Landscaping Standards
In Moab, we value and protect water. Since 2016, the average person here uses 16% less water for household tasks. And, locally adapted landscapes can save residents and businesses money on water bills by using two-thirds less water than a typical landscape. Moab's state-mandated, five-year Water Conservation Plan update was approved December 14, 2021. City Council passed one of the recommendations from that plan, a water-efficient landscaping code update, on September 12, 2023.
Moab's landscape ordinance is a set of standards to support the design, installation, and maintenance of landscapes suited for the Moab climate by:
- Cooling the urban environment,
- Supporting water-wise landscapes,
- Managing stormwater,
- Contributing to fire protection,
- Preventing erosion, and
- Creating habitat for native plants.
The ordinance is summarized below, but Moab City Code (17.10) is the definitive place for complete information.
Per the ordinance, existing landscapes are legal though they do not conform to code. Therefore, they only need to be modified under these circumstances:
- Landscape Modifications must meet applicable standards outlined in the ordinance. For example, when replacing existing plants, the new plants may need to be on the plant list.
- Landscape Transformations of two thousand square feet (2000 sf) or more or comprising at least 50% of the landscape require the full landscape to comply.
- Additions and Exterior Remodels that require a building permit, level I site plan, or level II site plan must comply.
- New Developments, including newly constructed single-, two-family, and multi-family dwellings, must adhere to the ordinance.
Under the previous and current ordinance, property owners needed to maintain their landscaping. The property owner is responsible for ensuring their landscape is living, clean, healthy, and well-maintained.
Checklist
Skim the steps first. Then, return to step 1. Illustrated pdf versions are available for general landscape plans with and without a water budget.
Identify if you are making a change that requires code compliance.
- If it’s a major change, identify the type of Landscaping Plan required. (See also tabs, "When does it apply?" and "Standards 1-3.")
- Based on the plan, identify the General Standards that apply.
PAUSE HERE. Your determination at this step will guide how you proceed. Modifications that require "greater compliance" may use resources on this site for improvements. Changes that require full compliance or a submission should work through the following steps.
Examine the property.
- Identify the zoning of property and neighboring properties.
- Identify dimensions of the property, house, paving, and landscape. Find a helpful parcel map online.
Identify existing landscaping, including trees and noxious weeds, for the plant list and plant spread calculator.
- Find plants on the Approved Plant List (or in PDF format: all, trees only, other plants only)
- Calculate their coverage with the Live Plant Material Calculator — This link will download a spreadsheed for personal use.
If you need a water budget (Standard 9), calculate it for your property.
- Water Budget Calculator — This link will download a spreadsheet for personal use.
Assess the differences between the existing landscape and code.
Plan the needed adjustments.
Complete the submission worksheet.
- These worksheets are a beta release. Please report issues to sustainability@moabcity.org.
- General Landscape Plan, appropriate for exterior modifications to a structure that require a building permit
- Site Plan Reviews are required for the following types of projects (17.67.020):
- All new development except single-household, two household, twin home, and multi-household dwellings under six units
- Remodeling of a commercial development with an addition of 2000 sq.ft. or more of an existing structure; or
- A use change involving an addition of 2000 sq.ft. or more to the finished square footage of an existing structure.
- The two types of Site Plan Review are:
- Level I Landscape Plan, appropriate for projects that require a Level I application
- Level II Landscape Plan, appropriate for projects that require a Level II application
- These worksheets are a beta release. Please report issues to sustainability@moabcity.org.
Submit your landscaping plan to the City.
- Visit the Moab Building webpage for more information.
Have questions? We have answers in the FAQs. Also, check out the landscape brochure. — This link will download a pdf.
These resources are for convenience only. Refer to the Moab Municipal Code for definitive information. Please report issues to sustainability@moabcity.org.
The required general standards are outlined below for quick reference. Full information and the rest of the general standards are in the Moab City Code 17.10, which is the definitive source for information. The scale of development, redevelopment, or improvement determines the level of the landscape plan required.
ALL landscaping plans must meet Standards 1-3, plus—
- General plan (required with building permit), choose between
- Prescriptive: Standards 4-7, or
- Water budget: Standard 9.
- Level 1: Standards 5-9
- Level 2: Standards 4-9
- Living Plant Material
- At least 25% of the landscape must have living plants. Tree canopy can account for 15%. (The remaining 10% would be other plants.)
- Tree Requirements: One tree is required per 40 feet of street frontage.
- Tree list: Newly planted trees must be selected from the City of Moab Approved Plant List (or in PDF format: all, trees only, other plants)
- Watering: New trees with medium to high water requirements must be irrigated, but low-water trees may be hand watered.
- Spacing: Trees shouldn't be too close to powerlines, intersections, street signs, etc. for safety and visibility.
- Artificial Plants
- Artificial plants do not count in the 25% living plant requirement or the water budget.
- Choosing the right plants
- 100% of groundcovers must be chosen from the City of Moab Approved Plant List, which includes plants beneficial for our area.
- 90% of plants, forb, shrubs, trees must be from the City of Moab Approved Plant List.
- Plants found on the Grand County Noxious Weeds List are prohibited because they are harmful to our local environment.
- Exemptions and additions: Some plants are okay even if they aren't on the approved list, such as spring bulbs and food gardens
- Eligible plants may be added to the Approved Plant List by meeting the criteria in Appendix C of the landscaping ordinance.
- Eligible plants may be added to the Approved Plant List by meeting the criteria in Appendix C of the landscaping ordinance.
The required general standards are outlined below for quick reference. Full information and the rest of the general standards are in the Moab City Code 17.10, which is the definitive source for information. The scale of development, redevelopment, or improvement determines the level of the landscape plan required.
ALL landscaping plans must meet Standards 1-3, plus—
- General plan (required with building permit), choose between
- Prescriptive: Standards 4-7, or
- Water budget: Standard 9.
- Level 1: Standards 5-9
- Level 2: Standards 4-9
- Cool Season Turf
- Turf must be from the City of Moab Approved Plant List.
- Limit Turf Areas: Cool season turf (grass) must not cover more than 10% of your landscaped area, or 200 square feet, whichever is larger.
- Mulch
- Spread mulch 2 to 3 inches deep on the soil surface around plants, as appropriate for each species.
- Native plants don't always need mulch. Native plants, when appropriate, are exempt from these mulching requirements.
- Up to 5% of the area can be left without mulch to create habitats for insects and other wildlife.
- Water Features
- All water features are required to use recycling water systems.
- Waterfall features and fountains with four feet of free fall require wind shut-off devices.
- Pool and spa covers are highly recommended.
- Hydrozoning
- Place plants from the City of Moab Approved Plant List with similar water needs in the same area.
- Irrigation System
- Use smart irrigation controllers.
- The irrigation system must prevent runoff, overspray, and waterflow to paved areas.
- Dedicated landscape water meters/sub-meters must be installed for all non-residential irrigated landscapes 5,000 sq ft in size or more.
- Refer to the ordinance for more specifications.
- Landscape Water Budget
- The maximum irrigation water for a landscape is 15 gal./season/sq. ft. (24"/season), which can increase with special features:
- Ecological restoration projects;
- Bioretention areas;
- Nonirrigated pervious areas;
- Vegetated swales;
- Graywater infrastructure;
- Native plants; and
- Secondary water irrigation.
- Refer to the ordinance for specifications.
- The maximum irrigation water for a landscape is 15 gal./season/sq. ft. (24"/season), which can increase with special features:
Additional Assistance & Incentives:
- Utah Landscape Conversion Incentive Program, which offers payment for replacing turf with water-efficient landscaping, is available to qualifying Moab residents. *Do not alter the landscape before consulting the program. It will disqualify you from this rebate.*
- An Urban and Community Forestry Grant was awarded to Moab City in 2023. This will assist residents with education and trees for planting, likely starting in the spring of 2024.
- The State of Utah posts other incentives online at https://utahwatersavers.com.
Moab ToolsThese tools in development. Please notify sustainability@moabcity.gov of any issues you encounter.
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