Tucson's Native Plant Preservation Ordinance requires inventory, salvage, and replacement of Sonoran Desert protected native plants — including saguaros, ironwood, mesquite, palo verde, and ocotillo — before any clearing or grading on most parcels.
Under UDC Section 7.7 (Native Plant Preservation), most development projects must submit a native plant preservation plan that inventories protected species, designates plants for preservation in place, transplant, or salvage, and provides replacement inches at set ratios when removal is unavoidable. Saguaros, mature ironwoods, and other Sonoran specimens carry the highest replacement values, and Arizona Department of Agriculture salvage permits are required for off-site relocation under ARS Title 3. Single-family lots have streamlined provisions but still must protect the most significant native specimens.
Unpermitted removal or destruction of protected natives — particularly saguaros — leads to stop-work orders, civil penalties, replacement at fixed dollar values, and possible state-level Arizona Department of Agriculture enforcement.
Tucson, AZ
Arizona Native Plant Law and Tucson UDC protect saguaros, ironwoods, ocotillos, barrel cacti, and other native species. Removal or destruction during develop...
Tucson, AZ
Tucson's UDC Hillside Development Zone limits grading, density, and visibility of structures on slopes greater than 15 percent in foothills areas near Tucson...
See how Tucson's protected tree species rules stack up against other locations.
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