Phoenix, AZ Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Plant salvage permit before removal
- Exempt
- Single-family and duplex lots
- Replacement
- Like-kind tree/cactus replacement required
- Enforced by
- Planning and Development Department
- Violation
- Treated as zoning ordinance violation
Summary
Phoenix requires a plant salvage permit from Planning and Development before removing trees, plants, or cacti on development sites; single-family and duplex lots are exempt, but destroyed vegetation must be replaced in kind.
No trees, plants or cacti may be removed or destroyed on a property without first obtaining a plant salvage permit from the Planning and Development Department, except as follows: ... (2) Trees, plants or cacti to be removed are located on a single-family lot having one home or duplex; or (3) Trees, plants or cacti to be removed were destroyed by a natural cause or other unforeseen and accidental incident...
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Phoenix's zoning ordinance protects existing trees, plants, and cacti on approved development sites: they must remain healthy and in place unless removed under an approved plant salvage plan. Removing any tree, plant, or cactus without first obtaining a plant salvage permit from the Planning and Development Department is a zoning violation, except when the department has waived the requirement in writing, the lot is a single-family home or duplex, the vegetation died from natural causes, or a utility removes it for line maintenance. Multi-family, commercial, and subdivision sites must file plant inventory and salvage plans, and any protected vegetation that dies or is destroyed must be replaced with an equivalent tree, plant, or cactus before final occupancy is granted.
Violations & Fines
Removing protected trees, plants, or cacti without a salvage permit is a zoning ordinance violation; owners must replace destroyed vegetation in kind before a certificate of occupancy or completion issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my Phoenix property?
What if a protected tree or cactus is destroyed without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona tree protection overview
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