12.090 Landscaping and Maintenance Requirements

Where landscaping, open space, or landscaped buffers are required, the following standards shall apply: A. General Requirements. 1. Protection of Existing Vegetation. Developments shall preserve all existing healthy, desirable trees, shrubs or vegetation where possible. During any construction or land development, the developer shall clearly mark all trees and vegetative areas to be preserved and shall erect and maintain protective barriers around all such trees or groups of trees to the drip line. The developer shall not allow the movement of equipment or the storage of equipment, materials, debris or fill to be placed within the drip line of any trees. During the construction stage of development, the developer shall not allow cleaning of equipment or material under the canopy of any tree or group of trees to remain. Neither shall the developer allow the disposal of any waste material. No attachment or wires of any kind, other than those of a protective nature, shall be attached to any tree. All proposed new plant materials should complement native species and provide continuity with the surroundings. The use of drought tolerant species and species tolerant to the climatic conditions of Utah County is encouraged. 2. Maintenance. The owner, tenant, or their agent shall be responsible for the maintenance of all landscaping. All required landscaping shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner at all times. Landscaped areas shall be kept free of trash, litter, weeds, and other such material or plants not a part of the landscaping. All plant material shall be maintained in a healthy condition as is appropriate for the season of the year. Plant materials that die shall be replaced with plant material of similar variety and size within 90 days. A time extension may be granted by the Zoning Administrator if substantial evidence is presented to indicate abnormal circumstances beyond the control of the owner or his agent. Failure to maintain any landscape area in compliance with this section or the requirements of a development approval, permit, or license issued pursuant to this Code shall result in the disapproval and revocation of any issued certificate of occupancy, development approval, license, or permit. 3. Enforcement. If at any time after the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, development approval, license, or permit the approved landscaping is found not to conform to the standards and criteria of this section, the Zoning Administrator shall issue notice to the owner, citing the violation and describing what action is required to comply with this section. The owner, tenant, or agent shall have 30 days from the date of the notice to restore the landscaping as required. If the landscaping is not restored within the required time, such person shall be in violation of this Code. B. Landscape Requirements for Residential Areas. New residential developments shall require the installation of street trees and other plantings as part of required landscape and public improvement plans. Exceptions may be made to use smaller tree species, the use of water wise landscaping, or to eliminate street trees where there are overhead powerlines or other utility conflicts.