landscape area of 2,500 square feet or less may avoid specific water use calculations by conforming to the prescriptive measures contained in the State's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, including projects that meet their Estimated Total Water Use entirely with either treated or untreated graywater, or through stored rainwater captured on site.

As required by State Law, at the time of final landscape inspection, and prior to issuance of the final Certificate of Building Occupancy, the permit applicant shall provide the Community Development Department and project property owner with a certificate of completion, certificate of installation, irrigation schedule and a schedule of landscape and irrigation maintenance for the landscaping project.

The following private or public development projects within the City of Santa Maria are exempt from the specific requirements of the water budget provisions of the California Department of Water Resources 2015 Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, but these projects are still required to meet all other landscaping requirements:

Plant materials shall be appropriate for the slope, soils, proposed use, and exposure (sun/shade) of the specific site. Plant materials including turf shall be water conserving species or varieties capable of surviving on minimal irrigation once established.

Passive and/or active solar access, for all proposed structures, as well as any adjacent existing structures, shall be considered in the placement of trees and selection of species.

Mowed turf shall not be used in narrow planters, raised beds, and other relatively small planters. However, it may be used when it serves as a landscape ground cover in a functional active recreation area, a retardation basin, a pedestrian accessway, a parkway, a front yard of a residence, or a highly visible planter area adjacent to the street.

Non-living organic or inorganic materials, such as mulch or decorative rock, may be used to accent or complement the overall planting but in no case shall serve as the primary ground cover treatment. The inclusion of non-living materials as ground cover is acceptable, provided the proportion of plants to areas is one 5-gallon plant per 25 square feet of planter area, or one 1-gallon plant per 10 square feet of planter area.

Decorative paving and alternative ground covers, such as concrete, brick, wood pavers, pathway bark, wood chips, or turf block may be used to attractively landscape pathways, service areas, emergency vehicle accessways, or areas difficult to maintain.

Curbs, headerboards, pavers, and other decorative materials shall be used to reduce irrigation runoff into nonplanted areas and to define the boundaries of turf, planter areas, or property lines where fencing is not provided.

Protection and preservation of native species and natural areas shall be encouraged.

Water features shall be designed and maintained to use water efficiently and minimize water loss through evaporation. Pools, ponds, decorative fountains, and other similar ornamental water features shall use a recirculating water system. Water features shall be included as landscape area for calculation of water use and subject to water use maximums.

A minimum 3-inch layer of mulch shall be provided in all planted areas to reduce soil moisture evaporation and discourage weed growth. The thickness of mulch shall be determined at the plancheck stage based on the plant material proposed. The use of weed barrier cloth is encouraged.

On planted slopes of 3:1 or steeper, jute mesh, straw matting, or comparable biodegradable material shall be used to control irrigation runoff, reduce soil erosion, and allow plants to become established.

When building and boundary walls are adjacent to planters, a minimum of one 15-gallon size tree per 30 linear feet of wall shall be provided.

Parking areas shall be screened, softened and shaded by conformance to the following requirements:

Storm water basins and features, when required, must be incorporated into the landscape scheme of a proposed project. The following requirements are intended to accomplish this objective:

The location, size and species of all existing trees in excess of six inches in diameter and any existing street trees, shall be indicated on landscape plans submitted to the City. Existing trees shall be retained unless the finding can be made by the City Parks Department staff that the preservation of the tree presents a hazard to the health, safety and general welfare of the public or cannot be reasonably accommodated by the proposed development.

Special landscaping requirements may be imposed by the Planning Commission and/or City Council on certain major streets, such as Miller Street and College Avenue. This may include special requirements for the design of plantings, irrigation systems, walkways, and walls within the public right-of-way.

Backflow prevention devices, including fire sprinkler devices, shall be identified on the landscape plan and provided with adequate landscape screening.

Clinging vines and/or vertical planting shall be provided on trash enclosure walls and any other masonry walls where appropriate to soften the visual effects of the built environment and discourage graffiti.

All landscaping areas on the property and in the public parkway shall be permanently maintained with healthy, growing plant material, free from weeds, as shown on the approved landscape plan. Landscaping shall be watered in accordance with the approved maintenance and watering schedule that is incorporated into the landscape plan.

For the purpose of buffering and screening between two adjoining incompatible land uses as defined in the Land Use Element of the General Plan, such as residential and non-residential, the required setback areas shall be landscaped.

All required front, rear and side yard areas shall include planted areas suitable for mitigating glare, noise and adverse views, and provide a soft, pleasing environment. The minimum proportion of open space to gross site areas shall be in conformance with the requirements specified in other sections, but in no case shall the planted area be less than 15% of the site area in commercial and manufacturing districts and 20% of the site area in multi-family residential districts. These percentages of planted areas are minimums and additional area may be required through the planned development permit or conditional use permit process. The Planning Commission may grant a reduction in landscape area through a Planned Development Permit in conformance with Section 12-35.201. In no case shall the total requirement for planted open space be met solely in the required front setback unless otherwise approved by the Planning Commission.

Information on drought tolerant plants, irrigation efficiency and water conservation measures is available at the Community Development Department to assist in planning water efficient landscapes.

All projects shall include an automatic underground irrigation system. On-surface drip irrigation or temporary surface PVC pipe systems may be approved in special cases on undeveloped land where stabilization planting and or seed mix is applied and irrigation is only necessary for the establishment period.

Plants with similar needs for water usage shall be grouped together in distinct hydrozones and irrigated by separate valves and controller stations. For example, lawn areas shall be irrigated separately from ground cover areas. Areas with sunny exposures shall be irrigated separately from areas with shady exposures to prevent over watering.

Soil type, slope, and infiltration rate shall be considered when designing irrigation systems and selecting equipment to limit wasteful runoff and overspray. All irrigation systems shall be designed to ensure the application of water at a rate that can be absorbed into the soil. Proper irrigation equipment and schedules, including features such as repeat cycles, shall be used to closely match application rates to infiltration rates, to minimize or eliminate runoff. Conditions such as water flowing onto adjacent property, into non-irrigated areas, structures, or hardscape areas are prohibited in accordance with Title 8, Section 8-10-33 of the Municipal Code.

To promote irrigation efficiency, irrigation systems shall be designed, maintained, and managed using such techniques as low-precipitation heads, drip irrigation, moisture sensing devices, rain sensing devices, check valves, and other water conserving techniques where appropriate. Whenever possible, irrigation shall be scheduled to avoid irrigating during times of high wind or high temperature.

Temporary irrigation systems may be used for undeveloped areas that have been hydroseeded with native or drought tolerant ground covers. These systems should be removed after the establishment period.

The completeness of the Landscape Documentation Package is subject to the determination of the Community Development Department.

Landscape Documentation Package that includes the elements listed below, as described by the State's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance:

A scaled conceptual landscape plan indicating the general locations of all existing and proposed trees, shrub massings, and ground covers. Actual plant names are not required to be specified at this time.

Illustration of all walls, fences, sloped banks, berms, retardation basins, trash enclosures, site lighting, sewer laterals, utility transformers, street hardware, and other site elements that relate to or affect the overall landscape.

Notes describing the proposed method of irrigation.

Preliminary MAWA and ETWU calculations to demonstrate the proposed landscape design, plant selection, and irrigation methods are consistent with State's Water Efficient Landscape provisions.

A maintenance schedule by the landscape designer shall be included with the Certificate of Completion documenting that the landscape and irrigation system shall be regularly maintained to ensure water use efficiency.

An irrigation schedule by the landscape designer shall be included with the Certificate of Completion. For the efficient use of water, all irrigation schedules shall be developed, managed, and evaluated to utilize the minimum amount of water.

The Certificate of Completion shall certify that the landscape project has been installed per the approved Landscape Documentation Package, that the irrigation functions as designed to apply a total water use as estimated, and that copies of the irrigation schedule and maintenance schedule have been provided to the property owner.

The Certificate of Completion shall be signed by the signer of the landscape design plan, the signer of the irrigation design plan, or the licensed landscape contractor.

Residential developers shall use signs and written information to demonstrate the principles of water efficient landscapes described in this ordinance at their model home areas.

If the City identifies excessive irrigation water use, or observes indications of a poorly performing irrigation system, the City of Santa Maria may request a property owner provide a landscape irrigation audit.

Recycled water systems and gray water systems may be used subject to City approval, and conformance with the State's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.