Gwinnett County › Unified Development Ordinance
Title 3 — Development and Permitting, Chapter 620 — Landscape Regulations
§ 620-10
Applicability
620-10.1 Nonresidential, Multi-family developments; and areas of commercial and civic uses of Traditional
Neighborhood (TND) zoning districts shall provide for and maintain landscape plantings on-site as follows:
A.A Landscape Strip at least 10 feet in width adjacent to any street right-of-way abutting the property and running the length of the entire property frontage.
B.Trees are required for parking lots with five off-street parking spaces or more and may be planted in areas adjacent or internal to off-street parking lots.
C.Other landscape Strips, if required, by a condition of zoning, special use or variance approval.
620-10.2 The Director is hereby authorized to grant a modification of up to 20 percent of the 10-foot
landscape strip width provided the strip is not required by a condition of zoning, special use, modification, variance, or waiver approval.
620-10.3 Topping trees is not allowed. Trees removed or having had their tops cut after compliance with this
UDO shall be replaced with the equivalent inches of removed trees.
A.Trees removed due to death, disease, or insect infestation shall be replaced in accordance with the minimum standards contained in Chapter 630.
B.Appropriate pruning and healthy tree management shall be according to the standards as followed by the International Society of Arboriculture.
620-10.4 Residential Subdivisions.
Residential subdivisions shall provide for and maintain landscape plantings on site as set forth in this UDO and in the following circumstances:
A.In no-access easements that are required by this UDO along the line of double frontage lots abutting upon a major thoroughfare.
B.As required by a condition of zoning, special use, modification, variance, or waiver approval.
§ 620-20
Landscape Strip Planting Requirements
620-20.1 Minimum Requirements for Landscape Strips.
A.Landscape Strips shall be provided in conformity with the Guidelines for Landscape Strips provided in the UDO Section 4.0 of the Appendix and all other requirements of this Chapter 620.
B.Landscape strips shall be provided as required by Section 620-10.1.
C.Driveway widths and other ingress and egress areas may be subtracted from the landscape strip lineal feet calculation.
D Utility easement widths that run perpendicular shall not be subtracted from the landscape strip lineal feet calculation. A landscape strip that runs parallel to a utility easement shall not be located within said easement.
E.Shrubs planted to meet regulatory requirements shall be selected from the Shrub Species List, in the Appendix.
F.Trees, shrubs, grasses, and ground covers listed in the Prohibited Plant Species List in the Appendix are invasive plant species and shall not be used to meet landscape strip requirements.
620-20.2 Ten-Foot-Wide Landscape Strips.
A.Proposed developments without street trees in the adjacent right-of-way shall include at a minimum a 10-foot-wide landscape strip. The landscaping and shrub plantings within or adjacent to the strip shall contain as follows:
1.One tree for each 40 linear feet of strip length shall be provided. Deciduous trees shall be at least 2 inches caliper and evergreen trees shall be 6 feet in height at time of planting. Trees shall be a species native or suitable to this region as provided in the Tree Species List in the Appendix.
2.One evergreen shrub, for each 4 linear feet of strip length shall be provided. Each shrub shall be a species native or suitable to this region as provided in the Shrub Species List in the Appendix.
B.Trees and shrubs required herein may be planted and spaced singly or in groups so long as the total number of trees and shrubs are achieved
C.The remaining ground area shall be sodded, seeded or hydroseeded with turf, and/or planted with groundcover species and/or provided with other landscaping material, or any combination thereof.
1 Tree (min.)
per 40 Linear Feet of Landscape Strip ,, m 1 Evergreen Shrub (min.)
per 4 Linear 10-Foot Feet of Landscape I Landscape Strip AICH T c= WAY Strip I "A LCl LATIO \lS ARr " :i..'Ou\J D E D UP
620-20.3 Five-Foot-Wide Landscape Strips.
A.If required by zoning, landscape strips which are required to be 5 feet in width shall contain landscaping and plantings within or adjacent to the strip as follows:
1.One tree for each 50 linear feet of strip length shall be provided. Deciduous trees shall be at least 2 inches caliper and evergreen trees shall be at least 6 feet in height at time of planting. Trees shall be a species native or suitable to this region as provided in the Tree Species List in the Appendix.
2.One evergreen shrub for each 8 linear feet of strip length shall be provided. Each shrub shall be a species native or suitable to this region as provided in the Shrub Species List in the Appendix.
B.Trees and shrubs required herein may be planted and spaced singly or in groups so long as the total number of required trees and shrubs are achieved.
C.The remaining ground area shall be sodded, seeded or hydroseeded with turf, and/or planted with groundcover species and/or provided with other landscaping material, or any combination thereof.
1 Tree (min.)
per 50 Linear Feet of Landscape Strip 1 Evergreen Shrub (min.)
per s Linear Feet of I Landscape RICH T c= WAY Strip I CA ::'.:U I AT I ONS AAf ACUN 0 E0 JP
(Ord. No. UDOA2014-00001(GCID No. 2014-0548), 7-22-14)
620-20.4 Landscape Strips Wider than 10 Feet.
Tree and shrub quantities in landscape strips that are required to be wider than 10 feet by a condition of zoning, special use, variance or waiver approval shall be proportional in width to the requirements listed above for 10-foot wide landscape strips (e.g. a 20 foot wide landscape strip would require two trees for every 40 linear feet of strip length and two shrubs, quadruple row spaced, for each 4 linear feet of strip length).
620-20.4 Landscape Strips Wider than 10 Feet ~.~ •':' 2 Trees (min.)
.,, per 40 Linear X Feet of " Landscape Strip 2 Evergreen Shrubs (min.)
per 4 Linear Feet of Landscape RIG HT OF WAY Strip 20 Feet CA CU I AT ONS AR f POL NDEO UP
620-20.5 Encroachments into Landscape Strips. Required Landscape Strips shall not be encroached upon
by parking spaces, driveway surfaces or stormwater management facilities except that driveway crossings and sidewalks may traverse such strip as near to a perpendicular alignment as practical. Ground signs, walls and the two foot by eight-foot concrete pad used for benches and trash receptacles in Overlay Districts may be located in such strip.
§ 620-30
Off-Street Surface Parking Lot Planting Requirements
620-30.1 Quantity, Spacing and Planting Standards.
A.Off-street surface parking lots which are required to contain more than five parking spaces shall contain landscaping and plantings as follows:
1.Trees shall be provided and maintained adjacent to, and in the interior portions of, parking lots in a ratio of one tree for each seven parking spaces. In addition, every parking space shall be within 60 feet of the trunk of a tree.
2.Deciduous trees shall be at least 2 inches caliper and evergreen trees shall be at least six feet in height at time of planting. Parking lot trees listed in the Tree Species List in the Appendix, shall be selected, planted, and maintained. Any plantings beyond the minimum requirements may come from any of the tree species included in the Appendix.
B.The minimum planting area or island for each canopy tree shall be at least 200 square feet. If shared with other trees, 100 square feet for each additional tree shall be added. Light poles are prohibited in parking lot planter islands that contain trees.
C.Trees shall be planted in areas surrounding the perimeter of the parking lot and/or shall be planted in planting areas or islands internal to the parking lot. Trees may be planted and spaced singly or in groups. Each planting area or island shall not be less than four feet in width in any direction.
D.The use of at-grade planting areas in parking lots to promote stormwater runoff treatment and to supplement irrigation needs is encouraged; provided that the trees planted there will not be adversely impacted, and that the system is designed by a licensed, professional civil engineer in accordance with the Gwinnett County Stormwater Management Manual.
E.Newly planted trees and existing trees subjected to construction impacts typically need supplemental watering when rainfall is inadequate. Commercial project applicants should be prepared to discuss how trees are to be watered during their establishment or transition period, and to possibly note on the plan the proposed method of irrigation.
F.Parking lot islands, peninsulas and medians must have clean, cultivated soil to a total depth of two and one-half (2½) feet. Native subsoil is acceptable in parking lot islands, peninsulas, and medians if the entire area is amended with appropriate soil improvements and thoroughly tilled.
G.Ground areas shall be sodded, seeded or hydro-seeded with grass and/or planted with groundcover species, and/or provided with other landscaping material, or any combination thereof.
H.Paved or striped islands greater than 50 square feet shall not be allowed. These areas shall contain landscape plantings.
I.Parking lot lights and light poles are prohibited in landscape islands containing trees and are allowed in landscape islands containing shrubs.
J.The Director is hereby authorized to grant a modification of tree species in cases where parking lot trees are located under power easements.
§ 620-40
Street Tree Requirements in Non-residential Zoning Districts
A.Street trees shall be provided by the developer in non-residential and attached residential zoning districts under the following conditions:
1.In Overlay Districts along the right-of-way of the streets listed in Chapter 214
2.In zoning districts MU-N, MU-C, and MU-R.
3.As a condition of zoning.
B.When street trees are required in non-residential zoning districts the following regulations shall apply:
1.Street trees shall be located along the property frontage, either inside or outside of the right-of-way, in no case closer than 11 feet to the edge of pavement or back of curb. When the street trees are proposed inside the right-of-way, they shall be located outside of the clear zone per the current edition of the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide subject to Department of Transportation approval.
2.One tree per 50 linear feet of property frontage (both sides of street) shall be provided.
3.Street trees in Overlay Districts shall be selected from the Large Tree Species list in the UDO Appendix and shall be 3 inches caliper at time of planting.
4.Street trees shall be spaced as evenly as possible along the property frontage to create a unified and repetitive tree canopy at maturity with consideration given to lighting, underground utility placement, and utility easements.
5.Underground utilities are required when planting street trees.
6.Provide a minimum 200 square feet planting area per street tree. When 200 square feet of planting area is not possible, for example, in a streetscape setting, tree pits shall be utilized.
C.Prior to the issuance of a development permit a street tree plan shall be submitted for review and approval.
1.Street tree plan must show compliance with the above requirements and include details for hardscape, paver stones, landscape area, ground cover, tree grates, tree pits, and soil composition.
2.Street tree plan shall be reviewed and approved by the GCDOT for County maintained roads and by the GDOT for State Highways.
D.Street trees shall be planted as follows:
1.The owner/developer shall be responsible for planting of street trees on common area prior to the approval of the Final Plat.
2.The lot owner/developer shall be responsible for the planting of street trees in front of the affected lots prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
E.Street trees shall be cared for and maintained by the owner of the property on which they are located, except in developments where the property owners association provides maintenance and care.
F.A Right-of-Way Encroachment Maintenance Agreement shall be provided by the developer for street trees located within the right-of-way.
G.A maintenance responsibility statement shall be provided on the Final Plat that describes who is responsible for the maintenance and replacement of street trees and trees located in common areas.
H.When a Final Plat is not required the maintenance responsibility statement shall be provided on the Site Development Plan.
I.Street tree maintenance shall include replacement and pruning as necessary. Pruning and tree management shall be in accordance with standards of the International Society of Arboriculture.
J.The Director is hereby authorized to grant a modification for street tree location and genus and species variation.
§ 620-50
Tree Requirements in Single Family Attached Residential Zoning Districts
In single family attached residential zoning districts developers shall comply with this Section by providing 16 Tree Density Units per acre as indicated in Section 630-30.5.
§ 620-60
Tree Requirements in Single Family Detached Residential Zoning Districts R-
Section 620-60. Tree Requirements in Single Family Detached Residential Zoning Districts R-60, TND, and R-SR.
In single-family detached residential zoning districts listed above developers and homebuilders shall comply with this Section by planting street trees or two trees per lot and by providing 16 Tree Density Units per acre as indicated in Section 630-30.5.
A.When the lot trees option is selected in order to comply with this Section, individual lot trees shall be provided or preserved on each lot within the subdivision.
B.When the street tree option is selected in order to comply with this Section, street trees shall be provided.
C.Sixteen Tree Density Units per acre shall be provided.
§ 620-65
Tree Requirements in Single-Family Detached Residential Zoning District OSC
In single-family detached residential zoning districts listed above developers and homebuilders shall comply with this Section by planting street trees and by providing 16 Tree Density Units per acre as indicated in Section 630-30.5.
A.Street trees shall be provided. Refer to Section 620-75.B for street tree requirements.
B.Sixteen Tree Density Units per acre shall be provided.
§ 620-70
Tree Requirements in Single Family Detached Residential Zoning Districts RA-
Section 620-70. Tree Requirements in Single Family Detached Residential Zoning Districts RA-200, R-LL, R-100, and R-75.
In single family detached residential zoning districts listed above, developers and homebuilders shall comply with this Section by planting street trees, by planting two trees per lot, and by providing 16 Tree Density Units per acre as indicated in Section 630-30.5.
A.Individual lot trees shall be provided or preserved on each lot within the subdivision.
B.Street trees shall be provided.
C.Sixteen Tree Density Units per acre shall be provided.
§ 620-75
Tree Requirements in Residential Zoning Districts
Prior to the issuance of a development permit a Tree Preservation and/or Replacement Plan shall be submitted for review and approval that shows compliance with the tree requirements.
A.When planting lot trees in residential districts the following regulations shall apply:
1.Two trees per lot shall be provided or preserved in the front, side, or rear yard provided trees are not located in utility easements, drainage easements, or septic drain fields.
2.Homebuilder shall be responsible for planting or preserving the individual lot trees prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
3.Lot trees shall be selected from the Tree Species List in the UDO Appendix and shall be at least 2-inch caliper at time of planting.
B.When planting street trees in residential zoning districts the following regulations shall apply:
1.Underground utilities are required.
2.One tree per 50 linear feet of street (both sides of street) shall be provided.
3.Street trees shall be located outside of the street right-of-way, within 5 feet of the right-of-way.
4.Street tree spacing in residential subdivisions where street trees are required shall be spaced at about 35-40 feet centers and located a minimum of 30-50 feet from intersecting streets and a minimum of about 40 feet from streetlights as depicted in the UDO Appendix Section 4.0, unless otherwise indicated in this UDO.
4.Street trees shall be selected from the Tree Species List in the UDO Appendix and shall be at least 3-inch caliper at time of planting.
5.Maximum allowable genus of street trees shall be 33 percent of entire subdivision or one genus per street.
6.Prior to permit issuance an overall street tree plan shall be submitted for review and approval that indicates the location; size; genus, species, and variety; genus percentages, and planting details. The street tree plan may be a part of the Tree Preservation and/or Replacement Plan.
7.The developer shall be responsible for the planting of street trees on common area and conservation space lots prior to the approval of the Final Plat.
8.The homebuilder shall be responsible for the planting of street trees in front of the affected individual lots prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
9.Street tree planting shall be delayed from June through August.
10.Street trees shall be maintained and cared for by the property owner except in subdivisions in which the property owner's association provides maintenance and care. Maintenance shall include replacement and trimming as necessary. Pruning and tree management shall be in accordance with standards of the International Society of Arboriculture.
C.When 16 Tree Density Units per acre is required, the following regulations shall apply:
1.Density may be achieved by preserving existing trees, planting new trees, or a combination of the two methods.
2.Prior to permit issuance of a development permit a Tree Preservation and/or Replacement Plan shall be submitted, for review and approval that shows compliance with the tree requirements.
3.Trees planted to meet the two trees per lot and/or street tree requirement may be counted toward the tree density unit requirement.
4.New trees shall be selected from the Gwinnett County Tree Species List in the UDO Appendix and shall be a minimum of 2-inch caliper at time of planting. Existing trees shall be a minimum of 3 inches in diameter.
5.Preserved trees counted toward meeting the Tree Density Units shall be protected with Tree Protection Fence at the dripline or critical root zone (whichever is greater) prior to the start of construction.
D.A maintenance responsibility statement shall be provided on the Final Plat that describes who is responsible for the maintenance and replacement of lot trees, street trees, and trees located in common areas.
§ 620-80
No Access Easement Screening Requirements
620-80.1 When no-access easements are required by the UDO the developer may choose from the
following:
A.Six-foot-high opaque fence.
B.A staggered row of evergreen trees spaced no greater than 10 feet apart.
620-80.2 When a 5-foot landscape strip with a 6 feet in height screening wall is required for a no-access
easement as a condition of zoning the developer shall provide the following:
A.Planted with a single row of street trees spaced every 50 linear feet of landscape strip and small evergreen shrubs spaced one shrub for every 8 linear feet of landscape strip.
620-80.3 When a 10-foot landscape strip with a 10 feet in height masonry screening wall is required for a no-
access easement as a condition of zoning the developer shall choose from the following:
A.Planted with a single row of street trees spaced every 40 linear feet and evergreen shrubs that reach 10 feet in height at maturity spaced every 6 linear feet; or,
B.Planted with a single row of evergreen trees at least 6 feet in height at time of planting and spaced no greater than 10 feet apart; or,
C.Contain such other landscaping treatments or grade changes that will produce a partial screening effect as authorized by the Director.