This chapter provides general standards intended to establish landscaping requirements that are intended to:
A. 
Protect and enhance the desert setting of the city which distinguishes it as a prestigious quality resort community;
B. 
Enhance the aesthetic appearance of all development throughout the city by providing standards related to the quality, quantity, and functional aspects of landscaping;
C. 
Increase compatibility between adjoining land uses and public rights-of-way by providing landscape screening and buffering;
D. 
Decrease the use of water for landscaping purposes by requiring the efficient use of irrigation, appropriate plant materials, and regular maintenance of landscaped areas;
E. 
Protect public health, safety, and welfare by minimizing the effect of physical and visual pollution, controlling soil erosion, screening incompatible land uses, preserving the integrity of neighborhoods, and enhancing pedestrian and vehicular traffic and safety;
F. 
Establish effective water efficient landscape requirements for newly installed and rehabilitated landscapes and to implement the requirements of the state of California Water Conservation in Landscaping Act, Statutes of 1990, Chapter 1145 (AB 325), and the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of 2006 (AB 1881); and
G. 
Promote water conservation through climate appropriate plant material and efficient irrigation as well as to create a city landscape theme through enhancing and improving the physical and natural environment.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
A. 
All projects that require the installation of landscaping in compliance with the development standards of this title shall provide and maintain landscaping in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
All new construction and rehabilitated landscapes for public agency projects, private development projects, and developer-installed single-family and multifamily projects requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check or design shall be reviewed and approved by the city planning division.
C. 
All homeowner-provided (including homeowner-hired) landscaping at single-family residences with a landscaped area greater than two thousand five hundred square feet shall be approved by the city.
D. 
All projects that meet the threshold review criteria shall be reviewed and approved by the planning division for compliance with this chapter prior to removal of any existing landscaping, prior to grading the landscaped area and prior to installation of any landscaping and irrigation.
E. 
All projects that rehabilitate or eliminate existing "lush" landscaping (including elimination of turf, overhead spray irrigation and/or non-native vegetation) and convert or rehabilitate the landscaping to a water efficient landscape with drip and bubbler systems may be reviewed and approved by city staff and are not subject to review or approval by the Coachella Valley Water District ("CVWD").
F. 
The following projects shall be exempt from review and approval by the planning division under the provisions of this section.
1. 
Homeowner provided and individually maintained landscaping within private and enclosed gardens, courtyards, and patio areas in multifamily projects (such as condominiums).
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1101 § 3, 2016)
Consistent with the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of 2006 (AB 1881) and Executive Order B-2915 issued by Governor Brown on April 1, 2015, the city adopts by reference the ordinance adopted by the Coachella Valley Water District ("CVWD") known as "CVWD Ordinance No. 1302.2," titled "An Ordinance of the Coachella Valley Water District Establishing Landscape and Irrigation System Design Criteria," as adopted by the CVWD Board on November 24, 2015 and made effective December 1, 2015, a copy of which is on file for the public's inspection at the city clerk's office. If CVWD Ordinance No. 1302.2 is modified, the city will amend the ordinance codified in this chapter accordingly by complying with the procedures for ordinance adoption.
(Ord. 990 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1101 § 2, 2016)
A. 
A fully dimensioned comprehensive landscape and irrigation design plan shall be submitted to the community development department, in compliance with Section 17.24.025 including any additional information required by the director.
B. 
For all development projects, except for individually approved single-family dwellings, landscape design plans shall be prepared by a landscape architect licensed in the state of California.
C. 
Landscaping design plans shall be in harmony with the surrounding desert environment and emphasize the use of drought tolerant plant materials, including desert plants, and as an accent feature varying textures of inorganic groundcover.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1064 § 2, 2013)
The following standards shall apply to all landscaping in the city of Rancho Mirage:
A. 
All setbacks, parkways and storage areas that are visible from a public street or from a parking lot available to the public shall be landscaped;
B. 
Trees shall be planted throughout the project in areas of public view, predominantly adjacent to and along structures and street frontages at a rate of at least one tree for each thirty linear feet of street frontage;
C. 
Landscape areas shall be a minimum of four feet wide (excluding curbs). Narrower landscape areas may be allowed, but shall not be counted toward meeting minimum coverage requirements;
D. 
Trees and shrubs shall be planted so that at maturity they do not interfere with utility service lines, street lighting, street sweeping, traffic safety sight areas, on-site signs, and basic property rights of adjoining property owners;
E. 
Prior to final inspection for any given residential dwelling unit within any approved subdivision or development plan permit, a landscape design plan for the rear yard shall be submitted to the development services department if the subject dwelling unit's rear lot line abuts a lot that contains an existing residential dwelling unit. Starting six inches above the rear yard wall, and extending in a "plane" to the ridge of the residential dwelling unit therein (or if no ridge, then the parapet), all plant material in the required rear yard setback shall not exceed the height of said "plane" at the time of planting through maturity.
1. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, palm trees may be permitted in the required rear yard setback upon the written consent of the abutting property owners being provided to the city concurrent with the submittal of the landscape design plan.
2. 
Abutting property shall mean the property or properties adjacent to the required rear yard setback of the subject residential dwelling unit and property or properties adjacent to a side property line along the required rear yard setback of the subject residential dwelling unit.
3. 
In cases where rear yards exceed minimum setback requirements, plant material exceeding the established plane may be permitted within the enhanced rear yard portion of the property as a part of a Landscaping Plan associated with a Single Family Permit (SFP) or Preliminary Development Plan (PDP) subject to approval by the applicable reviewing body;
F. 
Trees planted near public curbs, sidewalks, or bicycle trails shall have a limited root structure and shall be installed so as to prevent physical damage to public improvements. A root barrier system shall be used and shall comply with the following provisions:
1. 
Landscape and irrigation plans shall be required for all public street parkways and median islands and shall conform to city standards and be submitted for review and approval to the city engineer and planning division. Boulders shall not exceed fifteen inches in height within three feet of a public street curb. Canopy trees shall be placed a minimum of ten feet from public street curb and a minimum of three feet from sidewalks. Palm trees shall be placed a minimum of three feet from public street curb with a minimum trunk height of ten feet. Right-of-way lines shall be shown on the final landscape plan;
G. 
Landscape areas shall have plant material selected and plant methods used that are suitable for the soil and climatic conditions of the site, in compliance with this chapter. The use of water-efficient, drought-tolerant plants shall be required in compliance with this chapter;
H. 
Sizes of the plant materials shall conform to the following minimum mix:
TABLE 3-4
MINIMUM SIZES AND MIX FOR LANDSCAPING
MINIMUM PERCENTAGES REQUIRED
Single-Family Residences
Project Area of 1 Acre or Less
Project Area Over 1 Acre
Trees
One 36-inch box
25%, 36-inch box; and
30%, 36-inch box; and
Two 24-inch boxes
50%, 24-inch box
50%, 24-inch box; and
20%, 15-gallon
Shrubs
60%, 5-gallon; and 40%, 1-gallon
Groundcover
10% coverage within 1 year
I. 
Trees in thirty-six inch boxes, or larger, shall be provided in sufficient quantity, subject to the approval of the director, to provide variety and emphasis at entrances and focal areas within the project;
J. 
When inorganic groundcover is used, it shall be in combination with live plants. Artificial plant material is prohibited with the exception of artificial turf as approved by the community development director;
K. 
All landscaping areas shall have a city approved automatic irrigation system, with lawns and trees/shrubs requiring separate systems; and
L. 
Project applicants shall consult the Invasive Plant Inventory prepared by the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) prior to selection of any plant species for landscaping. A link to the inventory can be found at: www.calipc.org/ip/inventory/pdf/Inventory2006.pdf or as updated from time to time. Applicants shall also reference the plant selection standards of the Riverside County Agricultural Commissioner prior to submittal of any landscaping plan for review and approval by the city.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1098 § 2, 2015)
Landscape design plans for parkway areas shall include the following:
A. 
Compliance with the required minimum parkway buffer area requirements identified in Table 3-5:
Table 3-5
Minimum Parkway Buffer Area Requirements
General Plan Road Classification (per Circulation Element)
Minimum Width of Parkway Landscaped Area Between Curb and Wall
Highway 111
25 feet
All Arterial Streets
32 feet
Collector
17 feet
Local
17 feet
Section 30 Parkways
19 feet
B. 
Provide a design to ensure compatibility with established parkways, including a sensitive transition between diverse landscape types and patterns;
C. 
Incorporate mounding within the overall design, with landscaped slopes not exceeding twenty percent slope, or three feet in height; and
D. 
Incorporate walls and fences into the landscape design, including the special treatment of meandering walls, and wall breaks or openings where the design shall complement the interior landscaping of the adjacent development.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 832 § 3, 2003; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1024 § 2, 2011)
Landscape design plans for all development projects involving corner parcels shall include the following additional special design requirements:
A. 
A minimum landscape area of three thousand six hundred square feet for corner areas adjacent to the intersection of two arterial streets, two thousand four hundred square feet where adjacent to arterial/collector intersections, and one thousand six hundred square feet for corner areas adjacent to a collector street;
B. 
Incorporate significant landscape and water features, including specimen trees, coordination with wall breaks or openings, and special city entry image treatment where deemed appropriate by the director; and
C. 
Ensure that any corner landscape plan within the traffic safety sight area shall be designed to protect public safety, in compliance with Section 17.20.070 (Fences, hedges, and walls).
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
A. 
Landscape design plans shall include water efficient, drought tolerant, and native plant material, in compliance with this chapter. Invasive plants or escaped exotics shall be avoided.
B. 
Plants with similar water requirements shall be grouped together into hydrozones. Plant locations shall consider slope and sun exposure.
C. 
To the extent feasible turf shall be combined into a single area to prevent waste and inefficient watering practices.
D. 
Turf shall not be used in parking islands, roadway medians, or along foundations of structures.
E. 
Only drought tolerant turfs shall be utilized, except in specialized applications, as approved by the director.
F. 
Plants in non-turf areas shall be water efficient and drought resistant. A list of appropriate plants is available from the department.
G. 
A maximum of ten percent of the total landscaped area (in addition to turfed area) is allowed to be non-drought tolerant species with a plant factor of 0.5 or more (use plant value as guide) but shall be grouped together according to water needs and appropriately located with respect to slope and sun exposure.
H. 
All decorative water features shall have a city approved recirculating water system.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
All landscaped areas shall be watered by a city approved automatic irrigation system. Only efficient, water conserving, state of the art irrigation systems shall be used, in compliance with this chapter.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
All required landscaping and irrigation systems shall be properly installed and approved by the city before use inauguration or occupancy and shall be permanently maintained.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
All installed landscaping and irrigation systems shall be continually maintained in compliance with the following requirements:
A. 
Landscape maintenance shall consist of regular watering, mowing, pruning, fertilizing, clearing of debris and weeds, the removal and replacement of dead plants, and the repair and replacement of irrigation systems, in compliance with this chapter.
B. 
Before approval of the final development plan permit, or recording of a subdivision map, a covenant to ensure continued maintenance of all required landscaping and irrigation systems by the property owners, homeowners association, or other liable entity shall be approved by the director, with the recommendation of the city attorney, and recorded in the county recorder's office.
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
All uses shall be subject to the applicable provisions of this title, including the procedures identified in the following:
17.48 Conditional Use Permits
17.42 Development Plan Permits
17.24 Landscaping Standards
17.50 Minor Variances
17.26 Parking and Loading Standards
17.28 Signs
17.46 Temporary Use Permits
17.52 Variances
(Ord. 777 § 1 (Exh. A), 2002; Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)
A violation of this chapter is a violation of the city's Zoning Ordinance which is subject to the city's enforcement and penalty provisions set forth at Chapter 17.80 of this code.
(Ord. 990 § 2, 2010)