City proposes long overdue changes to front yard landscape codes

By Leslie Goodbody
Viewpoint Staff Writer

What if someone told you that you couldn't plant certain types of flowers in your front yard? Worse-what if you received a citation for growing herbs and lemons in your front yard?

Current landscaping requirements for single- and two-family residential housing dictate that front yards shall be "landscaped, irrigated, and maintained with primarily low ground cover or turf." A regulation this ambiguous is bound to be ignored.

In fact, City of Sacramento Code Enforcement estimates that 75% of Sacramento front yards are out of compliance. In a recent Capital Public Radio interview, City Enforcer Ron O'Connor confided that he does not go looking for front yard infractions but only responds to complaints.

The topic of front yard freedom moved to the front page when an East Sacramento resident was fined $800 for growing a combination of flowers, vegetables and herbs in her front yard. This spectacle elevated the issue and forced the city to re-evaluate their antiquated code.

Council Member Steve Cohn joined by council members Sandy Sheedy, Robbie Waters and Lauren Hammond, formed a Law and Legislation Committee to tackle how to best reshape the city's front yard code. Together they came up with a proposal that would allow growing annuals, perennials, grass and other diverse landscaping, but would limit fruits and vegetables to 30% of the landscaped setback area and limit their height to four feet (with the exception of fruit trees).

Many people, including Kim Glazzard of Sacramento Citizens for Sustainable Landscaping, wonder about the rationale behind the proposed limitations on fruit and vegetable growth, especially when no height restrictions are proposed for non-edible plants and shrubs. In a radio interview, Cohn indicated that the proposed limitations represent an arbitrary compromise that the Law and Legislation Committee came up with to address concerns about trashy, unkempt yards that could bring down property values. Cohn, however, feels that the new code should focus on nuisances and not single out fruits and vegetables for additional legislation.

The proposed legislation was discussed at-length at a recent planning commission meeting. Public comments persuaded the commission to recommended removing the percent and height limitations on edibles. The city council will consider the legislation in February. Cohn feels that, because the legislation sans limitations aligns with the city's sustainability goals, the city council should be supportive as well. Citizens for Sustainable Landscaping are urging people to call, write and visit their council member and attend the city council meeting in February.

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