23.50A.180

A. Standards. All landscaping provided to meet requirements under this Section 23.50A.180 through Section 23.50A.190 must meet standards promulgated by the Director to provide for the long-term health, viability, and coverage of plantings. The standards may include, but are not limited to, the type and size of plants, number of plants, concentration of plants, depths of soil, use of low water use plants, and access to light and air for plants. B. The following types of screening and landscaping may be required according to the provisions of this Section 23.50A.180 through Section 23.50A.190 : 1. Three-foot-high screening. Three-foot-high screening may be either: a. A fence or wall at least 3 feet in height; or b. A landscaped area with vegetation at least 3 feet in height. Landscaped areas may include bioretention facilities or landscaped berms, provided that the top of the vegetation is at least 3 feet above the grade abutting the facility or berm. 2. View-obscuring screening. View-obscuring screening may be either: a. A fence or wall 6 feet in height; or b. A landscaped area with vegetation at least 5 feet in height. Landscaped areas may include bioretention facilities or landscaped berms, provided that the top of the vegetation will be at least 5 feet above the grade abutting the facility or berm. 3. Landscaped areas. Each area required to be landscaped shall be planted with trees, shrubs and grass, or evergreen ground cover, in a manner that the total required setback, excluding driveways, will be covered in three years. Features such as walkways, decorative paving, sculptures, or fountains may cover a maximum of 30 percent of each required landscaped area. 4. Street trees. When required, street trees shall be provided in the planting strip according to Seattle Department of Transportation tree planting standards promulgated pursuant to Section 15.43.010 . If it is not feasible to plant street trees in the planting strip according to City standards, they shall be planted in a 5-foot-deep landscaped setback area along the street property line. Trees planted in this setback area shall be at least 2 feet from the street lot line. The Director, in consultation with the Director of Transportation, will determine the number, type, and placement of street trees to be provided to: a. Improve public safety; b. Match trees to the available space in the planting strip; c. Maintain and expand the urban forest canopy; d. Encourage healthy growth through appropriate spacing; and e. Protect utilities; and to allow access to the street, buildings, and lot by vehicles including trucks and industrial equipment. 5. Combinations of screening and landscaping requirements a. When there is more than one type of use which requires screening or landscaping, the requirement which results in the greater amount of screening and landscaping shall be followed. b. Different types of screening or landscaping may be combined on one lot. 6. Landscaping that meets Seattle Green Factor standards, pursuant to Section 23.86.019 . ([Renumbered from 23.50.018.A-B]; Ord. 126862 , § 8, 2023.)