Tucson, AZ Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Endangered species/crested Saguaros
- 100% must be preserved or salvaged
- Viable Saguaros & Ironwoods
- At least 50% preserved or salvaged
- Other protected native plants
- At least 30% preserved or salvaged
- Saguaro removal fine
- $200/ft of trunk & arm, max $2,500
- Tree/shrub removal fine
- $300/caliper inch, max $2,500
- Enforcing agency
- Planning and Development Services Department
Summary
Before grading any site, Tucson developers must preserve 100% of federal endangered species and "crested" Saguaros, at least 50% of viable Saguaros and Ironwoods, and 30% of other protected native plants under an approved Native Plant Preservation Plan, with no exceptions for convenience.
a. Minimum Protected Native Plant Preservation Standards The minimum required standards for the preservation of Protected Native Plants in the Plant Inventory Methodology are as follows.
(1) Endangered Species and "Crested" Saguaros One hundred percent of Federal Endangered Species and "Crested" Saguaros must be preserved-in-place or salvaged and transplanted on-site.
(2) Saguaros and Ironwoods At least 50% of all Viable Saguaros and Ironwood trees must be preserved-in-place or salvaged and transplanted on-site.
(3) Other Protected Native Plants At least 30% of each genus and species of other Viable Protected Native Plant must be preserved-in-place or salvaged and transplanted on-site.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-150: Current through June 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
" Nearly all new development in the city must submit a Native Plant Preservation Plan before any grubbing, grading, construction, or salvaging occurs on a site, prepared by a certified arborist, landscape architect, horticulturist, biologist, or botanist. 0) at a 30% rate. Plants are rated High, Medium, or Low for viability and transplantability by the qualified preparer before the numbers are applied. Once a plan is approved, the Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) can issue a salvage-only permit, but no protected plant may actually be destroyed or removed until a grading permit issues.
Limited exceptions exist for pre-1997 single-family lots and sites the applicant demonstrates contain no listed species, subject to PDSD approval. Compliance with this local section does not substitute for separate federal Endangered Species Act salvage permits or Arizona Department of Agriculture notification, which the code expressly flags as independent obligations.
Violations & Fines
Section 10.4.5.A fines anyone who intentionally or negligently damages, destroys, or removes a protected plant without an approved plan: for each viable Saguaro, $200 per foot of trunk and $200 per foot of each arm, capped at $2,500; for each protected tree or shrub, $300 per caliper inch up to $2,500; for other cacti or succulents, $300 per specimen up to $2,500. Removal before a plan is even approved draws a flat $500-$2,500 fine. The PDSD Director can also order mitigation, up to eight years of monitoring, and immediate suspension or revocation of building permits, appealable through PDSD's established procedures, and record the suspension against the property with the Pima County Recorder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a Saguaro from my Tucson property before building?
How many Saguaros does a Tucson developer have to keep?
Who decides which plants on my lot are protected?
What happens if I remove protected plants without permission in Tucson?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tucson
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