Sahuarita, AZ Tree Protection: Tree Removal Permits (2026)

Sahuarita requires preservation of native vegetation as a primary objective of all site development under Chapter 18.73 of the zoning code, reflecting the Town position along the biologically rich Santa Cruz River valley in the Sonoran Desert between Tucson and the Santa Rita Mountains. When native desert landscape cannot be preserved during construction or development activity, the code mandates a mitigation hierarchy requiring first transplanting of salvageable on-site desert plants to other areas within the project, and only when transplanting is not feasible does it permit use of container-grown native plants from nursery stock as replacements. The Arizona Department of Agriculture administers the statewide permit system for salvage and relocation of protected native plants under ARS 3-906. Landowners have the legal right to destroy or remove plants growing on their own land, but the law requires that they notify the Arizona Department of Agriculture 20 to 60 days before destroying any protected native plants, providing the Department an opportunity to arrange salvage of valuable specimens. The notification requirement applies regardless of the reason for removal, whether for construction, landscaping changes, safety concerns, or property clearing. Moving or salvaging a saguaro cactus taller than four feet from other than its original growing location requires purchasing a separate salvage permit from the Department at a cost of $7 for the permit plus $8 per individual saguaro tag. Each saguaro being relocated must have its own numbered tag and seal attached before transport. The Town planning department conducts its own review of development plans for compliance with the native plant preservation requirements before issuing grading or building permits. Large development projects may be required to prepare a comprehensive native plant preservation plan that maps the location, species, and size of all protected plants on the site, designates which specimens will be preserved in place, which will be transplanted, and which will be removed with proper notification. Pima County also maintains its own native plant preservation standards under the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan that influence development review within the Sahuarita planning area, particularly for projects near the county jurisdictional boundary. Trees and vegetation within riparian habitat areas protected under the Town Chapter 18.65 riparian habitat protection provisions receive an additional layer of regulation and require specific mitigation measures if disturbed, including replacement planting ratios and habitat restoration plans.