Draft chapter 169: Screening and Buffering Standards
§ 169.03 General Requirements
The 2026 draft's § 169.03 beside the current code's Zoning § 17.03: 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 (91% 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 § 17.03 General Requirements
A. Permitted Plant Species: Table 17-2, located at the end of section 17.06 of this section, lists the various plant species that are allowed to be used to satisfy screening and buffering requirements. These plants were chosen because of characteristics, such as hardiness, growth rate, type and density of foliage, and mature height. Deviations from the listed plants are allowed if the replacement shrubs are similar in form or hardiness to a permitted variety and are approved by the City.
B. Landscape Plans Required: When provisions of this section are applicable, a landscaping plan must be submitted with the request for a building permit, which, in addition to the information normally required, must indicate the following:
1. The size and location of required planting areas.
2. The estimated mature height of required plantings, both preserved and proposed.
3. The common and scientific names of any required shrubs, including any shrubs preserved in lieu of new plantings.
4. On the plan, preserved shrubs must be distinguished from new shrubs.
2026 draft
§ 169.03 General Requirements
1. Permitted Plant Species. The table in Section 169.08 lists the various plant species that are allowed to be used to satisfy screening and buffering requirements. These plants were chosen because of characteristics, such as hardiness, growth rate, type and density of foliage, and mature height. Deviations from the listed plants are allowed if the replacement shrubs are similar in form or hardiness to a permitted variety and are approved by the City.
2. Landscape Plans Required. When provisions of this section are applicable, a landscaping plan shall be submitted with the request for a Building Permit, which, in addition to the information normally required, shall indicate the following:
A. The size and location of required planting areas.
B. The estimated mature height of required plantings, both preserved and proposed.
C. The common and scientific names of any required shrubs, including any shrubs preserved in lieu of new plantings.
D. On the plan, preserved shrubs must be distinguished from new shrubs.
Back to draft chapter 169 · All changes
Data last updated October 22, 2026. Built from the archive's documents; see how the data is built.