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Traditional landscape codes in South Florida have primarily set aside prescribed areas on each development site for specific landscape purposes, such as screening, buffering, environmental control or architectural design.

Draft Landscape Code for Broward County
Typical design components of these codes from the beginning, included standards for street yard buffers, side and rear yard buffers, parking lot screens, parking lot interiors, street wall planting areas and general site open space with a minimum canopy standard of 12-15 trees per site acre.

The codes from the 1970s through the next 40 years were drafted primarily for site design. In the 1990s new standards were added in regard to irrigation efficient landscapes with the purpose of cutting down the use of potable water supplies. Late in this era, new provisions were being added in some communities to affect onsite storm water management and increased habitat protection standards.

But what was largely overlooked in most landscape code were design standards based upon science, ecology, maintenance and construction control leading to sustainable site landscapes. The Draft Broward County Landscape Code, Ordinance no. 2010, 05-24-10, based upon the Leven Ordinance Guide, is a good example of how landscape codes are going green.

Codes Going Green
The draft code is different from the one about to be replaced in that it implements standards of the Florida Friendly Landscaping principles and the Broward Naturescape standards into the body of the code. Standards are provided to establish sustainable landscapes that, among other things, preserve or reestablish native plant communities, promote water conservation, make water quality improvements and protect vegetation. In addition, the code sets standards for soil, vegetation, irrigation and maintenance with the use of fertilizer, pesticides, mulch and yard waste.

But what is of real interest in this draft are technical requirements based on simple math that set benchmarks for the design of major aspects of landscape design, including standards for minimum canopy, percentage of building screening and permeability ratios to limit impervious cover. Standards for maintenance and installation practices are increased and the code acquaints uses with the relatively new concept of landscape best management practices (LBMPs). Some of the baseline standards in this code provide a picture of why it is a new paradigm in landscape code writing to meet ecological objectives.

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Changing Codes
Comparing this draft code to the present code reveals some interesting comparisons. The new code is more ecologically based while the former places more emphasis on design content for development sites. The present code, like many others in the country, slight maintenance, installation, landscape management practices and landscape materials quality specifications, and instead places most emphasis on the work of the landscape architect. Both codes are poorly illustrated with design details. The design manual indicated in the existing code has never been produced digital form, i.e., available for public scrutiny.

The current code, strongly based upon the authority of Florida law, adds much content to the delivery of sustainable designed landscapes. Both require all plans, specifications, details and construction documents be sealed by a registered landscape architect. The proposed code is very well written and crafted. It is easy to understand, cites references and is not overly technical.

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One of the most interesting things about the Boward County draft code is that it codifies storm water management for green parking lots. It does this by introducing the permeability ratio, vegetative islands, bioretention swales, vegetative channels and filter areas to parking lots being built in Broward County.

But perhaps one of the most interesting things about the draft code is that it codifies storm water management for green parking lots. It does this by introducing the permeability ratio, vegetative islands, bioretention swales, vegetative channels and filter areas to parking lots being built in Broward County.

The fact that landscape codes are evolving toward sustainable landscape design is a positive sign for the profession of landscape architecture. Changing codes is proof the profession is maturing to a higher level of technical excellence.

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