Non-Residential Landscaping

In accordance with the State's new water conservation requirements (B-29-15), the City has adopted its new Landscape Ordinance on May 4, 2016.

The requirements of the new ordinance are pertinent to the following types of projects.

Type of Permit Total Landscape Area Requirement
Commercial, industrial, office, multi-family residential, public and institutional projects ≤ 2,500 s.f. Prescriptive Compliance Application (Appendix A)or Landscape Documentation Package (Sec.14.15.050)
Commercial, industrial, office, multi-family residential, public and institutional projects   >2,500 s.f. Landscape Documentation Package (Sec.14.15.050)
Any landscape installation or rehabilitation project ≤ 2,500 s.f. Prescriptive Compliance Application (Appendix A) - Informational only
 Any landscape installation or rehabilitation project >2,500 s.f. Landscape Documentation Package (Sec.14.15.050)
New and rehabilitated cemeteries >0 s.f. Water Budget Worksheet (Appendix B) Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance Schedule (Sec.14.15.120) Landscape Installation Report (Sec.14.15.130)
Existing and established landscapes, including cemeteries >1 acre Water Budget Worksheet (Appendix B) Audit of Established Landscapes (Sec.14.15.150)

Any project, regardless of total landscape area, that is determined to have an impact due to a unique geographical or environmentally sensitive location, including but not limited to, projects proposed on slopes greater than 30%, in geo-hazard areas near riparian corridors, creeks and or/waterways, the city may require a landscape project submittal.

Requirements

Step 1: Are these requirements applicable to your project?

Determine from the table above if you need to comply with the requirements of the Landscape Ordinance.

Step 2: Which requirements are applicable?

Depending on the type of project and if applicable, your preference, determined whether you need to submit a Prescriptive package or the Landscape Submittal package.

Step 3: Prescriptive Compliance Requirements

If you only need to conform to the requirements of Appendix A:

  • Please fill out the form completely and accurately.
  • You have to comply with all of the requirements.
  • Please demonstrate on your plans how you calculate your landscape area.

Step 4: Landscape Documentation Package required

If you need to prepare a Landscape Documentation Package (Sec. 14.15.050) submit the required documents to your planner for review:

A. All projects other than cemeteries:

  • Have the following prepared by a landscape architect or a person certified and authorized by the State of California to prepare each of the following in compliance with the requirements in the Landscape Ordinance:
    • Landscape and irrigation design plans,
    • Water budget calculations (if required),
    • Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance Schedules,
    • Soils Analysis (if required) and
    • Landscape Installation Report,
  • Include a site plan that demonstrates how landscape area is calculated

B. Cemeteries:

  • Have the following prepared by a landscape architect or a person, certified and authorized by the State of California to prepare each of the following in compliance with the requirements outlined in the Landscape Ordinance:
    • Water Budget calculations
    • Landscape Installation Report
    • Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance Schedules
  • Include a site plan that demonstrates how you calculate your landscape area.

Modifications to Approved Landscape

If your landscape is an approved landscape under the Landscape Ordinance or under the City's previous Xeriscape Landscaping Ordinance, i.e., you made improvements to your property that triggered the requirements of the Landscape Ordinance or the previous Xeriscape Landscaping Ordinance, any changes you make to your landscape needs City approval and must comply with the requirements of the new Landscape Ordinance.

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