California Code of Regulations
Title 4 - Business Regulations
Division 6 - Outdoor Advertising, Department of Transportation
Chapter 5 - Outdoor Advertising Displays Adjacent to Landscaped Freeways
Section 2508 - Change in Freeway Character-Criteria and Inspection

(a) A freeway may not be classified as a landscaped freeway until a licensed Landscape Architect employed by the Department and based on personal inspection of the Highway Planting Project, certifies in writing that the character of the freeway is changed to a landscaped freeway. The freeway character is changed to a landscaped freeway when Ornamental Vegetation is in place, is at least 1,000 feet in length, is alive, exhibits healthy growth characteristics, and the Highway Planting Project is Accepted by the Department.

(b) The Planting will require reasonable maintenance. That means a plant which, when planted, requires maintenance on a regular basis to maintain it in a healthy and attractive condition. The fact that as a plant matures it may require less maintenance than when first planted is not interpreted to mean it does not require reasonable maintenance. As used herein, maintenance means any of the following: watering, fertilizing, spraying, cultivating, pruning, cutting, mowing, replacing, weed control, washing, pest control, disease control, litter removal, or other similar plant care procedures.

(c) Functional planting does not change the character of the freeway to a landscaped freeway. Functional planting means vegetation primarily for soil erosion control, traffic safety, reduction of fire hazards, and traffic noise abatement or other non-ornamental purposes. A single row of plantings in the median shall be considered a functional planting.