Pontiac, MI Invasive Plant Rules: Tree-of-Heaven Removal (2026)

Section 4.411 sets the plant material standards that apply to required landscaping under the zoning ordinance, covering approved native trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses. Subsection L, Undesirable Plantings, breaks from the approved-species lists to flag plantings that are invasive to natural habitats, disrupt storm drainage, or are susceptible to pests and disease, printing a two-column table of common and scientific names. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) appears in that table alongside Box elder, Norway maple, Silver maple, European barberry, Northern catalpa, Russian olive, Ash, Common privet and Honeysuckle.

The subsection's operative language is advisory: it says such use 'is not encouraged,' not that it is prohibited, and the chapter attaches no permit denial, fine or removal mandate specifically to this list. Existing Tree of Heaven growth is untouched by this section; it only bears on landscape plans submitted for site plan or plat review under Article 4 of the zoning ordinance, where the Planning Administrator applies the plant material standards. Separately, the city's Woodlands Preservation chapter (City Code § 130-2) already excludes Tree of Heaven by name from the definition of a 'protected tree,' meaning a landowner removing an existing Tree of Heaven does not need the tree removal permit that Chapter 130 requires for other species.

Between the two provisions, Pontiac's only local treatment of this species is to discourage planting new ones and to withhold tree-preservation protection from existing ones, not to regulate or mandate its removal.