General landscaping standards.
Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 744-503
in effectSec. 744-503. - General landscaping standards.
A. Landscape plan required. A landscape plan shall be submitted as a part of all development and permit applications for those activities listed in this Chapter 744 Article V, unless the Administrator determines that compliance with the provisions of this Article can be demonstrated without the use of a landscape plan. A landscape plan may be combined with other required application materials if compliance with this article can be demonstrated in the combined materials.
B. Required plant materials. Landscape areas as required by the Zoning Ordinance shall be designed to be drought tolerant. Tree and shrub species used to meet the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance shall be from the Indianapolis Selected Plant List as approved by the Metropolitan Development Commission. Additionally, plants listed on the Indianapolis Prohibited Plant List shall not be counted and shall not fulfill any requirement of this article. All plant material shall be hardy to central Indiana, suitable for the site, free of disease and insects and conform to the American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1-2004). Upon presentation of evidence, the Administrator may authorize alternative species or cultivars that meet the intended purpose, are not invasive or hazardous, and equally hardy and capable of withstanding the local setting.
Additional plant materials may be planted unless the plant is listed on the Indianapolis Prohibited Plant List.
C. Minimum living materials. In all areas where landscaping is required, a minimum of 60% of the surface area shall be covered by living materials, rather than gravel, stone or other non-living materials.
D. Soil condition and planting beds.
1. All landscaping required by the Zoning Ordinance shall be planted in uncompacted soil at least two feet in depth.
2. Stone mulch is not permitted in required landscape areas or planting beds except as part of a stormwater best management practices in accordance with Section 702 of the Stormwater Design and Construction Specifications Manual.
3. All landscaped areas shall be protected from vehicular encroachment by curbs or wheel stops. Curbs shall be provided with openings to accommodate surface collection of stormwater runoff in vegetated swales and detention facilities.
E. Minimum plant sizes at installation. Unless otherwise specifically noted, the minimum plant size at the time of installation of landscaping required by the Zoning Ordinance shall be according to Table 744-503-1: Minimum Plant Sizes.
Table 744-503-1: Minimum Plant Sizes
Plant material type (ASNS types) | Minimum size
Deciduous/Overstory Shade Tree (Type 1 or 2)
Single Trunk | 2 in. caliper
Multi Trunk | 10 ft. in height
Evergreen/Coniferous Tree | 6 ft. in height
Ornamental/ Understory Tree | 1.5 in. caliper
Large Shrub—Deciduous (Type 2 or 3) | 24 in. in height
Large Shrub—Evergreens (Types 4, 5 or 6) | 30 in. in height
Small Shrub—Deciduous (Type 1) | 18 in. in height
Small Shrub—Evergreens (Type 1, 2 or 3) | 24 in. in spread
Ground cover | 3 in. in height
F. Plant material spacing. Except for transitional yard and edge buffering provisions of Section 744-506, trees and shrubs shall not be placed closer than three feet to any lot line. A minimum three-foot radius around fire hydrants, valve vaults, hose bibs, manholes, hydrants, and fire department connections shall be provided and free of trees or shrubs. Plant materials may be grouped but must be located within the particular landscape area to which it will be credited. The Administrator may authorize adjustments to these spacing requirements when necessary due to topography, drainage, utilities or obstructions, provided that the total amount of required landscaping is not reduced.
G. Species variation. For sites over one acre in size, landscaping shall introduce multiple varieties within one general area. In areas in the Metro Context Area, no one species of tree may make up more than 30% of the total number of trees, and no one species of shrub may make up more than 30% of the total number of shrubs.
H. Protection of clear sight triangular areas. No obstructions shall be erected, placed, planted or allowed to grow in such a manner as to materially impede visibility between the heights of two and one-half feet and eight feet above grade level of the adjoining right-of-way within a clear sight triangular area. See Section 740.304 Clear Sight Measurements and Calculations.
I. Planting in the right-of-way. Tree removal or tree planting or the placement of other landscaping elements in the right-of-way shall be done in accordance with Chapter 701 Trees and Flora of the Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County.
J. Overlapping requirements. If areas required to be landscaped by two or more provisions of the Zoning Ordinance overlap each other, the provision requiring the greater amount of planting in that area shall apply.
K. Heritage tree conservation. Removal of any heritage tree is prohibited unless any of the following determinations are made before removal:
1. The Administrator or the city's Urban Forester determines that the tree is dead, significantly and terminally diseased, a threat to public health or safety, or is of an undesirable or nuisance species.
2. The Director of the Department of Public Works determines that the tree interferes with the provision of public services or is a hazard to traffic.
3. The Administrator determines that the location of the tree is preventing development or redevelopment that cannot be physically designed to protect the tree.
4. The site from which the tree is removed is zoned D-A and the tree is harvested as timber or similar forestry product.
L. Existing vegetation credit and bonus.
1. In the event that existing vegetation meets the intent of the screening requirements, preserved existing vegetation may be credited for landscape materials required by this Chapter 744 Article V. In no instance will credit be given for existing vegetation that is invasive, as listed in the Indianapolis Prohibited Plant List.
2. If any of the vegetation that fulfills a requirement of the Zoning Ordinance dies or is removed, replacement plant materials shall be installed in accordance these standards. Existing vegetation to be used to meet a requirement of this Article V shall be protected during construction through use of a fence erected around the area encompassing the area one foot beyond the drip line of the vegetation. No materials shall be placed in this encompassed area.
3. Preservation of trees and surrounding vegetation shall be given credit toward fulfilling landscaping requirements set forth in this article as follows:
a. Existing trees and surrounding vegetation may be credited only one time towards any one buffer, screen or other landscape area requirement.
b. Existing trees and surrounding vegetation shall be located within the required landscape area to which it will be credited.
c. Existing trees that conform to these standards and are proposed to be used for credit must generally have location, species, caliper and drip line indicated on the required landscape plan.
4. Existing trees shall be credited as fulfilling a requirement based upon the tree size and provided that the minimum area surrounding the tree is according to the criteria and the quantities shown in Table 744-503-2: Existing Tree Credit and Bonus.
Table 744-503-2: Existing Tree Credit and Bonus
Existing Tree Size (inches) | Minimum Surrounding Landscape Area (sq. ft.) | Minimum Width of Surrounding Landscape Area (feet) | Number of Trees Credited | Number of Trees Credited for a Heritage Tree Species
Over 36 DBH | 350 | 15 | 10 | 15
25.5 to 36 DBH | 300 | 15 | 8 | 11
13 to 25 | 250 | 10 | 6 | 8
10.5 to 12.5 DBH | 100 | 8 | 4 | 6
8.5 to 10 DBH | 100 | 8 | 4 | 5
6.5 to 8 | 100 | 5 | 2 | 3
4 to 6 | 100 | 5 | 2 | 2
2.5 to 3.5 | 100 | 5 | 1 | 1
M. Replacement trees. In the event an existing tree that was given credit or a heritage tree is removed or dies within three years of the ILP issuance date, replacement trees shall be planted. The number of replacement trees that must be planted for each tree lost shall be in accordance with Table 744-503-3: Replacement Trees.
Table 744-503-3: Replacement Trees
Size of tree removed or dead (inches) | Number of Trees to be planted to replace a Heritage Tree | Number of Trees to be planted to replace an existing tree
Over 36 DBH | 15 | 10
25.5 to 36 DBH | 11 | 8
13 to 25 DBH | 8 | 6
10.5 to 12.5 DBH | 6 | 4
8.5 to 10 DBH | 5 | 4
6.5 to 8 | 3 | 2
4 to 6 | 2 | 2
2.5 to 3.5 | 1 | 1
In the event that the site cannot accommodate the number of replacement trees required, the Administrator may authorize an alternate location for the planting of the replacement trees within the County as close to the site as feasible.
N. Native vegetation and natural landscaping areas.
1. Growing native vegetation including ferns, grasses, sedges, rushes, forbs, shrubs and trees shall be permitted in lieu of turfgrass lawn. Natural landscape areas are permitted if planned and designed to control, direct, and maintain the growth of natural vegetation, primarily native, and may include the detention and infiltration of stormwater runoff in the natural landscape area.
2. Natural landscaping areas shall not be located within two feet of a front lot line, or within four feet of any other lot line, except that no rear or side yard setback shall be required where the natural landscaping is separated from adjacent lots by fencing or continuous shrub growth three feet or more in height, or where the natural landscaping area abuts another permitted natural landscaping area on an abutting lot. An intervening path or walkway shall not be deemed to prevent natural landscape materials from abutting.
3. Where natural landscaping area is installed or preserved, a sign shall be installed indicating that the area is a natural landscape area and generally not mowed.
O. Rain gardens, bioswales and stormwater management features. Areas included in rain gardens or vegetated site features created to meet storm water management requirements of Section 702 of the Stormwater Design and Construction Specifications Manual shall be counted towards any required interior site or parking lot landscaping, and if vegetated to meet the requirements for any landscaped buffers shall count towards those buffer requirements. Where rain gardens or vegetated site features serving a storm water management purpose are installed, a sign shall be installed indicating that the area the area should not be mowed, but should instead be maintained pursuant to an operations and maintenance manual available from the Department of Public Works.
P. Retention and detention facilities. Landscaping must be provided around the perimeter of all retention and detention basins. Such landscaping must consist of trees, shrubs, and emergent plantings in a quantity, species, and arrangement that will maintain an ecologically functional environment. Per Section 702.01 in the Stormwater Design and Construction Specification Manual, tall plantings in the aquatic bench are desirable as a means to keep waterfowl from the site. Waterfowl are bacteria sources and are to be discouraged from inhabiting wet ponds. Retention and detention basins should be designed to resemble natural landforms, whenever possible. Such landscaping must be integrated with the littoral zone of emergent vegetation around the pond perimeter with the safety bench of at least 10 feet in width as per Section 302.07 in the Stormwater Design and Construction Specifications Manual. Trees, shrubs and upland plantings are to be located above the normal water line; emergent or wetland plantings are to be located below the normal water line. Vegetation must be established on all side slopes to prevent erosion. A stormwater management easement and operation and maintenance agreement is required for each facility, clearly marking inlet/outlet structures and easements for inflow/outflow piping. Trees or deep-rooted vegetation must not be planted in any easement with storm drainage pipe. Vegetation must not obstruct inlet/outlet structures and inflow/outflow piping area.
Q. Alternative landscaping.
1. Alternative landscape plan. The Administrator may approve an alternate landscape plan that does not meet the specific requirements stated in this Article V if the Administrator determines that the alternative plan:
a. Is consistent with the purposes of this chapter; and
b. Does not include invasive vegetation; and
c. Does not include a reduction of tree planting requirements; and
d. Provides equal or superior buffering of adjacent properties from anticipated impacts of the proposed development; and
e. Provides equal or superior visual appearance of the property when viewed from the street; and
f. Provides equal or superior carbon dioxide absorption and heat island reductions.
R. Installation and delay of installation due to season.
1. All landscaping material used to meet the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance shall be installed in accordance with the planting procedures established by the ANSI A300 Tree Care Operations: Standard Practices for Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Maintenance.
2. All landscaping material shall be installed no later than 60 days following the completion of construction or its initial use, unless subsection 3. below applies.
3. Whenever the installation of required landscaping is not possible by the time construction on the primary structure or primary use parking lot has been completed, an Inspector may authorize a delay in installation until no later than the following May 31. As a condition of authorizing a delay in installation, a surety or other guarantee, may be required, in a form acceptable to the city, in the estimated amount of such installation. During any delay in installation, site management must comply with all applicable provisions for sediment and erosion control.
S. Maintenance.
1. All landscaping required by the Zoning Ordinance shall be provided and maintained at all times.
2. Dead, missing, or damaged landscaping, or landscaping that supports less than 50% healthy leaf growth or shows dead branches over a minimum of 50% of the normal branching pattern shall be replaced with healthy, live plants by the end of the growing season to meet ordinance requirements.
3. The owner is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of all required landscaping, screening, and curbing.
4. Maintenance shall preserve at least the same quantity, quality, and screening effectiveness as initially installed.
5. Fences, walls, and other barriers shall be maintained in good repair. All barriers that are damaged, broken, or with failing paint shall be repaired, replaced or refinished.
6. Tree topping is prohibited. Tree topping is the practice of removing whole tops of trees, large branches or trunks from the tops of trees, leaving stubs or lateral branches that are too small to assume the role of a terminal leader.
7. Plant materials shall be provided water to adequately sustain long-term growth.
(G.O. 64, 2015, § 2; G.O. 37, 2018, § 12; G.O. 23, 2023, § 8)
Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH744DEST_ARTVLASC_S744-503GELASTFetched: 10/27/2026