Philadelphia Invasive Plant Rules: Tree-of-Heaven Removal Rules (2026)

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Order of Quarantine, 7 Pa. Code section 110a.21, places Philadelphia County under Spotted Lanternfly quarantine. Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven) is the lanternfly's preferred host and is identified for control under PDA's Joint State Government Commission Invasive Plant List. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation removes tree-of-heaven from city land under the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan, prioritizing creek-corridor stands. Private property owners are encouraged but not legally required to remove individual trees, though commercial movers must hold a PDA-issued Spotted Lanternfly Permit before transporting regulated articles such as nursery stock, mulch, and outdoor furniture out of the quarantine zone. Penn State Extension publishes management guidance with herbicide-and-cut protocols.