Clark County, NV Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Threshold
- Trees over 6 inches in caliper
- Root protection zone
- 1 ft radius per inch diameter
- Replacement ratio
- 3 large trees per tree lost
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county, including the Strip
- Citation
- Clark County Code § 30.04.01.D.6
Summary
Clark County's development code requires "significant trees", over 6 inches in caliper with low water needs, to be preserved during construction, protected by a root buffer zone, and replaced at a 3-to-1 ratio if removal is unavoidable.
Any significant tree defined as drought-tolerant by the Southern Nevada Water Authority shall be preserved during construction and maintained on the property... Any tree being preserved during the construction or site development process shall have a root protection zone of 1 foot radius for every 1 inch in tree diameter, measured 4.5 feet above the ground. No construction activity or storage of materials, debris, equipment, or site amenities shall occur within the root protection zone.
Full Breakdown
Under Title 30 of the Clark County Code, any "significant tree", one over 6 inches in caliper rated Low, Very Low, or Moderate water needs on the county's Regional Plant List, must be preserved and maintained during construction on unincorporated county land, including Paradise, Winchester, and the rest of the Las Vegas Strip corridor. Preserved trees get a protected root zone of one foot of radius for every inch of trunk diameter, off-limits to equipment, storage, and construction activity. Where removal can't be avoided, the developer must replace each lost tree with three large drought-tolerant trees, or trees of equal combined caliper, enforced through the Comprehensive Planning Department's site development review.
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected significant tree without providing the required replacement caliper, or disturbing its root protection zone with equipment or storage during construction, is a code violation subject to Code Enforcement action and required remediation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Clark County have a heritage or landmark tree program?
Does this rule apply on the Las Vegas Strip?
What happens if a significant tree must be removed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clark County
Compare Clark County to another location·View the Nevada tree protection overview
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