§ 22-23. Definitions.

As used in this article, the following words and terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

Architectural planter means a permanent container within which plantings may be placed to meet the requirements of this article.

Board means the Board of County Commissioners of Okaloosa County, Florida.

Board of adjustment means the Okaloosa County Board of Adjustment appointed in accordance with the provisions of Ordinance No. 83-19 or any amendments thereto, also known as the Okaloosa County Zoning Ordinance.

Crown means the main point of branching or foliage of a tree or plant.

Crown spread means the distance measured across the greatest diameter of a plant.

Developed area means the portion of a plot or parcel of land, excluding public right-of-way, upon which a building, structure, pavement, landscape material, or other improvements have been placed.

Drop-line means the outer perimeter of the crown of a plant.

Encroachment means the protrusion of a vehicle outside of a parking space, display area, storage area, accessway, or access aisle into a landscaped area.

Ground cover means natural mulch or low growing plants other than deciduous varieties installed to form a continuous cover over the ground.

Interior area means the entire parcel to be developed exclusive of the front, perimeter landscape areas.

Landscape means the placement of landscape material in the planting area in accordance with the requirements of this article, or undisturbed areas of natural vegetation, areas which may be used for drainage.

Landscape material means living material including, but not limited to, trees, shrubs, vines, lawn grass, ground cover; landscape water features; and nonliving durable material commonly used in landscaping, including but not limited to, rocks, pebbles, sand, prairie film, brick pavers, earthen mounds, but excluding impervious surfaces for vehicular use. Fifty percent of such area shall be living.

New construction means any development for which an application for a building permit must be made prior to the initiation of any improvements. Also, in the case of vehicular use paving, any preparation or pavement (asphalt or concrete) of a site intended for any type of vehicular use begun after the effective date of this article.

Planting area means any area designed for landscape material installation having a minimum of 50 square feet; a minimum depth, as measured perpendicular to the adjacent property line, of five feet, and consisting of suitable growing medium with proper drainage.

Redevelopment means the demolition or removal of the principal structure or more than 50 percent of the impervious surface of a site.

Shade tree means any self-supporting woody plant of a species that is well shaped, well branched and well foliated which normally grows to an overall height of at least 25 feet and normally develops an average mature spread of crown greater than 20 feet in Okaloosa County, Florida. (A listing of suggested shade trees shall be maintained by the county and made available for reference in the county offices.)

Shrub means a woody perennial plant differing from a perennial herb by its persistent and woody stems and from a tree by its low stature and habit of branching from the base.

Tree means any self-supporting, woody plant of a species which normally grows to an overall height of at least 12 feet and normally develops an average mature spread of crown greater than 12 feet in the Okaloosa County area of Florida.

Vehicular use area means any ground surface area, excepting public rights-of-way, used by any type of vehicle whether moving or at rest for the purposes of, including but not limited to, driving, parking, loading, unloading, storage, or display, such as, but not limited to, new and used car lots, activities of a drive-in nature in connection with banks, restaurants, filling stations, grocery and dairy stores, and other vehicular uses under, on, or within buildings.

Vines means any of a group of woody or herbaceous plants which may climb by twining, or which normally require support to reach mature form.

Visual screen means a barrier of living or nonliving landscape material put in place for the purpose of separating and obscuring from view those areas so screened.

(Ord. No. 85-38, § 2, 9-3-85)