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Austin, Texas has a variety of green laws that
cover everything from tree protection; post construction landscaping,
erosion control and water course protection. Austin has a sensible
seventeen-step landscape plan review process that results in an
occupancy permit be granted for compliance with all landscape requirements
in the city.
Beaumont, Texas allows an incentive density bonus in excess
of the maximum permitted density in RM-M and RM-H (multifamily)
districts when a ten foot landscape buffer is provided between multifamily
and single family residential districts.
Bryan, Texas has a minimum landscape area standard of
8% of developed area. Not less than 50% of the landscaped area shall
be planted in trees, the remaining 50% shall be landscaped with
shrubs or planting beds.
Dallas, Texas
Planting areas in general must have the following soil depths and
dimensions:
- For each large shrub or small tree installation, a minimum of 24 inches of
soil depth and 16 square feet of surface area (total of 32 cubic feet).
- For each large tree installation, a minimum of 36 inches of soil depth and 25 square feet of surface area (total
of 75 cubic feet).
Planting areas located above underground buildings or structures must have
the following soil depths and dimensions:
- For each large shrub or small tree installation, a
minimum of 30 inches of soil depth and 25 square feet of surface area (total of
62.5 cubic feet).
- For each large tree installation, a minimum of 40 inches of
soil depth and 36 square feet of surface area (total of 120 cubic feet).
Fairfax, Texas have included tree cover standards in their landscape code.
The standards are commercial/industrial land uses (10%), multifamily
residential (15%), and low density residential other districts (20%).
Fort Worth, Texas has one of the nations newest
landscape laws. They require that 10% of commercial institutional
uses be landscaped. For every 500 SF of required landscaping one
tree, 3" caliper or larger is required. Up to 50% of the required
trees may be substituted with 5 Gal shrubs at the rate of 10 shrubs
for each tree. For every 50 SF of required landscape area, one 5
Gal shrub is required. Up to 50% of these shrubs may be substituted
for trees at the rate of 10 shrubs for each 3" tree.
Garland, Texas gives authority to the Director of Planning
for reviewing all landscaping screening plans, which are prepared
by licensed professionals.
Grapevine, Texas will not issue permits for grading, paving, building
or construction or approval of Subdivision Plats, Site Plan Review
or Master Development Plans until a landscape plan has been submitted
and approved by the city. If landscaping is found to be in non-conformance
with the Landscape Regulations the Certificate of Occupancy can
be withdrawn by the city.
Hidalgo, Texas Credit for trees. Trees contribute
greatly to the quality of the community's environment. Positive
contributions of trees are a function of the size of the tree rather
than of the size of the planting area in which the tree is planted.
Therefore in recognition of the contributions made by trees to the
objectives of this article, credit shall be given for each tree
in accord with the following schedule:
(1) Trees that are newly planted shall receive credit against the landscape
area requirements according to the following schedule:
a. Large trees.
1. Greater than 12-inch caliper, 200 square feet.
2. Greater than six-inch caliper, 100 square feet.
b. Medium trees. Between three- and six-inch caliper, 50 square feet.
(2) In order to encourage the preservation of trees that are already
established and growing, an additional credit of 100 square feet shall be given to existing trees that
are preserved rather than planted.
(3) These credits shall apply where the tree is in a planting area whose
least dimension is half the radius of the crown spread of the tree measured from the trunk center. In no
case shall this least dimension be less than a radius of 21/2 feet, measured from the center of the
tree trunk to the near edge of the landscape area. Credit allowed for trees shall be in
addition to the actual square footage of planting area within which the tree is located.
Houston, Texas has adopted a landscape code
to improve air quality, reduce noise, glare, and reflected heat,
and mitigate adverse environmental effects and to effectively screen
incompatible land uses and unacceptable views.
Irving, Texas tree removal permit application
shall be submitted to the Building Inspection Division on forms
provided by the City of Irving, with an application fee of a minimum
of thirty-five dollars ($35.00), or as established by the most recently
approved schedule of Building Permit Fees. Such applications shall
provide the name, address and telephone number of the owner of the
property involved; the name, address and telephone number of the
person applying for the permit; the address or other location of
the trees proposed to be removed, a detailed description of the
trees proposed to be removed and a written justification for the
proposed removal.
Such applications shall also be accompanied by a tree survey of
the property showing the location of the tree or trees proposed
to be removed, all other trees six (6) inches in caliper or larger
on the site, other physical features of or proposed improvements
to the site, and the location of all adjacent rights-of-way or easements.
Such tree survey shall be drawn to scale and signed by the person
who prepared the survey.
Lake Dallas, Texas screening standards under
various zoning districts and circumstances include the following
are the approved types of screening as referred to in various places
in this chapter.
- Screening alternate A consists of a solid masonry or concrete wall to a
minimum height of six feet, measured from the average grade of the nearest property
line of the property adjacent to that on which the screening is required.
- Screening alternate B consists of a hedgerow of evergreen shrubs of a
variety which will normally grow to a height of six feet. All plants shall
have a minimum height at the< time of planting of one-half of the required screening height.
- Screening alternate C consists of a concrete or masonry wall, as
specified in alternate A, to a minimum height of six feet, and evergreen
trees. Such trees shall be a minimum of two inches trunk diameter and shall be
planted not more than 30 feet on center.
Lake Jackson, Texas landscaping requirements
include the following minimum standards and shall apply to all property
zones except E-1, R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential.
- Minimum landscape area based upon Total Area of Site
- Up to 20,000 sq. ft. 5% of area not covered by building or structure
- 20,000 to 200,000 sq. ft. 71/2% of area not covered by building or structure
- Above 200,000 sq. ft. 10% of area not covered by building or structure
- Number of trees based on the area of the site not covered by a building
or structures
- Less than 3,000 sq. ft. . . . 0
- 3,001--7,000 . . . 1
- 7,001--10,000 . . . 2
- 10,001--20,000 . . . 3
- 20,001--30,000 . . . 4
- 30,001--40,000 . . . 6
- 40,001 or greater, per 20,000 sq. ft., rounded to the next highest whole
tree . . . 3
- Tree preservation credit. Landscape plans that preserve existing trees
shall
be
given
credit
toward
the
total
number
trees
required
as
shown
below:
Diameter of Existing Tree Credit Against Tree Requirement
(inches saved) (credit given)
- 1 to 3 1.0 trees
- 3-1/2 to 9 2.0 trees
- 9-1/2 to 15 3.0 trees
- 15-1/2 or greater 6.0 trees
Lubbock, Texas landscape screen planting standard
calls for plant materials 6’ tall planted 4’ on center at time of
planting.
Lufkin, Texas proscribes an official Street
Tree Species list for plantings along city streets.
Round Rock, Texas will not allow ‘protected
trees’ to be removed without a tree removal permit. Protected trees
include American Elm, Cedar Elm, native Pecan, Cottonwoods and Sycamores
over 25" DBA.
San Antonio, Texas Buffering of electrical
substations, water pumping/storage sites, and wastewater treatment
plants. In lieu of other requirements within this article, utility
companies shall provide a plant buffer within the street yard of
electrical substations, water pumping/storage sites, and wastewater
treatment plants. The buffer shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet
in width and shall include one (1) tree and ten (10) shrubs for
each fifty (50) linear feet of buffer.
Southlake, Texas
The Southlake landscape ordinance applies to all new non-residential
construction, multi-family construction and existing building additions
greater than 5,000 square feet or 30% of the existing building.
New construction intended to increase an existing buildings square
feet by less than 30% or 5,000 square feet are required to meet
requirements only as it pertains to the square footage of the new
construction.
The
requirements
for
landscaping
combine
the
buffer
yard
requirements,
minimum
landscape
areas
on the
interior
portion
of the
lot,
and
minimum
landscape
areas
for
parking
areas.
BUFFERYARDS:
Are
located
within
and
along
the
outer
perimeter
of a
lot
or boundary
line.
The
basis
for
determining
the
type
and
width
of each
bufferyard
and
the
amount
of required
plant
material
for
each
bufferyard
is based
on the
zoning
of the
property,
the
zoning
of the
adjacent
property
and
the
type
of designated
right-of-way
the
developing
property
fronts.
After
figuring
the
type
and
width
of each
bufferyard
from
the
bufferyard
charts
provided
in Section
42 of
the
City
of Southlake
Zoning
Ordinance,
the
required
amount
of plant
material
per
one-hundred
(100')
linear
feet
can
be determined
by matching
the
required
type
and
width
with
the
amount
of plant
materials
provided
in the
bufferyard
charts.
INTERIOR LANDSCAPE AREA: Is the area of the lot remaining
after subtracting out the area included in the required bufferyards.
The required amount of interior landscape area is based on the square
footage of the proposed building's first floor or the largest floor.
The required landscape area for each zoning is based on the percentage
(%) of the floor area and in accordance with the following chart.
|
ZONING
|
PERCENT OF FLOOR AREA
|
| MF-2, O-1, O-2 |
50% |
| C-1, C-2, C-3, HC |
50% |
| CS, B-1 |
30% |
| C-4, B-2 |
20% |
| I-1, & I-2 Buildings less than 10,000 S. F. |
20% |
| I-1, & I-2 Buildings 10,000 S. F. or greater |
15% |
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The following plants shall be required, at a minimum, within the required interior landscape areas at the ratio indicated.
- 1 Canopy Tree per 500 square feet
- 1 Understory Tree per 250 square feet
- 1 Shrub per 40 square feet
- Ground Cover - 15% of required area
- Seasonal Color - 2% of required area
PARKING LOT LANDSCAPE AREA: Is based on the percentage of parking located
between the building facade and the right-of-way.
- Less than 25% = 15 sq. ft. per parking stall
- 25% - 75% = 20 sq. ft. per parking stall
- Greater than 75% = 30 sq. ft. per parking stall
EXISTING TREE PRESERVATION: All developments must comply with the City
of Southlake Tree Preservation Ordinance. Existing tree credits to
reduce the amount of required plant material on a site are only granted
if the existing trees are in healthy condition and all requirements
of the Tree Preservation Ordinance have been met as determined by
the Landscape Administrator at the time of inspection for a Permanent
Certificate of Occupancy.
MAINTENANCE: The owner shall be responsible for the continued maintenance in perpetuity of all landscaping and irrigation.
Sugar Land, Texas
residential
Front
Yard
Landscaping
Standards
require
one
shade
tree
located
within
15 feet
of the
front
lot
line
for
each
50 feet
of lot
width
or portion
thereof,
measured
along
the
front
lot
line.
Trees
may
be clustered
or spaced
linearly
and
need
not
be placed
evenly
at 50
foot
intervals.
For
premises
developed
for
single-family
or two-family
dwellings,
one
additional
tree
must
be planted
in the
front
yard
of the
premises
for
each
dwelling
Unit.
West University Place, Texas
defines ‘protected trees’ as any tree within the first 25’ of any
building lot, (10’ of lot side if a corner lot) and the area between
the property line and the center of the street as well as any ‘significant
tree.’ Significant trees are all trees with a 36" circumference.
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