18.56.160 Parking and Loading Area Landscape Requirements.
A. Off-street parking areas for more than five (5) vehicles and off-street loading areas shall be effectively screened on each side which adjoins premises situated in any R District, or institutional premises, by a fence, hedge or suitable planted buffer area. Such fence or hedge shall be not less than three and one-half (3.5) feet in height except as provided in Larkspur Municipal Code Section 18.16.090 and shall be maintained in good condition without any advertising thereon. Any space between such fence, hedge or planted buffer area and the side lot line adjoining premises, or the front lot line facing premises, in any R District shall be landscaped with grass, hardy shrubs or evergreen groundcover and maintained in good condition.
B. Parking lots containing twelve (12) or more stalls shall have not less than ten (10) percent of the parking lot area devoted to landscaping. An adequate drainage and sprinkler system shall be provided for maintenance of planted areas.
C. Parking lots containing twelve (12) or more stalls shall also have:
1. Landscaping of all islands or small areas unused for parking stalls while maintaining adopted parking standards;
2. Irrigation facilities for all planted areas;
3. Protection for all planted areas by a six-inch curb or equivalent border barrier;
4. A six-foot minimum landscaped strip along all street frontages except for necessary driveways;
5. Trees as a major element of all landscaping plans, planted at a minimum ratio of one tree for every six (6) parking spaces; with every attempt being made to preserve healthy, existing trees;
6. Vegetation in the form of trees, shrubs or hedges must meet height requirements in six (6) years from time of occupancy permit.
D. Landscaped Buffer Strip. Where parking stalls, driveways or access aisles, for all uses other than single and duplex residential use, adjoin a property line, a landscaped buffer strip shall be provided having a minimum width of not less than three (3) feet. This regulation shall not be interpreted as supplanting other regulations of this title which require greater landscaped strips, yards or setbacks. (Ord. 1070 § 12, 2023; Ord. 1030 § 2(12), 2018; Ord. 953 § 1(66), 2007; Ord. 857 § 7, 1993; Ord. 513 § 1 (part), 1975)