Selected Landscape Codes/Regulations in the US

**Santa Monica, CA **Lafayette, CO **Collier County, FL **Homestead, FL **Prince Georges County, MA

** Raleigh, NC **Southlake, TX **Bellevue, WA** San Antonio, TX **Chapel Hill, NC

Santa Monica, California

http://santa-monica.org/municode/codemaster/

Landscape code and related on site storm water management requirements are included in this code for on site storm water management.

Santa Monica, "Guidelines To Select Native Plants For Various Aesthetic and Ecological Considerations As Well As Garden Situations," 1988.

Santa Monica, "City of Santa Monica Architectural Review Board, Landscape Requirements," 1986.

Standard landscape and irrigation plans are required to be reviewed by the Architectural Review Board. The city encourages the following percentage of landscaping per site: Industrial-10%, commercial-15, institutions-14%, office-15%, multiple residential-25%. Other topics presented are: size and type of planting; location; maintenance; fencing, hedges, buffer landscaping, an example drawing of a planting plan and plant material list.

Santa Monica, Section 9127C-Section 9127J.1 "Santa Monica Municipal Code," n.d.

This ordinance primarily focuses on yard regulations, projections into yards (i.e. fences, canopies, hedges, landscape architectural features, guard railings), and property boundary walls in h or industrial districts, screening standards, and more specifically vehicle parking and storage areas.

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Lafayette, Colorado

http://livepublish.municode.com/3/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-j.htm&vid=10101

Section 26-19-5

Landscaping regulations and guidelines

The landscape code for Lafayette, Colorado places emphasis on making not only a greener community but also one that accomplishes a larger environmental concerns. Restrictions and guidelines for irrigation, species diversity, larger planting areas and connections between landscaped areas are used to implement planting in a way that blends with the existing ecosystems.

All development plans submitted must be accompanied by a landscape plan. This is a standard requirement, the types of plans necessary for approval are more unique. A cover sheet, grading and drainage plan, landscape plan, and an irrigation plan. All of these sheets must be submitted in three phases, a sketch plan, landscape preliminary plan and final plans. All plans are evaluated with a check sheet which is used for all three stages of the design process.

Landscape designs are to be water efficient and must not exceed 15 gallons of water per s.f. per year. Plant material selection based on water consumption is highly recommended as are planting methods such as grouping plants in hydrozones. Arrangement of larger planting areas is also encouraged, small planting islands should only be used in vehicular use areas. Diversity of plant materials and preservation of existing trees are an important part of the environmental sensitivity this code promotes. Permanent irrigations systems are required with specific requirements for coverage and water conservation.

The thorough landscape plan requirements and strict criteria for all aspects of the landscape installation, design and maintenance is indicative of a community that has set a high standard and have an awareness of the importance of the landscape in urban settings. As with all codes, the ultimate success or failure of this code is based on how the code is enforced and the level of understanding of the code by those reviewing plans.

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Collier County, Florida

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One of the most effective landscape codes in south Florida is the code of Collier County. Properly enforced by well-organized staff. Codes require preparation of landscape plans for the design of landscaping irrigation and drainage in association with buffers, vehicular use areas, habitat preservation and horticultural standards. Related storm water ordinances provide discharge rates and discharge formulas as well as required dry detention volumes. Land Development Code. Zoning, Division 2.4, Section 2.4.1, "Landscaping And Buffering," nd.

Known as the Collier County Landscaping Code this ordinance in part was enacted to establish uniform standards of installation and maintenance of landscaping. In addition, it is important to this community to promote water conservation by encouraging the use of native and drought-tolerant vegetation.

In the community, landscape plans for satisfaction of this article must be prepared and sealed by registered landscape architects. Single family, two family and mobile home sites are not required to have the drawing sealed. The landscape plan is submitted to the Development Services Director at the preliminary subdivision phase, final site development phase, or building permit phase. The following design information is required.

________________________________________________________________________

DRAWING CONTENTS REASONS FOR ILLUSTRATION

________________________________________________________________________

Property Lines & Easements Determine site ownership & control

Access Points Ascertain safety upon entry & exit

Utilities Comply with public utility law, safety

Parking Determine parking lot planting requirements

Vehicular Use Area Determine planting zones, auto movement

Buildings Ascertain pedestrian circulation, shadow zone

Vegetation Communities Review existing site ecology

Vegetation Protection Devises Methods of preserving native vegetation

Planting Areas Calculate required sizes of planting areas

Code Required Landscaping Needs to be identified on plans

Plant Material Schedule, Quantity, Species, Size Judgment of suitability for site and planting purpose

Drought Tolerant Ratings Determine water and irrigation needs

Native Plant Status Evaluate changes to site character

Dimensions To determine quantities, sizes, and areas

Calculations To ensure compliance with the code

________________________________________________________________________

Landscape Plan prepared by a licensed Landscape Architect...................Collier County, Florida

Standards are contained in this ordinance for plant materials, installation and maintenance.

Plant material standards are further subdivided into quality, nativeness, type, prohibited species, credit for plant preservation and plant materials preservation. Detailed specifications for trees, shrubs, hedges and groundcovers are given. They include such particulars as spacing, heights, spreads and composition percentages that control the percent of this or that plant on a project.

Emphasis in this ordinance is placed on the use of native Southern Floridian species. A Xeriscape Plant Guide and other Florida botanical studies and manuals are cited as reference. Design standards are also included for such site features as landscape berm design, storm water management systems and irrigation water distribution systems.

Specific standards are given for design and operation of automatic sprinkler irrigation for all cultivated landscaping. Standards are in accord with Florida Irrigation Society Standards and Specifications. Irrigation plans must be prepared and submitted by registered landscape architects or irrigation designer as part of the review process.

DRAWING CONTENTS REASONS FOR ILLUSTRATION

Existing Vegetation To Remain Determine native plant zones & water needs

Buildings Determine routing, electric sources

Other Site Improvements Determine routing and water zones

Parking Spaces, Aisles, Driveways Figure spray areas

Mains, Valves, Pump Locations Examining system components and connections

Pipe Sizes Ascertain water flow quantities

Specifications Manufacturers quality & standards

Controller Examine water schedule

Backflow Preventer Protection of public water supply

Rain Sensing Devise Reduce quantity of water needed

Sprinkler Zone Plan Water needs of various plants, water distribution

________________________________________________________________________

Irrigation Plan prepared by a licensed Landscape Architect.....................Collier County, Florida

The center of the ordinance is devoted to the various design components that must be dealt with by the designer. They include vehicular use areas, shopping center courtyard green space, screening, and landscape buffering of adjacent land uses. The latter includes four (4) types of buffers and their specific use is dictated in a table of buffer yard requirements.

Of these components the shopping center courtyard green space component is the most unique. In this community, when someone builds a facility with more than forty (40,000) square feet, they are required by the landscape ordinance to set aside seven (7) percent of the size of the vehicular use area as "green space." This space is set aside for pedestrian use within front yards or courtyards of the shopping areas. Within these spaces decorative plantings and site features such as fountains, sculpture, site lighting and gazebos may be designed to make the spaces environmental, scenic and pedestrian friendly. Specific standards help make this happen. For instance, in these areas a minimum of one foot of park bench is required for 1000 square feet of retail space, and one tree for each two hundred fifty (250) square feet of green space is helpful. Building perimeters must set aside ten (10) square feet per one thousand (1000) square feet of gross floor space for plantings.

Collier County is located in the southwest section of the Florida peninsula just north of the tropics. Naples, Florida is one of the main towns in this area. This landscape ordinance is thought by some to be one of the better ordinances in the State of Florida. The ordinance is very well thought out and pretty comprehensive in scope. Perhaps some additional language with stormwater management, erosion control and hurricane resistance might be included.

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Homestead, Florida

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One of the newest landscape codes in the State of Florida is the code in Homestead. This innovative code utilizes ‘Florida Friendly Landscaping Standards which are essentially BMP’s for landscaping that will protect the environment. Standards are based upon use of fertilizer, storm water management, waterfront protection, pest control, irrigation efficiency, mulching, recycling and yard waste management. Homestead Code, Chapter 39, Article II "Landscaping,," 1990

This is one of the earlier landscape ordinances having been written in the mid 70's and revised in the 80's and again amended in 1990.

Some of the earlier language is still in this ordinance and it can be compared with the more recent. This ordinance illustrates how the very early ordinances (1970's) took a more regulatory tone and seem to be aimed at eliminating bad practices in the landscape industry.

In the 1980's emphasis seems to change more toward encouraging better design. You begin to see flexibility clauses such as the Alternative Compliance provision start to be inserted to encourage innovative landscape design practices. It might be of interest to note here that none of the language of the 1990's has found its way into this ordinance. The language of the 1990's landscape ordinances are trending toward habitat preservation, land alteration restrictions, tree protection and xeriscape principles and additional emphasis on design.

The city council of Homestead finds that the peculiar characteristics and the quality of the city justify regulations to perpetuate its aesthetic appeal. Prior to any issue of a certificate of use and occupancy each site must be seeded or sodded with a minimum of one tree planted on each lot in addition to the requirements of landscaping adjacent to public right of way, perimeter landscape zones, wall plantings and parking area interior plantings.

Plantings for all of these design components are based upon linear foot measure, areas or specified unit quantities. This community has a required species mix clause that regulates and prevents monoculture in species selection.

REQUIRED NUMBER MINIMUM NUMBER

OF TREES OF SPECIES

1 - 10 1

11 - 20 2

21 - 30 3

31- 40 4

41+ 5

Required Species Mix.....................................………………………………......................Homestead, Florida.

Standards are given for hedges, plant materials, installation, maintenance, ground treatment, and prohibited plant materials and plan approval procedures. There are no standards of quality for those who prepare the designs.

Saving existing vegetation is encouraged but not mandatory. Credit may be given for plant material if they exist in the areas that new plant materials need to be added.

Everyone will remember Homestead as a result of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. This city was made famous as pictures were flashed around the country showing a scene of devastation to both landscape and buildings. It is interesting that there is no mention in this code of Hurricane Resistant requirements for plant materials or other landscape material usage. It is well known that some plant materials hold up better in high winds (up to 120 mph) and that many plants if properly maintained plants will do better than others. Certain types of plants should be added to the prohibited list as a result of the there lack of performance in hurricane winds.

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Prince Georges County, Maryland *

The Prince Georges code is one of the earliest and very best tree protection codes in the country. This ordinance and closely related codes regulates land clearing, tree removal, tree protection and landscaping of commercial properties. Provisions for wildlife food and habitat are important parts of this code. Prince George County, Series No. 9058201522, "Manual For Tree Preservation In Development Areas." 1982.

This manual is designed to offer tree preservation guidelines for development sites, Section 1, Introduction, outlines the purpose and objectives of the manual. Section 2, Discussion of Terms, explains the meaning of terms as used in this document. Section 3, Selection of Trees to be Preserved, is an aid for developers, planners, and designers in determining what vegetation should be saved on developments sites. Section 4, Protection of Trees to be Preserved, illustrates techniques for protecting vegetation once it has been selected for preservation. Numerous sketches and charts aid in explaining the subject material. Appendix A is a tree preservation selection chart showing a sampling of trees commonly found in Prince George's County, specie natural habitat, average height at maturity, average growth rate, root form, disease resistance, air pollution resistance, change of environment tolerance, salt resistance, transplanting tolerance, provision for wildlife food or habitat, and design objectives. Appendix B is a draft list of identified federal and state rare, threatened and endangered trees of Maryland.

In accordance with CB-143-86, "Building Excellence, " 1987.

An extensive guide for the community and developers for initial planning and design of any new project. The nine cell matrix with two axes (residential-commercial-industrial and low-medium-high) appearing on nearly every page allows readers to determine all information applicable to a project by asking 1) What land use type is it in? and, 2) What zoning category is it in? The guide is particularly user-friendly, well organized into six chapters with charts and diagrams; Site Planning, Circulation, Buildings, Landscape Design, Buffering and Screening, and Lighting, as well as a Glossary and extensive bibliography.

Site planning policies: Respect and enhance the existing natural and historical qualities of the land. Encourage variety by combining building types and forms. Lot and building orientation should minimize intrusions on adjacent properties, and maximize regional and climatic conditions. Common outdoor spaces as well as private outdoor spaces should be incorporated in to planning. A hierarchy of open spaces should be planned including entries, public recreational or gathering area, semi-public areas, and private areas.

Circulation: Earthwork, fences and wall with or without vegetation can shield parking lots from building and break up large paved expanses. Variation in pavement material enhances the pedestrian experience. Cluster lots, separated by vegetation or berms, are preferable to uninterrupted expanses of asphalt. Circulation policies: Parking should be designed, located and buffered to minimize the negative visual impact. Reinforce street continuity through plant materials. The nine-cell matrix regulates planting. For example, a small commercial lot of high activity requires one tree per five spaces.

Landscape design policies: Preserve, enhance, and manage existing vegetation and natural resources. Use plant material appropriate to region functionally as well as decoratively; delineate pathways and entries, control microclimate and erosion, buffer, soften hard paving or architectural elements.

Buffering and screening: Some examples given by the nine cell matrix; Local street residential high activity requires 75% screening, whereas the same area in an industrial context requires 100%.

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Raleigh, North Carolina *

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Raleigh is one of the nations leaders in the development of codes for landscaping, tree protection and storm water management. Their storm water manual sets forth standards for storm water facility design, best management policies, hydrologic information and riparian buffers. Standards are provided in their landscape code for street yards, vehicular use areas, loading areas, utility service areas, automobile display areas, transitional (buffers) areas and street tree plantings.

City of Raleigh Landscape Ordinance, Second Edition, Revised April 1, 1990.

The purpose of this ordinance is to encourage the preservation of vegetation; provide adequate light and air; to provide visual buffering; to preserve, protect, and restore the unique identity and environment of the City of Raleigh; to conserve energy; and to provide habitat for living things that might not otherwise be found in urban and suburban environs. The ordinance requirements focus on these areas: street yards, vehicular surface areas, display areas, loading areas, utility service areas, and transitional yards.

The intent of the street yard requirements is to provide pleasing views, provide continuity of vegetation, reduce amount of runoff and impervious surface, filter air, provide shade and improve the microclimate, and to preserve Raleigh's natural vegetative cover. These requirements are given in average, maximum and minimum square footage of street frontage. All street yard types require at least one tree per fifty linear feet of street front.

The intent of the vehicular surface area requirements is to protect the public from headlight glare, noise, fumes and dust; prevent overcrowding of land; modify the rate of stormwater runoff; provide shade; increase the capability of groundwater recharge; and distribute planting around and within parking areas. There must be one interior parking lot tree for every 2,000 square feet, and one shrub for every 500 square feet of vehicular surface area. Parking areas within fifty feet of the right-of-way must have a three and a half foot tall screen.

The intent of the loading, display, and utility service area requirements is to screen undesirable views. Loading areas must include a six-foot tall screen. Display areas must include a two foot six inch tall screen. Utility service areas must be screened with plantings eighteen inches tall that reach a mature height equal to that of the utility service area.

The purpose of the transitional protective yard requirements is to protect adjacent uses from traffic, noise, glare, trash, activity, vibration, odor, visual disorder, and other noxious harmful effects; prevent adverse community appearance; protect the character of the area; conserve the values of buildings and land; and provide adequate light and air. Yard width requirements are given in the form of a chart. The chart graphs proposed and adjoining high residential density, low impact uses, medium impact uses, and high impact uses. The width of the transitional yard depends upon the density of the vegetation inside the yard.

This is a very well designed ordinance. The layout of each page contains the ordinance text in legal terms, an easy-to-read summary of the ordinance, and a diagram explaining the ordinance.

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Southlake, Texas

http://www.cityofsouthlake.com/planning/pdf/landscape-ord.pdf

Southlake, Landscape Ordinance No. 544, January 21, 1992.

The purpose of this ordinance is to balance the need for landscape treatment and the need for commercial growth in the City through mutually beneficial incentives rather than penalties.

This ordinance does not have a major area of emphasis. The ordinance lists landscape and irrigation requirements, which explain the ordinance applies to all non-residential and multi-family development. Each zoning area is given a percentage of required landscape area and planting requirements per square footage. Parking area requirements for landscape islands, existing tree, visibility, irrigation, plant material, improvements in public right-of-ways, and maintenance requirements are all given. Screening, outside storage, and buffer yards, located in Ordinance no. 480, are also required to be shown on the landscape and irrigation plans. The requirements for these are in that ordinance, but must also be shown on the landscape plans required by this ordinance. All plantings, screening, berms, or other requirements of this ordinance shall be installed prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

A licensed landscape architect or other professional shall prepare all irrigation plans. Lots greater than 30,000 square feet require a registered Landscape Architect to prepare the plans. In the instance that improvements to the right-of-way irrigation system are made, the City may prohibit installation of the irrigation system until improvements have been installed. If improvements to the right-of-way irrigation are made after the installation of the development's irrigation, it shall not be the responsibility of the City or the owner to replace these improvements.

This ordinance is formal, yet noncommittal. It gives a requirement, then an exception for each requirement.

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Bellevue, Washington

URL http://www.mrsc.org/mc/blvuluc/Bluc2020.html

Land Use Code, § 20.20-520, " Tree Preservation And Landscape Development," March 1996

The citizens of Bellevue feel that significant trees and landscape development are necessary to protect property values and preserve the natural wooded character of the Pacific Northwest. Well designed or preserved natural landscapes reduce the impact of storm drainage, maintain water quality and provide better transition between land uses in the city.

The land use code landscape requirement applies to all development except single family residential. For all sites larger than five hundred square feet the city requires certification from qualified landscape professionals such as registered landscape architects.

Significant trees within in site perimeters and site interior must be preserved. One hundred (100) percent of diameter inches within perimeters must be retained while fifteen (15) percent must be retained within the interior of the site. Significant trees are defined as follows.

SIGNIFICANCE STANDARD

Healthy significant trees over sixty feet in height

Trees which form a continuous canopy

Trees which contribute to the character of the environment

Trees which provide winter wind protection and summer shade

Groups of trees which create a distinctive skyline feature

Trees on steep slopes and   adjacent to watercourses or wetlands

Criteria For Judging Significant Trees...................Bellevue, Washington.

An incentive in the form of a ten (10) percent reduction in parking requirements will be allowed for preserving more than the minimum percentage of significant trees.

The ordinance contains design standards for perimeter landscaping, planting for specific uses, site landscaping and parking area landscaping. Landscaping is defined as one of five types, each accomplishing a different site planning purposes.

______________________________________________________________________________________

TYPE PURPOSE MATERIALS

______________________________________________________________________________________

I Very dense sight barrier Evergreen trees, sight obscuring fence

II Visual separation between uses Evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs

III Visual separation of uses Evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, earth mounding

IV Provide visual relief Ground covers and shrubs lower than 36"

V Visual relief/shade in parking areas Tree, ground cover, decorative mulch, pavers

______________________________________________________________________________________ Types Of Landscaping.............................................Bellevue, Washington.

This ordinance has an alternative compliance clause allowing the applicant to request modification of the landscaping requirements under certain conditions that will result in increased preservation of existing tree, more solar access or increased winter wing protection.

Standard for plant material species selection and maintenance are included. Additional detailed landscape standards can be found in special overlay districts described in the land use code. Additional landscape standards related to development of transportation and parks related facilities are also found in a companion document titled the "Bellevue Development Manual". Included are typical planting standards, right-of-way design details and a list of approved street trees.

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San Antonio, TX

Unified Development Code
Article V Development Standards
Division 3: Landscaping and Tree Preservation
UDCV:9

I. Purpose

-Safeguard and enhance property values and protect public and private investment.

-Encourage preservation of existing trees and other significant vegetation.

-Encourage proper selection, installation, and maintenance of plant materials that result in the conservation of natural resources, including water.

-Reduce the negative environmental effects of development while protecting and enhancing the value of developed properties and the surrounding area.

-Reduce soil erosion and increase infiltration in permeable land areas essential to storm water management and aquifer recharge.

-Mitigate air, dust, noise, heat and chemical pollution and glare and other adverse environmental effects of development.

-Reduce the "heat island" effect of impervious surfaces, such as parking lots, by cooling and shading the surface area and breaking up large expanses of pavement.

-Establish a landscape theme including street trees and streetscape designs to be used throughout the city to promote the overall character and identity of the community.

-Preserve existing native vegetation as an integral part of the wildlife habitats, and incorporate native plants and ecosystems into landscape design.

-Maintain and increase property values by requiring site appropriate landscaping to be incorporated into development that is designed and installed by a qualified landscape professional.

-To promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public by creating an urban environment that is aesthetically pleasing and that promotes economic development through an enhanced quality of life.

II. Design Components

-Landscaping

-Streetscape Planting Standards

-Tree Preservation

III. Technical Requirements

Planting Area Diagram

	Minimum Caliper at the Time of Planting	Minimum Height at the Time of Planting	Minimum Planting Area
Trees	1 1/2 inches for single trunk trees	Not applicable unless multi-trunk trees, in which case the tree shall be a minimum of six (6) feet in height at the time of planting	One hundred (100) square feet
Small trees	1 1/2 inches for single trunk trees	Six (6) feet for multi-trunk trees	Twenty-five (25) square feet
Large shrubs	Not applicable	Two (2) feet	Nine (9) square feet
Small to medium shrubs	Not applicable	One (1) foot	Eight (8) square feet

Table 511-1 (Plant Material Minimum Size Requirements)

IV. Unique Feature of the Code

-Every set of development plans must include a landscape plan.

-Every landscape plan must be stamped with a licensed landscape architect’s seal.

-Landscape plans must meet the point system minimum of 70 using the available point components.

-Points mainly may be gained through tree preservation, parking shading, parking screening, and street trees.

V. Reviewer’s Comments

San Antonio’s landscape code excels by specifying that only a landscape architect’s licensed seal on landscape plans will pass a development plan set through permitting. A way to better the code would be to stipulate that certain percentage of the landscape is designed using xeriscape principles that use native plants and water conservation practices.

Katherine McClellan

Chapel Hill, NC

URL www.municode.com

http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us

Code of Ordinances
Codified through Ord No. 2007-06-27/O-9, adopted June 27, 2007.

General Ordinances of the Town

Adopted January 11, 1971
Effective February 15, 1971

This appendix of the Town of Chapel Hill Code of Ordinances (including Appendix A, "Definitions") shall be known as and may be cited as the Chapel Hill Land Use Management Ordinance. The purpose of this appendix is to provide for the regulation of development, as provided in the North Carolina General Statutes and the Town Charter.

This appendix implements the provisions of the comprehensive plan for the town, adopted May 8, 2000, as may be amended from time to time, with an emphasis on the following major design components: Maintain the urban services/rural buffer boundary; conserve and protect the town's existing natural setting; complete the bikeway/greenway/sidewalk systems.

Section 5.6 of Appendix A states that buffers shall be required to separate a proposed development from adjacent major streets and different adjacent land uses or zoning designations in order to minimize potential nuisances such as the transmission of noise, dust, odor, litter, and glare of lights; to reduce the visual impact of unsightly aspects of adjacent development; to provide for the separation of spaces; and to establish a sense of privacy. Required buffers shall be located along the interior or street lot lines nearest the adjacent streets, land uses, or zoning designations except where such lot lines are intersected by crossing access ways or utility easements, or by a joint parking area. Buffers shall not be located on any portion of an existing or proposed street right-of-way or easement. Where vacant zoning lots are adjacent, the first zoning lot to be developed shall provide the buffer required next to vacant land. At the time it is developed, the second zoning lot shall provide all additional screening and/or land that might be necessary to provide the buffer required between the developed land uses.

Proposed Principal Use
Adjacent* Existing Principal Use#	Major Subdivision creating lots for single or two-family dwellings or Class A mobile home	Any other principal use in Use Group A, except essential services	Any principal use in Use Group B	Automotive repair, maintenance and/or storage facility, light manufacturing, supply yard	Any principal use in Use Group C other than the above
Dwellings, single-family or two-family, Class A Mobile Home	--	B	C	D	C
Any other principal use in Use Group A, except Essential Services	B	B	C	D	C
Interstate Highway	E	E	E	E	E
Railroad, non-Interstate, Arterial Street	D	D	D	D	D
Collector Street