Landscaping provisions are intended to improve the physical appearance of the City by providing visual, ecological and psychological relief in the urban environment. Properly landscaped areas provide an attractive living and working environment, they provide health benefits by improving air quality, they reduce energy consumption, and they offer a buffer between potentially incompatible land uses.

(Ord. C-7065 § 1, 1992: Ord. C-6533 § 1 (part), 1988).

The provisions of this Chapter shall be the minimum requirements for the provision and maintenance of landscaped areas, except for properties zoned MP (Port District).

(Ord. C-7326 § 22, 1995: Ord. C-6533 § 1 (part), 1988).

The following requirements shall apply to all zone districts, except the MP zone:

A. Landscaped Area. All required yards and setback areas shall be attractively landscaped primarily with live plant material. Decorative landscape features such as brick, stone, art, fountains and ponds may be used within the landscaped area, provided such materials present an attractive setting consistent with the intent of these landscaping requirements.

B. Maintenance. All landscaped and paved areas shall be maintained in a neat and orderly condition with healthy landscaping free of weeds and litter. All paved areas, walls and fences in landscaped areas shall be in good repair without broken parts, holes, potholes or litter.

C. Plans Required. A conceptual landscape plan and final irrigation and planter drainage plan shall be approved prior to the issuance of any building permit. A final landscape plan shall be submitted for approval. No building permit shall be issued until the required landscaping plan is approved. Landscaping, irrigation and planter drainage improvements shall be implemented before any final building inspection is approved. However, in R-1 districts, such implementation may be completed within six (6) months of the start of occupancy.

D. Irrigation. Landscaped areas shall be provided with an irrigation system capable of complete coverage of the landscaped areas. The system shall be designed to minimize runoff and other wasting of water and shall be maintained in a fully operational condition.

(Ord. C-7326 § 23, 1995: Ord. C-7032 § 31, 1992: Ord. C-6533 § 1 (part), 1988).

The landscape requirements for IP zoned properties shall be those established in the Master Landscape Plan for the Port of Long Beach. The Port of Long Beach Planning Bureau shall review and approve all landscape plans for projects located in the IP zone.

(Ord. C-7399 § 12, 1996: Ord. C-7326 § 31, 1995).

The City of Long Beach enjoys a temperate climate in a semi-arid region where water is recognized as a precious, natural resource. Landscapes that use water intelligently are strongly encouraged and may be reasonably required as a condition of approval of discretionary projects in appropriate cases. Guidelines for the design and care of drought resistant, water saving landscapes may be promulgated from time to time by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. C-7065 § 2, 1992).

A. Applicability. All portions of a lot not paved or occupied by a structure shall be attractively landscaped. All required yard areas shall be landscaped unless used for a permitted use. These requirements shall apply to buildings and parking facilities constructed subsequent to adoption of these requirements.

B. Number Of Plants. A minimum number of plants shall be provided as follows:

1. Street Frontage. Within the required setback area along all street frontages, except at driveways, a minimum five-foot-wide (5’) landscaping strip (inside dimension to planter) shall be provided. This area shall be landscaped with one tree for each fifteen (15) linear feet of street frontage and three (3) shrubs for each tree.

2. Yard Abutting Residential District. A minimum five-foot-wide (5’) landscaped strip shall be provided as a buffer along all yard areas abutting a residential district. This area shall contain a minimum of one tree for each fifteen (15) linear feet of lot line.

3. Parking Lots. One tree shall be provided for each four (4) open parking spaces. These trees may be clustered, but a minimum of one cluster for each one hundred feet (100’) of a row or double row of parking spaces shall be provided. Trees shall be provided in or bordering the parking area and shall be of a species that provides a broad canopy.

4. Parking Structures. An attractive six-foot-wide (6’) landscaping strip shall be provided on all sides of the structure. One tree shall be provided for each twenty-five feet (25’) of perimeter of the structure in addition to the required trees for abutting a street frontage. These trees may be clustered, but at least one cluster shall be located within each one hundred feet (100’) of a street frontage. Trees shall border the parking structure and shall be of a species that will obtain a mature height of not less than the height of the structure. The trees shall be of a species or shall be located or trimmed in such a way as to prevent people from using them to gain unauthorized access to otherwise secured areas. Additionally, all sides of a parking structure abutting a public street shall be screened by vines or other decorative screening approved by the Director of Planning and Building.

5. Other Yard Areas. Not less than one tree shall be provided for each one hundred and twenty-five (125) square feet of other required yard area on the lot. A minimum of three (3) shrubs shall be provided for each tree.

6. Fences. All required fences shall be landscaped with vines planted ten feet (10’) on center on all accessible sides of a wall or alternative landscaping to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and Building.

C. Plant Size. All the required landscaping materials shall be not less than the following sizes:

1. Trees. For required trees, at least twenty-four inch (24”) box (but not less than 7 feet in height), provided that any site with more than one hundred feet (100’) of street frontage shall also provide one tree of not less than thirty-six inch (36”) box size for each one hundred feet (100’) of street frontage;

2. Shrubs. For required shrubs, at least five (5) gallon; and

3. Groundcover. For groundcover, lawn shall be of sod and shall cover the proposed area. Other groundcover shall be planted in such a way to result in coverage of the area within one year of initial planting. Bark or other nonliving material shall not be considered groundcover.

D. Substitutions. The following substitutions for required landscaping materials may be made subject to approval by the Director of Planning and Building:

1. Three (3) fifteen (15) gallon trees for one twenty-four inch (24”) box tree;

2. One thirty-six inch (36”) box tree for two (2) twenty-four inch (24”) box trees;

3. One forty-eight inch (48”) box tree for four (4) twenty-four inch (24”) box trees;

4. One twenty-four inch (24”) box tree for five (5) five (5) gallon shrubs;

5. Five (5) one gallon shrubs for one five (5) gallon shrub.

E. Landscaping Over Parking Garages. Landscaped areas on top of parking garages shall contain sufficient soil to allow healthy growth of all plant materials to be planted.

F. Planters. All landscaped areas adjoining the public right-of-way shall be located in planters not less than six inches (6”) high. The planters shall be designed to drain back onto the private property and not directly onto the public right-of-way.

G. Paving. Paving shall not cover more than fifty percent (50%) of the area of the site that is not covered by structures and parking.

H. Exceptions. The Site Plan Review Committee may waive any of the landscape standards if it finds that such changes will create a more attractive design.

(Ord. C-7360 § 12, 1995; Ord. C-6933 § 34, 1991; Ord. C-6895 § 23, 1991: Ord. C-6533 § 1 (part), 1988).

A. Purpose. Separate landscaping standards have been established for the industrial districts to recognize the fact that such uses generally support more intensive land uses and are located away from residential neighborhoods. While the standards are less stringent than those established in Section 21.42.040, the standards are nonetheless intended to enhance the physical appearance of industrial/manufacturing areas.

B. IP District Exempt. The IP district shall be exempt from the requirements of this Section. All development in the IP district shall comply with landscaping requirements contained in the City of Long Beach Port Master Landscape Plan.

C. Landscaping Within Required Setback Area Along Streets. Within the required setback area along all street frontages, except at driveways and walkways, a minimum five-foot-wide (5’) landscaping strip shall be provided. This area shall be landscaped with one tree for each twenty-five (25) linear feet of street frontage, as well as three (3) shrubs for each tree and groundcover.

D. Landscaping Between Parking Areas And Streets. Wherever a parking area abuts an arterial street, as designated in the Transportation Element of the General Plan, and no setback areas are required, a landscaped buffer strip shall be provided as required by Section 21.33.145 of this Title.

E. Landscape Buffer Abutting Residential District. Wherever an industrial zone district abuts a residential zone district and no other buffer requirements apply, a five-foot-wide (5’) landscaped buffer strip shall be provided along the property line between the two (2) districts. This area shall be landscaped with one tree, of minimum twenty-four inch (24”) box size, for each twenty (20) linear feet along the property line, as well as appropriate shrubs and groundcover.

F. Parking Lots. Parking lots shall be landscaped as required by Sections 21.41.256 and 21.41.257 of this Title.

G. Parking Structures. A five-foot-wide (5’) landscaping strip shall be provided on all sides of the structure visible from a public right-of-way. In addition to the trees required in Subsection 21.42.050.B, one tree shall be provided for each twenty-five feet (25’) of perimeter of the structure. These trees may be clustered, but at least one cluster shall be located within each one hundred feet (100’) of street frontage. Trees shall border the parking structure and shall be of a species that will reach a mature height of not less than the height of the structure.

H. Plant Size. All required landscaping materials shall meet the minimum standards established in Subsection 21.42.040.C.

I. Substitutions. Substitutions to required landscaping materials may be made subject to the requirements of Subsection 21.42.040.D.

J. Planters. All landscaped areas adjoining public rights-of-way shall be located in planters not less than six inches (6”) high. The planter shall be designed to drain onto the private property.

K. Exceptions. The Site Plan Review Committee may waive any of the landscape standards if it finds that such changes will create a more attractive design.

(Ord. C-7399 § 13, 1996; Ord. C-7360 § 17, 1995).

A. Responsibility. Pursuant to the requirements of this Chapter, the private property owner adjoining the public right-of-way shall be responsible to plant and maintain landscaping in the area between the curb and the private property line for the length of the property line, consisting of ground cover and one street tree every twenty-five feet (25’).

B. Street Trees.

1. Provision Of Trees. One street tree, of not less than twenty-four-inch (24”) box size, shall be provided for each twenty-five feet (25’) of property line length whenever a new dwelling unit is added to the adjoining property or new development requiring site plan review is approved or a fence is built under the special fence height provisions. Such street tree shall be of a species approved by the Director of Public Works and shall be provided with root barriers and irrigation according to the specifications of the Director of Public Works.

2. Exceptions. Street trees shall be spaced from driveways, light standards, intersections, utility poles and street furniture and shall be located only in the prescribed width of parkway as provided in Chapter 14.28 of this Code. An in-lieu fee shall be provided for any tree required in Subsection 21.42.060.B.1 that is not allowed by the provisions of Chapter 14.28. Such fee shall only be used for planting street trees in other locations that do comply with these standards. Such fee shall be paid to the Director of Public Works, and shall be based on the actual cost to the Department of Public Works to obtain and plant a tree.

3. Removal. No street tree shall be removed unless found by the Director of Public Works to be dead, dying, or a public hazard due to damage to curb, gutter, sidewalk or roadway or potential for falling, or for replacement of trees in an approved street tree program. Such approval shall be recorded with the Planning and Building Department before the tree is removed.

C. Parkway Landscaping.

1. Provision Of Landscaping. The area between the sidewalk and the curb and between the sidewalk and the private property line, if any, shall be landscaped with ground cover and maintained in a neat and healthy condition. The private property owner adjoining the public right-of-way shall be responsible for planting and maintaining such landscaping. Sidewalk width shall be four feet (4’) or, if adjoining the curb, five feet (5’), as provided in Chapter 20.36.

2. Planting Material. Groundcover, flowers and street trees are the only plant materials allowed in the parkway.

3. Exceptions.

a. Rights-of-way eighty (80) or more feet in width may be paved for the full depth of the curb to property line area;

b. The paving of the parkway is installed by a public utility, the City of Long Beach or another governmental agency for a public purpose;

c. The paving of the parkway is for a driveway;

d. A paved parkway was approved with the subdivision map for the property; or

e. A standards variance is approved. Such standards variance shall not require public notice and shall be charged the “mini-variance” fee.

4. Approval Of Paving. If an exception is allowed, the parkway may be paved according to the specification of the Director of Public Works. Prior to paving the parkway, the adjoining property owner must obtain a street improvement permit from the Director of Public Works as provided in Chapter 14.08 of this Code with the approval of the Director of Planning and Building.

(Ord. C-7032 § 48, 1992).