Landscape Regulations

Landscaping is required for:

General landscaping regulations are applied to the following development situations in all areas of the City. They include:

Sites with new buildings or open uses of land, such as parking areas;
Certain changes in use on a site;
All expansions of buildings or open uses of land more than 3,000 square feet in area and all further incremental expansion son a site once a 3,000 square foot total is reached;
NOTE:
Conditional and Special Use Permits approved through the rezoning process for a property often include special landscaping provisions.
Landscaping requirements apply to the entire site in cases of new construction and changes in use of a property, but only apply to the portion of the perimeter of property that surrounds a building addition or site expansion such as new parking areas.

Landscaping is not required for:

Single or two-family dwellings on their own lots;
Multifamily developments containing eight or fewer dwelling units on a single lot;
Properties within or completely surrounded by the Central Business zoning district;
Areas alongside railroad rights-or-way and utility easements more than 60 feet wide, as well as property boundaries abutting dedicated street rights-of-way which have remained unopened (no street improvements) for at least 15 years.
NOTE:
For small lots of less than 55,000 square feet in area, landscaping is applied to areas as required on larger sites, but the total area to be landscaped is not required to exceed 15 percent of the site.

When are landscape plans needed, who prepares landscape plans, and what should be submitted?

A landscape plan must be reviewed and approved prior to issuance of a land disturbance (grading) permit or a building permit;
Landscape plan review is automatically included in the review of a site or group development plan on larger scale projects.
The owner, a design professional, or a contractor usually prepares the plan.
A list of items to be included on a landscape plan can be found in the Site Plan/Group Development Checklist, Appendix E of Guidebook of Standards and Practices for Development. When other general site plans are being prepared, locations and names of plants may be put on the same drawings as long as all information is legible.

What happens after the plan is reviewed?

A copy of the approved landscape plan is filed for use at the final inspection. Upon completion of the construction, the final inspection will confirm that all new specified plantings have been installed, and that the natural vegetation shown to be preserved has not been lost. Also, final approval signifies that the owner becomes responsible for maintaining the required plantings in good health and appearance. Failure to do so can result in enforcement action. Extensions of time and provisions for unusual conditions that may interfere with installation or replacement of landscaping can be considered by the Planning and Development Department.

To request help in development a landscape plan, call (336) 883-3545.

Where can I get help?

The City's Landscape Planner can help developers determine the types and quantities of trees and shrubs that must be provided in their plans. A list of recommended trees and shrubs may be found in the Appendices to the Development Ordinance. The Development Ordinance also allows City planners to approve an alternate landscape plan if impractical situations would result from strict application of the landscape requirements, and if the alternate plan would provide equivalent performance and meet the intent of the Ordinance. The department will review preliminary plans, suggest revisions and approve plans that comply with the regulations.

As part of the review process, planners may also advise the owner of zoning requirements placed on the site as part of any conditional use zoning applicable to the site, or requirements of any overlay zoning districts that may apply. Credit may be given for existing landscaping or natural vegetation the builder agrees to spare from grading and retain on the site.

Several pages of illustrations related to the application of landscape provisions can be found in the Development Ordinance Appendices.

Interpretive decisions regarding required landscaping may be appealed to the City's Board of Adjustment.

To arrange an inspection, use the automated "Hello" System at (336) 883-3026, and choose zoning final (which includes the landscape inspection).

Planning & Development