Internal landscaping requirements.

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-710.14

in effect

Sec. 30-710.14. - Internal landscaping requirements. Landscaped islands meeting the requirements of this section shall be provided within all parking areas and parking lots containing 30 or more parking spaces and within parking areas containing five or more parking spaces serving uses with drive-up facilities or facilities for dispensing motor fuels. (1) Required number of landscaped islands. Landscaped islands shall be installed at a rate of not less than the following, unless a greater number of landscaped islands are required to satisfy the provisions of Subsection (2) of this section: a. Within parking areas containing 30 or more parking spaces serving uses other than uses with drive-up facilities or facilities for dispensing motor fuels and within parking lots containing 30 or more parking spaces: one landscaped island for every 15 parking spaces, or major fraction thereof, for the first 100 parking spaces, plus one landscaped island for every additional 20 parking spaces, or major fraction thereof; b. Within parking areas containing five or more parking spaces serving uses with drive-up facilities or facilities for dispensing motor fuels: one landscaped island for every ten parking spaces, or major fraction thereof, for the first 30 parking spaces; plus one landscaped island for every additional 15 parking spaces, or major fraction thereof, for up to and including 100 parking spaces; plus one landscaped island for every additional 20 parking spaces, or major fraction thereof, in excess of 100 parking spaces. (2) Location of required landscaped islands. Within parking areas and parking lots containing 100 or fewer parking spaces, landscaped islands shall be located so that no more than 15 parking spaces are situated in a continuous row, and within parking areas and parking lots containing more than 100 parking spaces, landscaped islands shall be located so that not more than 20 parking spaces are situated in a continuous row. Each end of each row of parking spaces shall be separated from adjacent access aisles and driveways by a landscaped island. (3) Size of required landscaped islands. Required landscaped islands shall be not less than eight feet in width measured between the outside faces of curbs or other features that define the landscaped island if curbs are not provided, and shall be not less than the length of abutting parking spaces. In the case of landscaped islands having irregular width, the width shall be measured at each point where a tree is to be located within the island. (4) Improvement of required landscaped islands. a. Each required landscaped island shall contain not less than one deciduous tree having a caliper of not less than 2½ inches at the time of installation measured six inches above the ground. b. In addition to required trees, landscaped islands shall be provided with vegetative ground cover, shrubs, other plant material, or any combination thereof. All portions of required landscaped islands not provided with vegetative ground cover or other plant material shall be mulched. c. Pedestrian walkways incidental to landscaped islands may be incorporated within such islands when the other requirements of this subsection are met. d. All required landscaped islands shall be protected from encroachment by motor vehicles by installation of curbs, wheel stops or other features which separate the landscaped island from areas improved for vehicle parking or circulation. Required landscaped islands shall not include any portion of a required perimeter buffer or any portion of a parking space. (5) Areas qualifying as landscaped islands. As shown below, landscaped islands shall include areas that are improved in accordance with the requirements of this section and are situated: a. Within an otherwise continuous row of parking spaces so as to provide separation between parking spaces; b. At the end of a row of parking spaces so as to provide separation between parking spaces and an access aisle, driveway, street, alley or other paved area; c. At the end of a row of parking spaces so as to provide a corner between rows of parking spaces that are arranged at an angle to one another; or d. Between opposing rows of parking spaces or between a row of parking spaces and an access aisle, driveway, street, alley or other paved area. [image omitted; see the official code] Landscape Islands (Code 1993, § 32-710.14; Code 2004, § 114-710.14; Code 2015, § 30-710.14; Code 2020, § 30-710.14; Ord. No. 2004-180-167, § 1, 6-28-2004)

Source: City of Richmond, Virginia, Code (2026 recodification) and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH30ZO_ARTVIIOREPALORE_DIV2.1OREPAIMRELAST_S30-710.14INLAREFetched: 11/8/2026