Landscaping Inspection Checklist Page 1 of 4

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT

910 Cleveland Ave, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 360-336-6214 │ PermitTech@mountvernonwa.gov

LANDSCAPING INSPECTION CHECKLIST

This checklist is required to be completed by a landscape professional. The landscape professional will be required to make multiple visits to the project site both during construction, and after, to be able to provide the information and photos required herein. Failure to have your landscape professional complete these items during construction could result in the City hiring a landscape architect, arborist, or other similarly qualified professional, that will be paid for by the owner or applicant, to complete forensic inspections to ensure the landscaping improvements were made in accordance with the Mount Vernon Municipal Code. The below-listed items must be submitted with this Checklist to be considered a complete submittal. Without the following items the City cannot accept this Checklist.

1. Copy of the original landscape plan with markups indicating ALL changes made as the landscaping was installed not represented on the original plan. This is very important because the owner will be providing a financial security to the City to guarantee for 2-years the health and maintenance of the landscape areas. Before the financial security is released (2-years after the landscaping is installed) the City will complete an inspection to ensure the landscaping is healthy and has been maintained. The site plan provided as part of this Checklist is what the City will use to complete this inspection.

2. Copy of the invoices documenting the type, size and quantity of all landscaping installed. 3. Test results and delivery tickets for all imported soils (i.e. compost, topsoil and mulches). 4. Photo documentation of: 1) the soils imported and amended on the site; 2) the tree wells showing they were

dug to the required depth and diameter; 3) the landscape materials before, during, and after installation.

PROJECT SITE

PERMIT #:

ADDRESS: PARCEL NUMBER(S):

PROPERTY OWNER INFORMATION

NAME:

TELEPHONE: CELL: EMAIL:

LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL

NAME:

ADDRESS:

STREET NUMBER AND NAME CITY STATE ZIP

TELEPHONE: CELL: EMAIL:

Landscaping Inspection Checklist Page 2 of 4

① SITE PREPARATION Initial Each Line Item After Verifying Compliance

Description

Landscape professional to verify debris has been removed from all planting areas.

Landscape professional to verify subgrade is scarified and is ready to receive topsoil.

Landscape professional to verify subgrade is of an adequate depth for placement of topsoil.

Landscape professional to verify ALL planting holes are dug per plans – size and location verified.

② SOILS – BOTH IMPORTED AND AMENDED Initial Each Line Item After Verifying Compliance

Description

Landscape professional to provide a narrative description of the following:

Existing soils on the site; Description of where native soil will remain and where imported soil will be placed; A description of the methods and testing that will be used/completed to ensure that soils meet

the specifications of the landscape plans; A description of the methods or testing that will be used to verify the depth of soils required.

Examples of types of soil testing can be found in the ‘Low Impact Development Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound’ dated December 2012.

Landscape professional to submit copies of soil tests once the testing methods are approved.

Landscape professional to check soils as they are amended and/or when they arrive on the site. Only after the landscape professional approves the soils can they be spread on-site.

Landscape professional to inspect soil delivery tickets for compost, topsoil and mulches. Copies of such to be provided to the City. Tickets shall include: delivery location, total quantities for each soil product and mulch, and product descriptions and sources.

Landscape professional to verify the specified depth of soils in planting areas.

Landscaping Inspection Checklist Page 3 of 4

③ PLANTS BEFORE INSTALLATION Initial Each Line Item After Verifying Compliance

Description

Landscape professional to verify all trees, shrubs, and groundcover are in a healthy condition and there are no signs of disease.

Landscape professional to verify species are consistent with approved plans.

Landscape professional to verify all trees have a single leader (where applicable).

Landscape professional to verify all broken or dead branches have been removed.

④ GRASS/SOD BEFORE INSTALLATION Initial Each Line Item After Verifying Compliance

Description

Landscape professional to verify all sod/grass is healthy and well established.

Landscape professional to verify lawn/grass areas have been graded such that they meet hardscape levels, including sidewalks, driveways and curbing. All grades are uniform and even and stones and debris has been removed.

Landscape professional to verify topsoil to a depth of 2-inches (or as specified by landscape professional) has been placed before any seed or sod is installed.

Landscape professional to verify all seeded areas are protected and held in place until permanent lawn/grass area is established.

Landscape professional to verify all seed/sod installed only after irrigation system is installed, approved, and functioning.

⑤ INSTALLATION OF PLANTS AND SOIL Initial Each Line Item After Verifying Compliance

Description

Landscape professional to verify that all trees are upright, straight and staked per the approved detail. If no detail is provided the City can provide one that will be required.

Landscape professional to verify that all trees, shrubs and groundcover are correctly spaced.

Landscape professional to verify that trees are planted slightly above grade.

Landscape professional to verify that mulch has been placed at the proper depth.

Landscape professional to verify that burlap is removed from the top 1/3rd of rootball.

Landscape professional to verify that all tags are removed.

Landscaping Inspection Checklist Page 4 of 4

⑥ GENERAL LANDSCAPE Initial Each Line Item After Verifying Compliance

Description

Landscape professional to verify that landscape bed edges are uniform and well defined.

Landscape professional to verify there are no weeds, stones, or debris left on-site.

Landscape professional to verify there is no standing water or evidence of poor drainage.

Landscape professional to verify that all walks and driveways are swept clean.

⑦ IRRIGATION / INSTALLATION OF DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTS Initial Each Line Item After Verifying Compliance

Description

Landscape professional to verify that pressure test is completed and results submitted to the City.

Landscape professional to verify that coverage test is completed and results submitted to the City.

Written instructions for the operation of the irrigation system provided to the Owner and the City.

Landscape professional to provide a written description of the irrigation schedule needed for the plant establishment period, established landscaping, temporarily irrigated areas, and different seasons of the year provided to the Owner and the City.

When an irrigation system is not installed, the landscape professional shall provide written instructions for the watering necessary specific to the plants installed to be provided to the Owner and the City.

⑧ OTHER – AS DETERMINED BY THE CITY AND LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL Initial Each Line Item After Verifying Compliance

Description

Landscape professional to check for sight triangle encroachments, i.e., verify the size/location and full grown height of all shrubs and trees within 30 feet of the intersection of all streets (public or private).

Landscape professional to provide an as-planted plan before approval of the site landscaping.

Landscaping professional to verify the installation of other site amenities and to verify they were installed per plan.