R E S I D E N T I A LP A R K W A Y

L A N D S C A P I N G

G U I D E L I N E

City of Los AngelesMayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa

RESIDENTIAL

PARKWAY

LANDSCAPING

G U I D E L I N E

This document is intended to provide constituents with guidelinesregarding the installation of landscape improvements within the part ofthe street right-of-way commonly referred to as a parkway. For the pur-poses of this document, the term "parkway" is defined as the area of thestreet between the back of curb and the sidewalk that is typically plant-ed or landscaped. These guidelines primarily apply to parkway areasfound on streets servicing single family homes and/or low density multi-family residential housing.

I. Standard Parkway Planting Material(s)No Permit Required: The accepted standard parkway plantingmaterial (other than street trees) is turf (grass) and/or drought tol-erant, turf-substitute groundcover plants that provide the samedesirable characteristics as turf. Because they are an acceptedstandard, no permit is required when turf or drought tolerant turf-substitutes are used to plant a parkway. Turf and drought tolerantturf-substitutes provide an obstruction free pedestrian passagebetween the street and sidewalk, a commonly accepted walkingsurface, tolerates foot traffic, and maintains an open line of sightbetween the street and abutting property, hence their acceptanceas the standard parkway planting materials. When turf is used, adrought tolerant species should be selected to minimize waterusage. A brief representative list of drought tolerant turf speciesand turf-substitute groundcovers is attached to this document.This list of acceptable standard parkway plant materials is not finiteand subject to future revision as appropriate.

II. Non-Standard Parkway Landscape Improvements

"A", "B" and/or Revocable Permit Required:

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Permits are required for all other non-standard plant materials orlandscape improvements besides turf and drought tolerant turfsubstitutes. Such materials may be installed within the parkway aslong as the resident, tenant, or property owner of the abutting prop-erty obtains an appropriate permit issued by the Department ofPublic Works. Permits for non-standard parkway landscapeimprovements may be obtained by visiting the Department ofPublic Works-Bureau of Engineering permit counters at the follow-inglocations:

1) Central District Office - 201 N. Figueroa St., 3rd Floor, LA90012, Phone (213) 482-70302) Harbor District Office - 638 S. Beacon St. Suite 402, SanPedro 90731, Phone (310) 732-46773) Valley District Office - 6262 Van Nuys Blvd, Rm 251, Van Nuys91401, Phone (818) 374-50904) West LA District Office - 1828 Sawtelle Blvd., 3rd Fl., West LA90025, Phone (310) 575-8384

The minimum cost of an A-Permit will be approximately $400.00, andan A-Permit would likely be issued for the simple installation of non-standard planting materials. Additional fees assigned to higher levelpermits such as a B-Permit may be required depending on the com-plexity of the proposed improvements and size of the proposed con-struction or installation. Department permit counter staff can preview allnon-standard parkway landscape improvement proposals and deter-mine the appropriate permit(s) and fee(s) that might be required.Residents can then make an informed decision whether to proceedwith a non-standard installation or not.

Many non-standard or alternative parkway landscape improvementssuch as decorative paving, non-vegetative ground-cover, continuouslypressurized irrigation lines/systems, or storm-water capture systemswill also require a Revocable Permit (R-Permit) in addition to either anA or B-Permit. Additional requirements of the R-Permit include a waiv-er of damages (recorded with the County of Los Angeles), proof of lia-bility insurance (provided annually to the City Administrative Officer)and approval of all colors and materials proposed to be installed. Theminimum cost of the R-Permit is approximately $540.00, however,additional fees may be required depending on the complexity of thedesign and size of the proposed installation.

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As a part of the permit process, drawings, sketches, plans, or othersatisfactory written material that indicates the types of parkwaylandscape materials to be used, their quantities, and describeshow and where they will be applied will be required. While beingdesirable from a permitting perspective, the submittal of profes-sionally prepared drawings or plans is not mandatory for all resi-dential parkway installations. Permit counter staff will determinewhether or not professionally prepared drawings, plans, or engi-neering/design documents might be required on a case by casebasis.

III. Alternative Non-standard Parkway LandscapeImprovements

A. Non Standard Plant Materials: If the proposed parkwaylandscape improvements consist of strictly non-standard parkwayplant materials or a combination of standard and non-standardparkway plant materials, only an A-Permit will be required to allowtheir installation. Non-standard parkway planting materialsinstalled in combination with any other alternative parkwayimprovement will require the issuance of a Revocable Permit in

combination witheither an A or B-Permit.Non-standard plantmaterials installedwithin parkway areasmust meet the fol-lowing criteria:

1) Plant materialsmust be drought tol-

erant or drought resistant2) Plant materials must be lower than 36" in height at full maturity3) Plant materials should aesthetically match the context and char-acter of the neighborhood and surrounding properties4) Plant materials must not be noxious or invasive5) Plant materials should not have exposed, rigid spines or thorns.Exceptions to this requirement may be made by City staff

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(Dymondia margaretae)

on a case by case basis.6) Plant materials must not form a continuous hedge or screen atfull maturity7) Plant materials installed within the 45' visibility triangle at streetintersections should not exceed 24" in height at full maturity. (seeMuni. Code -Chapter 6, Article 2, Sec. 62.200)8) Plant materials installed within five feet (5') of a driveway or walk-way should similarly not exceed 24" in height at full maturity (for vis-ibility purposes).9) Low growing, groundcover types of plant materials are highly rec-ommended and encouraged when non-standard plantings areinstalled in parkway areas; shrubs and other plant materials thatform solid, raised masses are discouraged and not recommendedfor use in parkways.

B. Non-Vegetative Groundcover or Paving materials: Non-veg-etative groundcovers or paving materials may be installed in theparkway with the issuance of an A or B-Permit and a RevocablePermit issued by the Department of Public Works. Non-vegetativegroundcover materials include items such as mulch, bark chips,decomposed granite, artificial turf, pavers, or cement concrete (bothstandard and/or colored and stamped concrete). Alternative (non-vegetative) groundcover materials installed within parkway areasmust meet the following criteria:1) Alternative, paving materials must comply with all of the require-ments and criteria as shown in the Department of Public Works,Standard Plan S-601-(latest edition)2) Alternative paving materials must be placed so that the finishedsurface is in plane with the abutting sidewalk and curb surfaces3) Alternative groundcovers such as mulch, bark, or decomposedgranite that are typically loosely placed, shall not be used in park-way areas with a slope greater than 6% in any direction (3/8" of fallper each foot horizontally) .4) Alternative groundcover materials consisting of loosely placedgravel, crushed rock, decorative rock or stone shall not be used or

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permitted for installation in parkway areas, unless used as a com-ponent of a storm water capture system.5) Cobblestone paving or any other alternative groundcovermaterial that does not provide a uniform, reasonably walk-ablesurface is discouraged and will normally not be permitted forinstallation in parkway areas. When and if permitted, cobble-stone or similar paving materials must be set within a cementconcrete matrix in a manner that will permanently affix the materi-als to the parkway area.

C. Convenience Strip: Whenever non-standard plant materialor non-vegetative groundcover is installed within the parkwayarea, a minimum 18" wide alighting convenience strip shall berequired adjacent and parallel to the back of curb along the entirelength of the improved parkway to allow ingress and egress foroccupants of vehicles parked along the curb. The conveniencestrip can be eitherpaved, planted withlow growingdrought tolerantturf substitutes, ordrought tolerantturf. In all cases,the conveniencestrip shall form acommonly accept-ed walking surfaceand its finishedsurface and/orgrade shall beflush with the topof curb.Convenience stripswill typically requirethe issuance ofboth a constructionpermit (A or B) anda RevocablePermit.

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(Parkway with a convenience strip)

D. House Walk: If the uninterrupted length of the improvedparkway is in excess of fifty feet (50') in length excluding drive-ways, a "house walk" or paved walkway across the improvedparkway from the street to the sidewalk may be required. Therecommended minimum width of a house walk is 48". Additionalhouse walks may be recommended or required depending uponthe overall uninterrupted length of the improved parkway. Housewalks across landscaped parkways will typically require theissuance of both a construction permit (A or B) and a RevocablePermit.Parkway Irrigation Systems:

E. Parkway Irrigation Systems: A permit is not normallyrequired for irrigation systems installed in residential parkwayareas provided there are no continuously pressurized (main)lines or valves of any sort installed within the public right-of-way.Conversely, a permit will be required when/if irrigation valves orcontinuously pressurized irrigation lines are installed within thepublic right-of-way. When and where irrigation systems areemployed, the City encourages the use of sub-surface drip irriga-tion or other low-flow water distribution system to minimizewasteful over-spray and over-watering. When and where sprayhead systems are used within the parkway, all spray heads shallbe of the pop-up type, fully retractable to be flush with the adja-cent surface when not in use, and placed no closer than 24" toany hard-paved, adjacent surface.

F. Parkway Storm-water Capture Systems: While still in its ini-tial stages of implementing standards and guidelines specific tothese systems, the City encourages constituents to consider uti-lizing parkway areas to capture storm water run-off when andwhere possible and appropriate. Storm-water capture systemstypically treat/clean storm water biologically prior to its continu-ance into the storm drain systems. They also may help stormwater infiltrate into the sub-grade, thereby reducing or minimizingstorm-water run-off. These types of parkway improvements willrequire permits issued by the Department of Public Works, andeach installation will be reviewed and approved on a case bycase basis. Parkway areas will generally be used/reserved tocapture and/or treat storm water run-off from the street right-of-way as opposed to storm-water run-off generated from an abut-

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generated from an abutting property. Certain types of drought tol-erant or native plant materials may not be appropriate for storm-water capture systems, especially in areas intentionally subjectedto periodic flooding. In such cases, requirements for drought tol-erant or drought resistant plant materials may be relaxed to helpconstituents maximize the effectiveness of any storm-water cap-ture system.

IV. Maintenance of Parkway Installations:All parkway installations shall be maintained in good repair andon grade by the owner and shall be subject to Chapter 6, Section62.104 of the Municipal Code.

A. Parkway plant materials shall be kept in a neat, trimmed man-ner adjacent to paved surfaces at all times and shall not obstructor infringe upon sidewalk areas, driveways, walkways, or curbareas. Parkway plant materials shall be replaced or replenishedas required, and the planted parkways shall be kept free ofunwanted weeds and debris.B. Parkway alternative ground cover materials and non-standardpavers shall be maintained in good repair and on grade flush withthe adjacent sidewalk and/or curb to minimize slipping and trip-ping hazards. Materials such as mulch or decomposed graniteshall be maintained so that materials are kept off of the adjacentstreet, sidewalks, walkways, and driveways. Mulch, decomposedgranite, or other permitted alternative ground cover materialsshall be replenished as required to maintain a finished grade thatis in plane with the adjacent curb or sidewalk. C. Parkway irrigation systems including spray heads, drip lines,risers, and lateral lines shall be maintained in good repair and bekept free of leaks or other anomalies that prevent the systemfrom operating at peak efficiency.D. Parkway storm-water capture systems shall be maintained toensure the systems work properly and effectively. This includesthe removal of trash and debris that might collect within the sys-tem, as well as the periodic replacement or refurbishment of soils,filter media, moisture barriers, pipes, plant materials and otherelements that collectively make-up the storm-water capture sys-tem.

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V. Enforcement: When parkway areas are found to be outof compliance with the various codes and ordinances affectingparkway development and the parkway improvements are notproperly permitted, the City will employ a progressive enforce-ment process to ensure the improvements are either properlypermitted or returned to a condition that complies with said codesand ordinances. The enforcement process initially begins withverbal and/or written notifications to the abutting property owneror occupant in an attempt to voluntarily achieve proper compli-ance. Further enforcement activities may include citations, fines,public hearings before the Board of Public Works, and eventuallymechanical liens against the title of the property. In cases wherethe parkway improvements are deemed a nuisance or safety haz-ard to the public, the City reserves the right to remove the offend-ing improvements and restore the parkway area using Cityforces. The abutting property owner shall be responsible for thereimbursement of all costs incurred by the City to properly restoreparkway areas fronting his/her property.

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VL-Very Low L- Low M-Moderate

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VL-Very LowL- LowM-Moderate

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VL-Very LowL- LowM-Moderate

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For more information:

City of Los Angeles/ Dept. Public WorksBureau of Street Services/ Engineering Division

1-800-996-CITY(2489) or 311TDD: (213) 473-6600

http://bss.lacity.org/Engineering_Division1149 S. Broadway #400, Los Angeles,CA 90015

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities. 10/2010/ENG./BSS/CITY OF L.A.

TreePeople

North East Trees

City of Los Angeles - Green Streets Committee

L.A. DWP

City of Los Angeles / Department of Public WorksBUREAU OF STREET SERVICES1149 South Broadway, Suite 400Los Angeles, California 90015

City of Los Angeles / Department of Public WorksBUREAU OF ENGINEERING1149 South Broadway, Suite 700Los Angeles, California 90015

Special Thanks to the following for their contributions in developing these guidelines: