Pima County Zoning Code Chapter 18.72 (Native Plant Preservation) requires protection and salvage of certain native plants during development. Saguaro cacti, ironwood, palo verde, and mesquite are specifically protected. Arizona Native Plant Law (ARS 3-901 et seq.) requires permits to destroy or relocate protected plants.
Pima County Code Chapter 18.72 addresses native plant preservation during land development in unincorporated areas. The ordinance requires developers to survey, tag, and either preserve in place or salvage and transplant protected native plants including saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), barrel cactus, ironwood (Olneya tesota), palo verde, and mesquite. Arizona Native Plant Law (ARS 3-901 through 3-934) makes it illegal to destroy, mutilate, or remove protected native plants from any land without the landowner's permission and, on state trust land, without an Arizona Department of Agriculture permit. Saguaro cacti are the most iconic protected species; removing or destroying a saguaro on your own property is legal with proper notification to the Arizona Department of Agriculture (notification required 20-60 days before removal, per ARS 3-906). Pima County sits in the Sonoran Desert Upland subdivision, home to the densest saguaro forests in the world near Saguaro National Park East and West units. Buffer-zone properties near the park face additional scrutiny during development review. Xeriscape (low-water, native-plant landscaping) is the standard for new development.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Pima County, AZ
Pima County has no outdoor music or amplified sound ordinance for unincorporated areas. ARS 13-2904 applies to unreasonable noise. Event venues may have CUP ...
Pima County, AZ
Pima County regulates amplified music under the general noise ordinance. Sound amplification permits available for events. ARS §13-2904 applies.
Pima County, AZ
Pima County has no general decibel limits for unincorporated areas. Industrial zone performance standards exist. ARS 13-2904 uses a reasonable person standar...
Pima County, AZ
Pima County Code Chapter 9.30 and animal control code (Chapter 6.04) cover excessive animal noise. Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) handles barking dog complai...
Pima County, AZ
Pima County has no leaf blower ordinance for unincorporated areas. Desert landscaping minimizes need. ARS 13-2904 covers extreme noise. HOAs provide primary ...
Pima County, AZ
Pima County Code Chapter 9.30 prohibits excessive, unnecessary, or offensive noise that disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or causes discomfort ...
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