Landscaping
In order to be compliant with state law, the City adopted an updated Landscape Ordinance on May 4, 2016.
This information is pertinent to you if you are applying for a:
Building Permit
Planning Permit or Grading Permit
| Project Type and Size |
Pertinent Information |
| New home in R1, RHS, A1 or R2 Zones - ≤ 500 s.f |
Prescriptive Compliance Application (Appendix A - Water Efficient Landscape Checklist(PDF, 118KB)) - Informational Only |
| New home in R1, RHS, A1 or R2 Zones - 500 s.f. - 2,500 s.f. |
Prescriptive Compliance Application (Appendix A - Water Efficient Landscape Checklist(PDF, 118KB)) or Landscape Documentation Package (Sec. 14.15.050) |
| New home in R1, RHS, A1 or R2 Zones - >2,500 s.f |
Landscape Documentation Package (Sec. 14.15.050) |
| Multi-family residential - ≤2,500 s.f |
Prescriptive Compliance Application (Appendix A - Water Efficient Landscape Checklist(PDF, 118KB)) or Landscape Documentation Package (Multi-family residential - ≤2,500 s.f - Sec. 14.15.050) |
| Multi-family residential - >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 - Water Efficient Landscape Checklist(PDF, 118KB)) or Landscape Documentation Package (Sec. 14.15.050) |
| Any landscape installation or rehabilitation project - >2,500 s.f |
Landscape Documentation Package (Sec. 14.15.050) |
Resources
If your landscape is not an approved landscape under the Landscape Ordinance, i.e., you have not made any improvements to your property and have not triggered the requirements of the Landscape Ordinance, this ordinance does not apply to any changes you make to the landscape. However, following the principles in this ordinance will save water and money for you.
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 documentation package submission in compliance with Sec. 14.15.050 of the Cupertino Municipal Code.
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 3A: Prescriptive Compliance Requirements:
If you only need to conform to the prescriptive compliance requirements:
- Please fill out Appendix A - Water Efficient Landscape Checklist(PDF, 118KB) completely and accurately to indicate to the City whether you are incorporating any water conservation measures in landscaping.
- Please fill out the form completely and accurately.
- Please demonstrate on your plans how you calculate your landscape area.
- Landscape and Irrigation plans must be submitted and review prior to Building permit issuance.
Step 3B: Landscape Documentation Package Requirements:
If you need to prepare a Landscape Documentation Package (Sec. 14.15.050):
- 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:
- 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
- Submit all the required documents to your planner for review.
Modifications to Approved Landscapes
Any modifications to an approved landscape (whether approved under the Prescriptive Compliance Option or the Landscape Documentation Package) pursuant to the Landscape Ordinance must be approved by the City.