City of Davis

(a)All new landscaped areas to which sections 40.26.190 through 40.26.240 shall apply pursuant to section 40.26.220 shall comply with all of the following landscape design and construction requirements:

(1)Turfgrass shall not be planted on slopes greater than fifteen percent.

(2)Sprinklers on slopes greater than fifteen percent shall apply a maximum of 0.5 inches per hour of runtime per manufacturer specifications.

(3)Turfgrass shall be prohibited in median areas.

(4)Turfgrass shall be prohibited in parkway areas less than eight feet wide.

(5)Sprinkler application rates shall be similar within each irrigation valve circuit.

(6)Irrigation valve circuits shall be separated by slope, orientation, and plants with similar water requirements.

(7)Sprinkler head spacing within an irrigation valve circuit watering turfgrass shall provide head-to-head coverage or optimal spacing per manufacturer specifications.

(8)A check valve shall be placed on the lowest points of the irrigation system to prevent off-site system drainage.

(9)Landscaped areas planted with only trees and/or shrubs that are not also planted with turfgrass or groundcovers shall be mulched on the soil surface to a minimum depth of two inches.

(10) If automatic irrigation controllers are installed, they shall provide multiple programming and a minimum of three repeat cycles per day capability.

(11) A water audit shall be conducted by a certified water auditor as part of construction of landscape improvements.

(b)All new landscaped areas to which sections 40.26.190 through 40.26.240 shall apply pursuant to section 40.26.220 shall also comply with a minimum of three of the following conditions on any given project:

(1)An on-site soil test shall be conducted by a licensed soil testing laboratory to determine soil amendment and/or replacement requirements.

(2)A maximum of twenty-five percent of the total landscaped area shall be planted in cool season turfgrass or thirty-five percent in warm season turfgrass, respectively.

(3)Irrigation systems shall be installed that individually water areas planted with only trees and/or shrubs.

(4)Alternative water systems for reclaimed water or other appropriate water sources, as allowed by the city and county health department, with dual or necessary plumbing have been included as part of the project design.

(5)Sloped turf areas adjacent to paved or impermeable surface materials (e.g., walkways, driveways, parking lots) shall be leveled off to create a flat area at least three feet wide between the slope toe and hardscape surface.

(6)Topsoil shall be stockpiled and replaced on the project site.

(7)At least twenty-five percent of the landscape surface shall not receive sprinkler irrigation.

(8)At least ninety percent of the plant materials selected in nonturf areas shall be well suited to the climate of the region, as suggested by the Sunset Western Garden Book or equivalent publication, and require minimal water once established. The remaining nonturf plants which are a nondrought tolerant variety, shall be grouped together and shall be irrigated separately.

(c)A water audit shall be conducted by a certified water auditor on all new landscapes in accordance with the policy documents associated with sections 40.26.190 through 40.26.240. The policy documents are incorporated herein by reference (landscape ordinance process, mandatory measures, optional measures, and water audit measures):

(1)All sprinkler irrigation valve circuits shall be inspected per system check requirements regardless of project size.

(2)Sprinkler irrigation valve circuits shall have a catch can device test conducted as follows:

(A) If the total landscaped area is five thousand square feet or less, all sprinkler irrigation valve circuits shall be tested.

(B) If the total landscaped area exceeds five thousand square feet, one of every four turfgrass irrigation valve circuits shall be tested along with one major nonturf area.

(3)An additional water audit shall be conducted during the second year after initial installation of all project landscape improvements, except individually owned and maintained single-family residential landscaping that was installed by the project developer prior to the sale of the property. (Ord. No. 1618 § 2 (part).)