The provisions of this chapter shall be known as the standards for required landscaping and screening. The purpose of these provisions is to prescribe standards for development and maintenance of planting, fences, and walls, for the conservation and protection of property through provision of barriers against traffic, trespass, noise, heat, glare, and dust, and through improvement of the appearance of individual properties, neighborhoods, and the city. These standards shall apply to all landscaping and screening required by this chapter and other provisions of the zoning regulations. (Ord. 12376 § 3 (part), 2001: prior planning code § 8100)

Submittal and approval of a landscape plan for the entire site is required for the establishment of a new residential unit, excluding secondary units of five hundred (500) square feet or less, and for additions to Residential Facilities of over five hundred (500) square feet. The landscape plan and the plant materials installed pursuant to the plan shall conform with all provisions of this chapter, including the following:
A. Landscape plans for projects involving grading, rear walls on downslope lots requiring conformity with the screening requirements in Section 17.124.040, or vegetation management prescriptions in the S-11 zone shall show proposed landscape treatments for all graded areas, rear wall treatments, and vegetation management prescriptions.
B. Within the portions of Oakland northeast of the line formed by State Highway 13 and continued southerly by Interstate 580, south of its intersection with State Highway 13, all plant materials on submitted landscape plans shall be fire resistant and, to the satisfaction of the Director of City Planning, a substantial portion of the planted area shown on submitted landscape plans shall be drought tolerant plant materials. The City Planning Department shall maintain lists of plant materials considered fire resistant and drought tolerant.
C. All landscape plans shall show proposed methods of irrigation. The methods shall ensure adequate irrigation of all plant materials for at least one growing season. (Ord. 12776 § 3, Exh. A (part), 2006: Ord. 12376 § 3 (part), 2001)

(See illustration I-21b.) All areas between a primary Residential Facility and abutting street lines shall be fully landscaped, plus any unpaved areas of abutting rights-of-way of improved streets or alleys, provided, however, on streets without sidewalks, an unplanted strip of land five feet in width shall be provided within the right-of-way along the edge of the pavement or face of curb, whichever is applicable. Existing plant materials may be incorporated into the proposed landscaping if approved by the Director of City Planning.
In addition to the general landscaping requirements set forth above, a minimum of one fifteen-gallon tree, or substantially equivalent landscaping consistent with city policy and as approved by the Director of City Planning, shall be provided for every twenty (20) feet of street frontage or portion thereof and, if a curbside planting strip exists, for every twenty-five (25) feet of street frontage. On streets with sidewalks where the distance from the face of the curb to the outer edge of the sidewalk is at least six and one-half feet, the trees to be provided shall include street trees to the satisfaction of the Director of Parks and Recreation. (Ord. 12376 § 3 (part), 2001)

(See illustration I-21b.) On downslope lots where the height of the rear elevation of the primary Residential Facility exceeds twenty-eight (28) feet, landscaping shall be planted to screen the rear face of the building and shall be:
A. Planted to number a minimum of one fifteen-gallon tree or five five-gallon shrubs, or substantially equivalent landscaping as approved by the Director of City Planning for each fifteen (15) feet of lot width, measured at the rear face of the residence; and
B. Selected and maintained such that it is sufficient in size within five years of planting to screen the lower ten feet of the structure. (Ord. 12376 § 3 (part), 2001)

The trees, shrubs and landscape materials required by this chapter must either be planted or a bond, cash deposit, or letter of credit provided for the planting of the landscaping before the certificate of occupancy will be issued. The amount of such bond, cash deposit, or letter of credit shall equal the greater of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) or the estimated cost of the required landscaping, based on a licensed contractor’s bid. (Ord. 12376 § 3 (part), 2001)

All required planting shall be permanently maintained in good growing condition and, whenever necessary, replaced with new plant materials to ensure continued compliance with applicable landscaping requirements. All required fences and walls shall be permanently maintained in good condition and, whenever necessary, repaired or replaced. (Ord. 12376 § 3 (part), 2001: prior planning code § 8101)

Required landscaping, fences, and walls shall be composed of the materials prescribed in other provisions of the zoning regulations. Where trees are required they shall be of a species, degree of maturity, and spacing prescribed by the Director of City Planning, subject to the right of appeal from such determination pursuant to the administrative appeal procedure in Chapter 17.132. Where dense landscaping to a specified height is prescribed, the landscaping shall be of a type which will provide a year-round barrier to the prescribed height, and shall be so spaced that vision of objects on the opposite side is effectively eliminated. Where a grille fence or wall is prescribed, it shall have a uniform screen or other open-work design, with an opacity of not less than twenty-five (25) and not more than seventy-five (75) percent. (Ord. 12376 § 3 (part), 2001: prior planning code § 8102)

Whenever two or more alternative types of landscaping, fences, or walls are prescribed, they may be provided singly or in any combination. (Ord. 12376 § 3 (part), 2001: prior planning code § 8103)

The prescribed heights of required landscaping, fences, or walls shall be measured above the actual adjoining level of finished grade, except that where parking, loading, storage, or similar areas, or usable open space, are located above finished grade the height of landscaping, fences, or walls required to screen such areas or space shall be measured above the adjoining level thereof. (Ord. 12376 § 3 (part), 2001: prior planning code § 8104)

The landscaping and screening requirements set forth in other provisions of the zoning regulations shall be subject to the following exceptions:
A. Equivalent Screening on Abutting Lot. Prescribed fences, walls, or dense landscaping need not be provided along a lot line if a building, fence, wall, or dense landscaping of at least equivalent height, opacity, and maintenance exists immediately abutting and on the opposite side of said lot line.
B. Window on Abutting Lot. Prescribed fences, walls, or dense landscaping need not be higher than three and one-half feet when located opposite and within three feet of any window in a Residential Facility on an abutting lot, other than a window in a basement or cellar, or within three feet of any portion of the same story of the wall containing such window and lying within ten feet in either direction from said window. Landscaping or a fence or wall shall be considered opposite such a window or portion of wall whenever it would be intersected by a horizontal plane drawn from the wall perpendicularly to the window.
C. Adjacent to Excavated Parking or Other Area. Where a parking, loading, storage, or similar area, or usable open space, is excavated below adjoining finished grade, the depth of excavation may be deducted there from the prescribed height of fences, walls, or landscaping required to screen the area or space.
D. Height Within Required Minimum Yard or Court. Required fences, walls, or dense landscaping need not be higher than three and one-half feet in that portion of any required minimum yard which lies within ten feet of any street line. The height of fences, walls, and dense landscaping shall be limited within all required minimum yards and courts by the applicable provisions of Section 17.108.140.
E. General Exceptions to Prescribed Heights. The prescribed heights of dense landscaping shall indicate the height to be attained within three years after planting. The height at time of planting may be not more than two feet lower for dense landscaping required to be taller than five feet, and not more than one foot lower for dense landscaping for which a height of less than five feet is prescribed. An earthen berm not taller than two feet may count toward the prescribed height of any fence, wall, or dense landscaping. (Ord. 12553 § 3 (part), 2003; Ord. 12376 § 3 (part), 2001: prior planning code § 8110)