Cleveland, OH Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- Riparian and wetland setbacks only
- Citation
- Codified Ordinances § 351.08(a)(3)
- Standard
- Non-invasive species required for revegetation
- Reference list
- Ohio DNR Invasive Plant Species list
- Related duty
- Noxious-weed control allowed without drainage/fill
Summary
Cleveland doesn't ban invasive plants citywide, but within its riparian and wetland setbacks the Zoning Code requires revegetation to use non-invasive species and directs property owners to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Invasive Plant Species list to identify what's off-limits.
Revegetation and/or Reforestation. Riparian and wetland setbacks may be revegetated, enhanced or restored. Any revegetation must be performed with non-invasive plant species. Refer to the Ohio Invasive Plant Species list created by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to determine invasive plant species undesirable for revegetation, reforestation, or restoration of riparian areas.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-28: Current through legislation passed September 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
08 spells out what's allowed inside those buffer zones without triggering the chapter's stricter permit track. Among the by-right, no-permit uses in division (a)(3), Revegetation and/or Reforestation, the Code states plainly: "Any revegetation must be performed with non-invasive plant species. " This means anyone replanting, enhancing or restoring vegetation inside a mapped riparian or wetland setback must cross-check species against the state DNR list before planting, it is not a general nursery-sale or possession ban reaching every yard in the city, but a site-specific planting standard tied to protecting the setback's ecological function.
09(e) reinforces the intent by permitting disturbance of natural vegetation in the setback only for "conservation maintenance necessary to control noxious weeds" among other narrow exceptions, underscoring that invasive and noxious vegetation management is treated as an affirmative duty inside these protected corridors, not merely a discretionary option.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 351 permits are administered by the City in consultation with the Manager of Engineering and Construction; disturbing a riparian or wetland setback with prohibited fill, unauthorized clearing, or non-conforming revegetation without an approved permit falls outside the by-right uses of § 351.08 and instead exposes the property to the prohibited-use provisions of § 351.09, which bar unauthorized construction, dredging, filling, and vegetation disturbance in these buffers absent City approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cleveland ban invasive plants everywhere in the city?
What list does Cleveland use to define invasive species?
Can I remove invasive or noxious vegetation from a riparian setback myself?
What if I disturb a riparian setback without following these rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cleveland
Compare Cleveland to another location·View the Ohio invasive plant rules overview
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Prohibited Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle prohibited species.