Abilene, TX Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)

3 of the Abilene Land Development Code governs the required landscaping installed under an approved General or Final Landscaping Plan. 3 even though the rest of the article does not apply to it. Under subsection (a), grass or other vegetative cover is the default requirement for landscape areas, and non-vegetative pervious cover such as landscaping rock or pervious pavers cannot exceed 15 percent of the required area, though sidewalks and paths within the landscape area do not count against that cap. A 10-foot-wide landscaped strip is required along all street-facing property lines except where a shorter building setback applies, such as in the Central Business District.

Required trees and shrubs are set at one tree plus three shrubs per 500 square feet of landscape area, with additional street trees along arterials and Enhancement Corridors. Subsection (h) requires irrigation by an automatic underground system, a drip system, or an accessible water source within 100 feet of the landscaping, and subsection (j) requires xeriscaping principles, meaning low-water, drought-tolerant plant selection, for all required landscaping. Plant material must meet American Association of Nurserymen standards, trees must be at least 2 inches in caliper at planting, and only species on the Planning Director's Recommended Trees and Shrubs list count toward compliance.