Title
Incentives for green roofs and walls
Law
Quezon City Ordinance No. Sp-2399, S-2015
Decision Date
Feb 23, 2015
Quezon City introduces an ordinance that provides real property tax discounts for buildings that incorporate green roofs and walls, promoting urban greening and environmental sustainability.

Green Wall and Roof Concepts

  • Recognizes various methods for installing green walls, including cable/wire-net systems and modular living walls.
  • Promotes rooftop gardens as simple, beneficial urban landscape features.
  • Highlights environmental benefits of green walls and roofs: heat and noise reduction, improved air quality, energy efficiency, and aesthetic enhancement.

Definitions of Key Terms (Section 1)

  • Green Roof: Buildings with rooftops dedicated to plants and trees.
  • Intensive Soil Layer: About 12-inch soil depth supporting diverse plant and tree growth.
  • Extensive Soil Layer: About 3-inch soil depth for plant maintenance.
  • Plants and Trees: Includes flowering/non-flowering and fruit/non-fruit bearing live plants.
  • Building: Residential, commercial, or industrial establishments.
  • Wall Area: Exterior wall surface area measured from roof bottom to top.
  • Green Wall: Vegetated vertical wall surfaces including green facades and living walls affixed to structures.

Incentives for Green Roofs and Walls (Section 2)

  • Real property tax discounts awarded based on the percentage of roof or wall area devoted to vegetation.
  • Discount rates:
    • 25% area = 5% tax discount
    • 50% area = 10% tax discount
    • 75% area = 15% tax discount
    • 100% area = 20% tax discount
  • Incentives last five years from the first assessment.

Maintenance Obligations (Section 3)

  • Building owners are responsible for regular care and watering of the vegetation to sustain growth.

Certification Requirements and Proof of Maintenance (Section 4)

  • Grantees must provide photographic evidence:
    • Green roofs: Four 5R photos from north, east, west, and south angles.
    • Green walls: Three 5R photos from left, front, and right sides.
  • Photos must include a visible dated broadsheet newspaper on plants to confirm timeliness.
  • Certification from the local Barangay Council verifying construction and proper maintenance required.
  • Documentation submitted annually during real property tax payment.

Prohibited Acts (Section 5)

  • Rooftop plants taller than six (6) feet are not allowed.
  • Vegetation must not obstruct building access points (doors, fire exits, windows) or cause nuisances to neighbors.
  • Planting illegal plants triggers revocation of building and occupancy permits alongside national penalties.

Implementing Agencies (Section 6)

  • Designated City offices mandated to draft implementing rules within 60 days:
    • City Assessor's Department
    • Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department
    • City Planning and Development Office
    • Engineering Department
    • City Treasurer's Office

Separability Clause (Section 7)

  • Invalidity of any part of the ordinance does not affect the remainder of its provisions.

Repealing Clause and Transitional Provisions (Section 8)

  • Repeals prior Ordinance No. SP-1940, S-2009.
  • Existing beneficiaries under the repealed ordinance retain discounts until completion of their 10-year period.
  • Conflicting ordinances, resolutions, and rules amended or repealed accordingly.

Effectivity (Section 9)

  • The ordinance becomes effective fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

This ordinance thus establishes a comprehensive framework promoting ecologically sustainable urban development through incentivized green roofs and walls, ensures compliance and maintenance, and delineates administrative mechanisms for its enforcement.


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