1. All landscape and irrigation designers shall have all required state and local licenses, insurance, and be able to show proof of such.

2. Landscape plans shall make provisions for erosion control on all graded sites. Areas with soil slopes greater than fifteen percent (15%) shall have erosion control measures and may be landscaped with deep-rooting, water-conserving plants that do not include lawn.

3. A landscape documentation package prepared by a Utah-licensed landscape architect shall be submitted to the city for review at the same time as the drawings and plans are submitted for development of the site. The landscape documentation package must be approved prior to the issuance of any building permit. A copy of the approved landscape documentation package shall be provided to the property owner or site manager. See landscape documentation package submission checklist for what is to be included in the package. This checklist is to be submitted with the landscape documentation package.

4. Water-conserving plants that are well adapted to the St. George-area climate zone or identified by the district shall be used.

5. Plants with similar water needs shall be grouped together in hydrozones. Sprinklers and drip emitters shall not be connected to the same irrigation valve.

6. Water-conserving plants with low fuel volume or high moisture content that will blend with the native vegetation shall be used for projects located at the interface between urban or developed areas and natural (nonirrigated) open space.

7. Open storm water detention and retention basins shall be landscaped; however, such landscaping shall not include lawn unless used as part of an active recreation area.

8. Landscape plans for projects proposed for development in multiple phases shall clearly specify the landscape improvements required in conjunction with each phase.

9. At least fifty percent (50%) of the required landscaped area shall be covered with a combination of foliage of shrubs, permitted lawn, and live-vegetative ground cover within five (5) years of planting. Water-conserving trees and the tree canopy shall not be counted in this fifty percent (50%) requirement. Lawn is limited to eight percent (8%) of the landscaped area. In no event shall lawn be placed within ten feet (10’) of any roadway or parking lot, which is the paved area intended for vehicular travel or parking, not including sidewalk and gutter. In addition to the shrubs, grass, and ground cover, one (1) water-conserving tree with a minimum one-and-one-half-inch (1-1/2") caliper trunk shall be planted for every four thousand (4,000) square feet of landscaped area with a minimum of one (1) water-conserving tree per property. The trees may be arranged by the landscape architect as best fits the plan either in rows or clusters. Water-conserving tree species suitable for desert landscapes are required to meet this requirement.

10. A plan for ongoing maintenance of right-of-way areas shall be included when landscape and irrigation plans are submitted.

11. Ten percent (10%) of a proposed project’s required landscaping may be located on a rooftop or rooftops.

12. Lawn is not permitted outside of an active recreation area. In addition, lawn is prohibited in park strips, all landscape areas less than eight feet (8') wide, and within ten feet (10') of any roadway or parking lot, which is the paved area intended for vehicular travel or parking, not including sidewalk and gutter. No lawn shall be planted on slopes greater than fifteen percent (15%). Lawn should be reserved for areas where it is functional, including active recreation areas. Choose lawn species with lower water requirements. Choose lawn configurations for irrigation efficiency.

13. Park strips and other landscaped areas less than eight feet (8') wide shall be landscaped with water-conserving plants and/or mulch, rock, or other appropriate materials.

14. All individually platted multifamily or commercial units shall be separately metered, submetered or equipped with alternative technology capable of tracking the water use of the individual unit. The information shall be made available to the resident of each unit. Individually platted condominium units are excepted if a property owners’ association owns and maintains the water lines and meters. All non-single-family development shall have separate water meters for landscape irrigation of areas more than five thousand (5,000) square feet.

15. Outside misting systems shall only operate during the May-through-September time period where the daily high temperature is ninety (90) degrees Fahrenheit or greater.

16. If secondary irrigation water is available, each project shall connect to the secondary system for all outdoor water use. The city may make minor exceptions, allowing use of treated water for outdoor plantings in small beautification areas, in its sole discretion.

1. All landscape and irrigation installers shall have all required state and local licenses, insurance, bonding requirements, and be able to show proof of such upon request.

2. Landscaping and irrigation installation shall be completed as outlined in section 10-1-12.

3. Landscape and irrigation installers shall follow the plans found in the project’s landscape documentation package that have been signed and approved by the city.

4. Landscaping shall follow the city of St. George access management policy to properly define the safe-sight distances for intersections or driveways and follow height limitations and zoning requirements.

5. The city may inspect landscaping improvements and require corrective measures regarding the installation of site landscaping and irrigation-system improvements found not to comply with the approved landscape plan.

6. Soil preparation shall be provided to assure healthy growing conditions for the plants.

7. The landscape contractor or irrigation contractor shall provide the city with a letter certifying that all improvements have been installed in accordance with the approved landscape documentation package and specifications prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

8. All irrigation installers shall be supervised by an irrigation contractor.

1. Landscape areas shall be provided with a permanent, fixed automatic irrigation system installed by a licensed landscape contractor.

2. The distribution uniformity shall be sixty percent (60%) for all fixed-spray systems and seventy percent (70%) for all rotor systems.

3. Decorative water features used in landscaped areas shall have a water recirculation system and not have a capacity of more than fifty (50) gallons of water.

4. A water performance audit shall be conducted by a certified water auditor within thirty (30) days following the installation of the irrigation system. A minimum of ten percent (10%) of the irrigation zones shall be audited at the discretion of the auditor.

5. A backflow-prevention assembly shall be properly installed and tested to meet city requirements and meet all state and local health safety laws and ordinances.

6. A pressure regulating valve shall be installed by the builder or developer, and maintained by the owner, if the static service pressure exceeds ninety (90) pounds per square inch (psi). The pressure-regulating valve shall be located between the water meter and the first point of water use, or first point of division in the pipe, and shall be set at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure for the irrigation system.

7. It is required that landscaped areas use a WaterSense-labeled smart irrigation controller, which automatically adjusts the frequency and/or duration of irrigation events in response to changing weather conditions. All controllers shall be equipped with automatic rain delay or rain shutoff capabilities and have memory retention capability to retain preprogrammed irrigation schedules. Sites are not exempt from water waste prohibitions.

8. Each control valve shall irrigate a landscape area, or hydrozone, with a similar site, slope and soil conditions, and plant materials with similar watering needs. Lawn, water-conserving trees and plants in non-lawn areas shall be irrigated on separate valves. Drip emitters and sprinklers shall be placed on separate valves.

9. Low-volume irrigation equipment (i.e., drip emitters, bubblers) shall be provided for each tree with the appropriate distribution for healthy tree growth.

10. Drip irrigation shall be used to irrigate plants in nongrass areas. Spray head to drip conversion for rehabilitated landscape sites may be acceptable with city approval of the landscape documentation package.

11. High-conservation-efficiency spray nozzles are required for sprinkler applications.

12. Sprinkler heads shall have matched precipitation rates with each control valve circuit.

13. Sprinkler heads shall be attached to rigid lateral lines with flexible material (swing joints) to reduce potential for breakage.

14. Check valves are required. Pressure-compensating valves and sprinklers are required where a significant variation in water pressure occurs within the irrigation system due to elevation differences.

15. Filters and end-flush valves shall be provided for drip irrigation lines.

16. Landscape watering with potable (treated) water is prohibited from ten o’clock (10:00) A.M. to eight o’clock (8:00) P.M., from June 1 to September 1, to maximize irrigation efficiency.

17. Water waste is prohibited. Water waste includes overwatering, irrigating during a precipitation event, water that sprays or flows off the originating property, failure to comply with drought restrictions, and/or a failure to repair irrigation system leaks and/or malfunctions in a timely manner. The city shall notify any person or entity believed to be wasting water pursuant to the provisions of title 8, chapter 1 of this code (which is incorporated by reference herein).

1. All street trees shall be planted and maintained in accordance with title 7, chapter 4 of this code.

2. All healthy trees within ten feet (10') of the right-of-way having a trunk caliper of at least four inches (4") at one foot (1') above the ground shall be preserved during construction unless removal is approved by the shade tree board.

3. Preserved trees shall be credited toward the satisfaction of the tree planting requirements.

4. Trees to be preserved shall be protected and watered during construction with the following:

5. Trees or shrubs that are planted under or near power lines shall not grow above twenty-five feet (25') in height at maturity. Tree trunks and branches shall not encroach within ten feet (10') of power lines when fully grown as required by applicable state and federal regulations.

6. Trees shall not be planted within three feet (3') horizontal distance of electric or gas lines.

7. The city may remove any tree that is interfering with power lines.

8. Trees in the approved landscape documentation package shall not be removed without permission from the city.

9. Tree species shall be selected based on growth characteristics and site conditions, including available space, overhead clearance, soil conditions, exposure, and desired color and appearance. Water-conserving trees shall be suited for water-efficient landscapes. Trees shall be selected and planted in accordance with the following city guidance:

1. Landscaping of detention/retention basins shall be maintained by the property owner. If the detention/retention basin is in a common area, then an owners’ association (OA) shall own and maintain the detention/retention basin. If an owners’ association is dissolved, maintenance becomes the joint and several responsibility of the individual property owners.

2. An owners’ association shall own and maintain all common areas including park strips between the street and any privacy walls. If an owners’ association is dissolved, maintenance becomes the joint and several responsibility of the individual property owners.

3. It shall be unlawful for any person owning real property within the city to: