Oro Valley vs Sahuarita

Mitigation required for removed native plants: on-site relocation first, then off-site salvage, then fee-in-lieu. Saguaros need one-for-one salvage when feasible.

Sahuarita requires replacement or mitigation when native vegetation is removed during development, guided by the Chapter 18.73 landscaping standards that establish a clear mitigation hierarchy prioritizing preservation, then on-site transplanting, and finally replacement with nursery-grown native stock from the Town approved plant list. For projects disturbing riparian habitat along the Santa Cruz River and its tributaries, Chapter 18.65 Riparian Habitat Mitigation Standards impose specific replacement ratios and mitigation measures beyond the standard landscaping requirements. The Arizona Department of Agriculture separately requires that landowners document protected native plants destroyed on private property through the state notification process and offer salvageable specimens to the Department or approved salvage operators before destruction occurs.