Draft chapter 168: Landscaping and Tree Standards
§ 168.04 Protection And Maintenance
The 2026 draft's § 168.04 beside the current code's Zoning § 16.05: removed words are struck through, added words underlined.
Comparison with a draft: not adopted. The archive holds no public hearing, ordinance or vote adopting the recodified Code through the October 20, 2026 meeting packet. Until one is adopted, every page here compares the consolidated code with a draft that can still change: the revised draft with the October 6 changes is not in the archive.
A comparison with the August 2026 draft recodification prepared by Iowa Codification for the City. The draft has not been adopted and can still change; the current code (unofficial compilation) governs until a recodified Code is adopted. Matches between sections are made by machine from the texts and are reviewed where uncertain.
Renumbered or moved wording changed (90% same words)
What changed
Word-level comparison of the current text with the draft's; spacing and paragraph breaks come from the documents' text. Footnotes are left out.
Current code
Zoning § 16.05 Protection And Maintenance
A. The provisions of this section apply to all plantings required by the zoning ordinance, whether newly planted or preserved.
B. Required planting areas must be separated from abutting vehicular use areas, including parking spaces, drives, aisles, alleys, vehicle display and loading areas, etc., by an unmountable curb or barrier that is a minimum of five inches (5") in height. The curb or barrier must be constructed in such a manner that salt water runoff will not damage the tree or plantings.
C. The property owner must keep all trees properly maintained, pruned as needed, and free from trash and litter. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain and replace trees and plantings required by the zoning ordinance. Required landscaping must be continuously maintained in a healthy manner. Plants that die must be replaced. Improper maintenance, pruning, or removal of plantings may be subject to municipal infraction proceedings, up to and including environmental infraction proceedings. Any preserved tree that has been improperly maintained, pruned, or removed may be required to be replaced by the same number of trees for which it substituted.
D. Any trees that overhang the public right of way must be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 16.09, "Trees and Plant Materials", of this code.
E. Maintenance of trees within street rights of way will be the responsibility of the City.
2026 draft
§ 168.04 Protection And Maintenance
1. The provisions of this section apply to all plantings required by the Zoning Code, whether newly planted or preserved.
2. Required planting areas shall be separated from abutting vehicular use areas, including parking spaces, drives, aisles, alleys, vehicle display, and loading areas, etc., by an unmountable curb or barrier that is a minimum of five inches in height. The curb or barrier shall be constructed in such a manner that saltwater runoff will not damage the tree or plantings.
3. The property owner shall keep all trees properly maintained, pruned as needed, and free from trash and litter. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain and replace trees and plantings required by the Zoning Code. Required landscaping shall be continuously maintained in a healthy manner. Plants that die shall be replaced. Improper maintenance, pruning, or removal of plantings shall be subject to municipal infraction proceedings, up to and including environmental infraction proceedings. Any preserved tree that has been improperly maintained, pruned, or removed shall be required to be replaced by the same number of trees for which it substituted.
4. Any trees that overhang the public right-of-way shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of Section 168.08.
5. Maintenance of trees within street rights-of-way shall be the responsibility of the City.
Back to draft chapter 168 · All changes
Data last updated October 22, 2026. Built from the archive's documents; see how the data is built.