Wicomico County, MD Invasive Plant Rules: Bamboo Restrictions (2026)

Chapter 163, Invasive Bamboo Control, was adopted by the County Council on November 5, 2024 under Bill No. 2024-08, citing enabling authority in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Local Government Article, § 1-1318. Section 163-1 defines invasive bamboo narrowly: any bamboo species from the genus Phyllostachys, the group commonly known as running bamboo for its aggressive spreading rhizomes. Section 163-2 then imposes two flat prohibitions: no person may sell invasive bamboo, and no person may plant invasive bamboo, anywhere in unincorporated Wicomico County. The chapter does not order removal of bamboo already growing on a property; it targets only future sales and plantings.

Rather than create its own enforcement or fine schedule, Chapter 163 pairs the ban with a public-education mandate at § 163-3: the County Executive must develop and run an awareness campaign on invasive bamboo's environmental impacts, distribute materials through the County's website, social media and printed handouts at County offices and events, and work directly with local nurseries and garden centers to encourage customers toward native or non-invasive plants. Because no infraction status is spelled out in Chapter 163 itself, a violation falls back to the county's default rule in § 221-1: any county law violation is treated as a misdemeanor unless a chapter specifically declares it a civil infraction, so a bamboo-sale or planting violation is prosecuted as a misdemeanor rather than a fixed-fine civil citation.