Parking Strip Guidelines

The City encourages the planting of shade trees on the parking strip. However, due to narrow parking strips bound by streets and sidewalks, these planting areas can be challenging for growing.

The City has adopted regulations in order to ensure that the living ground cover planted in this area will be beneficial to the property and city with a minimum of problems for the tree, the property owner, and the City. Trees and plants other than grass that are permitted on the parking strip are selected based on the ability to grow, height of plants, our climate, and its ability to co-exist with required clearances.

Refer to the Street Tree Guide for selecting a tree to grow in your parking strip. Please review the Parking Strip Plantings Brochure before planning your parking strip landscaping as well. You can find more information on the parking strip ordinance by contacting Code Enforcement.

Parking Strip Guidelines

Other Parking Strip Rules

The parking strip must be 5 feet or wider before a tree can be planted.
Trees should be at least 1 inch thick when planted.
Trees should be spaced 40 feet apart and must not be planted under overhead utility lines.
Trees should be placed at least 10 feet from a fire hydrant, 10 feet from a driveway, and 15 feet from a streetlight.
Trees on a corner lot should be planted at least 30 feet from the corner (starting at the curb) or 20 feet away from a stop/yield sign.
Hedges and bushes should be trimmed back to the edge of the sidewalk.
Sioux Falls city ordinance requires a minimum 10 feet of clearance above sidewalks and 12-16 feet over streets. Refer to the Project T.R.I.M. Guide to Trimming Street Trees to learn more.
Plants must be maintained at a height of no more than 36” from the top of the curb.
Neither plants with thorns, spines, or other sharp rigid parts nor evergreen or deciduous shrubs are allowed.
Plant material may not overhang or encroach onto the sidewalk.
Wood mulch may be used only on a limited basis around plantings as a water-conservation measure.
Turf grass must be maintained at a height of no more than 8”.
Boulders and structural encroachments like retaining walls, fences, and steps are prohibited.
Landscaping pavers, edging, and nominal-size rock mulch may be used in up to one quarter (1/4) of the parking strip but can’t spill onto the street or sidewalk.

Allowed plants for parking strip

Most often trees and grass are planted in the parking strip. With the nature of the area, grass may be difficult to maintain in this area, so a TOP 10 PLANTS AND FLOWERS list has been provided below. This list was developed as a recommendation and should not be considered definitive.

Annual Flowers

Annuals

Cone Flowers

Cone Flower

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Creeping Phlox

Creeping Phlox

Iris Flowers

Iris

Mums

Mums

Day Lilies

Daylilies

Pasque Flowers

Pasque

Salvia

Salvia

Perennial Geraniums

Perennial Geranium

Recommended street trees

KEY:

Recommended for areas with modified soils or newer developments with health soil less than 8 inches deep
Trees require a minimum parking strip width of 7 feet.

FAMILY: BETULACEAE

IRONWOOD (2)

Fruit: 1/3 inch nuts in hop-like fruit
Growth Rate: Slow
Lifespan: Short
Shape: Round
Height: 20’ to 40’
Width: 20’
Fall Color: Fair
Salt Tolerance: Poor
Moisture: Dry to moist
Exposure: Shade to full sun

FAMILY: BIGNONIACEAE

NORTHERN CATALPA (1)

Fruit: Long bean-like pods
Growth Rate: Medium
Lifespan: Short
Shape: Oval
Height: >40’
Width: 30’
Fall Color: Poor
Salt Tolerance: Fair
Moisture: Dry to wet
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun

FAMILY: FABACEAE

	AMERICAN YELLOWWOOD (1) Fruit: 2 to 3 inch seed pods Growth Rate: Medium Lifespan: Long Shape: Vase Height: 20’ to 40’ Width: 35’ Fall Color: Fair to excellent Salt Tolerance: Fair Moisture: Dry to moist Exposure: Partial shade to full sun PHOTO COURTESY OF : Pat Breen, Oregon State University
	BLACK LOCUST (1) Fruit: 2 to 4 inch pods Growth Rate: Fast Lifespan: Short Shape: Oval Height: >40’ Width: 30’ Fall Color: Fair Salt Tolerance: Good Moisture: Dry to moist Exposure: Full sun PHOTO COURTESY OF : William A. Hoch
	KENTUCKY COFFEETREE (1) Fruit: Seedless on many cultivars Growth Rate: Medium Lifespan: Medium Shape: Oval Height: >40’ Width: 35’ Fall Color: Good Salt Tolerance: Good Moisture: Dry to moist Exposure: Full sun
	THORNLESS HONEYLOCUST (1) Fruit: Seedless on many cultivars Growth Rate: Fast Lifespan: Medium Shape: Round Height: >40’ Width: 35’ Fall Color: Good Salt Tolerance: Good Moisture: Dry to wet Exposure: Full sun

FAMILY: FAGACEAE

	BUR OAK (1 and 2) Fruit: 3/4 to 1-1/2 inch acorn Growth Rate: Slow Lifespan: Long Shape: Round Height: >40’ Width: 45’ Fall Color: Poor Salt Tolerance: Fair Moisture: Dry to wet Exposure: Full sun
	HERITAGE OAK (Quercus x macdanielli) Fruit: 3/4 inch acorn Growth Rate: Slow Lifespan: Long Shape: Round Height: >40’ Width: 45’ Fall Color: Fair Salt Tolerance: Fair/Good Moisture: Dry to wet Exposure: Full sun
	NORTHERN PIN OAK Fruit: 1/2” acorn Growth Rate: Slow Lifespan: Long Shape: Round Height: >40’ Width: 35’ Fall Color: Excellent Salt Tolerance: Good Moisture: Dry to moist Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
	NORTHERN RED OAK (1) Fruit: 5/8 to 1 inch acorn Growth Rate: Medium Lifespan: Long Shape: Round Height: >40’ Width: 45’ Fall Color: Good Salt Tolerance: Good Moisture: Moist Exposure: Full sun PHOTO COURTESY OF: Sharon A. Yiesla
	SWAMP WHITE OAK (2) Fruit: 3/4 to 1-1/2 inch acorn Growth Rate: Medium Lifespan: Long Shape: Round Height: >40’ Width: 45’ Fall Color: Fair Salt Tolerance: Poor Moisture: Moist to wet Exposure: Full sun

FAMILY: GINKGOACEAE

GINKGO(Ginkgo biloba)

Fruit: Seedless on many cultivars
Growth Rate: Medium
Lifespan: Long
Shape: Pyramidal
Height: >40’
Width: 30’
Fall Color: Fair
Salt Tolerance: Fair
Moisture: Dry to moist
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun

FAMILY: HIPPOCASTANEA

OHIO BUCKEYE

Fruit: 1” nut
Growth Rate: Slow
Lifespan: Medium
Shape: Round
Height: 20’–40’
Width: 30’ Fall
Color: Fair/Excellent
Salt Tolerance: Fair/Good
Moisture: Moist to wet
Exposure: Partial shade

FAMILY: JUGLANDACEAE

BLACK WALNUT

Fruit: 1.5”–2” nut
Growth Rate: Fast
Lifespan: Long
Shape: Oval
Height: >40’
Width: 40’
Fall Color: Fair
Salt Tolerance: Poor
Moisture: Dry to moist
Exposure: Full sun

SHAGBARK HICKORY

Fruit: 1.5” nut
Growth Rate: Slow
Lifespan: Long
Shape: Oval
Height: 20’–40’
Width: 30’
Fall Color: Poor
Salt Tolerance: Fair
Moisture: Dry to wet
Exposure: Full sun

FAMILY: ROSACEAE

BLACK CHERRY

Fruit: 1/3” drupe
Growth Rate: Fast
Lifespan: Medium
Shape: Oval
Height: >40’
Width: 30”
Fall Color: Fair
Salt Tolerance: Good
Moisture: Dry to moist
Exposure: Partial shade

FAMILY: RUTACEAE

AMUR CORKTREE (1)

Fruit: Seedless on many cultivars
Growth Rate: Medium
Lifespan: Medium
Shape: Vase
Height: 20’ to 40’
Width: 30’
Fall Color: Fair
Salt Tolerance: Good
Moisture: Dry to moist
Exposure: Full sun

FAMILY: TILIACEAE

AMERICAN LINDEN (1 and 2)

Fruit: 1/3 inch nut-like drupe
Growth Rate: Medium
Lifespan: Short
Shape: Pyramidal
Height: >40’
Width: 30’
Fall Color: Fair
Salt Tolerance: Poor
Moisture: Moist
Exposure: Full sun

LITTLE LEAF LINDEN (1 and 2)

Fruit: 1/3 inch nut-like drupe
Growth Rate: Medium
Lifespan: Medium
Shape: Pyramidal
Height: >40’
Width: 25’
Fall Color: Fair
Salt Tolerance: Poor
Moisture: Moist
Exposure: Full sun

SILVER LINDEN (2)

Fruit: 1/3 inch nutlet
Growth Rate: Medium
Lifespan: Medium
Shape: Oval
Height: >40’
Width: 45’
Fall Color: Fair
Salt Tolerance: Good
Moisture: Dry to moist
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun

FAMILY: ULMACEAE

	COMMON HACKBERRY (1) Fruit: 1/3 inch drupe Growth Rate: Medium Lifespan: Long Shape: Vase Height: >40’ Width: 35’ Fall Color: Fair Salt Tolerance: Poor Moisture: Moist to wet Exposure: Full sun
	ELM HYBRIDS (1) Fruit: 1/2 inch disc-shaped samara Growth Rate: Fast Lifespan: Long Shape: Vase Height: >40’ Width: 50’ Fall Color: Fair Salt Tolerance: Fair to good Moisture: Dry to moist Exposure: Full sun PHOTO COURTESY OF: Northscaping.com
	JAPANESE ELM (1) Fruit: 5/8 inch disc-shaped samara Growth Rate: Fast Lifespan: Long Shape: Vase Height: 20’ to 40’ Width: 40’ Fall Color: Fair Salt Tolerance: Fair to good Moisture: Moist Exposure: Full sun PHOTO COURTESY OF: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E., et al. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook. USDA NRCS ND State Soil Conservation Committee; NDSU Extension and Western Area Power Administration, Bismarck.
	WILSON ELM (1) Fruit: Single samara Growth Rate: Fast Lifespan: Long Shape: Vase Height: 20’ to 40’ Width: 25’ Fall Color: Fair Salt Tolerance: Fair Moisture: Dry to moist Exposure: Partial shade to full sun PHOTO COURTESY OF : Fargo Forestry Department