Aliso Viejo, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Development projects in the City of Aliso Viejo carry parkway planting duties in AVMC 15.62.060, Landscaping and screening. Subsection (D)(1) treats project street frontages as the first design feature seen by motorists and visitors, so street frontage parkways shall be of ample width and generously landscaped. Landscape plans treat the parkway, including any portion within the public street right-of-way, as one integrated greenbelt. Frontage landscape width follows Table 15.10.030, Residential Development Standards, and Table 15.18.030, Nonresidential Development Standards.

Subsection (D)(2) sets the planting palette: parkway frontages should include sidewalks and/or bicycle-pedestrianways, with trees, shrubs, and either drought-resistant grass or groundcover. Frontage landscaping stays low near project entries to preserve sight lines and ensure traffic safety.

Tree size and spacing come from subsection (L). Trees are a minimum of eight feet high, measured from the top of the container, with at least 30 percent at minimum 24-inch box size. Maximum spacing in parkways, entry drives, street medians, parking lot planter strips, and project boundary strips is an average of 30 feet, and trees can be planted in irregular clusters or at equal intervals as long as that average is met. Shrubs are one gallon minimum with at least 30 percent five-gallon, at an average spacing of 10 feet.

Subsection (M) requires root barriers for trees planted within 15 feet of walls or pavement, and says tree grates should be installed where trees are planted within sidewalks or other paved pedestrian areas. Subsection (H)(3) keeps trees from obstructing views of traffic signs or address numerals, and (H)(2) keeps them from blocking light from outdoor fixtures. Under (J), at least 50 percent of plant material must be drought-tolerant and consistent with the city's approved plant palette, and under (N) all landscaping is maintained in a neat, clean and healthy condition with permanent automatic irrigation.

This section governs project landscape plans. It sets planting standards for development frontages and does not create a separate city street-tree program.