By R. LEWIS
Water conservation is a main concern in regards to landscaping of new single family residential area houses in Austin. I read on a weekly communication from my trade association T.N.L.A. (Texas Nursery Landscaping Association) that the city of Austin is considering new landscaping requirements for building new single family residential homes. The new ordinance would allow only 50% of the open landscaping area for turf grasses.
Along with that, it restricts the allowable irrigation to that same limited space. The rest of 50% open landscape area would need to be planted with native plants, trees and grasses from an approved plant list from the city and the Austin water board. Also on the ordinance is the requirement of pressure-regulated devices on all sprinkler heads.
Irrigation systems are already required to be inspected and the City of Austin requires that new builds have six inches of de-compacted topsoil containing 20% compost and for mulch beds to be at least two to three inches deep.
Another possible requirement may be to install plumbing to allow clothes washing water to be used for landscape irrigation, if the washers are next to an exterior wall.
The estimated increase to the building of a new home meeting these new requirements would be $10,200 and an increase of the permit fee by $65. These are interesting new changes for an area that is nearly out of water.
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