§ 656.1203. Definitions.

For purposes of this Part, in addition to the following terms or words, the definitions provided for in Part 16 shall apply. If the definitions contained in this Section at any time conflict with the definitions contained in Part 16, the more restrictive definition(s) shall apply. As used in this Part:

(a)

Annual consumptive use means the yearly amount of water applied to the landscape.

(b)

Automatic controller means a mechanical or electronic timer, capable of operating valve stations to set the days and length of time of a water application.

(c)

Bona-fide agricultural purposes means the use of land for bona fide agricultural purposes as described in F.S. § 193.461, provided the land is classified for assessment purposes by the property appraiser as "agricultural", pursuant to F.S. Ch. 193.

(d)

Buffer yard or strip means a strip of land, identified on a site plan or by zoning ordinance requirement, established to protect one type of land use from another land use that may be incompatible. The area is landscaped, maintained and kept in open space.

(e)

Caliper means the trunk diameter of planted trees. Caliper shall be measured six inches above the ground for trees up to and including four inches in caliper, and measured 12 inches above the ground for trees exceeding four inches in caliper. If the tree has a very enlarged irregular base, then the caliper measurement shall be taken up where the trunk has a more regular circumference, but in no case higher than four and one-half feet above the ground. If the tree forks between ground level and one foot above ground level, then the tree shall be considered a multi-trunked tree. Caliper for multi-trunked trees shall be determined by measuring each trunk immediately above the fork and adding the total caliper of the four largest trunks. (See also and compare definition of DBH in subsection (nn) of this Section.)

(f)

Cultivated landscape area means planted areas that are frequently maintained by mowing, irrigating, pruning, fertilizing, etc.

(g)

Development means any proposed material change in the use or character of the land, including, but not limited to, land clearing associated with new construction, the placement of any structure or site improvement on the land, or expansion of existing buildings.

(h)

Drip line means a vertical line extending from the outermost branches of a tree to the ground.

(i)

Ecosystem means a characteristic assemblage of plant and animal life with a specific physical environment, and all interactions among species and between species and their environment.

(j)

Emitter devices means devices which are used to control the applications of irrigation water. This term is primarily used to refer to the low flow rate devices used in microirrigation systems.

(k)

Ground cover means a low-growing herbaceous or woody plant other than turf, not over two feet high, used to cover the ground.

(l)

Hedge means a landscape barrier consisting of a continuous, dense planting of shrubs.

(m)

Infiltration rate means the rate of water entry into the soil expressed as a depth of water per unit of time (inches per hour).

(n)

Irrigation system means a permanent, artificial watering system designed to transport and distribute water to plants.

(o)

Landscaped area means the entire parcel less the building footprint, driveway, nonirrigated portions of parking lots, hardscapes such as decks and patios, and other nonporous areas. Water features are included in the calculation of the landscaped area.

(p)

Landscaping means any combination of living plants (such as grass, groundcover, shrubs, vines, hedges, or trees) and nonliving landscape material (such as rocks, pebbles, sand, mulch, walls or fences).

(q)

Microirrigation (low volume) means the frequent application of small quantities of water directly on or below the soil surface, usually as discrete drops, tiny streams, or miniature sprays through emitters placed along the water delivery pipes (laterals). Microirrigation encompasses a number of methods or concepts including drip, subsurface bubbler, and spray irrigation.

(r)

Mulch means nonliving organic materials customarily used in landscape design to retard erosion and retain moisture.

(s)

Native vegetation. See Vegetation, native.

(t)

Naturally occurring existing plant communities. See Vegetation, native.

(u)

Open space means all areas of natural plant communities or areas replanted with vegetation after construction, such as revegetated natural areas; tree, shrub, hedge or ground cover planting areas; and lawns, and all other areas required to be provided as natural ground and landscaping pursuant to the Zoning Code.

(v)

Perimeter landscape means a continuous area of land which is required to be set aside along the perimeter of a lot in which landscaping is used to provide a transition between and to reduce the environmental, aesthetic and other impacts of one type of land use upon another.

(w)

Pervious paving materials means a porous asphaltic or concrete surface and a high-void aggregate base which allows for rapid infiltration and temporary storage of rain on, or runoff delivered to, paved surfaces.

(x)

Plant community means a natural association of plants that are dominated by one or more prominent species, or a characteristic physical attribute.

(y)

Preserve areas means vegetative areas required to be preserved under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, St. Johns River Water Management District and/or the United States Army Corps of Engineers or other regulatory agencies.

(z)

Reserved.

(aa)

Runoff water means water from rainfall and irrigation systems which is not absorbed by the soil or landscape to which it is applied and flows from the area, often contaminated with pesticides, fertilizers, and other pollutants.

(bb)

Protected tree includes all of the following:

(1)

Private protected tree means any tree with a DBH of six inches or more located on any lot within 20 feet of a street right-of-way (including an approved private street or other access easement) or a tree with a DBH of eight inches or more located within ten feet of any other property line, or a tree with a DBH of 11.5 inches or more located elsewhere on the lot.

(2)

Public protected tree means any tree located on lands owned by the City, or other governmental agencies or authorities, or any land upon which easements are imposed for the benefit of the City, or other governmental agencies or authorities, or upon which other ownership control may be exerted by the City, or other governmental agencies or authorities, including rights-of-way, parks, public areas and easements for drainage, sewer, water and other public utilities, with:

(i)

A DBH of six inches or more located within a City or other governmental right-of-way, or

(ii)

A DBH of six inches or more and located on any lot within 20 feet of a street right-of-way, or

(iii)

A DBH of eight inches or more located on any lot within ten feet of any other property line, or

(iv)

A DBH of 11.5 inches or more located elsewhere on the lot.

(3)

Exceptional specimen tree means any hardwood tree with a DBH of 24 inches or greater.

(cc)

Scenic and historic corridors means any street right-of-way, including approved private streets, which is so designated by the Council, pursuant to the procedures hereinafter established and adopted by Council, as a result of its special historic, architectural, archaeological, aesthetic or cultural interest and value to the citizens of Jacksonville. The Chief shall maintain a list which specifies the location and boundaries of all corridors so designated.

(dd)

Shrub means a self-supporting woody perennial plant characterized by multiple stems and branches continuous from the base naturally growing to a mature height between two and 12 feet.

(ee)

Site specific plant means a selection of plant material that is particularly well suited to withstand the physical growing conditions that are normal for a specific location.

(ff)

Soil texture means the classification of soil based on the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in the soil.

(gg)

Tree means a self-supporting woody plant having a single trunk or a multi-trunk of lower branches, growing to a mature height of at least 12 feet in northeast Florida.

(hh)

Tree palm means an evergreen plant of the Palmaceae family cold hardy in northeast Florida having a single trunk and terminal crown of large pinnate or fan-shaped leaves.

(ii)

Turfgrass means continuous plant coverage consisting of grass species suited to growth in the City of Jacksonville.

(jj)

Understory means assemblages of natural low-level woody, herbaceous, and ground cover species which exist in the area below the canopy of the trees.

(kk)

Vegetation, native means any plant species with a geographic distribution indigenous to all or part of the State of Florida.

(ll)

Water use zone means a grouping of sprays, sprinklers, or microirrigation emitters so that they can be operated simultaneously by the control of one valve according to the water requirements of the plants used.

(mm)

Florida-Friendly means a type of landscaping that maximizes the conservation of water by the use of site-appropriate plants - right plant in the right place methodology, efficient watering systems, appropriate fertilization, mulching, attraction of wildlife, responsible management of pests, recycling of yard waste, reduction of stormwater runoff ,and waterfront protection. The principles include planning and design, appropriate choice of plants, soil analysis, the use of solid waste compost, practical use of turf, efficient irrigation, appropriate use of mulches, and proper maintenance.

(nn)

DBH (Diameter Breast Height) means the trunk diameter of an existing tree measured four and one-half feet above the average ground level at the tree base. If the tree forks between four and one-half and two feet above ground level, DBH is measured below the swell resulting from the fork. Trunks that fork below two feet, shall be considered multi-trunk trees. DBH for multi-trunk trees shall be determined by measuring each trunk immediately above the fork and adding the total diameters of the four largest trunks. (See also and compare definition for caliper in subsection (e) of this Section.)

(oo)

Chief means the Chief as designated by the Director of the Planning and Development Department.

(pp)

Shade tree means a species having a height at maturity of at least 45 feet and an average mature crown spread of no less than 30 feet, or trees having an average mature crown spread of less than 30 feet grouped so as to create a total average mature crown spread of no less than 30 feet.

(qq)

Sensor Device means

(1)

Rain sensor device - a low voltage electrical or mechanical component placed in the circuitry of an automatic turfgrass irrigation system which is designed to turn off a sprinkler controller when precipitation has reached a pre-set quantity.

(2)

Soil Moisture sensor device - a low voltage electrical or mechanical component placed in the landscape of an automatic turfgrass irrigation system which is designed to suspend a sprinkler controller from operation when adequate soil moisture is present.

(3)

Weather sensor device -a low voltage electrical or mechanical component placed in the circuitry, either directly or remotely, of an automatic turfgrass irrigation system which is designed to estimate plant water need and adjust a compatible sprinkler controller to apply the appropriate amount of supplemental irrigation.

(rr)

Best Management Practices (BMP) means turf and landscape practices or a combination of practices, based on research, field testing, and expert review, determined to be most effective and practicable on-location means, including economic and technological considerations, for improving water quality, conserving water supplies and protecting natural resources.

(ss)

Pressure Regulating Device means a device that maintains a constant flow and pressure for increased efficiency of irrigation systems. This device shall have a pressure regulating device built into the stem of head or provided in conjunction with the valve. If pressure regulation is derived through the head, it shall be identifiable from the top of the head.

(tt)

Hardscape means areas such as patios, decks, driveways, in-ground swimming pools, paths and sidewalks that do not require irrigation.

(uu)

As-Constructed Sketch means a legible drawing indicating the date of the irrigation system installation, the number of zones, locations of zones, backflow prevention devices, valves, emitter types and locations, controller(s), pressure regulating devices and sensor device(s). The drawing shall represent the irrigation system as it exists at the time of irrigation system completion and shall be prepared by or at the direction of the person installing the system.

(vv)

Irrigation Zone means a grouping of rotors or sprinkler heads or pop-up sprays or micro irrigation emitters or other irrigation system equipment operated simultaneously by the control of one valve.

(ww)

Low Maintenance Zone means an area a minimum of six feet wide adjacent to water courses which is planted and managed in order to minimize the need for fertilization, watering and mowing. See Chapter 366 Part 6 (Fertilizer Application), Ordinance Code.

(xx)

Efficient Irrigation System means irrigation system design, installation, and maintenance that incorporate water efficient strategies and components, including, but not limited to, pressure regulation devices, sensor devices, correct head spacing, minimum areas of zones of matched precipitation rates and BMP.

(yy)

Water Wise Principles means appropriate planning and design, proper choice of plants, soil analysis that may include the use of solid waste compost, efficient irrigation, practical use of turf, appropriate use of mulches, and proper maintenance consistent with Florida Statutes.

(Ord. 91-59-148, § 1; Ord. 93-718-395, § 1; Ord. 97-192-E, § 1; Ord. 1999-775-E, § 1; Ord. 2008-910-E, § 1; Ord. 2009-864-E, § 1)