Champaign, IL Invasive Plant Rules: Bamboo Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Grandfather cutoff date
- Bamboo planted before Feb. 3, 2015
- Minimum buffer from any line
- 1 foot
- Barrier depth if within 2 feet
- At least 30 inches
- Barrier material
- 30-mil+ polypropylene/polyethylene
- Replanting dead bamboo
- Prohibited outright
- Compliance window after notice
- 30 days
- Second violation in 12 months
- Full removal required
Summary
Champaign bans planting new running bamboo outright, listing it alongside kudzu and poison ivy as a prohibited plant under Sec. 35-18 and 35-19. Bamboo already growing before February 3, 2015 escapes being declared a nuisance only if it stays a foot clear of every property line and, within two feet, is contained by an approved root barrier or planter under Sec. 35-26.
(a)Existing running bamboo. Running bamboo already in existence on private property as of February 3, 2015 shall not be deemed a nuisance as defined by Subsection 22-302.1(a)(6), if it is in compliance with the following conditions:(1)Buffer zone. The running bamboo may not encroach or grow within one (1) foot of any adjoining public or private property; and(2)If within two (2) feet of a property line, the owner of the property containing running bamboo takes measures to prevent encroachment into the buffer zone which include, but are not limited to:a.Containing the roots within an above ground level planter, barrel or other vessel...(b)Replanting prohibited. Existing bamboo may not be replanted or replaced once it has died or otherwise been removed.(c)Enforcement. When a property owner receives a notice to abate a nuisance pursuant to Section 22-56, the property owner shall have thirty (30) days to bring the property into compliance.(d)Multiple violations. The property owner will be required to remove the bamboo in its entirety if a second notice of violation is issued for the same address within a twelve-month period.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Running (monopodial) bamboo, not limited to Bambusa, Phyllostachys, or Pseudosasa, is named on Champaign's list of prohibited vegetation for both the public parkway (Sec. 35-18(a)(6)q) and private property (Sec. 35-19(a)(4)q), so any newly planted bamboo is treated the same as kudzu, poison ivy, or Johnsongrass. Section 35-26 carves out a narrow grandfather rule for bamboo already in the ground on private property as of February 3, 2015: it is not deemed a nuisance if it stays clear of a one-foot buffer from any adjoining property, and if it grows within two feet of a line, the owner must contain the roots in an above-ground planter or barrel, or install a barrier made of 30-mil or heavier high-density polypropylene or polyethylene, joined with stainless steel clamps or closure strips, buried at least 30 inches deep, rising at least three inches above ground, and slanted outward from bottom to top.
Once existing bamboo dies or is removed, Sec. 35-26(b) prohibits replanting or replacing it, permanently retiring that stand. Enforcement runs through the standard nuisance-abatement notice process in Sec. 22-56: once a property owner is notified, they get 30 days to bring the property into compliance, extendable for good cause only with the Neighborhood Services Director's approval.
Violations & Fines
A property owner who lets grandfathered bamboo escape its buffer or containment barrier receives a Sec. 22-56 nuisance notice and has 30 days to comply, subject to a Director-approved extension. Sec. 35-26(d) escalates on a repeat offense: if a second violation notice is issued for the same address within twelve months, the owner must remove the bamboo in its entirety, with no further containment option available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant running bamboo in my Champaign yard today?
My bamboo has been there for years. Do I have to remove it?
What if my bamboo spreads onto my neighbor's yard a second time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Champaign
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