§ 47-21.8. Appropriate plant, sod, and tree selection, location, and arrangement.

A.

Plant selection should be based on the plant's adaptability to the existing conditions present at the landscaped area and native plant communities, particularly considering appropriate hardiness zone, soil type and moisture conditions, light, mature plant size, desired effect, color, and texture. Plant species that are tolerant to drought, wind, and/or salt are preferred. Determinations of prohibited and controlled plant species shall be pursuant to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Chapter 5B-57, Florida Administrative Code ("F.A.C."), as amended, and the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council ("FLEPPC") Invasive Plant Species list. Plant species identified as prohibited and controlled according to Chapter 5B-57, F.A.C., and the FLEPPC Invasive Plant Species list may not be used, except as specifically allowed therein.

B.

Plants shall be grouped in accordance with their respective water and maintenance needs. Plants with similar water and cultural (soil, climate, sun, and light) requirements shall be grouped together. Consideration should be given to plantings that require minimal or no use of gasoline-powered maintenance equipment. Where natural conditions are such that irrigation is not required, the presence of site appropriate plants shall not be considered a high water use hydrozone.

C.

The combined size of all high water use hydrozones, other than turfgrass areas, shall be limited to twenty percent (20%) of the total landscaped area. In landscapes irrigated with reclaimed water, the allowable size of all high water use zones shall not be limited. These high water use limits do not apply to landscaped areas requiring large amounts of turf for their primary functions.

D.

Plants used in accordance with this article shall conform to the standards for Florida Grade One, or better, as provided for in the most current edition of Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants , by the Division of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, State of Florida. Sod shall be clean and visibly free of weeds, noxious pests, and diseases.

E.

Fifty percent (50%) of all vegetation, excluding all turfgrass, required to be planted by this section shall be vegetation native to Florida that will thrive in South Florida, consistent with Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles.

F.

Shade Trees shall be of a species having an average mature crown spread of greater than twenty (20) feet and shall have trunks that can be maintained with over six (6) feet of clear trunk. Trees or palms having an average mature crown spread of less than twenty (20) feet may be substituted by grouping the same so as to create the equivalent of a twenty (20) foot crown spread in areas where shade trees cannot be planted, such as under overhead utilities. Such a grouping shall count as one (1) tree towards meeting tree requirements for any provision herein. If palms are used, they shall constitute no more than twenty percent (20%) of the total tree requirements for any provision herein, and shall have a minimum of six (6) feet of clear trunk/gray wood at installation. On projects requiring six (6) to ten (10) trees, a minimum of two (2) species shall be utilized; for eleven (11) to twenty (20) trees required, a minimum of three (3) species shall be utilized; for twenty-one (21) to fifty (50) trees required, a minimum of four (4) species shall be utilized; and for fifty-one (51) or more trees required, a minimum of five (5) species shall be utilized.

G.

Sites with lots under three thousand (3,000) square feet or with less than five (5) feet of planting space for required buffers may use canopy trees with a mature height of twelve (12) to fifteen (15) feet, with canopy spread characteristic of the species at such height.

H.

Trees used in the required landscaping adjacent to a public street or swale are subject to approval by the City so that the sustainable character, biological diversity of tree species, and safety of the public street can be maintained, and the reduction of the urban heat island effect shall be encouraged, and "walkable" communities shall be promoted. All large trees installed within six (6) feet of public infrastructure shall utilize a root barrier system, as approved by the City. Tree root barriers shall be installed at the sidewalk edge in those circumstances where tree roots are causing, or may potentially cause, a trip hazard because of lifting of some portions of a public sidewalk.

I.

Tree and plant species on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, ("FLEPPC") Invasive Plant Species list, as amended, shall not be planted as required or optional landscaping, and invasive plant species listed therein shall be removed from construction sites. Any tree not listed as an invasive tree shall require a Tree Removal Permit prior to removal.

J.

Tree species shall have a minimum height of ten (10) feet at time of installation. Minimum canopy spread shall be characteristic of the species at such height. Credit for existing native and non-invasive trees preserved on a site shall be granted toward meeting the tree requirements of any landscaping provisions of this article. No credit shall be granted for preserved trees which are in poor condition or declining health.

K.

Sites with lots under three thousand (3,000) square feet or with less than five (5) feet of non-vehicular planting space for required buffers may use canopy trees with a twelve (12) to fifteen (15) foot maturity, with canopy characteristic of the species used at such height.

L.

Shrubs used as hedges shall be a minimum height of two (2) feet at installation, full to base, and planted two (2) feet on center when measured immediately after planting. When shrubs are used as a screen around vehicular use area, said shrubs shall be a minimum of two (2) feet in height at installation above the vehicular use area that directly abuts the shrubs at time of planting. All shrubs should be placed a minimum of two and one-half (2½) feet on center from structures.

M.

Required buffer hedges shall be planted and maintained so as to form a continuous, unbroken solid visual screen, with a minimum height of three (3) feet, to be attained within one (1) year after planting.

N.

Native and non-invasive vines shall be a minimum of thirty (30) inches in supported height immediately after planting, may be used in conjunction with fences, visual screens, or walls, and shall be planted at ten (10) foot intervals to meet landscape buffer requirements.

O.

Groundcover shall be planted with a minimum of fifty percent (50%) coverage, with one hundred percent (100%) coverage occurring within six (6) months of installation.

P.

Topsoil shall be clear and free of construction debris, weeds, rocks, noxious pests, and diseases. The topsoil for all planting areas shall be composed of a minimum of fifty percent (50%) muck or horticulturally-acceptable organic material.

Q.

All turfgrass areas shall be sodded using species suitable as permanent lawns in Broward County. Where appropriate, turf species that require minimum irrigation are encouraged. The type and location of turf areas shall be selected in the same manner as with all the other plantings. Irrigated turf areas, as opposed to non-irrigated turf areas, are considered to be a high water use hydrozone. Irrigated turf shall not be treated as a fill-in material but rather as a planned element of the landscape. Turf shall be placed so that it can be irrigated using separate zones.

R.

Irrigated turfgrass areas shall be consolidated as per Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles and as required by Zoning Administrator or designee. Turfgrass areas shall be identified on the landscape plan and be subject to the following requirements:

1.

No more than sixty percent (60%) of the landscaped area for single-family and duplex dwellings may be in turfgrass;

2.

No more than fifty percent (50%) of the landscaped area for multifamily dwellings may be in turfgrass; and

3.

No more than fifty percent (50%) of the landscaped area for other development uses may be in turfgrass.

S.

Native and drought-tolerant landscaping shall be identified on the landscape plan and be subject to the following requirements:

1.

A minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the non-turfgrass landscaped area of single-family and duplex dwellings must be in native or drought-tolerant landscaping; and

2.

A minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the landscaped area of all other development uses must be in native or drought-tolerant landscaping.

Ord. No. C-15-09, § 8, 2-17-15 )