Tree Ordinances: Marana vs Sahuarita
How do tree ordinances rules compare between Marana, AZ and Sahuarita, AZ?
Marana and Sahuarita have similar restriction levels.
Marana, AZ
Pima County
Marana regulates native plant and tree protection through Land Development Code Chapter 17-11 (Environmental Resource Preservation, Native Plant Protection, and Landscape Requirements). Arizona state law under ARS Title 3, Chapter 7 provides additional protections for all protected native plants including saguaros, ironwoods, and palo verdes.
View full Marana rules →Sahuarita, AZ
Pima County
Sahuarita addresses tree and vegetation management through multiple overlapping provisions in its zoning code rather than maintaining a standalone tree preservation ordinance, with primary authority distributed across Chapter 18.73 for landscaping, buffering, and screening standards, Chapter 18.65 for riparian habitat protection along the Santa Cruz River and its tributaries, and reliance on the Arizona Native Plant Law under ARS Title 3, Chapter 7 for species-level protection of individual native trees and cacti. The Town does not have a dedicated tree board, arborist program, or heritage tree registry like some larger Arizona cities, instead integrating vegetation management into the development review and code enforcement processes handled by the Planning and Building Safety departments.
View full Sahuarita rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Marana | Sahuarita |
|---|---|---|
| Code Chapter | Chapter 17-11 | - |
| SRI Required | Section 17-11-3 | - |
| Plant List | Section 17-11-6 | - |
| State Law | ARS Title 3, Chapter 7 | - |
| Landscape Standards | Section 17-11-7 | - |
| Primary Code | - | Ch. 18.73 landscaping standards |
| Riparian Protection | - | Ch. 18.65 (Santa Cruz River) |
| State Framework | - | ARS Title 3, Chapter 7 |
| Standalone Ordinance | - | None (integrated in zoning) |
| HOA Layer | - | CC&R landscape requirements |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Marana FAQ
Does Marana have a tree ordinance?
Yes. Chapter 17-11 of the Land Development Code covers environmental resource preservation, native plant protection, and landscape requirements. It applies to all development activity and protects species listed on the Marana Protected Native Plant List in Section 17-11-6.
Which trees are protected in Marana?
Protected species include saguaro cactus, ironwood, palo verde, mesquite, barrel cactus, and ocotillo, among others listed in Section 17-11-6. Crested saguaros and federally endangered species receive the highest protection level.
Sahuarita FAQ
Does Sahuarita have a specific tree preservation ordinance?
No standalone tree ordinance exists. Tree and vegetation protection is integrated throughout the zoning code, primarily in Chapter 18.73 for landscaping standards and Chapter 18.65 for riparian habitat along the Santa Cruz River. The Arizona Native Plant Law provides additional species-level protection for saguaro, ironwood, palo verde, and other protected native plants.
Can I trim trees on my own property without permission?
Routine maintenance trimming of dead or hazardous branches does not require a permit from the Town or the state. However, complete removal of healthy protected native trees triggers state notification requirements under ARS 3-906, and removal of trees in Rancho Sahuarita or other HOA communities may require architectural review committee approval under the CC&Rs.
Compare other topics
See how Marana and Sahuarita compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool