Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Champaign

Champaign, IL Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Named prohibited species: 17 species/categories listed in §35-19(a)(4)
Includes: Kudzu, multiflora rose, purple loosestrife, running bamboo
Hemp/marijuana: Banned except as allowed by 710 ILCS 405/1-1
Bamboo grandfather cutoff: Existing before February 3, 2015
Bamboo compliance window: 30 days to install a barrier or buffer
Repeat bamboo violation: Full removal required within 12 months

Summary

Champaign names 17 specific plants that property owners must not let grow, listed at Sec. 35-19(a)(4): ragweed, thistle varieties, Johnsongrass, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose, purple loosestrife, kudzu, poison ivy/oak/sumac, and running bamboo, among others. The same list applies to the parkway strip under the companion rule at Sec. 35-18(6).

(4)The following specific forms of vegetation, alternative vegetation or shrubs:a.Hemp—Cannabis sativa L. (marijuana); except as permitted and only in the place and manner described in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (710 ILCS 405/1-1 et seq.);b.Common Ragweed—Ambrosia artemisii folia L.;c.Giant Ragweed—Ambrosia trifida L. (also known as "horseweed");d.Musk (Nodding) Thistle—Carduus nutans L.;e.Canada Thistle—Cirsium arvense L.;f.Perennial Sowthistle—Sonchus arvensis;g.Sorghum Almum—Sorghum almum and other Johnsongrass X sorghum crosses with rhizomes;h.Japanese Honeysuckle—Lonicera japonica;i.Multiflora Rose—Rosa multiflora;j.Purple Loosestrife—Lythrum salicaria;k.Johnsongrass—Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.;l.Dead or dying vegetation;m.Kudzu—Puerarta lobata;n.Poison Ivy—Toxicodendron radicans;o.Poison Oak—Toxicodendron quercifolium;p.Poison Sumac—Toxicodendron vernix;q.Running (monopodial) Bamboo - not limited to Bambusa, Phyllostachus, Pseudosasa.

View official code

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

Sec. 35-19(a)(4) lists the banned species by common and scientific name: common and giant ragweed, musk (nodding) thistle, Canada thistle, perennial sowthistle, Sorghum Almum and Johnsongrass crosses, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose, purple loosestrife, Johnsongrass, dead or dying vegetation, kudzu, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and running (monopodial) bamboo including Bambusa, Phyllostachys, and Pseudosasa genera. Hemp/marijuana (Cannabis sativa) is also listed but is carved out where permitted under the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, 710 ILCS 405/1-1 et seq. Running bamboo gets a separate grandfather rule at Sec.

35-26: bamboo already growing on private property as of February 3, 2015 is not automatically a nuisance if it stays at least 1 foot from any property line, and if it is within 2 feet of a line the owner must install a root barrier at least 30 mil thick and 30 inches deep, use a containing planter, or root-prune to stop the spread. Existing bamboo can't be replanted once it dies or is removed, and a second violation notice for the same address within 12 months requires removing the bamboo entirely. Sec. 1 treats any listed species growing in violation of the chapter as a public nuisance and an absolute liability offense.

Violations & Fines

A listed species triggers the same nuisance process as other vegetation violations: a notice to abate under Sec. 22-56 with 10 days to remove it (30 days specifically for a bamboo violation under Sec. 35-26(c), extendable for good cause). A second bamboo notice within 12 months at the same address requires removing all of the bamboo. Fines default to the Sec. 1-21 general penalty of $1.00 to $750.00 per offense, and the City can clear the plant itself and lien the property for the cost under Sec. 22-58 and Sec. 22-59.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to grow kudzu or multiflora rose in Champaign?

Yes. Sec. 35-19(a)(4) names both as prohibited vegetation on private property, alongside common and giant ragweed, several thistle species, Johnsongrass, Japanese honeysuckle, purple loosestrife, and running bamboo. Letting any of them grow is treated as a public nuisance under Sec. 35-24.1.

Is running bamboo banned in Champaign?

New bamboo is banned under Sec. 35-19(a)(4)(q). Bamboo already growing on a property before February 3, 2015 is grandfathered under Sec. 35-26 only if it stays clear of neighboring lots or is contained by a 30-inch-deep root barrier, and it can't be replanted once removed or dead.

Is poison ivy against the rules if it grows in my yard?

Yes, it's on the list at Sec. 35-19(a)(4)(n), along with poison oak and poison sumac. Because it's a named species, letting it grow is a public nuisance under Sec. 35-24.1 regardless of height, unlike ordinary grass, which is only capped at 8 inches.

What if I already have bamboo and get a second violation notice?

Sec. 35-26(d) requires removing the bamboo in its entirety if a second notice of violation is issued for the same address within a 12-month period; the earlier buffer-zone or barrier compliance option is no longer available at that point.

Sources & Official References

[1]Champaign, IL Code of Ordinances - Chapter 35, Vegetation (Municode Library)

Other rules in Champaign

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome Restrictions Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Bamboo RestrictionsHeavy Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSignificant Restrictions Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSignificant Restrictions

All Champaign rules

Compare Champaign to another location·View the Illinois invasive plant rules overview

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.