[Ord. 42-2005, § 27, eff. 12-30-2005]
A. 
Purpose. The Landscaping and Screening Standards of this chapter are intended to:
1. 
Encourage the planting of appropriate new vegetation and the preservation of existing vegetation to enhance the built environment and to protect and sustain the natural environment; and
2. 
Reduce potential nuisances by requiring a visual screen between uses to mitigate the adverse effects of wind and air turbulence; heat and noise; motor vehicle headlight glare and other artificial light intrusion; and other adverse impacts associated with adjoining or nearby uses.
B. 
Applicability. The landscaping and screening standards of this chapter shall apply to all development that is subject to the Site Plan Review provisions of Section 922.04, the Project Development Plan provisions of Section 922.10 and the Final Land Development Plan Provisions of Section 922.11.C, except that the following shall be exempt to the extent indicated.
1. 
Off-Street Parking Structures. Off-street parking structures shall be exempt from the off-street parking area landscaping requirements of Section 918.02.B, but shall be screened in accordance with the screening provisions of Section 918.03.
2. 
Small Off-Street Parking Areas. Off-street parking areas that meet the following criteria shall be exempt from the off-street parking area landscaping requirements of Section 918.02.B and from the screening requirements of Section 918.03.
(a) 
Residential Districts. Off-street parking areas in residential zoning districts and containing four (4) or fewer spaces shall be exempt from the off-street parking area landscaping requirements of Section 918.02.B and from the screening requirements of Section 918.03.
(b) 
Nonresidential Districts. Off-street parking areas in nonresidential zoning districts and containing ten (10) or fewer spaces shall be exempt from the off-street parking area landscaping requirements of Section 918.02.B and from the screening requirements of Section 918.03.
C. 
Special Definitions. The following special definitions shall apply throughout the Landscaping and Screening Regulations of this chapter.
1. 
Deciduous means a plant with foliage that is shed annually.
2. 
Evergreen means a plant with foliage that persists and remains green year-round.
3. 
Landscaped area means a portion of the site which is planted.
4. 
Landscaping means any combination of living plants, such as trees, shrubs, vines, groundcover, flowers, or grass.
5. 
Screen means a method of reducing the impact of noise and unsightly visual intrusions with less offensive or more harmonious elements, such as plants, berms, fences, walls, or any appropriate combination.
6. 
Shade tree means a deciduous tree -rarely an evergreen-planted primarily for its high crown of foliage or overhead.
7. 
Shrub means a woody plant, smaller than a tree, consisting of several small stems from the ground or small branches near the ground; may be deciduous or evergreen.
8. 
Street Tree means a species of tree particularly suited to the requirements of the street environment.
9. 
Tree means a large woody plant having one (1) or several self supporting stems or trunks and numerous branches. May be classified as deciduous or evergreen.
[Ord. 42-2005, §§ 28, 29, eff. 12-30-2005; Ord. No. 34-2021, § 1, eff. 10-11-2021]
A. 
General Landscaping. Any portion of a developed lot or property that is not used for the location of buildings, structures, accessory uses, off-street parking, loading areas, sidewalks or similar features shall be landscaped. Landscaped areas shall be irrigated. Mulch, stone and other non-vegetative material shall not be substituted for landscaping. Paving that exceeds requirements for off-street parking areas, driveways, loading areas and sidewalks shall not be substituted for landscaping.
B. 
Off-Street Parking Areas. A minimum of twenty-five (25) square feet of landscaping shall be provided for each parking space in parking lots with up to one hundred (100) parking spaces. For parking lots with more than one hundred (100) parking spaces, a minimum thirty (30) square feet of landscaping shall be provided for each parking space. Required landscaping shall take the form of planter strips, landscaped areas, or perimeter landscaping. The landscaping shall include at least one (1) tree for every five (5) parking spaces. Landscaped areas shall be dispersed throughout the parking lot. Planter strips, landscaped areas, and perimeter landscaped areas shall have a minimum width of five (5) feet.
C. 
Street Trees. At least one (1) street tree shall be provided for each thirty (30) linear feet of property adjoining a public street. Street trees shall be planted between the sidewalk and street curb. If planting in that area is not possible, street trees shall be installed within twenty (20) feet of street curb. Trees planted between a sidewalk and street curb must have a minimum nonpaved planting area of thirty (30) square feet, with a minimum depth of three (3) feet. In cases where there is an existing pattern of street trees, compatible new trees shall be planted according to the existing tree spacing and pattern to the greatest extent possible. In cases where street trees are to be provided by the Department of Public Works, applicant shall provide proof of application through the Street Tree Program to the Zoning Administrator.
[Ord. No. 34-2009, § 1, eff. 12-11-2009]
The following screening standards shall apply.
A. 
Applicability. The following site features shall be screened on all sides except those sides that abut (not across a street) other features required to be screened. If subsections 1, 2, or 3 below face a residential zone, they must be equipped with a removable screen:
1. 
Refuse Receptacles and Waste Removal Areas.
2. 
Open Storage and Open Structures.
3. 
Loading Docks, Service Yards, and Exterior Work Areas.
4. 
Off-Street Parking Areas.
B. 
Standards. Required screening shall comply with the following standards. All items noted in Section 918.03.A. above shall be located such that the access location is not on the street side of any residential lot, and does not face on to the street side of any other residential lot. All items noted in Section 918.03.A.1 above are required to be screened from view from adjacent property and right of ways, with a visual barrier as defined in this section.
1. 
Materials and Methods. Required screening shall be provided in the form of new or existing natural plantings, walls and fences, topographic changes, buildings, horizontal separation, or a combination, according to the provisions of this chapter.
(a) 
Landscaping. Landscape screening shall be a minimum depth of five (5) feet, and plant materials shall be a minimum height of forty-two (42) inches at the time of planting. Evergreen plants or plants with dense structure year round shall be employed.
(b) 
Fences and Walls. Walls or fences shall be compatible with architectural style and building materials, shall be constructed of appropriate materials, including, but not limited to iron grating, wood, stone, or brick, and shall provide the required degree of opacity, durability and aesthetic compatibility with the surrounding context. The finished side of a fence or wall shall be placed on the outside of the fenced area. Landscaping may be combined with walls or fences to achieve the required screening. Barbed wire and razor wire are not permitted. Chain link fencing with slat inserts is permitted only in GI zoning districts. Walls greater than forty (40) feet in length shall incorporate some form of visual relief, including, but not limited to, pattern breaks, varying wall construction, vertical features such as columns, differing construction materials, or a combination of the above.
(c) 
Topographic Changes. Changes in topography, such as changes in grade or earthen berms may be used to provide required screening. The slope of the topographical change shall be of a grade that is suitable for maintenance and soil stability. All slopes are to be planted.
(d) 
Buildings. Buildings or structures on the same site may be used for screening, as long the buildings or structures are not erected for the sole purpose of screening and meet all other requirements of this Code.
(e) 
Horizontal Separation. Distance between a use or object to be screened and the adjoining property or public right-of-way, may be used in combination with landscaping to provide required screening. The Zoning Administrator may approve a reduction in screening requirements with additional separation beyond required setbacks.
2. 
Height. Required screening shall be at least as tall as the object to be screened and no taller than eight and one-half (8½) feet. Parking lots shall be screened to a minimum height of forty-two (42) inches. The Zoning Administrator may approve a reduction in screening requirements with additional separation beyond required setbacks.
3. 
Opacity. The screen shall be designed and installed so that the object being screened is not more than twenty (20) percent visible when viewed through the screen.
4. 
Location of Screening. Any screening required by this section shall be located within the property lines of the lot containing the use subject to screening.
The requirements of this section apply to all development subject to landscaping or screening standards.
A. 
Plant Materials. The selection of plant materials shall be based upon the City of Pittsburgh's climate and soils, and the selection of native and indigenous plant materials is strongly encouraged. A list of allowable and preferred plant species shall be available in the office of the Zoning Administrator.
B. 
Plant Quality. All plants shall be A-grade or No. 1 grade, with coherent root ball or wrapped roots, of normal health, height, leaf density and spread appropriate to the species.
A. 
Installation. All landscaping shall be installed according to sound nursery practices in a manner designed to encourage vigorous growth. All landscape material, living and non-living, shall be healthy and in place prior to issuance of final Occupancy Certificate. A temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be issued prior to installation of required landscaping if written assurances and financial guarantees are submitted ensuring that planting will take place when planting season arrives.
B. 
Maintenance and Replacement.
Trees, shrubs, fences, walls and other landscape features depicted on plans approved by the City shall be considered as elements of the project in the same manner as parking, building materials and other details are elements of the plan.
The land owner, or successors in interest, or agent, if any, shall be jointly and severally responsible for the following:
1. 
Regular maintenance of all landscaping in good condition and in a way that presents a healthy, neat, and orderly appearance. All landscaping shall be maintained free from disease, pests, weeds and litter. This maintenance shall include weeding, watering, fertilizing, pruning, mowing, edging, mulching or other maintenance, as needed and in accordance with acceptable horticultural practices;
2. 
The repair or replacement of required landscape structures (e.g., walls, fences) to a structurally sound condition;
3. 
The regular maintenance, repair, or replacement, where necessary, of any landscaping required by this Chapter; and
4. 
Continuous maintenance of the site.
The Zoning Administrator may approve an Administrator's Exception, according to the provisions of Section 922.08, for Alternative Compliance to the provisions of this chapter, subject to the following standards. The Administrator shall give favorable consideration to designs that attempt to preserve and incorporate existing vegetation in excess of the minimum standards and plans that demonstrate innovative design and use of plant materials.
A. 
The alternative plan shall illustrate that the intent of the provisions of this chapter can be more effectively met, in whole or in part, through the alternative means;
B. 
The proposed solution shall meet or exceed otherwise applicable landscaping and screening requirements;
C. 
Natural land characteristics or existing vegetation on the proposed development site would achieve the intent of this chapter;
D. 
Innovative landscaping or architectural design is employed on the proposed development site to achieve a screening effect that is equivalent to the screening standards of this chapter;
E. 
The required landscaping or buffering would be ineffective at maturity due to topography or the location of improvements on the site; or
F. 
The proposed alternative represents a plan that is as good or better than a plan prepared in strict compliance with the other standards of this chapter.