A. 
The City of The Dalles recognizes the aesthetic and economic value of landscaping and encourages its use to establish a pleasant community character, unify developments, and buffer or screen unsightly features; to soften and buffer large scale structures and parking lots; to encourage water conservation and the use of native plants; to minimize runoff and provide for erosion control; and to aid in energy conservation by providing shade from the sun and shelter from the wind. The community desires and intends all properties to be landscaped and maintained.
B. 
This Article prescribes standards for landscaping, buffering, and screening. While this Article provides standards for frequently encountered development situations, detailed landscape plans shall be reviewed by the approving authority with this purposes clause as the guiding principle.
A. 
For the purposes of this Article and this Title, unless otherwise specified, "landscaping" shall mean a minimum of 40% of the required landscape area be planted with live plant material. Trees on the recommended tree list, which are 2.5 inch caliper 5 feet above the ground at time of planting shall each be considered to cover 250 square feet. Trees smaller than 2.5 inch caliper shall be considered to cover the area under the tree's drip line. Dry landscaping may cover up to 60% of the required landscape area. Dry landscaping shall not include crushed rock, pea gravel, or similar material as determined by the approving authority. Parking areas may require additional landscaping. See Section 10.7.030.040.
B. 
All residential developments shall landscape the undeveloped portions of the front yard, as defined in this Title, within the first 6 months after occupancy. For purposes of this Article, landscaping may be live plant material, dry landscaping, or a combination of live plant material and dry landscaping.
(Ord. 23-1400)
A. 
Applicability. The provisions of this Article shall apply to all applications for new development and to applications for additions or modifications to existing development which increases the building(s) combined total footprint area by more than 20%.
B. 
Landscaping Plans. Where landscaping is required by this Title, detailed landscape plans may be submitted with the development application. If not submitted for approval with the application, approval of detailed landscape plans shall always be a condition of the concept plan approval of the site plan review process. Requirements for detailed landscape plans are listed in Article 6.180: Required Plans. Building permits shall not be issued until the approving authority has determined the landscape plans comply with both the purpose and specific requirements of this Article.
C. 
Completion Prior to Occupancy. Except for landscaping for single-family homes and duplexes, all required landscaping and related improvements shall be completed, or financially guaranteed per the provisions of Section 10.9.040.060(I): Performance Guarantee prior to occupancy.
D. 
Planned Developments. Required landscaping for planned developments shall be reviewed and approved by the Hearings Officer, and shall in no case be less than that required by this Article.
E. 
Maintenance. Appropriate care and maintenance of landscaping on-site and landscaping in the adjacent rights-of-way is the right and responsibility of the property owner, unless City ordinances specify otherwise for general public and safety reasons. All landscaping, buffering, and screening required by this Title shall be maintained. If street trees or other plant materials do not survive or are removed, materials shall be replaced in kind by the developer or the party responsible for removing the trees and/or plant material.
F. 
Parking Lot Landscaping. The landscaping requirements for parking lots are described in Section 10.7.030.040: Landscaping Requirements. Parking lot landscaping shall be required in addition to the landscaping requirements described in this Article.
G. 
Trees in Public Rights-of-Way. A City permit is required to plant, remove, significantly prune, top, or pollard any trees in a public right-of-way.
H. 
Preservation of Significant Trees. Significant tree specimens should be preserved to the greatest extent practical, and integrated into the design of a development. Trees of 14 inches or greater diameter measured at a height of 5 feet above grade are considered significant. Trees to be saved and methods of protection shall be indicated on the detailed planting plan submitted for approval. Existing trees may be considered preserved only if no cutting, filling, or compaction of the soil takes place between the trunk of the tree and the area 5 feet outside the tree's drip line, or if a plan for tree protection recommended by a certified arborist is adhered to. In addition, the tree shall be protected from damage during construction by a construction fence located 5 feet outside the drip line.
I. 
Planters and Screen/Buffer Areas. Planters and screen/buffer areas used for required plantings shall have a minimum width, or diameter, of 5 feet (2.5 feet radius, inside dimensions). Where the curb or the edge of these areas are used as a tire stop for parking, the planter or buffer area shall be a minimum width of 7.5 feet.
J. 
Irrigation Systems. Irrigation systems shall be required where necessary to assure survival of plant materials.
K. 
Vision Clearance. In no case shall site obscuring shrubs, landscape features, conifer trees, fences exceeding 24 inches in height, or other screening be permitted within vision clearance areas of street or alley intersections, or where the City Engineer otherwise deems such plantings would endanger pedestrians and vehicles. See Article 6.100: Vision Clearance.
L. 
Fences. All fences over 4 feet in height shall require a permit.
(Ord. 21-1384; Ord. 26-1424, 1/12/2026)
Buffer plantings are used to reduce building scale, provide transition between different land uses (i.e., residential and commercial) and contrasting architectural styles, and generally mitigates incompatible or undesirable views. They are used to soften rather than block viewing. Where required, a mix of plant materials shall be used to achieve the desired buffering effect.
A. 
General. Screening is used where unsightly views or visual conflicts must be obscured or blocked and where privacy and security are desired. All screening shall comply with the provisions of Article 6.100: Vision Clearance.
B. 
Fences and Walls. Fences and walls used for screening may be constructed of wood, concrete, stone, brick, wrought iron, metal, or other commonly used fencing/wall materials. Acoustically designed fences and walls may also be used where noise pollution requires mitigation.
C. 
Landscaping As Screening. Where landscaping is used for required screening, it shall be at least 6 feet in height and be at least 80% opaque, as seen from a perpendicular line of sight, within 18 months following establishment of the primary use of the site.
D. 
Chain Link with Slats. A chain link fence with slats shall qualify for screening only if a landscape buffer is provided outside the fence. In this case, the landscape buffer shall have an average height of 50% of the height of the fence within 1 year of planting. (See Section 10.6.010.040: Buffering of this Article.)
E. 
Height. The height of hedges, fences, walls, and berms shall be measured as provided for in Section 10.6.070.050(B), except where used to comply with screening requirements for parking, loading, storage, and similar areas. Hedges, fences, walls, and berms must comply with vision clearance requirements of Section 10.6.010.030(K). Height requirements for hedges, fences, and walls are as follows:
1. 
Residential Zones.
a. 
Hedges, fences, and walls shall not exceed 4 feet in height within a required front yard or in an exterior side yard within a 10-foot triangle adjacent to an alley or driveway.
b. 
Hedges, fences, and walls shall not exceed 6 feet in height within required side and rear yards, unless additional height is determined by the Director to be necessary for privacy screening from an adjacent use. In no case shall a fence or wall exceed 8 feet in height in a required side or rear yard.
c. 
Hedges, fences and walls not located in required yards may exceed the height standards listed above.
d. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, hedges, fences, and walls on properties within residential zones that are owned, operated, or used for schools or similar institutions (having 17 or more students regularly attending or enrolled) may be constructed up to six feet in height within a required front yard so long as vision clearance at streets and driveways is maintained per Article 6.100: Vision Clearance. This exception applies only to the front-yard limitation in this subsection and does not modify the exterior side-yard triangle limitation adjacent to alleys or driveways.
2. 
Commercial and Industrial Zones. Barbed wire may be allowed above the fence or wall height requirement.
3. 
All Areas. Fences and walls over 4 feet in height (not counting any permitted barbed wire) shall require a building permit prior to construction.
F. 
Berms. Earthen berms up to 6 feet in height may be used to comply with screening requirements. The slope of the berm may not exceed 2:1, the top of the berm shall be relatively flat, and the faces of the slope shall be planted with ground cover, shrubs, and trees.
G. 
Design. Fences and walls over 200 feet in length (of a single run) shall be designed to prevent visual monotony through use of offsets, changes of materials and textures, or landscaping in all zone districts except the I - Industrial district.
H. 
Visual Clearance. Screening is not permitted within vision clearance areas, as described in Article 6.100: Vision Clearance.
I. 
Gates. Gates are required in rear yard fences on through lots for maintenance access to the area from curb to a proposed fence. (Gates shall not be used to make an access connection to the right-of way.)
J. 
Service Facilities. Trash dumpsters, gas meters, ground level air conditioning units, and other service facilities shall be screened from off-site view with a fence, wall or plantings.
K. 
Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs. In addition to all other requirements in the Oregon Structural Specialty Code, swimming pools, spas and hot tubs more than 18 inches deep shall be surrounded and screened with a minimum 4-foot high secured fence or wall. Access to the secured area must have a self latching gate.
(Ord. 26-1424, 1/12/2026)
A. 
General. Street trees shall count toward the required landscape requirement. Street trees shall be planted and maintained in accordance with the following standards for all public street frontages, and along private street and accessways more than 150 feet long. Street trees shall be required in all zoning districts where there is a designated planting strip in the public right-of-way. Selection of species may be made from the recommended tree list provided by the Director. Alternate selections must be requested in writing and approved by the Director.
B. 
Spacing. Medium canopy trees shall be spaced a maximum of 30 feet on center, and large canopy trees shall be spaced a maximum of 50 feet on center.
C. 
Planting Requirements. Trees planted within 5 feet of permanent hard surface paving or walkways shall use special planting techniques and specifications approved by the Public Works Director.
D. 
Fire Hydrants. Clearance from fire hydrants shall be as specified in the Uniform Fire Code as adopted by the local fire protection district.
E. 
Location. Unless approved otherwise by the City Engineer, trees may not be planted:
1. 
Within 20 feet of street light standards.
2. 
Within 10 feet of a public sanitary sewer, storm drainage or water line.
3. 
In drainage ditch channels and floodways.
4. 
Within 10 feet of the top of retaining walls located in the public right-of-way.
5. 
In vision clearance areas.
F. 
Public Safety. Trees may not be planted in areas where the Director determines the trees may be a hazard to the public interest or general welfare.
G. 
Clearance. Trees shall be pruned, by the property owner, to provide a minimum clearance of 9 feet above sidewalks and 14 feet above street and roadway surfaces.
Where required by this Title, landscaping shall be provided on site according to the following minimum requirements. Additional landscaping may be required by the approving authority as a condition of approval in order to mitigate conflicts with neighboring uses and/or to provide adequate screening. Where the landscape requirement listed below is greater than the balance of the lot after lot coverage, the landscaping requirement shall be limited to the area of the lot not covered.
ZONE
SITE REQUIREMENT
RL
1 and 2 Dwelling units
Site landscaped according to Article 6.010
RM
1, 2, 3, or 4 Dwelling units
5+ Dwelling units
Site landscaped according to Article 6.010
Equal to first floor area of all structures minimum
RH
1, 2, 3, or 4 Dwellings units
5+ Dwelling units
Site landscaped according to Article 6.010
Equal to 1.5 times the first floor area of all structures minimum
NC
1, 2, 3, or 4 Dwelling units
5+ Dwelling units
Site landscaped according to Article 6.010
Equal to the first floor area of all structures minimum
Commercial
Equal 10% of the first floor area of all structures minimum
Mixed Residential/Commercial
Equal to 0.5 times the first floor area of all structures minimum
CBC
Sub-district 1
Sub-district 2
Commercial in Area Outside Sub-district 2
Residential in Area Outside Sub-district 2
Mixed Residential/Commercial in Area Outside Sub-district 2
Subject to requirements of Ordinance 96-1207, Design Guidelines for Historic Resources
None
None
Lot area not built on shall be appropriately landscaped
Lot area not built on shall be appropriately landscaped
CG
Equal 20% of the first floor area of all structures minimum
CLI
Equal 15% of the first floor area of all structures minimum
CR
Equal 15% of the first floor area of all structures minimum
I
A 5-foot landscaping buffer adjacent to all public right-of-way, but limited to 10% of the area of the entire site. If a 5-foot buffer along the length of the right-of-way exceeds 10% of the entire site, the City Community Development Department staff will indicate which portions of the right-of-way will have the buffer
CFO
Subject to underlying zone requirements, unless reduced or expanded by the Hearings Officer through the conditional use review process
P/OS
No requirement
(Ord. 19-1373; Ord. 21-1384; Ord. 23-1400; Ord. 26-1424, 1/12/2026)