diff --git a/octodns/provider/base.py b/octodns/provider/base.py
index 62d6c68..951daf3 100644
--- a/octodns/provider/base.py
+++ b/octodns/provider/base.py
@@ -105,37 +105,6 @@ class BaseProvider(BaseSource):
 
         return desired
 
-    def _process_existing_zone(self, existing):
-        '''
-        An opportunity for providers to modify the existing zone records before
-        planning. `existing` is a "shallow" copy, see `Zone.copy` for more
-        information
-
-        - Must call `super` at an appropriate point for their work, generally
-          that means as the final step of the method, returning the result of
-          the `super` call.
-        - May modify `existing` directly.
-        - Must not modify records directly, `record.copy` should be called,
-          the results of which can be modified, and then `Zone.add_record` may
-          be used with `replace=True`.
-        - May call `Zone.remove_record` to remove records from `existing`.
-        - Must call supports_warn_or_except with information about any changes
-          that are made to have them logged or throw errors depending on the
-          provider configuration.
-        '''
-
-        for record in existing.records:
-            if record._type == 'NS' and record.name == '' and \
-                    not self.SUPPORTS_ROOT_NS:
-                # ignore, we can't manage root NS records
-                msg = \
-                    f'root NS record not supported for {record.fqdn}'
-                fallback = 'ignoring it'
-                self.supports_warn_or_except(msg, fallback)
-                existing.remove_record(record)
-
-        return existing
-
     def _include_change(self, change):
         '''
         An opportunity for providers to filter out false positives due to
@@ -174,8 +143,6 @@ class BaseProvider(BaseSource):
             self.log.warning('Provider %s used in target mode did not return '
                              'exists', self.id)
 
-        existing = self._process_existing_zone(existing)
-
         for processor in processors:
             existing = processor.process_target_zone(existing, target=self)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_octodns_provider_base.py b/tests/test_octodns_provider_base.py
index 6ba9b72..c58d603 100644
--- a/tests/test_octodns_provider_base.py
+++ b/tests/test_octodns_provider_base.py
@@ -362,27 +362,6 @@ class TestBaseProvider(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(1, len(zone2.records))
         self.assertEqual(record1, list(zone2.records)[0])
 
-    def test_process_existing_zone(self):
-        provider = HelperProvider('test')
-
-        # SUPPORTS_ROOT_NS
-        provider.SUPPORTS_ROOT_NS = False
-        zone1 = Zone('unit.tests.', [])
-        record1 = Record.new(zone1, '', {
-            'type': 'NS',
-            'ttl': 3600,
-            'values': ['foo.com.', 'bar.com.'],
-        })
-        zone1.add_record(record1)
-
-        zone2 = provider._process_existing_zone(zone1.copy())
-        self.assertEqual(0, len(zone2.records))
-
-        provider.SUPPORTS_ROOT_NS = True
-        zone2 = provider._process_existing_zone(zone1.copy())
-        self.assertEqual(1, len(zone2.records))
-        self.assertEqual(record1, list(zone2.records)[0])
-
     def test_safe_none(self):
         # No changes is safe
         Plan(None, None, [], True).raise_if_unsafe()