If you are building on your property, you may need to install landscaping. This requirement applies to various types of development, including commercial, industrial, multifamily, and single-family homes. 

Commercial and Industrial Development

Step 1: Determine if You Need to Install Landscaping

You generally must install landscaping if you are constructing a new building, adding to an existing building, or building a parking lot in a commercial or industrial zone. 

To find how much of your development site must be landscaped, find the zoning of your property. The minimum landscaping requirements are as follows: 

• Commercial Office (CO), Retail Commercial (CR), General Commercial (CG), Industrial Commercial (IC), and Industrial Park (IP): 15 percent
• Industrial Business Campus (IBC): 20 percent

Step 2: Determine What Type of Landscaping to Install

In most cases, you need to install at least one plant unit for every 20 square feet of landscaped area. The table below shows the different types of plants and their corresponding plant unit values. 

At least 40 percent of your required plant units must include a mix of mature trees, shade trees, evergreen or conifer trees, or ornamental trees. Additionally, plants must cover at least 75 percent of your required landscaped area within five years. 

Plants and Minimum Plant Unit Values

Note: The caliper of a tree is the diameter of its trunk measured one foot above ground level. For multi-trunk trees, the caliper is the average diameter of all trunks.  

Step 3: Submit Plans

If landscaping is required, you must submit a landscaping plan and irrigation plan when applying for your building permit. Your landscaping plan should include the type and size of plants and how much of your site they are expected to cover in five years. You can find the complete list of requirements in Salem Revised Code Chapter 807.

Planning staff will review your landscaping and irrigation plans to ensure that all requirements are met. 

Step 4: Maintain Your Landscaping

After your landscaping is installed, you should maintain the trees and shrubs on your property.

Multifamily Development

All proposed multifamily developments with five or more dwelling units in Salem must go through a design review process. They must meet various design standards and guidelines, which include landscaping requirements such as providing landscaping in parking lots and around the property's perimeter. You can find the full list of design standards and guidelines in Salem Revised Code Chapter 702. If you have questions about the design review process and requirements, please contact the Planning Division.

After your landscaping is installed, you should maintain the trees and shrubs on your property.

Single-Family and Middle Housing Development

If you plan to build a new single-family home or middle housing on a lot, your property must have a minimum number of trees based on its size at the time of final completion. The table below outlines these requirements. If your property does not have enough trees, you must plant additional trees. These trees must have a minimum caliper of 1.5 inches. The caliper is measured at 6 inches above the ground for trunks up to 4 inches in diameter and 1 foot above the ground for larger trunks. 

Tree Planting Requirements

There are no additional landscaping requirements for constructing single-family homes or middle housing. If you want to cut down a tree on your property, please contact the Planning staff to find out if you need a permit or other approval.