Pima County, AZ Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Pima 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 Code
- Chapter 18.72 (Native Plant Preservation)
- State Law
- ARS 3-904 (Class 4 felony)
- Protected Species
- Saguaro, ironwood, palo verde, mesquite
- Permit Authority
- AZ Dept of Agriculture (ADA)
- Development
- Native Plant Preservation Plan required
Summary
Pima County Code Ch. 18.72 requires permits for native plant removal during development. ARS 3-904 makes destroying saguaro, ironwood, or palo verde without an ADA permit a Class 4 felony.
A. This chapter does not prevent the destruction of protected native plants or clearing of land or cleaning or removing protected native plants by the owner of the land or the owner's agent if:
1. The land is in private ownership.
2. The protected native plants are not transported from the land or offered for sale.
3. The owner or the owner's agent notifies the department pursuant to this section of the intended destruction at least:
(a) Twenty days before the plants are destroyed over an area of less than one acre.
(b) Thirty days before the plants are destroyed over an area of one acre or more but less than forty acres.
(c) Sixty days before the plants are destroyed over an area of forty acres or more.
4. The protected plants are destroyed within one year of the date of destruction disclosed in the notice given the department in paragraph 3 of this subsection.
F. If the department receives a notice of intended destruction under subsection A, paragraph 3 and subsequently receives a complete and correct application for a salvage permit executed by the owner of the land or the owner's agent for any highly safeguarded or salvage restricted native plants intended to be destroyed under the notice, the department shall facilitate the prompt salvage of the plants by issuing a permit, and any associated tags and seals, within four working days.
Full Breakdown
Pima County has robust native plant protection through its Zoning Code Chapter 18.72 (Native Plant Preservation Ordinance). During any development or grading activity, a Native Plant Preservation Plan must be submitted identifying all protected plants on the site. Salvageable plants must be transplanted or donated. ARS 3-904 and the Arizona Native Plant Law make it a Class 4 felony to knowingly destroy, mutilate, or remove protected native plants (including saguaro cacti, ironwood trees, palo verde trees, and mesquite) without a permit from the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Even on private property, landowners must obtain ADA notification tags before removing protected species. The county requires a landscape plan for all new development showing retention of native vegetation. Grading permits trigger mandatory native plant surveys.
Violations & Fines
Destroying a protected native plant without ADA permit: Class 4 felony under ARS 3-904, up to 3.75 years imprisonment and substantial fines. County violations: stop-work orders, mitigation requirements, denial of future permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a saguaro cactus from my property?
What happens if I cut down a saguaro cactus?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pima County
Compare Pima County to another location·View the Arizona landscaping rules overview
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