Oro Valley Tree Removal Permit & Ordinance Guide
Pima County, Arizona
Protected Tree Definition
Oro Valley Zoning Code Chapter 27 (Native Plant Preservation) and Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) Overlay District require a Native Plant Preservation Plan for development on sites with protected native plants. Upper Sonoran desert plant palette dominates. Native plants must be preserved in place, transplanted, or salvaged per the preservation plan.
Protected Species
Heritage / Landmark Trees
Protected native plants are inventoried and assigned preservation, transplant, or salvage status under the Native Plant Preservation Plan. No separate DBH-based heritage program.
Permit Requirements
Native Plant Preservation Plan required at development application. Existing protected plants must be preserved in place, transplanted on-site, or salvaged. ESL Overlay imposes additional preservation standards in upper desert zones.
Who can apply: Property owner or authorized agent; preservation plans prepared by Arizona-registered landscape architect or qualified native-plant specialist
Required Report Sections
Native Plant Inventory with species, size, condition, location; preservation/transplant designation for each protected plant; replacement landscape plan
Replacement Requirements
Chapter 27 establishes preservation-in-place percentages and transplant/replacement standards; replacement required when preservation infeasible
Preserve-in-place preferred; transplant on-site next; replacement with equivalent native species when transplant fails. Arizona Native Plant Law applies independently on undeveloped land.
Fees & Fines
Processing Time
6-10 weeks for ESL-subject development reviews
Required Certifications
Arizona-registered landscape architect or qualified desert plant specialist; ISA Certified Arborist for arborist assessments
Municipal Code
Oro Valley Zoning Code Chapter 27 (Native Plant Preservation); Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) Overlay District
View full ordinanceContact
Community and Economic Development Department
(520) 229-4800
Nearby Cities in Pima County
Other Arizona cities
Compare with nearby cities
Data last verified: April 2026. This information is provided as a reference. Always verify requirements directly with Oro Valley before submitting permits or reports.
Ready to apply? How to apply for a permit in Oro Valley →
See Arizona replacement obligations compared: How Oro Valley's replacement ratio ranks in Arizona →
See Arizona heritage criteria compared: How Oro Valley's heritage designation ranks in Arizona →
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