A. For all new residential construction, Rehabilitated Landscaping, residential development, and new landscape improvements, the landscaping shall meet the following requirements:
1. Single Family Dwellings:
a. Irrigated Lawn area must not exceed eight percent (8%) of the lot square footage, up to a maximum of one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet of grass (irrigated lawn area). Lots Less than 7,500 square feet are allowed up to 600 square feet of grass. No lot, regardless of its size, may install grass areas that exceed 1,500 square feet of surface area on the lot. Applicants will identify the size of the building lot in square feet, the amount of irrigated lawn proposed in square feet, and calculate the percentage of the lot to be installed with irrigated lawn at the time of building application. Following construction, the City will verify the installed irrigated lawn area does not exceed the maximum allowed.
b. Grass is prohibited in park strips, in any landscape area that measures less than eight feet in width, and on any slope that exceeds 15%.
c. Where lawns are allowed, spray irrigation may be used. All other plant material must be irrigated from a drip irrigation system equipped with a pressure regulator filter, flushend assembly and emitters rated for 20 gallons per hour (gph) or less.
d. Drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation may not be served from the same irrigation valve.
e. Automated irrigation systems must use a US EPA WaterSense labeled smart controller or a similar weather-based controller.
f. All Planting Beds must have mulch upon the soil surface with exceptions for areas being restored to appear as native desert.
2. Limited Common Area Developments:
a. Single family homes with limited common areas designated for the exclusive use of the adjacent dwelling shall have the same allowances as a single family home.
3. Multiple Family Dwelling Projects comply with the Landscape Standards in 8-9-4-2, below.
a. Multi Family Dwelling Projects are limited to 100 square feet of grass per unit. Properties with less than six dwelling units are allowed up to 600 square feet of grass. Individual allotments may be combined into a common area.
b. Multi family projects require separate meters for outdoor water use when irrigating more than 5,000 square feet. (Ord. 2022-22, 5-11-2022; amd. Ord. 2023-29, 10-25-2023)