Invasive Plant Rules in Scranton, PA (2026)
2 verified invasive plant rules for Scranton, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Prohibited Species
Any landscaping plan Scranton requires for a site or land-development project has to skip species the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources classifies as invasive, so a developer can't use a DCNR-listed plant to satisfy the City's buffer, screening, or tree-preservation counts.
Scranton Bars Invasive Plants From Landscaping
Some RestrictionsScranton City Code § 445-22A(1)(b)
Selected trees and shrubs shall not include invasive plants as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).
Tree-of-Heaven Removal
Scranton's subdivision code bans Ailanthus altissima, the tree of heaven, from every street right-of-way planted under a land development or major subdivision plan. Section 423-69 lists it among 12 prohibited species developers cannot use to satisfy the city's street tree requirement. Property owners can still plant one on private land, just not to meet any city planting obligation.
Scranton Bars Tree of Heaven From Street Trees
Some RestrictionsScranton City Code § 423-69(A)(1)(d)
(d) Prohibited trees. The following trees shall not be planted within the street right-of-way and shall not be used to meet any city requirement. Such trees may be planted by a property-owner on private property if such tree is in addition to city requirements. Acer negundo - Box elder Acer saccharinum - Silver maple Ailanthus altissima - Tree of heaven Catalpa speciosa - Catalpa Elaeagnus spp...