Arizona Tree Ordinances
Tree removal permits, protected species, and statute citations for 25 Arizona cities.
Arizona tree regulation in plain terms
Arizona's tree rules start with ARS Title 3, Chapter 7 (Agriculture — Arborist and Plant Services) and ARS §3-941 on protected native plants — saguaro, ironwood, palo verde, mesquite, and ocotillo are all regulated statewide by the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Moving or destroying a protected native plant without an ADA permit is illegal regardless of what the city allows.
City ordinances layer on top. Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson all have native plant preservation codes that integrate with state ADA requirements. Outside the native plant rules, Arizona has few general-purpose tree ordinances — most cities don't regulate non-native tree removal on private property, which makes AZ one of the lightest regulatory environments for residential tree work.
Cities with published ordinances (25)
Apache Junction
Pinal County
Avondale
Maricopa County
Buckeye
Maricopa County
Bullhead City
Mohave County
Casa Grande
Pinal County
Chandler
Maricopa County
Flagstaff
Coconino County
Gilbert
Maricopa County
Glendale
Maricopa County
Goodyear
Maricopa County
Kingman
Mohave County
Lake Havasu City
Mohave County
Maricopa
Pinal County
Mesa
Maricopa County
Oro Valley
Pima County
Peoria
Maricopa County
Phoenix
Maricopa County
Prescott
Yavapai County
Queen Creek
Maricopa County
Scottsdale
Maricopa County
Sierra Vista
Cochise County
Surprise
Maricopa County
Tempe
Maricopa County
Tucson
Pima County
Yuma
Yuma County
Arizona statutes and primary sources
Frequent questions about Arizona tree rules
What is a protected native plant in Arizona?
ARS §3-941 lists the plants: saguaro, ironwood, palo verde, mesquite, ocotillo, Joshua tree, agave, yucca, and several cacti and boojum. Moving or destroying any of these without an Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) permit is illegal statewide.
Do I need a city permit to remove a non-native tree in Arizona?
In most Arizona cities, no — non-native tree removal on private residential property typically doesn't require a permit. Phoenix and Tucson have limited exceptions for trees in rights-of-way and specific historic districts.
What is the Arizona Department of Agriculture's role in tree removal?
ADA (through ARS Title 3 Ch. 7) issues Native Plant Salvage, Destruction, and Movement permits. Any regulated native plant work on any property requires ADA approval. The process is separate from any city ordinance.
Does Arizona have heritage tree programs?
Not at the state level. A few cities (Flagstaff, Tucson) have heritage or significant tree programs, typically tied to specific historic districts or designated landmark trees. Most Arizona cities don't maintain a heritage tree registry.
Do I need an ISA Certified Arborist for Arizona tree work?
For the state's native plant permits, ADA doesn't require ISA certification — a licensed native plant salvage professional is the standard. Cities with ordinances (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson) typically require ISA Certified Arborist credentials on formal permit applications.
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