Sioux Falls, SD Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- No new ash (Fraxinus) plantings allowed
- Citation
- City Code § 94.019
- Adopted
- Ord. 84-18, passed 9-18-2018
- Enforced by
- Parks and Recreation director
- Max penalty
- $500 fine / 30 days jail
Summary
Sioux Falls prohibits planting any ash tree, Genus Fraxinus, on any property citywide, a response to the invasive emerald ash borer threat to the urban forest.
No person shall plant, or allow to be planted, any variation of Genus Fraxinus, commonly known as ash, on any property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-135: Current through local ordinance 54-26, passed 7-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 94.019 makes it unlawful to plant, or allow to be planted, any variation of Genus Fraxinus (ash) on any property in Sioux Falls, public or private. The parks and recreation director otherwise has broad authority under Chapter 94 to regulate, control, and order removal of nuisance and diseased trees and woody plants, both on public rights-of-way and on private lots, to stop the spread of tree disease and pests.
Violations & Fines
No specific penalty is listed for § 94.019, so the citywide general penalty in § 10.999 applies: up to a $500 fine, up to 30 days in the county jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant an ash tree in my Sioux Falls yard?
Why did Sioux Falls ban ash trees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sioux Falls
Compare Sioux Falls to another location·View the South Dakota invasive plant rules overview
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