(a)
These landscaping requirements are intended to enhance the natural aesthetic beauty of the city area, to ensure safe sight views along roadways, and to assist slope stabilization and prevent erosion, rapid runoff and sedimentation. Landscaping requirements for nonresidential and multifamily projects can be found in chapter 28.
(b)
Plan requirements.
A permit application, including a landscape plan for new residences must be submitted prior to requesting a certificate of occupancy inspection. Modifications to landscapes for existing properties which alter the drainage characteristics of the lot require a permit application including a landscape plan. The plans must demonstrate compliance with the landscape requirements contained herein, including measurements and calculations showing that the drainage for the individual lot does not conflict with the approved subdivision plan or state law. Erosion controls shall be required:
(1)
For sodded areas, until the grass has grown at least 1-1/2 inches high with 95% coverage, provided no bare spots larger than nine square feet exist.
(2)
For areas grown from seed, slow-growing native grasses and plants shall be protected from erosion by methods approved by the city until all vegetation provides 95% coverage within six (6) months. The prolonged establishment of vegetation may not hinder the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
(3)
Such erosion control measures shall be removed within six (6) months unless an extension is granted by the code official. Such measures shall be maintained in good order.
(A)
No landscaping plan shall be approved unless it shows all improvements reasonably necessary to prevent erosion from occurring after completion of development. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued unless the improvements and landscaping shown on the site plan have been installed, constructed or created.
(B)
Prior to the completion of a project or the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, all disturbed areas on the lot or adjacent lots must be stabilized with sod. Restoration shall be acceptable when the grass has grown at least 1-1/2 inches high with 95% coverage, provided no bare spots larger than nine square feet exist.
(c)
Maintenance and irrigation.
(1)
The property owner or lessee shall be responsible for maintenance of the landscaped areas including the rights-of-way in front of the property. This maintenance includes ensuring that drainage ditches and culverts are functioning properly and are free from obstruction.
(2)
Plants and grass shall present a healthy, neat and orderly appearance and be free of debris, refuse and disease. Deceased plantings shall be replaced no later than one (1) month after dying and shall be replaced on an inch per inch basis.
(d)
Site-specific regulations.
(1)
Planting of vegetation which, when mature, will obstruct visibility and endanger safe vehicular and pedestrian traffic shall not be permitted.
(2)
Retaining walls shall not exceed one (1) foot above the material being retained.
(3)
Rock or river rock with a minimum size of 2" may be used as groundcover for the full landscape area when installed to allow water drainage and infiltration. Nonporous material such as sheet plastic shall not be placed under the rock. Smaller rocks, gravel, or decomposed granite which are installed as impervious cover may be used for paths or groundcover for up to 10% of the total landscape area.
(4)
No trees, shrubs, retaining walls, driveway markers, or other vertical construction shall be constructed or erected nearer than eight (8) feet from the pavement edge of a street without curb and gutter. Shrubs, retaining walls, driveway markers and other vertical construction are permitted up to the back of curb of a street with curb and gutter provided they are no higher than 36 inches.
(5)
Surface water is not permitted to drain laterally across a property line. Drainage from a residential lot shall be directed to within five feet of a property corner before it crosses the property line to the downstream lot. All drainage must be directed to dedicated drainage easements. Surface water may not drain onto a public street. Approved subdivision drainage plans do not take the place of or preclude the city from requiring individual residential drainage plans conforming to the city's requirements.
(6)
Green infrastructure elements such as rain gardens and bioswales are considered as landscaping rather than as infrastructure. Like other landscaping elements, they are installed at the property owner's discretion. The property owner is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of their landscaping in a state of good repair and appearance and is further responsible for all interactions with adjacent property owners. The city shall not be responsible for any maintenance, repair, or impacts of any form of landscaping.
(e)
Landscaping in rights-of-way.
Landscaping in the city right-of-way, other than grass or natural ground cover, must be approved by the code official or authorized designee through a landscape permit.
(f)
Street (front) yard requirements.
(1)
In determining landscaping requirements, the street yard shall extend from a line beginning twelve (12) feet behind the front corners of each building fronting or facing a public or private street and thereafter extend to the side property lines and shall then run to the hard surface of the street.
(2)
A corner lot shall be considered as having two property lines fronting or facing a street and consequently will have two street yards.
(3)
Ground cover of predominantly lawn grass, synthetic turf, rocks 2" or larger, or other material approved by the city shall be provided to the hard surface of the street unless specifically prohibited by city, county or state for a particular right-of-way. This requirement refers to the predominant landscaping of the street yard and does not preclude the use of flower beds, mulch, or other planting areas.
(4)
A minimum five-foot deep landscaping area shall abut the front and extend at least 12 feet down the sides of a building except for the building entrance walkway (foundation plantings).
(A)
To be consistent with Defensible Space requirements and house hardening to manage wildfire risk, the landscaping area may not place combustible mulch directly against any structure.
(B)
To be consistent with Defensible Space requirements and house hardening to manage wildfire risk, groundcover, plants, shrubs, or trees within five feet of a structure should be a fire-resistant plant, with preference given to native and adapted plants. Any hardscapes or architectural elements within five feet of a structure should be non-flammable.
(C)
If the required landscaping area lies within a building setback, grass or other groundcover may be used as the sole landscaping element.
(Ordinance 2019-08-26-02 adopted 8/26/19; Ordinance 2023-10-16-03 adopted 10/16/2023; Ordinance 2025-07-21-01 adopted 7/21/2025; Ordinance 2025-10-06-01 adopted 10/6/2025)