Chandler, AZ Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 35-1906(6)(b)-(c), Chandler Zoning Code
- Standard frontage rate
- 1 tree + 6 shrubs per 30 lineal feet
- Intersection setback rate
- 1 tree + 6 shrubs per 800 sq ft
- Coverage target
- 50% of area in shrubs/ground cover
- Minimum tree size
- 24-inch box (most frontage trees)
Summary
New Chandler developments must fully landscape the front yard and street right-of-way strip between the building and the public sidewalk or curb, and within a standard 20-foot setback the planting rate is fixed: one tree and six shrubs for every 30 lineal feet of frontage, plus enough ground cover to keep half the landscaped area covered in shrubs and ground cover.
1. Front yard/street right-of-way areas: All front yard areas and street right-of-way areas located between developed on-site improvements and the back of existing or future public sidewalks or street curbs, except needed access driveways, shall be fully landscaped. ... 5. Front yard/street right-of-way areas: a. Twenty-foot setback areas: Landscaping shall be provided at a minimum rate of one (1) tree and six (6) shrubs per thirty (30) lineal feet of frontage plus sufficient ground cover, to provide a combined shrub and ground cover coverage of half of the total landscaped area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 35-1906, Chandler's landscaping standard, applies to essentially all new commercial, industrial, multi-family and PAD developments (single-family/duplex/triplex/fourplex projects are excluded) that require a site development plan or subdivision plat. Under subsection (6)(b)1, all front yard areas and street right-of-way strips located between on-site improvements and the back of the public sidewalk or curb, apart from needed driveways, must be fully landscaped, with frontage adjacent to driveway exits and intersections following the sight-visibility rules in City Standard Details C-246, C-247 and C-248. a then sets the numeric planting rate for the standard 20-foot front setback: a minimum of one tree and six shrubs per 30 lineal feet of frontage, plus enough additional ground cover to bring combined shrub-and-ground-cover coverage to at least half of the total landscaped area.
A different, denser rate applies at street-intersection setback areas under Sec. 35-1902(3)(a)2, one tree and six shrubs per 800 square feet. Trees used to meet these frontage counts must also meet the sizing table in Sec. 35-1906(6)(a)3 (24-inch box minimum for most commercial and industrial frontage trees, with escalating shares of 36- and 48-inch box stock) and comply with the low-water-use plant list and Arizona Nursery Association tree specifications referenced in the same section.
Violations & Fines
Front-yard and right-of-way planting counts are verified as part of landscape plan review before a building permit issues, and Sec. 35-1907 withholds a certificate of occupancy until installed landscaping matches the approved plan. A project owner must also carry a plant materials guarantee for at least 60 days after final City approval under Sec. 35-1906(6)(i), with a shortened warranty window for anything approved after October 1 running to the following May.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many street trees does a Chandler commercial project need along its frontage?
Does the tree spacing change near a street intersection in Chandler?
What size trees satisfy Chandler's frontage planting requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chandler
Compare Chandler to another location·View the Arizona tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle parkway planting.