STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
PH 1
9/8/2026
TN
Date:September 8, 2026
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From:Patti Garibay, Director - Community Development
Nicole Jones, Manager – Community Development
Subject:Amendments to the Lancaster Municipal Code Relating to Landscaping, Water Efficient Landscape Design, and Root Barrier Requirements Recommendation:
Introduce Ordinance No. ___, amending Chapter 8.30, repealing and replacing Chapter
8.50, and amending Chapters 8.48 and 12.20 of the Lancaster Municipal Code relating to landscaping installation and maintenance, water efficient landscape design, and root barrier requirements, and adopting by reference the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Sections 490 through 495; and
Adopt Resolution No. ___, adopting the updated City of Lancaster Landscape and Irrigation Design Standards and rescinding and superseding prior editions of the Design Standards.
G.C. Section 84308: No
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Background:
The City of Lancaster maintains landscape and irrigation regulations intended to promote attractive and sustainable development, conserve water, protect public infrastructure, and establish consistent standards for landscaping throughout the community.
The City’s current water efficient landscape regulations are contained in Chapter 8.50 of the Lancaster Municipal Code and were adopted in 2019. Since that time, the California Department of Water Resources has repealed and readopted the State Model Water Efficient Landscape 2 5
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Ordinance (MWELO), with the restructured regulations becoming operative January 2, 2025. As part of these changes, the reference evapotranspiration value applicable to Lancaster was revised from 71.1 inches annually to 65.3 inches annually.
Additionally, Assembly Bill 1572 established phased restrictions on the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf on specified properties. Properties owned by local governments and public agencies become subject to these restrictions beginning January 1, 2027.
To address these changes and modernize the City’s local landscape requirements, staff has prepared a comprehensive update to Chapter 8.50 and related provisions of the Lancaster Municipal Code, together with an updated edition of the City of Lancaster Landscape and Irrigation Design Standards.
The proposed Ordinance adopts the current State MWELO by reference, subject to local amendments that are at least as effective in conserving water as the State requirements. The updated regulations address landscape applicability, turf limitations, irrigation practices, landscape documentation, water budgets, nonfunctional turf, maintenance, and other water- efficiency measures. Among the local requirements, turf is limited to 25 percent of the landscape area in residential landscapes and is prohibited in non-residential landscapes except for qualifying recreational areas. Narrow and irregular landscape areas must utilize subsurface or other low-volume irrigation technology that prevents runoff and overspray, and high-water-use plants are prohibited in street medians.
The Ordinance also creates a clearer relationship between the Lancaster Municipal Code and the City’s Landscape and Irrigation Design Standards. Under proposed Section 8.50.080, the City Council will adopt the Design Standards by resolution, and compliance with the standards will be mandatory for projects subject to Chapter 8.50 and for landscaping within landscape maintenance districts, lighting maintenance districts, and the public right-of-way. The Ordinance also establishes a process allowing limited administrative amendments to technical items such as manufacturer specifications, product designations, standard details, plant lists, forms, and appendices, while substantive policy changes remain subject to City Council approval.
The accompanying Resolution adopts the updated City of Lancaster Landscape and Irrigation Design Standards and rescinds and supersedes prior editions. The updated standards modernize technical specifications, incorporate current irrigation technology, update the plant palette and standard details, and include a root barrier specification and standard detail implementing the new Municipal Code requirements. Compliance with the updated Design Standards will be mandatory for applicable projects and landscaping installed, replaced, or maintained within landscape maintenance districts, lighting maintenance districts, and the public right-of-way.
A primary focus of the update is the establishment of clear, preventative root barrier requirements intended to reduce future conflicts between tree roots and sidewalks, curbs, streets, utilities, and other improvements. The proposed Ordinance requires a root barrier at the time of planting for trees planted, replaced, or relocated within eight feet of specified hardscape improvements or public utilities. Root barriers are also required for every tree planted in a tree well and for trees planted in parkways, medians, and other landscaped areas within the public right-of-way, regardless of distance.
The Ordinance establishes a minimum root barrier depth of 36 inches and a minimum length of 10 linear feet, centered on the tree trunk. Root barriers must be linear mechanical-deflection 2 5
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systems installed vertically and continuously adjacent and parallel to the improvement being protected. The barrier must be constructed of high-density polyethylene or an approved equivalent, meet minimum material specifications, and may not encircle the tree’s root ball. The Design Standards may establish greater depth or length requirements based on tree species, planting location, or the type of improvement being protected.
The requirements also address existing trees when new infrastructure is constructed nearby.
When a curb, gutter, sidewalk, driveway, or other hardscape improvement is constructed or reconstructed within eight feet of an existing tree that will remain, a root barrier must be installed along the improvement unless the Director determines that installation would cause greater damage to the tree than it would prevent. This provides flexibility to protect both existing trees and adjacent infrastructure based on site-specific conditions.
To ensure the requirements are implemented in the field, the location, type, and dimensions of required root barriers must be shown on applicable landscape and improvement plans, and installation must be verified before the City accepts the Certificate of Completion. The Ordinance also allows engineered alternatives, such as structural soil or suspended pavement systems, where a licensed landscape architect or certified arborist demonstrates that the alternative will provide equal or greater protection to the improvement and equal or greater rooting volume for the tree.
The root barrier requirements apply consistently regardless of who installs the street tree. New Section 12.20.070 applies whether installation is performed by the City, a developer, a contractor, or an abutting property owner and applies to street trees fronting residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial properties. Street trees within the public right-of-way will continue to require City approval as to species and location, and approval may not be given unless the required root barrier is provided.
The Ordinance also establishes clear enforcement and corrective measures using the City’s existing enforcement framework rather than creating a separate enforcement system for root barriers. Violations remain subject to the penalty provisions of Chapter 1.12 and administrative citation procedures under Chapter 1.16. Each day a violation continues constitutes a separate violation, and importantly, each tree planted, replaced, or relocated without a required root barrier constitutes a separate violation.
A violation may also be treated as a public nuisance and abated under Chapter 8.28, including recovery of applicable abatement costs. Where a tree has been installed without a required root barrier, the Director may require the responsible party to remove and reinstall the tree with a conforming barrier or install a conforming barrier through another method acceptable to the Director. These remedies are cumulative and supplement other remedies and existing liability provisions of the Municipal Code.
The Ordinance further addresses the State’s nonfunctional turf requirements. Beginning January 1, 2027, potable water may not be used to irrigate nonfunctional turf on City-owned property or property within a landscape maintenance district or lighting maintenance district maintained by the City, subject to applicable State exceptions. No new nonfunctional turf may be installed in landscapes subject to Chapter 8.50, and the Director will complete an inventory of City-owned or maintained turf and report to the City Council with a schedule for conversion of nonfunctional turf.
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Together, the proposed Ordinance and Resolution establishes a modernized and coordinated framework for landscape design, water efficiency, tree planting, and infrastructure protection.
The updates are intended to reduce water waste, improve consistency in landscape design and installation, provide clearer requirements for developers and property owners, support a healthy urban forest, and proactively protect the City’s long-term investment in streets, sidewalks, utilities, and other public infrastructure.
The proposed Ordinance and adoption of the updated Design Standards are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15307, 15308, and 15061(b)(3), as more fully set forth in the Ordinance.
Attachment:
Ordinance Amending Chapters 8.30 8.50 etc. Relating to Landscaping and Irrigation Resolution Adopting Landscape Irrigation Design Standards