Maintenance shall consist of mowing, removing of litter and dead plant material, necessary pruning, watering, and fertilizing. Maintenance is required in order to insure proper growth and aesthetics of landscaped areas.
(A) Responsibility.
(1) The owner of a property, tenant, or agent shall be jointly and severally responsible for the maintenance of all landscaping on-site and in grassed rights-of-way adjoining landscape areas, to present a neat, healthy, and orderly appearance, free of refuse and debris.
(2) The owner shall have an implied easement on rights-of-way extending from the site to the road pavement to complete the required maintenance.
(B) Irrigation. All landscaped areas shall be provided with an underground irrigation system. The city may approve other water maintenance provisions for unusual landscape conditions, but a readily available water source shall be located within 150 feet of any plant material. Reclaimed water shall be used where available. Every attempt should be made to use low flow irrigation components.
(C) Pruning.
(1) Applicability. The owner of a property, tenant or agent shall not trim, prune, remove living branches or cause the diminution of the crown of any canopy tree or understory tree without having first obtained a pruning permit. Existing single-family homes shall be exempt from permitting requirements. Pruning shall conform with current ANSI A300 Pruning Standards or with the University of Florida Department of Agriculture guidelines - https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/r emoving-branches.shtml
(2) Permit application procedures. Pruning permits shall be applied for and granted in accordance the regulations set forth in § 157.23
of this chapter.
(Ord. 1601, passed 12-20-18)