McHenry County, IL Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Species barred
- 16 species on Table 16.76-5
- Examples
- Buckthorn, tree of heaven, Norway maple
- Replacement credit
- None for barred species
- Removal requirement
- Required under forestry/restoration work
- Applies to
- Conservation-design subdivisions only
Summary
McHenry County's subdivision tree-replacement rules bar 16 species, including buckthorn, tree of heaven, Norway maple and Siberian elm, from counting as protected or planted as a replacement tree. Conservation-design developments must remove these invasive trees and shrubs as part of required forestry and ecological-restoration work rather than preserve them.
Invasive trees and shrubs shall be removed as part of the forestry practices and ecological restoration activities, and are not treated or acknowledged as protected tree species. The following trees do not require replacement nor shall they be planted as replacements for desirable trees: TABLE 16.76-5: PROHIBITED TREE SPECIES Acer negundo Box elder, Acer plantanoides Norway maple, Acer saccharinum Silver maple, Ailanthus altissima Tree of heaven, Elaeagnus angustifolia Russian olive, Elaeagnus umbellate Autumn olive, Fraxinus species Ash species, Gleditsia triacanthos Honey locust, Juniperus virginiana Red cedar, Populus species Poplar species, Rhamnus cathartica Common buckthorn, Rhamnus fragula Glossy buckthorn, Robina pseudoacacia Black locust, Taxodium distichum Bald cypress, Thuja occidentalis Arbor vitae, Ulmus pumila Siberian elm.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-5: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. A25-0037, passed 8-19-2025 | State legislation current through ALS 2025 Pamphlet No. 1).
Full Breakdown
030 when a site abuts a Natural Area Inventory area, a high-quality wetland, or has 20 percent or more of its acreage in woodlands, wetlands, floodplains or aquifer recharge zones. 76-5 lists box elder, Norway maple, silver maple, tree of heaven, Russian olive, autumn olive, ash species, honey locust, red cedar, poplar species, common and glossy buckthorn, black locust, bald cypress, arbor vitae, and Siberian elm. 76-3 if removed, and none may be planted to satisfy a replacement obligation owed for a desirable native tree taken out elsewhere on the same site.
090(H)(3)(e) goes further and specifically exempts common buckthorn, glossy buckthorn, and honeysuckle from replacement duties because removing them is treated as good forestry and ecological-restoration practice, aimed at restoring the County's native oak-hickory savannas and woods. The stewardship plan required for the development's protected open space must identify any proposed removal of these aggressive species, and long-term maintenance reporting due each February 1 must document control of undesirable weedy species on the site.
Violations & Fines
Enforcement runs through the same conservation-design compliance track. Under Section 16.76.090(J), the Zoning Enforcement Officer can issue written notice if an open-space management entity fails to control invasive species per its approved stewardship plan, with 30 days to cure before the County pursues enforcement, or immediate County entry onto the property where invasive spread threatens significant damage to protected natural areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does McHenry County ban invasive trees on all private land?
What species are on the list?
Can a developer plant these species as replacement trees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in McHenry County
Compare McHenry County to another location·View the Illinois invasive plant rules overview
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