A.

The purposes of this article are to:

1.

Provide requirements for landscaping development to promote the general welfare of the community;

2.

Effectuate attractive development;

3.

Enhance property values;

4.

Create an attractive appearance along city streets;

5.

Complement the visual effect of buildings;

6.

Provide buffers between various land uses and protection from intense activities; and

7.

Encourage landscape designs that promote water conservation through the use of indigenous plant materials;

8.

Encourage the retention of mature plant materials; and

9.

Encourage sustainable landscape practices and management.

B.

The requirements of this article are the minimum requirements necessary to promote its purposes.

C.

The Development Review Board may impose reasonable stipulations to fully carry out the purposes of this article.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 33), 6-18-13)

The provisions of this Zoning Ordinance shall apply to all development or construction, all building remodeling, alterations, additions, or expansions, and to all changes of occupancy in the use or development of land which requires the approval of a development site plan or subdivision plat by the city. Single-family residences and their accessories shall be exempt from the requirements of this Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 4143, § 1(Res. No. 9678, Exh. A, § 265), 5-6-14)

For all development projects included in Section 10.101, landscape plans shall be prepared, submitted and approved in accordance with the standards, requirements and procedures set forth in this Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 4143, § 1(Res. No. 9678, Exh. A, § 266), 5-6-14; Ord. No. 4439, § 1(Res. No. 11703, § 1(Exh. A, § 1), 2-4-20)

A.

A landscape plan shall be prepared, submitted, and subject to approval by the Development Review Board for all applicable development projects in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in this Zoning Ordinance. Once approved conceptually, the landscape plan shall be included as part of the final construction plans submittal. All changes landscape plans shall be subject to approval by the city prior to installation of any landscape improvements. The landscape plan shall include the following information:

1.

Location and identification of all proposed landscape area (on-site, street right-of-way, parking area, buffers and others)

2.

Preliminary summary data indicating the landscape area (in square feet) of on-site, right-of-way, and parking lot landscaping.

3.

Location of existing and proposed trees, shrubs, cacti, and other landscape materials and improvements.

4.

Notes, tables, and graphic symbols adequately showing the intent of the proposed plans, and any other information indicating how the plans will comply with this Zoning Ordinance.

5.

Quantity and size of all proposed plantings and caliper/trunk size of all proposed trees

6.

Location of any existing mature trees on the site that are to remain in place or proposed to be salvaged and replanted on-site.

7.

Location of all proposed stormwater detention and retention areas

8.

Irrigation plan, indicating the layout and details of the irrigation system, including the type and location of all materials utilized.

B.

Reserved.

C.

Reserved.

D.

Mature tree plan. In the Old Town Area, to remove a mature tree, the property owner shall submit a mature tree plan, subject to Development Review Board approval and issuance of a permit.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 4005, § 1(Res. No. 8947, Exh. A, §§ 202, 203), 4-3-12; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 34), 6-18-13; Ord. No. 4143, § 1(Res. No. 9678, Exh. A, §§ 267, 268), 5-6-14; Ord. No. 4439, § 1(Res. No. 11703, § 1(Exh. A, § 1), 2-4-20; Ord. No. 4629, § 1(Res. No. 13058, § 1(Exh. A, § 12)), 2-20-24)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 3879, § 1(Exh. § 28), adopted March 2, 2010, repealed § 10.301, which pertained to minimum size of plant materials. See also the Code Comparative Table.

A.

All landscape areas (except approved hard surfaced walks and activity areas) shall be finished with natural landscape material such as turf, groundcover, planting, organic mulch, or at least two (2) inches deep decomposed granite or expanded shale. Except within the Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) boundary, the Development Review Board may approve synthetic landscape material in place of natural landscape material.

B.

Turf and other water intensive plant material shall meet the requirements of Chapter 49 of the Scottsdale Revised Code.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 3225, § 1, 5-4-99; Ord. No. 4005, § 1(Res. No. 8947, Exh. A, § 204), 4-3-12; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 35), 6-18-13; Ord. No. 4439, § 1(Res. No. 11703, § 1(Exh. A, § 1), 2-4-20)

A.

All landscape areas shall be supported by an automatic irrigation system. A backflow prevention assembly shall be provided according to standard details adopted by the city. All irrigation systems and landscape areas shall be designed, constructed, and maintained to promote water conservation and prevent water overflow or seepage into the street, sidewalk, or parking areas.

B.

All approved revegetation of natural area open space as provided in accordance with the Environmentally Sensitive Lands district shall be irrigated with a temporary system or approved watering program which shall be terminated after three (3) years, or after the revegetation is self-sustaining, whichever is later.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 3303, § 1, 3-21-00; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 36), 6-18-13)

A.

The following shall be provided to protect plant materials:

1.

Permanent containment barriers, such as concrete curbs or bumper guards, shall be installed and properly secured to prevent damage or destruction of landscape materials by vehicles, within, or adjacent to, all proposed parking areas and along all access driveways, unless otherwise approved by the Development Review Board.

2.

Landscape plans shall demonstrate the methods utilized to preserve native plant materials as required by Article VII.

3.

Landscape plans shall demonstrate the methods utilized to preserve natural area open space in designated Environmentally Sensitive Lands.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 37), 6-18-13)

Unless otherwise specified herein, no part of any landscape area shall be used for any other use such as parking, signs, or display, except for required on-site retention areas or when such use is shown on the approved final landscape plan. Where permitted, vehicle display pads in landscaped areas shall provide permanent landscape planters fully integrated with the landscape design.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95)

A.

In addition to other required landscape areas, all public and private streets contiguous to and within the proposed development site shall be landscaped, in accordance with an approved landscape plan. Landscape areas on public streets shall comply with Arizona Department of Water Resources criteria.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 38), 6-18-13)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 39), adopted June 18, 2013, repealed § 10.307, which pertained to parking area landscaping. See also the Code Comparative Table.

All development covered by Section 10.101 shall provide landscaping in all portions of the development not required for buildings, structures, loading, access driveways, streets, parking, utility areas, pedestrian walks and hard surfaced activity areas in accordance with the requirements of this article.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 40), 6-18-13; Ord. No. 4439, § 1(Res. No. 11703, § 1(Exh. A, § 1), 2-4-20)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 4439, § 1(Res. No. 11703, § 1(Exh. A, § 1), adopted Feb. 4, 2020, repealed § 10.402, which pertained to landscape requirements by zoning district and derived from Ord. No. 2818, § 1, adopted Oct. 17, 1995; Ord. No. 3274, § 3, adopted Dec. 7, 1999; Ord. No. 3854, § 5, adopted June 9, 2009; Ord. No. 3920, § 1(Exh. § 120), adopted Nov. 9, 2010; Ord. No. 4005, § 1(Res. No. 8947, Exh. A, § 205), adopted April 3, 2012; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 41), adopted June 18, 2013; Ord. No. 4120, § 1(Res. No. 9585, Exh. A, § 2), adopted Dec. 9, 2013; Ord. No. 4143, § 1(Res. No. 9678, Exh. A, § 269), adopted May 6, 2014.

The following shall be provided as the minimum required landscape improvements.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95)

A.

Decomposed granite or similar material around the mature form of a specimen plant, tree canopy, or groups of plants, shall not exceed seven (7) feet in any direction.

B.

Unless otherwise specified herein, all trees shall have a 15-gallon minimum container size; and at least fifty (50) percent must be mature trees. The Development Review Board may require larger trees. In developments where buildings have more than one (1) story, fifty (50) percent of the trees shall meet the following standards:

1.

Palm trees: trunk twelve (12) feet tall;

2.

Single trunk trees: three (3) inch caliper; and

3.

Multiple trunk trees: one and one-half (1½) inch caliper average trunk.

C.

A saguaro or tree meeting the definition of a protected native plant in Chapter 46 of the Scottsdale Revised Code, and subject to relocation under a native plant permit, may be substituted for a tree meeting the standard of subsection B. above.

D.

All plant material utilized for screening of parking, refuse, service and utility areas shall have a minimum five-gallon container size and shall be installed in a pattern with spacing that will provide a continuous screen upon mature size of the plant material.

E.

All shrubs utilized on site shall have a minimum five-gallon container size.

F.

All groundcovers utilized on site shall have a minimum one-gallon container size.

G.

Landscape areas shall be designed and maintained in accordance with the approved landscape plan and the height, location, and sight visibility requirements as set forth in Design Standards & Policies Manual.

H.

Parking lot landscape area and landscape islands.

1.

A landscape area at least five (5) feet deep shall be provided between any parking lot area and any street line, except as otherwise required in this section.

2.

At least fifteen (15) percent of any parking lot shall be landscape areas. This is in addition to any open space requirement. Taxilane safety areas are exempt from providing landscape area.

a.

If a parking lot contains more than twenty (20) parking spaces, then a minimum of one-third (⅓) of the required parking lot landscape area shall be in landscape islands distributed within the parking lot area, rather than on the perimeter of the parking lot. These landscape areas shall have a minimum width of seven (7) feet and a minimum area of one hundred twenty (120) square feet. All landscape areas shall be planted, irrigated, and maintained as prescribed herein.

i.

In the Old Town Area, a landscape island shall be required between every ten (10) parking spaces.

ii.

In all other areas of the city, a landscape island shall be required between every fifteen (15) parking spaces.

b.

A landscape area, up to a width of ten (10) feet, which is abutting a parking lot, may be counted toward the required landscape area for a parking lot.

c.

Parking space overhangs, that are permitted in Section 9.106 and subsections therein, shall not be included in the provided landscape area that is calculated for required landscape area of a parking lot.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 3879, § 1(Exh. § 29), 3-2-10; Ord. No. 3896, § 1(Exh. § 7), 6-8-10; Ord. No. 3920, § 1(Exh. § 121), 11-9-10; Ord. No. 4005, § 1(Res. No. 8947, Exh. A, § 206), 4-3-12; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 42), 6-18-13; Ord. No. 4439, § 1(Res. No. 11703, § 1(Exh. A, § 1), 2-4-20; Ord. No. 4629, § 1(Res. No. 13058, § 1(Exh. A, § 12)), 2-20-24)

A.

Old Town Area.

1.

Landscape improvements shall be provided in accordance with the following:

a.

Any open space area that is visible from the street shall be improved with landscaping, paving, walks or other appropriate materials in accordance with an approved landscape plan.

b.

For properties abutting the Old Town boundary, mature trees and landscape materials shall be provided for each development in accordance with an approved landscape plan.

c.

In the Old Town Area, mature trees shall be provided for uncovered sidewalks in accordance with the Old Town Urban Design and Architectural Guidelines, and an approved landscape plan accordance with the Old Town Scottsdale Urban Design and Architectural Guidelines and an approved landscape plan.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 3274, § 4, 12-7-99; Ord. No. 3879, § 1(Exh. § 30), 3-2-10; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 43), 6-18-13; Ord. No. 4439, § 1(Res. No. 11703, § 1(Exh. A, § 1), 2-4-20; Ord. No. 4629, § 1(Res. No. 13058, § 1(Exh. A, § 12)), 2-20-24)

(Ord. No. 4439, § 1(Res. No. 11703, § 1(Exh. A, § 1), 2-4-20; Ord. No. 4629, § 1(Res. No. 13058, § 1(Exh. A, § 12)), 2-20-24)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 44), adopted June 18, 2013, repealed § 10.601, which pertained to general regulations. See also the Code Comparative Table.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 4439, § 1(Res. No. 11703, § 1(Exh. A, § 1), adopted Feb. 4, 2020, repealed § 10.602, which pertained to buffer requirements by zoning district and derived from Ord. No. 2818, § 1, adopted Oct. 17, 1995; Ord. No. 4005, § 1(Res. No. 8947, Exh. A, § 207), adopted April 3, 2012; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 45), adopted June 18, 2013; Ord. No. 4120, § 2(Res. No. 9585, Exh. A, § 3), adopted Dec. 9, 2013; Ord. No. 4176, § 1, adopted Nov. 18, 2014.

A.

The property owner shall maintain on-site landscape areas, and landscape areas in the adjacent right-of-way.

B.

Minimum maintenance requirements for all landscape areas subject to an approved landscape plan are as follows:

1.

All landscape areas shall be maintained in a neat and clean condition.

2.

All landscape materials shall be maintained in a healthy, trimmed and weed-free condition to conform to the approved landscape plan.

3.

Landscape materials shall be replaced as necessary to conform to the approved landscape plan.

4.

Plant material that dies shall be replaced promptly upon its demise.

5.

Plant material shall be maintained in a natural growth pattern or characteristic mature form.

C.

Areas designated and intended for stormwater management shall be maintained in accordance with the Scottsdale Revised Code.

D.

Except for routine maintenance of landscape areas in accordance with this section, modifications to existing landscape materials subject to an approved landscape plan, are subject to Zoning Administrator approval. The Zoning Administrator may determine that, based on the scope of the modifications, a new landscape plan must be submitted, subject to approval as provided in this Zoning Ordinance.

E.

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

1.

Strip, excavate or remove top soil, or store soil on a site, except in accordance with approved plans.

2.

Severely prune plant materials to the extent that the plant materials' purpose in the approved landscape plan has been nullified.

3.

Alter, or allow deterioration of, areas designated and intended for stormwater management, to invalidate the purpose of the stormwater management area.

(Ord. No. 2818, § 1, 10-17-95; Ord. No. 3920, § 1(Exh. § 122), 11-9-10; Ord. No. 4099, § 1(Res. No. 9439, Exh. A, § 46), 6-18-13; Ord. No. 4143, § 1(Res. No. 9678, Exh. A, § 270), 5-6-14; Ord. No. 4439, § 1(Res. No. 11703, § 1(Exh. A, § 1), 2-4-20)