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

Removing a tree from your own yard in the City of Maricopa generally does not require a city permit, and dead or dangerous trees can be taken out. The city's landscaping chapter is focused on keeping required landscaping in place rather than banning removal: under Ch. 18.90, when trees or required landscaping that were part of an approved landscape plan die or are removed, they must be replaced, generally within about three months of the owner or HOA being notified. So a homeowner who removes a required street tree or a tree counted toward a development's landscape requirement may be required to plant a replacement. Two other layers matter in Maricopa. First, Arizona's native plant law (Ariz. Rev. Stat. 3-906), administered by the Arizona Department of Agriculture, regulates protected native desert species; moving or salvaging a saguaro cactus more than four feet tall from its original site requires a permit, tag, and seal, and protected native plants may not be taken or transported without authorization. Second, almost every Maricopa subdivision has an HOA whose CC&Rs require architectural-committee approval before removing front-yard or street-facing trees. Always verify whether a tree is required landscaping, a protected native plant, or HOA-controlled before removing it.