Screening service areas and utilities.
Omaha Municipal Code § 55-927
in effectSec. 55-927. - Screening service areas and utilities.
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to minimize the exposure of service and utility features from streets and sidewalks within urban design districts and to ensure that such features are located in an unobtrusive and discreet manner. Other screening requirements for services areas and utilities that are attached to buildings may also apply pursuant to section 55-935.
(b) Ground mounted utilities. All utility features mounted to the ground, such as transformers, switch gears, utility boxes, generators and HVAC units, shall conform to the following standards.
(1) Location. Ground mounted utilities shall be prohibited between a building facade and the street or easily visible from public or private streets unless screened from view per section 55-927(c).
(c) Screening methods for ground mounted utilities. Screening methods for ground mounted utilities maybe one or a combination of the following:
(1) Landscape screening. Landscaped berms, hedge rows, shrubbery or native grasses may be used to fulfill this requirement in any combination.
a. Minimum width. The minimum landscaping width for screening shall be sufficient to allow for the mature width of the specified plant material, but in no case shall it be less than two feet.
(2) Permanent screening. Permanent screening may be provided by means of a ground mounted structure clad in an approved wall material(s) per Table 55-935(d)(1) that is also used on the principle building design.
(d) Trash enclosures. Trash receptacles in all locations shall be provided with permanent enclosure and screening by means of an approved masonry material or CMU back-up that is clad in an approved wall material per Table 55-935(d)(1). In either case, the finish material shall be one that is used on, or comparable with, the principle building design. All such enclosures shall include a gate that provides screening and is complementary in design to the enclosure.
(e) Minimum height. The minimum height of landscape or permanent screening shall be equal to or greater than the height of the feature. For landscape screening, the height shall be established by the mature height of the associated plant species.
(Ord. No. 37810, § 8, 8-14-07; Ord. No. 40303, § 3, 3-31-15; Ord. No. 42341, § 13, 10-27-20)
Source: City of Omaha, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OMMUCOCHGEORVOII_CH55ZO_ARTXXIIURDE_S55-927SCSEARUTFetched: 10/28/2026