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The purpose of this chapter is to promote water conservation, preserve and expand Salt Lake City's urban tree canopy, improve air quality, and reduce urban heat islands and stormwater runoff. These regulations are intended to encourage low impact development principals into overall landscape design in a way that is attractive, and to mitigate impacts through buffering between dissimilar zoning districts. (Ord. 12-24, 2024)
A. The requirements of this chapter may be modified by the zoning administrator, on a case-by-case basis where innovative landscaping design that furthers the purpose and intent of this chapter is implemented, or in response to input from:
1. Police Department;
2. Public Utilities; or
3. Urban Forestry. (Ord. 12-24, 2024)
A. All landscaping shall:
1. Maintain a clearance from grade level to 7 feet above the sidewalk, or 10 feet above a street;
2. Not create a hedge or visual barrier between the sidewalk and street;
3. Not create obstructions within a sight distance triangle, as defined and illustrated in Chapter 21A.62 of this title;
4. Be maintained in live condition to present a reasonably healthy appearance; and
5. Be kept free of refuse, debris, and noxious weeds.
B. Landscape Yards: The owner of the property shall be responsible for the correct installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of all landscaping, and obtain permits as required by the provisions of this chapter.
C. Park Strips.
1. The owner of the property abutting the park strip shall be responsible for the correct installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of all landscaping and obtain permits as required by the provisions of this chapter.
2. Exclusions: Any street tree planting or maintenance pursuant to Subsections 21A.48.040.D.1 and 21A.48.040.D.2.
D. Street Trees.
1. Salt Lake City's expectation is to preserve street trees. Planting, cutting, removing, pruning, and any other maintenance of street trees is subject to approval by the Salt Lake City Urban Forestry Division as described in Section 2.26.210 of this code.
2. It is the abutting property owner's responsibility to:
a. Contact the Salt Lake City Urban Forestry Division to request maintenance on a street tree and obtain required approval for any changes made to a street tree.
b. Provide sufficient irrigation to a street tree located in the abutting park strip.
3. Root Zone Protection: The root zone of all street trees shall be protected when impacted by any construction work on the abutting property or within the right-of-way when a street tree is present.
4. Irrigation.
a. When a Landscaping Plan is required, as described in Section 21A.48.050, street trees shall be irrigated with a permanent automatic irrigation system.
b. Street tree irrigation systems are the responsibility of the abutting property owner to install and maintain. It shall provide water adequately and efficiently to each street tree, as determined by the Salt Lake City Urban Forestry Division.
E. Irrigation Systems:
1. Shall be maintained in good operating condition to eliminate water waste or run-off into the public right-of-way.
2. Shall be appropriate for the designated plant material and achieves the highest water efficiency.
3. All irrigation systems, including drip irrigation shall be equipped with a pressure regulator, filter, flush-end assembly, and backflow preventer.
4. Each valve shall irrigate landscaping with similar site, slope, soil conditions, and similar watering needs.
5. Turf and planting beds shall be irrigated on separate irrigation valves; and,
6. Drip emitters and sprinklers shall be placed on separate irrigation valves.
7. Irrigation systems are required to use an irrigation controller that can automatically adjust the frequency and duration of irrigation in response to changing weather conditions and have a US-EPA WaterSense label.
8. Any fountain, pond, and other similar water feature supplied through the culinary water system shall have a recirculating system.
9. Backflow preventer assemblies shall be designed and installed and maintained according to the standards as outlined in the "Salt Lake City Landscape BMPs For Water Resource Efficiency and Protection" or the documents' successor. (Ord. 12-24, 2024)
A. Landscape Plan Required: A landscape plan shall be required for the following:
1. New construction of a primary structure.
2. Any addition, expansion or intensification of a property that increases the floor area by 50% or more, increases the number of parking stalls required by 50% or more, or modifies any required landscaping by 50% or more. Single- and two-family uses are exempt from this provision.
3. When required elsewhere in this title.
B. Modifications to an Approved Landscape Plan: Any change to an approved landscape plan requires the approval of the zoning administrator, except for changes from one plant species to another plant species that have similar watering needs and meet all other standards within this chapter.
C. Unauthorized Modifications: Landscape improvements made to a lot that are not authorized and not in conformance with a required and approved landscape plan shall be a violation of this title, and subject to the fines and penalties established in Chapter 21A.20.
D. Contents of a Complete Landscape Plan: A complete landscape plan shall include at least the following information unless specifically waived by the zoning administrator. All plans shall be drawn at the same scale:
1. Planting Plan:
a. Property lines, easements, and street names.
b. Location and dimensions of existing and proposed structures, parking lots, drive aisles, and fencing.
c. Location of existing and proposed sidewalks, bicycle paths, ground signs, refuse disposal, freestanding electrical equipment, and all other structures.
d. The location of existing buildings, structures, and trees on adjacent property within 20 feet of the site.
e. The location, size, and common names of all existing trees.
f. Sight distance triangles at curb cuts or corners, as defined and illustrated in Chapter 21A.62.
g. Root Zone Protection Plan required when construction work will occur near a street tree or other protected tree and is subject to approval from the Urban Forestry Division.
h. Minimum tree soil standards set by the Salt Lake City Urban Forestry Division.
i. The location, quantity, size at maturity, and name (botanical and common) of proposed plants and trees.
j. Summary table that specifies the following for each landscaping location separately:
(1) Area and percentage of each required landscape location.
(2) Area and percentage of each landscape location covered in turf grasses, impervious surfaces.
(3) Area and percentage of each landscape location covered in adapted or native plant species and adapted or native trees at maturity.
k. A signature by a Landscape Architect licensed with the State of Utah, or an US-EPA WaterSense certified professional verifying planting plan compliance with the standards of this chapter.
2. Grading Plan:
a. Property lines, street names, existing and proposed structures, turf areas, and paved areas.
b. Existing and proposed grading of the site indicating contours at 2-foot intervals.
c. Any proposed berming shall be indicated using 1-foot contour intervals.
d. Delineate and label areas with a grade greater than 25% (4 feet Horizonal: 1 foot Vertical).
3. Irrigation Plan:
a. Layout of the irrigation system and a legend summarizing the type and size of all components of the system.
b. Delineate and label each hydrozone in accordance with the Salt Lake City Plant List and Hydrozone Schedule.
c. Location and coverage of individual sprinkler heads.
d. Use of a water efficient irrigation system.
e. Type of US-EPA WaterSense automatic controller.
f. A signature by a Landscape Architect licensed with the State of Utah, or an US-EPA WaterSense certified professional verifying irrigation plan compliance with the standards of this chapter.
g. Separate plans from the irrigation plan are required for:
(1) Backflow Prevention Plan.
(2) Water Feature Recirculating Plan, if applicable.
E. Specific Landscape Regulations: Various zoning districts in this title have specific landscaping regulations in addition to the requirements found in this chapter. Refer to the respective zoning district for specific landscaping regulations. Landscape plans for properties subject to zoning district specific landscape regulations shall be in compliance with all applicable landscape and district specific requirements.
F. Compliance Certification: A letter of compliance shall be prepared and submitted to the city upon completion of the landscape plan installation and prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, or commencement of the use of the property. Compliance certification shall be signed by a landscape architect licensed with the State of Utah, or an US-EPA WaterSense certified professional verifying that all landscape plan elements have been installed in compliance with the approved landscape plan.
G. Planting Season Installation: The landscape plan installation may be delayed until the next optimal planting season. A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) may be issued and subsequent TCO fees waived between October 15 and the following April 1 where it is not favorable to install landscaping. The landscape plan shall be installed, and a letter of compliance submitted within 30 days following April 1. Temporary Certificate of Occupancy fees pursuant to Section 18.32.035 of this code shall be reinstated where no letter of compliance is submitted by the end of the 30-day period. (Ord. 12-24, 2024)
A. Landscape Locations:
1. Applicability: The following graphics illustrate required landscape locations that are regulated by the standards identified in this chapter.
2. Landscape Yards: All required front and corner side yards shall be maintained as landscaped yards, unless otherwise exempted in this title.
3. Landscape Buffers: Landscape buffers and freeway buffers may be located within a required side or rear yard.
4. Coverage and Quantity calculations:
a. Vegetation coverage is measured at plant maturity.
b. The total area of an existing tree canopy, or a tree canopy at the time of planting, may be included in the vegetation coverage calculations of the required landscaping location the tree is within.
c. Fractional landscaping quantities shall be measured to the nearest whole number.
d. Streets, drives and sidewalks necessary for reasonable access may be excluded from impervious surface calculations.
e. Park strip standards shall be applied cumulatively along the adjacent street frontage. Lots with park strips on 2 or more street frontages shall be calculated separately for each street frontage.
5. Conflicting Standards:
a. Where there are conflicting standards in this chapter, the more restrictive requirements shall apply.
b. Where the standards in this chapter conflict with specific district regulations, the specific district regulations shall prevail.
B. Park Strip Standards:
Park Strips | |
Street Trees | Minimum of 1 street tree planted on center between back of street curb and the sidewalk. Additional street trees shall be provided at the following rate per each frontage length: 1 small tree per 20 feet, or 1 medium tree per 30 feet, or 1 large tree per 40 feet. The largest tree that is appropriate to the park strip size shall be used.1, 2 |
Vegetation | Minimum 33% coverage. |
Turf | Prohibited |
Impervious Surfaces | The combination of all paving materials shall not exceed 20% of the total park strip area. |
1. Street trees shall be an appropriate species chosen from the Urban Forestry Street Tree List based on park strip size, shall have sufficient separation from public utilities, and shall be approved by the Urban Forestry Division. | |
2. Park strips with a width of 36" or less are exempt from this provision. | |
C. Landscape Yard Standards:
1. Residential Districts (all districts included in Chapter 21A.24):
Landscape Yards | |
Vegetation | Minimum 33% coverage. |
Turf | Maximum 33%1 (Landscape yard areas less than 250 sq. ft. are exempt) |
Impervious Surfaces | Maximum 20% |
1. Turf limitations established in 21A.48.080.B shall apply. | |
2. Manufacturing Districts (all districts included in Chapter 21A.28):
Landscape Yards | |
Vegetation | Minimum 33% coverage. |
Turf | Prohibited. |
Impervious Surfaces | Maximum 20% up to a maximum of 1,200 sq. ft. |
3. All Other Districts Not Included in Chapters 21A.24 and 21A.28:
Landscape Yards | |
Vegetation | Minimum 33% coverage (may be decreased if specified within specific district regulations). |
Turf | Only permitted in active recreation areas.1 |
Impervious Surfaces | Maximum 20% (may be increased if specified within specific district regulations). |
1. Turf limitations established in Subsection 21A.48.080.B shall apply. | |
D. Landscape Buffer Standards:
District | When Abutting1 | Required Landscape/ Freeway Buffer Widths |
District | When Abutting1 | Required Landscape/ Freeway Buffer Widths |
All districts (except Single- and Two-Family, Foothill, Special Development Pattern, SNB, FB-UN1, and those districts listed below that require a greater buffer width) | Single- and Two-Family, Foothill, & Special Development | 10' |
All districts | Freeway2 | 20' |
All other non-residential districts (except SNB, FB-UN1, and those districts listed below that require a greater buffer width) | RMF-30, RMF-35, RMF-45, & RMF-75 | 10' |
M-1 & M-1A | Any district that allows residential uses, AG districts, & OS | 15' |
M-2 | Any district that allows residential uses | 50' |
AG districts & OS | 30' | |
BP & RP | All residential districts (in Chapter 21A.24) | 30' |
EI | All districts | 30' |
MH | All districts | 20' |
1. Or when required elsewhere by this title. | ||
2. The zoning administrator may approve a reduced freeway buffer if there's an existing sound wall or required off-street parking cannot be met. If such a reduction is necessary, the buffer may not be less than 10' in width. | ||
Landscape Buffer Standards | ||
1 tree for every 30 linear feet of landscape buffer. | ||
1 shrub every 3 feet, with a mature height of no less than 4', along the entire length of the buffer. | ||
A 6-foot solid fence along the length of the required landscape buffer unless modified by the zoning administrator to better meet the fence height provisions in Section 21A.40.120. | ||
Turf is limited to active recreation areas. | ||
Freeway Landscape Buffer Standards (buffer standards for those properties abutting a freeway) | ||
1 tree for every 15 linear feet of required freeway landscape buffer. Trees shall be staggered along the length of the buffer. | ||
100% coverage required, may include adapted or native grasses, wildflower, and shrubs. Turf is prohibited. | ||
(Ord. 3-25, 2025: Ord. 12-24, 2024)
A. Applicability:
1. Hard surfaced parking lots with 15 or more parking spaces shall provide landscaping in accordance with the provisions of this section. The following graphic depicts landscape location required and corresponding standards identified in this chapter.
2. Parking lots with less than 15 parking spaces are exempt from parking lot landscaping but shall provide the required landscape yards and landscape buffers.
B. Interior Parking Lot Landscaping:
1. Minimum Area: A minimum of 5% of the parking lot shall be interior parking lot landscaping in the locations identified below and dispersed throughout the parking lot. Landscaping areas located along the perimeter of a parking lot shall not be included toward satisfying this requirement.
2. Location: Interior landscape areas shall be provided in the following locations:
a. At each end of a parking row containing 6 stalls or more, where not abutting required perimeter landscaping.
b. Parallel to parking lot stalls, at a rate of 1 interior landscape area for every 6 parking spaces, or along the interior length of double-loaded parking rows.
3. Size: Interior landscape areas shall have a minimum width equal to the width of average parking stall within the parking lot, as measured from the inside of the curbing, and shall have a minimum length equal to the length of the abutting parking spaces. Where interior landscape areas do not abut parking spaces, a minimum length of 10' is required.
4. Planting Requirements:
Interior Landscape Areas | |
Shade trees | A minimum of 1 tree is required per interior landscape area. Additional trees are required at a rate of 1 tree for every additional 140 square feet in each required interior landscape area. |
Shrubs | A minimum of 2 shrubs are required per interior landscape area. Additional shrubs are required at a rate of 2 shrubs for every additional 140 square feet in each landscape area. Adapted or native ornamental grasses or wildflowers with a minimum height of 3' may be used as an alternative. |
Ground cover/ Mulch | Landscape area outside of shrub masses shall be established in ground cover or mulched consistent with the standards of this chapter. Turf is prohibited. |
5. Modifications to Interior Parking Lot Landscaping: The zoning administrator may waive interior landscape area requirements if a solar energy system is integrated into the roof structure of a carport, or if the parking lot perimeter landscaping width is increased to 15' and with an equal number of trees, as required in the interior, and perimeter parking lot landscaping, are provided.
C. Parking Lot Perimeter Landscaping:
1. Applicability: Landscaping along the perimeter of the parking lot shall be provided when the parking lot is located:
a. Within a required yard (where permitted in Sections 21A.44.060 or 21A.36.020);
b. Within 20 feet of a lot line; or
c. Abutting a principal building.
2. Where both landscape buffers and perimeter parking lot landscaping are required, the more restrictive shall apply.
3. Where a surface parking lot is adjacent to another surface parking lot, on the same or separate parcels or lots, the perimeter parking lot landscaping provision may be waived by the zoning administrator if the required number trees are located elsewhere within the development.
4. Size:
a. In a required yard or within 20 feet of a property line: 8 feet in width, as measured from the back of the parking lot curb and extending into any parking space overhang area.
b. Abutting a building on the same property: A minimum 5-foot-wide required landscaping and 3-foot walkway shall be required to buffer buildings from parking spaces.
5. Planting Requirements:
Perimeter Parking Lot Landscaping: | |
Shade Tress | 1 tree per 300 square feet of perimeter parking lot area. Trees may be clustered or spaced throughout the landscaping areas. Perimeter landscaping abutting a building does not need to be included in the square footage calculation.1 |
Shrubs | 1 shrub per 3 feet, on center, along 100 percent of the yard length. Shrubs with mature height not more than 3 feet |
Ground cover/ Mulch | Required landscaping outside of shrub masses shall be established in ground cover or mulched consistent with the standards of this chapter. Turf is prohibited. |
Parking Lot Fences/Walls | Fences or walls along parking lot perimeters may be required to satisfy landscape buffer requirements outlined in Section 21A.48.060 of this chapter. |
1. Required perimeter trees species shall be chosen from the Urban Forestry Street Tree List and shall be approved by the Salt Lake City Urban Forestry Division. | |
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D . Curbing: Concrete curbing shall be installed at the perimeter of internal landscape areas and perimeter parking where parking lots vehicular access aisles or stalls directly abuts required landscaping. Biodetention areas are exempt from curbing requirements, however a vehicle stop is required when biodetention areas directly abut parking stalls.
E. Biodetention in Parking Lot Interior and Perimeter Landscaping Areas: Retention of the 80th percentile storm is required for all impervious surface parking lots with 50 or more parking spaces. Where this is not feasible, as defined in the SLCDPUs Standard Practices Manual, an approved Stormwater Best Management Practices (Stormwater BMPs) is required. All proposed Stormwater BMPs are subject to Public Utilities Division review, approval, and inspection.
F. Stormwater BMP Approval Required: A SLC Approved Stormwater Best Management Practice (Stormwater BMP) for all hard surfaced parking lots is required prior to discharge to the public storm drain and gutter, as required in Subsection 21A.44.060.A.2:
1. All Stormwater BMPs are subject to Public Utilities Division review, approval, and inspection.
2. Plantings within BMPs are to be drought tolerant, salt tolerant, winter hardy, and able to be submerged. (Ord. 12-24, 2024)
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