Tree Replacement Requirements: Green Valley vs Marana
How do tree replacement requirements rules compare between Green Valley, AZ and Marana, AZ?
Marana has fewer restrictions than Green Valley.
Green Valley, AZ
Pima County
Chapter 18.72 mandates native plant mitigation for development: avoid removal first, then transplant, donate, or pay into a fund. Trees replaced at minimum 2:1 ratio.
View full Green Valley rules →Marana, AZ
Pima County
Marana Land Development Code Section 17-11-5 requires that protected native plants removed during development be replaced through transplant-on-site (TOS) or preservation-in-place (PIP) methods. Plants that cannot be preserved must be salvaged and offered for adoption or donated.
View full Marana rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Green Valley | Marana |
|---|---|---|
| Code Chapter | 18.72 (Native Plant Preservation) | - |
| Priority | Avoid > transplant > donate > pay | - |
| Replacement Ratio | Minimum 2:1 for trees | - |
| Saguaro Transplant | Licensed contractor + 2-year warranty | - |
| Review Authority | Development Services Department | - |
| PIP/TOS Requirement | - | 30-100% depending on species |
| Saguaro/Ironwood | - | 50% must be preserved or transplanted |
| Code Section | - | Section 17-11-5 |
| Plant List | - | Section 17-11-6 |
| Non-viable Plants | - | Must be offered for salvage |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Green Valley FAQ
What happens to native plants when land is developed in Pima County?
Chapter 18.72 requires developers to first try to preserve plants in place, then transplant them on-site, donate them to salvage programs, or pay into a county mitigation fund. Replacement ratios of at least 2:1 apply for protected trees.
Who pays for native plant transplanting during development?
The developer or property owner bears all costs of native plant surveys, transplanting, replacement plantings, and post-construction monitoring required under Chapter 18.72.
Marana FAQ
What happens to native plants that cannot be saved during development?
Plants that are not viable for preservation-in-place or transplant-on-site must be offered to the Arizona Department of Agriculture salvage program or donated to qualified nonprofits. They cannot simply be destroyed without exhausting salvage options.
Do replacement trees have to be native species?
For areas governed by the native plant preservation plan, replacement plantings must come from the Marana Protected Native Plant List in Section 17-11-6. General landscape areas under Section 17-11-7 must prioritize drought-tolerant species.
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