Salt Lake Council legalizes xeriscaping

Salt Lake City residents are now free to xeriscape.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance change reducing the requirements for grasses, trees, shrubs and other approved ground cover in front and side yards.

Under the new ordinance, only one-third of a yard must be landscaped with traditional vegetation like grass and shrubs. The rest can — but is not required to — be covered with more water-wise vegetation and mulches, gravel, rocks, boulders and other ground covers to control weeds.

"There are lots of options available for people that are water-wise," Councilman Eric Jergensen said. "This ordinance is not meant to restrict. It's meant to open up the avenues that are available for people."

Mulch and gravel ground cover must be at least 3 inches deep, and front- and side-yard vegetables must be no taller than 24 inches.

Councilwoman Nancy Saxton backed up the 24-inch requirement — despite some residents' desires to see more height allowed — because she said she has seen some yards with corn and sunflowers in the front yard, and they "look kind of weird."

Xeriscaping — that is, landscaping that favors water conservation over thirsty lawns and other plants — technically has been against the city's landscaping codes, though it has only been enforced when neighbors have complained about xeriscaped yards in disrepair.

Even Mayor Rocky Anderson was in violation of the old landscaping ordinance. The environmentally minded mayor has a xeriscaped yard that did not meet the old minimum lawn and vegetation requirement. However, he was never cited — and now he can rest assured that he won't be.

Two residents spoke at the meeting in favor of the new xeriscaping allowances, noting that the ordinance doesn't require any new landscaping but increases options. They also praised Salt Lake City for setting an example to other cities whose landscaping ordinances currently bar drought-safe yards.

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