Clark County, NV Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected threshold
- Tree over 6-inch caliper
- Root protection zone
- 1 ft radius per inch diameter
- Mitigation ratio
- 3 replacement trees per tree lost
- Governing code
- UDC § 30.04.01(D)(6)
- Applies in
- Unincorporated county, incl. the Strip
Summary
Clark County's Title 30 development code requires builders to preserve any "significant tree", one over 6 inches in caliper rated low-to-moderate water use, during construction, protect its root zone, and replace it if removal can't be avoided.
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 UDC §30.04.01D.6, any significant tree (defined in §30.07 as an existing tree over 6 inches in caliper rated Low, Very Low, or Moderate water need on the Regional Plant List) must be preserved and maintained during construction. Preserved trees get a root protection zone of 1 foot radius per inch of trunk diameter where no construction activity, storage, or equipment is allowed. If loss of a significant tree can't be avoided, it must be mitigated with three large drought-tolerant replacement trees per tree lost, or an equal-or-greater combined caliper of replacements: the Board can approve a fee-in-lieu only where mitigation itself isn't possible. This applies countywide in unincorporated Clark County, including the Strip resorts in Paradise and Winchester townships.
Violations & Fines
Landscape and preservation plans go through Comprehensive Planning site-plan review before permits issue. Removing or damaging a significant tree, building within its root protection zone, or skipping required mitigation can draw a code enforcement stop-work order or citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which trees does Clark County protect from removal?
What happens if a protected tree can't be saved?
Does this rule apply on the Las Vegas Strip?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clark County
Compare Clark County to another location·View the Nevada tree protection overview
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