Maricopa, AZ Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

There is no City of Maricopa ordinance that restricts how or when a resident may trim trees on their own private property, and no permit is required for ordinary pruning of a yard tree. The city's controls are about maintenance and the public right-of-way rather than limiting private trimming. Under Maricopa's landscaping chapter (Title 18, Ch. 18.90), property owners and homeowner associations are responsible for properly maintaining all required landscape materials, including landscaping within the public rights-of-way adjacent to a development. Dead or required landscaping that is removed or dies generally must be replaced within about three months of notice. Trees and shrubs that overhang or encroach into a public sidewalk, street, or alley can be treated as a nuisance or obstruction the city may require the owner to correct. Any contractor, utility, or person performing work within the public right-of-way (including trimming or removing city street trees) must first obtain an encroachment permit from the Development Services Department. For homeowners inside a master-planned community or HOA, the association's CC&Rs frequently impose additional trimming, height, and appearance standards that are enforced privately and can be stricter than the city's rules.