The city finds that it is in the public interest to conserve public water resources and promote water efficient landscaping through planning and education. The city strives to protect and enhance the community's environmental, economic, recreational, and aesthetic resources by promoting efficient use of water, reducing water waste, and establishing guidelines for design, installation, and maintenance of water efficient and attractive landscaping. (Ord. 21-10, 6-9-2021; amd. Ord. 25-12, 4-22-2025)

   A.   Except as set forth in subsections B and C of this section, this chapter applies to all new construction and includes all building additions, expansions, changes, or intensification of use , filed after the effective date hereof, which results in a new landscaped area greater than one thousand (1,000) square feet. The landscaping and irrigation plans required by this chapter shall be provided as a condition of building permit issuance. In the case of building expansions, only the expansion area shall be required to meet the requirements of this chapter.

   B.   New Single Family Residential Construction: New single family residential shall meet section 13-13-5 "Water Efficiency Standards” and subsection 13-13-6G of this chapter. As an aid, a residential landscape design guide is available from the city and is located on the city's website.

   C.   Existing-Single Family Residential: Existing Single-Family Residential landscaping is not required to follow the regulations of this chapter. Landscaping shall be maintained. When changing existing landscaping, the property owner is encouraged to follow the provisions of this chapter. As an aid, a residential landscape design guide available from the city located on the city's website. (Ord. 21-10, 6-9-2021; amd. Ord. 25-12, 4-22-2025)

   A.   Submittal: Landscape, irrigation, summary data, as-built drawings and planting plans shall be submitted with final site plans following the checklist provided by the city .

   B.   Fees: All fees shall be submitted according to the consolidated fee schedule. (Ord. 21-10, 6-9-2021; amd. Ord. 25-12, 4-22-2025)

   A.   Landscape and irrigation plans are approved according to citycode .

   B.   Landscaping and irrigation inspection verifying that the landscaping and irrigation system was installed according to the approved plans shall be conducted by the City prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

      1.   Water Meter: For all commercial landscapes, a separate water meter shall be installed for landscape irrigation systems. The landscape water meter shall be separate from the water meter installed for indoor uses. The size of the meter shall be determined based on irrigation demand. The landscape water meter shall not be a "submeter" but shall be installed and billed separately from any indoor meters.

      2.   Irrigation Systems: Irrigation systems shall be pressure checked and inspected prior to backfilling to obtain a final certificate of occupancy. (Ord. 21-10, 6-9-2021; amd. Ord. 25-12, 4-22-2025)

   A.   All new construction , for all zones and types of uses, shall comply with the water efficiency standards listed below. Upgrades or relandscaping should strive to meet these same standards.

   B.   All irrigation shall be appropriate for the designated plant material to achieve the highest water efficiency.

      1.   Drip irrigation or bubblers shall be used except in lawn/sod/turf areas.

      2.   Drip irrigation systems shall be equipped with a pressure regulator, filter, flush-end assembly, and any other appropriate components.

   C.   If installed each irrigation valve shall irrigate landscaping with:

      1.   Similar site;

      2.   Similar slopes;

      3.   Similar soil conditions; and

      4.   Plant materials with similar watering needs.

   D.   Lawn/sod/turf and planting beds shall be irrigated on separate irrigation valves if an irrigation system is installed.

   E.   Drip emitters and sprinklers shall be placed on separate irrigation valves if an irrigation system is installed.

   F.   Landscaped areas shall be provided with a smart irrigation controller which has the ability to automatically adjust the frequency and/or duration of irrigation events in response to changing weather conditions. All controllers shall be equipped with automatic rain delay or rain shut-off capabilities.

   G.   A minimum of three to four inches of mulch , permeable to air and water, shall be used in planting beds.

   H.   The city recommends that landscapes have enough plants (trees, perennials, and shrubs ) to create at least 50% living plant cover at maturity.

   I.   Lawn/sod/turf are prohibited from being installed in:

      1.   Park strips ;

      2.   Paths less than eight feet wide; or

      3.   On slopes with a grade greater than 25%.

   J.   Lawn/sod/turf of all dwelling units are prohibited from exceeding the greater of 250 square feet or 35% of the front yard/side yard landscaped area , as defined in section 13-2-3. (Ord. 21-10, 6-9-2021; amd. Ord. 23-44, 12-20-2023; Ord. 25-12, 4-22-2025)

   A.   Multiple-Family Developments:

      1.   Landscaped Areas: Outside of active recreation area , lawn/sod/turf areas shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the front yard/side yard landscaped area of the common area landscapes in each multiple-familydevelopment .

         a.   Active recreation areas for a multi-familydevelopment may be planted in lawn/sod/turf and may be of any size practical for active recreation area purposes.

         b.   Detention basins may also be planted entirely of lawn/sod/turf if they are part of an active recreation area .

         c.   The terms in this section shall be defined pursuant to section 13-2-3.

      2.   The front yard and side yards adjacent to public streets, except those portions devoted to driveways and sidewalks shall be landscaped. The minimum width of landscaped areas adjacent to public streets shall be twenty-five feet (25') wide. This planting area shall meet all requirements of this chapter.

      3.   Site Trees: A minimum of one tree per two thousand (2,000) square feet of landscaped area is required, in addition to any park strip , parking lotlandscaping or landscaped buffer requirement of this chapter.

      4.   Park StripLandscaping : Any combination of ornamental plants, shrubs , herbaceous perennial, ground cover plants, pavers, ornamental gravel, ornamental concrete, boulders, bark mulch and artificial turf is permitted in the park strip. Lawn/sod/turf is prohibited in park strips. One tree per twenty-five feet (25') of frontage is required.

      5.   Parking LotLandscaping : Parking lot landscaping shall meet the requirements of this chapter.

      6.   Landscaped Buffer : A landscaped buffer is required for any multi-familydevelopment adjacent to an existing lower density residential development . Buffers shall meet the requirements of this chapter.

      7.   On site detention basins shall be considered part of the landscaped area of the site and shall be landscaped unless stored underground or as part of the paved parking area.

   B.   Business/Research ParkZone :

      1.   Landscaped Areas: Landscaped areas shall comprise not less than twenty five percent (25%) of the site. The front yard and side yards adjacent to public streets, except those portions devoted to driveways and sidewalks, shall be landscaped. Lawn/sod/turf shall be limited to twenty percent (20%) of the landscaped area .

      2.   Site Trees: A minimum of one tree per two thousand (2,000) square feet of landscaped area is required, in addition to any park strip , parking lotlandscaping or landscaped buffer requirement.

      3.   Park StripLandscaping : Any combination of ornamental plants, shrubs , herbaceous perennial, ground cover plants, pavers, ornamental gravel, ornamental concrete, boulders, bark mulch and artificial turf is allowed in the park strip . Lawn/sod/turf is prohibited in park strips. One tree per twenty-five feet (25') of frontage is required.

      4.   Parking LotLandscaping : Parking lot landscaping shall meet the requirements of this chapter.

      5.   Landscape Buffers: Landscape buffers may be required in areas that abut less intense or incompatible land uses or as visual barriers around parking and utility areas. Buffers shall meet the requirements of this chapter.

      6.   On site detention basins shall be considered part of the landscaped area of the site and shall be landscaped unless stored underground or as part of the paved parking area.

   C.   Commercial and Professional Office :

      1.   Landscaped Areas: Landscaped areas shall comprise not less than fifteen percent (15%) of a commercial or professional office site. Front and side yards adjacent to a public street , except those portions devoted to driveways and sidewalks, shall be landscaped. Lawn/sod/turf shall be limited to twenty percent (20%) of the landscaped area .

      2.   Site Trees: A minimum of one tree per two thousand (2,000) square feet of landscaped area is required, in addition to any park strip , parking lotlandscaping or landscaped buffer requirement.

      3.   Landscaped Buffer : A landscaped buffer is required for any commercial or professional office adjacent to an existing residential development . Buffers shall meet the requirements of this chapter.

      4.   Park StripLandscaping : Any combination of ornamental plants, shrubs , herbaceous perennial, ground cover plants, pavers, ornamental gravel, ornamental concrete, boulders, bark mulch and artificial turf is allowed in the park strip. Lawn/sod/turf is prohibited in park strips. One tree per twenty five feet (25') of frontage is required.

      5.   On site detention basins shall be considered part of the landscaped area of the site and shall be landscaped unless stored underground or as part of the paved parking area.

   D.   Manufacturing Developments:

      1.   Landscaped Areas: Landscaped areas shall comprise not less than ten percent (10%) of a manufacturing site. A minimum of one tree per two thousand (2,000) square feet of landscaped area is required, in addition to any park strip , parking lotlandscaping or landscaped buffer requirement. Lawn/sod/turf shall be limited to twenty percent (20%) of the landscaped area.

      2.   Park StripLandscaping : Any combination of ornamental plants, shrubs , herbaceous perennial, ground cover plants, pavers, ornamental gravel, ornamental concrete, boulders, bark mulch and artificial turf is allowed in the park strip. Lawn/sod/turf is prohibited in park strips. One tree per twenty five feet (25') of frontage is required.

      3.   Landscaped Buffers: A landscaped buffer is required for any manufacturing development adjacent to an existing residential development . Buffers shall meet the requirements City Code .

      4.   On site detention basins shall be considered part of the landscaped area of the site and shall be landscaped unless stored underground or as part of the paved parking area.

   E.   Nonresidential Uses in Residential Districts:

      1.   Landscaped Areas: Landscaped areas shall comprise not less than fifteen percent (15%) of a nonresidential site. Front and side yards adjacent to a public street , except those portions devoted to driveways and sidewalks, shall be landscaped. Lawn/sod/turf shall be limited to twenty percent (20%) of the landscaped area .

      2.   Site Trees: A minimum of one tree per two thousand (2,000) square feet of landscaped area is required, in addition to any park strip , parking lotlandscaping or landscaped buffer requirement.

      3.   Landscaped Buffer : A landscaped buffer is required for any nonresidential adjacent to an existing residential development . Buffers shall meet the requirements of this chapter.

      4.   On site detention basins shall be considered part of the landscaped area of the site and shall be landscaped unless stored underground or as part of the paved parking area.

      5.   Exemption: Nonresidential uses in residential districts are exempt from the field inspection requirements of section 13-13-4 of this chapter.

   F.   City -constructed buildings, parks, recreation, and open spaces; and recreation and open spaces for educational facilities; in any zone :

      1.   Landscaped Areas: Landscaped areas shall comprise not less than twenty five percent (25%) of the site containing a public building such as city hall, courts, public safety buildings, public works buildings, water tanks/reservoirs, administration buildings. The front yard and side yards adjacent to public streets, except those portions devoted to driveways and sidewalks, shall be landscaped. Lawn/sod/turf shall be limited to twenty percent (20%) of the landscaped area surrounding public buildings. This requirement does not apply to accessory buildings or structures of public parks, open space , or recreation areas.

      2.   Site Trees: A minimum of one tree per two thousand (2,000) square feet of landscaped area is required, in addition to any park strip , parking lotlandscaping or landscaped buffer requirement of this chapter. Landscaped are does not include areas used for parks, open spaces, or recreation areas.

      3.   Park StripLandscaping : Any combination of ornamental plants, shrubs , herbaceous perennial, ground cover plants, pavers, ornamental gravel, ornamental concrete, boulders, bark mulch and artificial turf is permitted in the park strip. Lawn/sod/turf is prohibited in park strips. One tree per twenty-five feet (25') of frontage is required.

      4.   Parking LotLandscaping : Parking lot landscaping shall meet the requirements of this chapter.

      5.   On site detention basins shall be considered part of the landscaped area of the site and shall be landscaped unless stored underground or as part of the paved parking area.

      6.   Parks and Recreation Facilities: There is no limitation on the amount of lawn/sod/turf used in parks or recreation areas. Tree placement in parks, open spaces and recreation areas will be according to the overall design of the park , open space , or recreation area.

   G.   New Single-Family Residential Construction Landscaping Requirements:

      1.   Lawn/sod/turf of new single-family dwelling units :

         a.   Is prohibited from being installed in park strips, paths less than eight feet wide, or on slopes with a grade greater than 25%; and

         b.   Is prohibited from exceeding the greater of 250 square feet or 35% of the front yard/side yard landscaped area , as defined in section 13-2-3; and

      2.   The city recommends that landscapes have at least 50% living plant cover at maturity. (Ord. 21-10, 6-9-2021; amd. Ord. 23-44, 12-20-2023; Ord. 25-12, 4-22-2025)

   A.   Landscaping is required within automobile parking areas that have fourteen (14) parking spaces or more to break up large expanses of pavement, to provide relief from reflected glare and heat, and to guide vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

   B.   Materials and Installation:

      1.   Irrigation: All landscaped areas in parking lots that contain any plants or trees shall be irrigated. Irrigation design shall follow the requirements of the application checklist.

      2.   Interior Parking LotLandscaping :

         a.   Shade trees shall be provided at no less than one tree per seven (7) parking spaces (i.e., seventy (70) spaces divided by seven (7) equals ten (10) trees).

         b.   Within landscaped areas, plants shall be of sufficient number and spacing to provide fifty percent (50%) surface coverage at maturity, not including tree canopies.

         c.   Interior parking lotlandscaping shall be evenly dispersed throughout the parking lot. Planting that is required along the perimeter of a parking lot or adjacent to buildings shall not be considered as part of the interior parking lot landscaping.

      3.   Perimeter Parking Lot Landscape Areas: Where a parking lot is located within a required, front, side, or rear yard or within twenty feet (20') of a property line, landscaping shall be provided around the perimeter of the parking lot. The perimeter landscaping planting area shall be a minimum of eight feet (8') wide and shall be designed, contained, planted and irrigated according to this chapter and the application checklist.

      4.   Landscaped Areas: The minimum interior dimensions of any landscaped area or planting median shall be eight feet (8') wide. Each landscaped area shall be protected by concrete vertical curbs. Curbs may be designed to allow stormwater to enter the landscaped area. Where such curbs serve as a wheel stop for parking spaces, thirty six inches (36") shall be provided in the planting area between the curb stop and the tree locations. Other low growing plants, mulch , gravel, or ornamental concrete shall be placed in this tree exclusion area. (Ord. 21-10, 6-9-2021; amd. Ord. 25-12, 4-22-2025)

   A.   Landscape buffers shall mitigate the transition between more intense land uses and/or between different development types. Only the more intense land use shall be required to provide the landscape buffer .

   B.   Materials and Installation:

      1.   Landscaped buffers shall be not less than twenty feet (20') wide. The area of this buffer may be counted toward the required landscape area. Sidewalks and walking paths may be included in a landscape buffer.

      2.   Buffers shall be designed with sufficient number, size and density of trees and shrubs to mitigate visual and auditory impacts. A minimum of one tree for each four hundred (400) square feet, or fraction thereof, of the landscaped buffer shall be planted. This requirement is in addition to the required park striplandscaping and parking lot landscaping.

   C.   Exceptions:

      1.   Where a landscape buffer already exists along the property line of an abutting property, the landscape buffer requirement for the subject property may be waived or reduced in width by the Zoning Administrator . (Ord. 21-10, 6-9-2021; amd. Ord. 25-12, 4-22-2025)

   A.   A streetscape plan is required in those cases where a wall is required between a development and an arterial or collector street . The plan shall show in detail the landscape treatment of the space between the wall and the street curb line. A streetscape plan is also required for all commercial , office , manufacturing, institutional and multi-family residential developments that are five (5) contiguous acres and larger which abut arterial streets.

      1.   Where an adopted streetscape plan is in place, the developer shall follow such plan.

      2.   Where no adopted streetscape plan is in place, the developer shall coordinate with city staff and receive approval from the planning commission through the subdivision or site plan process on development of a streetscape plan and on the installation of the irrigation system and plant materials.

   B.   Streetscape plan requirements for developed areas five (5) contiguous acres and larger along arterial streets are as follows:

      1.   Adjacent to Residential Developments: Unless part of a previously approved master plan, development plan or streetscape plan, single-family and two-family residential developments adjacent to arterial streets shall contain a minimum ten foot (10') landscaped area , with plants arranged and approved by the city's parks department and the city's urban forester. The required ten foot (10') landscaped area shall be installed by the developer following provisions contained in this chapter from the back of sidewalk to the adjacent property line. Waterwise plants should be used extensively and may be used exclusively and shall be used as much as possible. The required street wall shall be installed beyond the landscaped area adjacent to the property line. The required ten foot (10') landscaped area adjacent to single-family and two-family residential shall be dedicated to the City .

      2.   Adjacent to Commercial , Office , Industrial, Institutional and Multi-Family Developments: Unless part of a previously approved master plan, development plan or streetscape plan, commercial, office, industrial, institutional, and multi-family developments adjacent to arterial streets shall contain a minimum ten foot (10') landscaped area. The required ten foot (10') landscaped area shall be installed between the back of sidewalk to the adjacent development line (parking area, building area, etc.) along the entire area adjacent to the arterial street . Decorative or retaining walls no greater than two feet (2') in height may be installed in this area. Decorative boulders may be installed in this area. The required ten foot (10') landscaped area adjacent to commercial, office, industrial and multi-family developments shall be installed and maintained by the commercial, office, industrial, institutional, and multi- family development. This area may be counted as part of the development's overall landscaping percentage requirement. The landscaped area shall comply with the provisions governing landscaping in this chapter. Waterwise plants should be used extensively and may be used exclusively and shall be used as much as possible. (Ord. 21-10, 6-9-2021; amd. Ord. 25-12, 4-22-2025)

   A.   The developer , the developer’s successor, homeowner, or subsequent owner of a site for which landscape plans or landscaping were required in this chapter, shall be responsible for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of all landscaping elements. Park strips shall be maintained by the owner of property abutting city easements, rights of way and park strips.

   B.   Irrigation Systems: Irrigation systems shall be maintained in good working condition and adjusted to ensure optimal operation and efficient water use .

   C.   Malfunctioning systems that are no longer conveying water as specified shall be repaired or replaced.

   D.   Landscaping : All landscape plants shall be maintained in good condition to present a healthy, neat, and orderly appearance. Plants not in this condition shall be removed and replaced when necessary.

   E.   Trees : Tree maintenance and pruning on private property shall be the responsibility of the property owner or tenant .

      1.   For any tree in a park strip or within the landscape setback area where there is no park strip, property owners or tenants are not permitted to remove or conduct major pruning (twenty percent (20%) or more of the crown), without prior approval from the city's urban forester. As a condition of such approval, the permittee may be required to replace the tree.

      2.   Protect trees against damage caused by maintenance equipment, such as lawn/sod/turf mowers, weed trimmers, snowblowers and snowplows.

   F.   Grounds Maintenance: Landscaped areas shall be kept free of refuse and debris.

   G.   Clearance and Visibility: Any portion of a tree that is in the park strippublic right of way or that overhangs the public right of way from private property may be removed up to the property line at any time without notice by the City . However, the requirements below are minimums that shall be maintained.

      1.   Trees adjacent to pedestrian walkways shall have a minimum canopy clearance of eight feet (8') at all possible perpendiculars between the walkway surface and tree .

      2.   Tree canopies that extend over streets shall be pruned to provide canopy clearance of at least fourteen feet (14') at all possible perpendiculars between the street surface and tree.

      3.   Plants in the intersection sight triangle shall be pruned to maintain maximum heights specified in this standard. (Ord. 21-10, 6-9-2021; amd. Ord. 23- 09, 3-22-2023; Ord. 25-12, 4-22-2025)