§ 155.662 SPECIFIC MINIMUM LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS.
   (A)   Minimum landscape requirements for single-family and mobile-home residential properties.
      (1)   The minimum planting requirements per single-family lot:
         (a)   Three trees of two different species per unit, where possible located in the front of the lot including swale area.
         (b)   Ten shrubs per unit.
         (c)   Two accent plants per unit.
      (2)   Swale trees shall be located in the swale area or boulevard strip between the road's edge and the sidewalks. The trees shall be planted to ensure that there is adequate root and canopy space upon maturity. Root barriers shall be installed, if, in the opinion of the city licensed landscape arborist or professional landscape inspector, they shall be required to allow for future controlled growth.
      (3)   For all lots larger than 8,000 square feet in area, additional trees and shrubs shall be provided at the rate of one tree and three shrubs every 3,000 square feet of lot area; however there shall be no more than ten trees and 30 shrubs required per acre.
      (4)   The complete site area shall be landscaped in accordance with the approved site plan. For residential properties over 10,000 square feet, the area in excess may be plugged, sprigged, or seeded.
      (5)   The owner of an existing nonconforming single-family residence, under this division, may apply for mitigation pursuant to § 155.680.
      (6)   Mobile homes shall have the following minimum landscape requirements:
         (a)   One tree per unit, where possible located in the front of the lot.
         (b)   Ten shrubs per unit.
   (B)   Minimum landscape requirements for multi-family residential properties.
      (1)   All landscape areas shall be installed according to the approved site plan.
      (2)   Multi-family properties shall comply with the following minimum requirements:
         (a)   Shrubs:
            1.   Twenty-five per unit (first floor);
            2.   Five additional shrubs per unit (second and third floors); and
            3.   No additional shrubs required for units above fourth floor.
         (b)   Trees:
            1.   One and one-half canopy trees per unit (first floor);
            2.   One additional canopy tree per unit (second floor);
            3.   One-half additional canopy tree per unit in excess of two stories.
   (C)   Minimum landscape requirements for nonresidential properties.
      (1)   For nonresidential properties the planting requirement shall be calculated on the following basis:
         (a)   One tree every 5,000 square feet of gross area.
         (b)   Ten shrubs every 5,000 square feet of gross area.
      (2)   Grass areas shall be sodded. Areas in excess of 20,000 square feet may be plugged, sprigged, or seeded.
      (3)   The base of all ground signs must be adequately landscaped. Permit applications for ground signs must be accompanied by a landscape plan compliant with the following standards:
         (a)   Landscape area must consist of two layers of shrubs, groundcover, annual or perennial flowers, or some combination of live plants to compliment and enhance the sign. Sod may not be used to meet this requirement.
         (b)   Sign landscaping is subject to landscape provision of this subchapter.
      (4)   For industrial properties:
         (a)   A planting area, having a street frontage of not less than ten feet and a depth of not less than 20 feet, shall be provided and maintained on every lot in an I-L District. This area shall be located adjacent to a side lot line or in another manner which provides a total street frontage of not less than ten feet. Where a single structure occupies more than one lot, the landscaped area required by this division for each lot shall be provided. The area may, however, be combined and located in the same manner as if the total area occupied by the structure were a single lot.
         (b)   A planting strip not less than 50 feet in depth shall be provided along main arteries.
         (c)   Areas not covered by buildings, parking, driveways, or walled storage areas, shall be planted and landscaped; and shall be properly maintained by the owner of the property. Planting and landscaping plans for all areas required by this section shall be submitted when building plans are submitted to the Planning and Economic Development Department for review.
         (d)   No parking shall be allowed on any planting or landscaping area required by this section and those areas shall not be considered as providing any of the paved parking area required by this section.
         (e)   Open storage, garbage and refuse. The storage of vehicles, equipment, materials, and supplies shall be within a building or within an area enclosed by a wall, fence, hedge, or other device which will effectively screen that storage from public view. Garbage or refuse shall be stored only within a building.
         (f)   A perimeter buffer shall be used to provide a transition between one type of land use and another. This buffer shall be a continuous area of land along the perimeter of a parcel of land, including; landscaping, berms, walls, fences, and building setbacks.
   (D)   Minimum landscape requirements for green walls.
      (1)   A green wall, also referred to as a living wall or a vertical garden, is an internal or external wall partially or completely covered with vegetation that includes a support structure, growing medium, and integrated water delivery system. Green walls can contain one planting bed in the ground at the base of the wall; this is limited to one or two stories buildings with vine coverage; planting boxes at the bases of each floor for multi-story buildings, or individual planting cells uniformly dispersed over the entirety of the structure. Green walls can conserve energy and promote a healthy landscape.
      (2)   Installation of a green wall shall require a building permit. The plan set submitted for the building permit application shall include, at a minimum, the following:
         (a)   The delineation of and the total area of green wall,
         (b)   The specifications for the irrigation system,
         (c)   The structural components of the support system and demonstrated compliance with the Florida Building Code,
         (d)   Identification of the planting medium, and the structure, size and location of planting cells and/or planting beds,
         (e)   A planting chart that includes plant identification, quantities and specifications,
         (f)   The plant installation specifications including how vines/plants will initially be fastened to the structure.
      (3)   A green wall shall comply with all the following installation standards:
         (a)   Shall include an irrigation system,
         (b)   The area delineated as green wall shall contain 100% living plant material and shall not incorporate artificial plant material into the green wall,
         (c)   Green walls greater than 20 feet in height:
            1.   Shall have planting cells uniformly dispersed over the entire green wall area or have planting beds at multiple heights along the green wall area,
            2.   Planting cells and planting beds shall be of sufficient size, spacing, and quantity to provide for a minimum of at least 60% coverage by installed plant materials on the delineated green wall area upon installation, and
            3.   Installed material shall be of sufficient density and fullness to meet at least 60% coverage of the delineated green wall area upon installation.
      (4)   All green walls shall comply with the following additional standards:
         (a)   Installed plants shall be maintained and replaced as needed to ensure at minimum of 85% viability of quantity of installed material,
         (b)   Installed material shall attain a 95% coverage of the delineated green wall within one year of installation, and
         (c)   The green wall shall be maintained in an attractive condition free of weeds, debris and structural defects.
      (5)   Green wall systems shall be permitted in all zoning categories. Nothing contained in this LDC, including design standards or guidelines included or referenced herein, shall be deemed to prohibit the installation of a green wall that meets the requirements of this section, as accessory equipment.
      (6)   The green wall structural components (non-vegetative components) shall be in conformance with § 155.626.
      (7)   To be deemed a green wall it must cover at least 40% of the building elevation.
   (E)   Minimum landscape requirements for a green roof.
      (1)   A green roof, also referred to as a living roof, is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with living vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. A green roof also includes additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. A green roof can be comprised of a single planting bed or multiple individual planting bed components integrated as a single roof system.
      (2)   Installation of a green roof shall require a building permit. The plan set submitted for the building permit application shall include, at a minimum, the following:
         (a)   A delineation of and the total area of the green roof,
         (b)   Specifications for the irrigation system,
         (c)   Specification on the structural components of the green roof system and demonstrated compliance with the Florida Building Code,
         (d)   Identification of the planting medium, and structure and location of planting cells if comprised of multiple integrated component beds,
         (e)   A planting chart that includes plant identification, quantities and specifications, and installation.
      (3)   A green roof shall comply with all the following installation standards:
         (a)   Shall include an irrigation system, and
         (b)   Plant material shall meet at least 85% coverage of the delineated green roof area upon installation.
      (4)   A green roof shall comply with the following additional standards:
         (a)   Installed plants shall be maintained and replaced as needed to ensure at minimum of 85% viability of quantity of installed material,
         (b)   Installed material shall attain an 100% coverage of the delineated green roof area within one year of installation, and
         (c)   The green roof shall be maintained in an attractive condition free of weeds, debris and structural defects.
      (5)   Nothing contained in this LDC, including design standards or guidelines included or referenced herein, shall be deemed to prohibit the installation of a green roof that meets the requirements of this section, as accessory equipment to conforming buildings.
      (6)   Due to design considerations and functionality requirements, a green roof system shall be in conformance with height limitations in § 155.636.
      (7)   To be deemed a green roof it must cover at least 25% of the roof surface.
   (F)   Minimum landscape requirements for a vegetable garden. A vegetable garden shall comply with F.S. § 604.71.
(Ord. 2021-02, adopted 3-17-21; sought to be reconsidered, Commission passed 4-21-2021; Am. Ord. 2022-02, passed 6-15-22)