The FY 2027 tentative budget includes a proposed tax rate increase. Details are available in the Property Tax Impact Schedule. Full budget documents can be found on the budget page. Public hearings will be held during City Council meetings on June 9, June 23, and Aug. 11.

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City of West Jordan

Residential Landscape Design Guide

This guide is an aid for homeowners when installing landscaping on their property. Many of the examples in this guide have been prepared by or were created in collaboration with Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (JVWCD).

Visit the JVWCD website for more landscaping ideas at jvwcd.org/public/conservation.

It is the intent to allow homeowners as much flexibility as possible in the design and installation of their landscaping by eliminating as many requirements as possible. Some recommendations for residential landscaping are detailed on the following pages.

Table of Contents

Yard Areas

  • The front, side and rear yards can have any combination of ornamental plants, vegetable plants, perennials, shrubs, trees, groundcover, gravel, mulch, rocks, pavers, ornamental concrete, water features or lawn. Lawn is not required to be used on any residential lot. Artificial turf is allowed.
  • At maturity it is recommended that there is enough plant material to create at least a 50% living plant cover. The plant cover helps slow evaporation and drying of the soil.
  • At least 3-4 inches of some type of mulch should be used in planting beds to control weeds, slow evaporation and improve the appearance of the landscaping.
  • It is recommended that paths less than 8 feet wide or slopes greater than 4:1 grade be planted with plants other than lawn or be mulched or paved.

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Irrigation

  • For efficiency, irrigation should match the type of plants being used. Drip irrigation or bubblers are best for ornamentals, vegetable gardens, shrubs, and trees. Sprinklers are best for lawns.
  • For maximum efficiency and ease of maintenance, drip irrigation systems should be equipped with a pressure regulator, filter, and flush-end assembly.
  • To control waste of water if an irrigation system is installed, some type of “smart” irrigation controller that automatically adjusts the frequency and/or duration of irrigation cycles in response to rain should be used.

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Park Strips

  • For new construction only. Lawn shall not be installed in park strips. For existing homes where lawn is already planted, it can be maintained or replaced.
  • Any combination of ornamental plants, shrubs, herbaceous perennial, and ground cover plants are allowed in the park strip.
  • Plants or trees in all park strips should be regularly irrigated to maintain the health of the plants. If an irrigation system is installed, use a drip system or bubblers.
  • Trees planted in the park strip shall be selected from the City of West Jordan street tree list.
  • Bark mulch and/or gravel may be used as mulch for plants or as the sole park strip treatment.
  • Ornamental/stamped concrete can be used as the sole park strip treatment.
  • Landscaping within the site right of way and in setback areas adjacent to street intersections and driveways shall adhere to the intersection sight triangle requirements of 13-8-4 of this title.
  • Retaining walls, fences, steps, and other similar structural encroachments are prohibited, unless specifically approved by the city.

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Localscapes

Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District has developed a landscape design called Localscapes. This design provides for a water efficient, attractive, and functional residential landscape. It is recommended that Localscapes be used as much as possible in the design of new and rehabilitated landscapes. For more information go to Localscapes.com.

  • If size permits, the landscaped areas of the front yard and back yard shall include a designed Central Open Shape created by using lawn, hardscape, groundcover, gravel, or mulch.
  • Gathering Areas shall be constructed of hardscape and placed outside of the Central Open Shape. In a landscape without lawn, Gathering Areas may function as the Central Open Shape.
  • Activity Zones shall be located outside of the Central Open Shape and shall be surfaced with materials other than lawn.
  • Paths shall be made with materials that do not include lawn, such as hardscape, mulch, or other groundcover.
  • Lawn areas shall not exceed the greater of 250 square feet, or 35% of the Total Landscaped Area.
  • Small residential lots, which have no back yards, which the Total Landscaped Area is less than 250 square feet, and which the front yard dimensions cannot accommodate the minimum 8 feet wide lawn area are exempt from the 8 feet minimum width lawn area requirement.
A
Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District Localscapes sample landscape plan.

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Examples of Landscape Treatments That Can Be Used

A landscaped front yard with a small tree, yellow flowers, green shrubs, and purple plants. Mulch covers one area, and decorative stones fill another. A brick house and a large green lawn are seen in the background.
Combination of plants and mulch.
A modern house with stone columns features a landscaped front yard containing large rocks, a water fountain stone, small plants, and mulch bordered by clean concrete walkways.
Combination of plants and hardscape.
Two-story brick house with a dark gray roof, double garage, covered front porch, landscaped yard with rocks and young trees, and a curved driveway on a sunny day.
Combination of plants, lawn, and mulch.
A lush front yard garden with a variety of flowering plants, shrubs, and greenery featuring a stone path leading to the entrance of a gray house with white trim and a blue door.
Ornamental plants only.
A front yard with drought-tolerant landscaping featuring gravel, rocks, small bushes, grasses, and shrubs bordered by a low stone wall in front of a light-colored house with blue shutters.
Additional landscape treatment example.

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Small Lot Landscaping

Small residential lots, which have no back yards, which the total landscaped area is less than 250 square feet, and which the front yard dimensions cannot accommodate a minimum 8 feet wide lawn area, are exempt from the 8 feet minimum width lawn area requirement.

A small tree is planted in a well-maintained grassy area between two driveways in front of townhouses, with shrubs and flowers bordering the walkway and steps leading to a red front door.
Example of small lot landscaping.
A well-maintained front yard garden with colorful flowers, green shrubs, and small trees bordered by a stone pathway and mulch in front of a house with stone and wood siding.
Example of small lot landscaping.

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Park Strip Landscaping Examples for Single-Family Homes

Bark mulch and/or gravel may be used as mulch for plants or as the sole park strip treatment.

Lawn is prohibited in park strips. Any combination of ornamental plants, shrubs, herbaceous perennial, and ground cover plants are allowed in the park strip.

A collage of three xeriscaped yards featuring low-water plants, decorative rocks, mulch, and a meandering stone path designed for sustainable landscaping and minimal lawn area.
Example: Bark mulch and/or gravel in a park strip.
A garden bed along a sidewalk features dense plantings of yellow flowers, tall grasses, and purple blooms with splashes of red flowers and lush greenery.
Example: Ornamental plants, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and ground cover plants.
A sidewalk with cracks and rectangular cutouts, each planted with tall ornamental grass along the curb next to a street and green lawns.
Example: Ornamental concrete.
Side-by-side comparison of two sidewalks: the left has colored brick pavers in a strip along concrete; the right features large stone slabs with green ground cover and purple flowers growing between them.
Example: Pavers.

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Intersection and Driveway Sight Triangle

Landscaping within the site right of way and in setback areas adjacent to street intersections and driveways shall adhere to the intersection sight triangle requirements of 13-8-4 of this title.

A diagram of a property lot showing labeled areas including rear yard, side yard, corner side yard, front yard, parkstrip, and a clear vision area marked with red lines at a street corner alongside measurements in feet.
Intersection and driveway sight triangle diagram.

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Approved Street Trees

The trees in this guide are divided into four different classes. Each class contains trees of varying height, width, and spacing required for each tree. The class signifies where it is proper to plant each class of tree. The classes further designate where it would be suitable to plant each particular species of tree.

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Classes of Trees

Class I

These are smaller trees, which normally do not reach a large height or trunk diameter. Most can be planted under or near power lines and in parking strips that are a minimum of four feet wide. The best spacing between Class I trees is 20 to 30 feet.

Class II

These are trees that are typically considered medium sized and are normally planted for shade and/or aesthetic contributions. These trees are not to be planted under or near power lines, or in parking strips that are less than six feet wide. The usual spacing for a Class II tree is 25 to 30 feet.

Class III

Many of these trees are long lived; achieve a very large height, and trunk diameter. When choosing a tree from this class, be definite that there is sufficient area for the tree at maturity. These trees are not for planting near or under power lines, or parking strips that are less than ten feet wide. Typical spacing for a Class III tree is 30 feet or more.

Notable Trees

These trees can be purchased and planted in yards, but they are not approved for planting in parking strips or around power lines. Although the trees are not encouraged by the city, they are a fascinating feature of the city.

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Approved Tree List

Class I

  • Acer buergeranum — Trident Maple
  • Acer campestre — Hedge Maple
  • Acer ginnala — Amur Maple
  • Acer grandidentatum — Bigtooth Maple
  • Acer griseum — Paperbark Maple
  • Acer truncatum — Norwegian Sunset Maple
  • Acer tataricum — Tatarian Maple
  • Aesculus pavia — Red Buckeye
  • Albizia julibrissin — Silk Tree
  • Amelanchier utahensis rosaceae — Serviceberry
  • Cercis canadensis — Eastern Redbud
  • Crataegus laevigata — English Hawthorn
  • Crataegus x lavallei — Lavalle Hawthorn
  • Crataegus phaenopyrum — Washington Hawthorn
  • Koelreuteria paniculata — Goldenrain Tree
  • Prunus cerasifera — Flowering Plum
  • Prunus serrulata — Flowering Cherry
  • Prunus virginiana — Flowering Chokecherry
  • Malus spp. — Spring Snow Flowering Crabapple
  • Syringa reticulata — Japanese Tree Lilac

Class II

  • Acer platanoides — Norway Maple
  • Acer psuedoplatanus — Sycamore Maple
  • Acer nigrum — Black Maple
  • Alnus glutinosa — European Alder
  • Betula x ‘Avalzam’ — Avalanche Birch
  • Carpinus betulus — European Hornbeam
  • Celtis occinentalis — Common Hackberry
  • Cladrastis kentuckea Lutea fabaceae-lugume — Yellowwood
  • Fagus sylvatica — Dawych Beech “Purpurea Tricolor”
  • Fagus sylvatica — European Beech
  • Ginkgo biloba — Ginkgo / Maidenhair Tree
  • Gleditsia triacanthos — Honeylocust
  • Gymnocladus dioicus — Kentucky Coffeetree
  • Liquidambar styraciflua — Sweetgum
  • Metasequoia glypstroboides — Dawn Redwood
  • Morus alba — Fruitless White Mulberry
  • Sorbus americana — Mountain Ash
  • Taxodium distichum — Bald Cypress
  • Tillia cordata — Littleleaf Linden

Class III

  • Aesculus hippocastanum — Common Horsechestnut
  • Catalpa speciosa — Northern Catalpa
  • Liriodendron tulipifera — Tulip Tree / Poplar
  • Fagus grandifolia — American Beech
  • Platanus x acerifolia — London Planetree
  • Quercus bicolor — Swamp White Oak
  • Quercus macrocarpa — Bur Oak
  • Quercus robur — English Oak
  • Quercus rubra — Red Oak
  • Tilia americana — American Linden
  • Tilia tomentosa — Silver Linden
  • Ulmus americana — American Elm
  • Ulmus parvifolia — Lacebark Elm
  • Zelkova serrata — Japanese Zelkova

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Prohibited Trees for Street Planting

The following trees are not to be planted in any parking strip without the written approval of the Urban Forester. Many should not be planted at all, due to over planting and/or impending disease. These trees display characteristics including, but not limited to, extreme insect or disease predisposition, soft or weak wood, and/or inadequate heat and/or cold hardiness. These problems often cause excessive maintenance cost, hazards to other trees, and prospective public safety hazards.

  • Boxelder Maple
  • Silver Maple
  • Tree of Heaven
  • Russian Olive
  • Evergreens
  • Sunburst Honeylocust
  • Thorned Honeylocust
  • Cottonwood, Aspen, and Poplars
  • Orchard Trees
  • Purple Robe Locust
  • Black Locust
  • Willow
  • Siberian Elm

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aerial view of West Jordan neighborhood