Does Mohave County, AZ have its own tree removal & heritage trees ordinance?

No. Mohave County, AZ does not appear to have a local tree removal & heritage trees ordinance, Arizona state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from Arizona Revised Statutes.

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Mohave County

Mohave County, AZ Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Tree removal permit rules in Mohave County, AZ, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.

Key Facts

County permit: None
State permit: Required for protected natives
Tag issuer: AZ Dept. of Agriculture
Protected: Cacti, ocotillo, native trees
Land clearing: 20-60 day advance notice

Summary

Unincorporated Mohave County has no municipal tree-removal permit for homeowners. The permit that actually matters in the desert is the state one: moving or destroying protected native plants requires a tag and permit from the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Mohave County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

all of the cacti; exotic plants (like ocotillo), most of the trees (ironwood, palo verde, mesquite), and many smaller plants

Source: Arizona Revised StatutesView official code

Full Breakdown

The county runs no urban-forestry or trunk-diameter permit program, so cutting a tree on a built lot needs no county sign-off. Arizona's Native Plant Law is the real gatekeeper: protected wild plants, including all cacti, ocotillo, and native trees like ironwood, palo verde, and mesquite, may not be legally possessed, taken, or transported from where they grow without a permit and tag from the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Land clearing also requires advance notice to the department, from 20 to 60 days depending on acreage. Salvage and relocation are the intended path for protected specimens.

Violations & Fines

No county penalty for removing a tree on a developed lot. Taking or transporting protected native plants without the required Department of Agriculture permit and tag is a state violation carrying penalties and salvage or replacement obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mohave County require a permit to remove a tree?

Not for a tree on a developed residential lot. But moving or destroying protected native desert plants requires a permit and tag from the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

What counts as a protected plant?

Under Arizona's Native Plant Law, protected plants include all cacti, ocotillo, and native trees such as ironwood, palo verde, and mesquite.

Sources & Official References

[1]Arizona Revised Statutes

Other rules in Mohave County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome Restrictions Native PlantsFew Restrictions Artificial TurfFew Restrictions Weed OrdinancesSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Breed RestrictionsFew Restrictions

All Mohave County rules

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