§ 926.12. Installation and maintenance standards.

(1)

Installation.

(a)

All landscaping shall be installed in a sound workmanlike manner and according to accepted good planting procedures, with the quality of plant materials as herein described. Prior to or at the time a certificate of occupancy inspection is requested of code enforcement staff, the project landscape architect or landscape contractor shall certify in writing the date he or she last inspected the landscape installation and that all installed landscape material that is required by ordinance is Florida No. 1 or better.

All elements of landscaping, exclusive of plant material, shall be installed so as to meet all other applicable ordinances and code requirements. Landscaped areas shall require protection from vehicular encroachment. A code enforcement official shall inspect all landscaping, and no final certificates of occupancy or similar authorization will be issued unless the landscaping meets the requirements provided herein.

(b)

Bonding to guarantee installation. Required landscape materials can be bonded-out for future installation in the event of a board of county commissioners recognized disaster (e.g. freeze or hurricane) that adversely affects availability of landscape materials. At the time that it recognizes such a disaster, the board shall set a time frame by which required landscaping must be installed.

In addition to bonding-out after such disasters, the planning and zoning commission is authorized to approve bonding-out for installation of required landscape materials where such installation needs to be delayed in coordination with adjacent road construction that would disrupt adjacent landscape areas.

To bond-out for future (post C.O.), installation, a cash bond must be posted with the county in the amount of one hundred fifteen (115) percent of the contract installation price.

(2)

Maintenance.

(a)

The owner, or his agent, shall maintain all landscaping depicted on the approved plan in good condition, so as to present a healthy, neat and orderly appearance, free from refuse and debris, and in a manner quantity and variety required by this article, for the duration of use of the site. All landscaped areas shall be provided with an adequate irrigation system, as provided for in section 926.11. Completed project sites shall be reviewed periodically by code enforcement officials for compliance with these provisions, and any violations shall be presented to the code enforcement board.

(b)

Native plant areas used for landscaping purposes may be left in their natural condition, providing they are maintained so as not to create a health or safety hazard. These areas may also be excluded from the water supply requirements, providing they are in a healthy condition upon issuance of a final certificate of occupancy. Consistent with section 929.08, all approved sites and "native plant areas" shall be required to maintain the site free of any nuisance exotic plant species, as listed in Appendix B.

(c)

Mature trees shall not be pruned to reduce the canopy to less than the minimum fifteen-foot spread, except for the removal of dead or diseased wood.

(d)

Pruning techniques that are unhealthy for or produce an unnatural appearance of a tree or native palm are prohibited. Such prohibited techniques include excessive topping, over-lifting, hat-racking, lolly-popping, and excessive removal of green fronds and inflorescences, among others. Topping of trees is prohibited except where necessary to mitigate conflicts with powerlines or other structures and performed to the minimum extent necessary to provide adequate mitigation.

1.

Standards for acceptable pruning practices. The following pruning standards are intended to ensure avoidance of prohibited pruning techniques and to promote strong, health, and attractive trees:

a.

Crown thinning. Crown thinning may be used as a method of pruning to increase light penetration and air movement through the crown of a tree. Crown thinning shall consist of selective removal of branches that:

• Favors (retains) branches with strong, U-shaped angles of attachment.

• Removes branches with weak, V-shaped angles of attachment and/or included (ingrown) bark.

• Results in evenly spaced lateral branches, especially on young trees.

• Removes branches that rub or cross another branch.

• Results in lateral branches that are no more than fifty (50) percent to seventy-five (75) of the diameter of the leader or main stem.

• Results in no more than twenty-five (25) percent of the living crown of a tree removed through pruning.

b.

Crown raising. Crown raising may be used as a method of pruning to provide clearance for pedestrians, vehicles, buildings, lines of sight, and vistas. Crown raising shall consist of removal of lower branches that:

• Maintains live branches on at least sixty (60) percent of the tree's total height.

• Removes basal shoots (sprouts) and vigorous epicormic sprouts.

• Results in no more than twenty-five (25) percent of the living crown of a tree to be removed through pruning.

(3)

Removal and replacement of vegetation and required landscaping.

(a)

Vegetation (including trees) preserved on site as shown on an approved project development plan (site plan) shall not be removed unless authorized under the provisions and regulations of Chapter 927, Tree Protection and Land Clearing. Where vegetation is removed, replacement of vegetation (including trees) shall be provided as required below.

(b)

Required landscape vegetation (including trees) planted on site during or after project development may be removed and replaced if the vegetation has died, is diseased or in declining condition, or has an adverse impact on health, safety, site maintenance, or the visibility of authorized commercial signage.

(c)

The size of replacement landscape vegetation shall be the size that the originally planted material should have attained since the time of project C.O. (certificate of occupancy) or post-C.O. installation, as follows:

• From zero (0) to eighteen (18) months after project C.O. or post-C.O. installation, landscape materials must be replaced at a size no smaller than indicated on the approved site plan.

• More than eighteen (18) months but less than seven (7) years after project C.O. or post-C.O. installation, replacement shrubs shall be a minimum of thirty (30) inches in height, replacement canopy trees shall be a minimum of sixteen (16) feet in height and three (3) inches in diameter at 0.5 feet above grade, and replacement understory trees shall be a minimum of seven (7) feet tall with a one and one-half (1½) inch diameter at 0.5 feet above grade.

• Seven (7) years or more after project C.O. or post-C.O. installation, replacement canopy trees shall be a minimum of eighteen (18) feet in height and four (4) inches in diameter at one (1) foot above grade.

(Ord. No. 90-16, § 1, 9-11-90; Ord. No. 97-29, § 8, 12-16-97; Ord. No. 2001-031, § 1, 10-23-01; Ord. No. 2007-012, § 1, 3-20-07; Ord. No. 2010-008, § 11, 3-23-10; Ord. No. 2012-025, § 7, 7-10-12)