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Allegheny County, PA Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

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

Key Facts

Section
§ 780-512.B(2)
Prohibited list
PA DCNR Invasive Plants list
Applies to
New subdivisions/land developments
Enforced by
County Dept. of Economic Development

Summary

New subdivisions and land developments in Allegheny County cannot use any plant on the Pennsylvania DCNR 'Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania' list as part of required landscaping under the county code.

City-specific rules exist: Pittsburgh, and Penn Hills have their own prohibited species rules that differ from Allegheny County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Landscaping shall not include any plants documented on the Pennsylvania DCNR "Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania" list. The planting of hardy indigenous species is encouraged.

C. Landscaping defined. Landscaping shall be understood to include the provision of street trees, buffer yards, replacement woodlands, and other new planted areas. Landscaping shall also be understood as the provision of undisturbed ground, where such is fully integrated into the design and layout of the subdivision or land development and preserves existing natural features of the site.

D. Street trees. All new residential and nonresidential developments shall provide street trees, in addition to any replacement trees required by § 780-506, in accordance with the following standards:

(1) Street trees shall be provided along the entire length of the street right-of-way on both sides of the street if the street lies within the development.

(2) Street trees in residential subdivisions shall be located within five feet of the right-of-way and in nonresidential developments between the right-of-way and the building line. An easement shall be granted to the municipality for the purpose of maintaining the trees, and a restrictive covenant shall be placed in the deed for the property prohibiting removal of the trees by the property owner.

(3) Street trees shall be located so as not to interfere with the maintenance of utilities, required sight distances and visibility of street and traffic signs.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4857026; v12 updated 2024-06-04; through 06-04-2024).

Full Breakdown

Section 780-512.B(2) of the county's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance directly bars invasive species from counting as landscaping: developers submitting plans for county review must select species off the DCNR invasive list. The Department of Economic Development reviews landscaping plans as part of subdivision/land development approval, applying in municipalities without their own subdivision ordinance; Pittsburgh is exempt from the chapter entirely.

Violations & Fines

A landscaping plan specifying a DCNR-listed invasive species will not be approved by the Department of Economic Development; the applicant must revise the plant list before final plan approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

What plants are banned from Allegheny County landscaping plans?
Any species on the Pennsylvania DCNR 'Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania' list, per county code § 780-512.B(2).
Who enforces this ban?
The County Department of Economic Development, which reviews and approves subdivision and land development landscaping plans.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Allegheny County

All Allegheny County rules

Compare Allegheny County to another location·View the Pennsylvania invasive plant rules overview

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Prohibited Species in Cities Across Allegheny County