Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven) is rated Moderate by California Invasive Plant Council and tracked by the San Diego County Agricultural Commissioner. It is not banned outright but its sale at nurseries and removal requirements apply on Multi-Habitat Planning Area lands.
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is the host of the spotted lanternfly currently advancing west and rated Moderate on the Cal-IPC California Invasive Plant Inventory. San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures monitors the species and issues advisories. The plant is not on California's Noxious Weed list with mandatory eradication, but San Diego's Multi-Habitat Planning Area (MHPA) and Multiple Species Conservation Program parcels list ailanthus among non-native species to remove during habitat restoration. State CDFA pest exclusion rules at nurseries restrict shipping infested stock, and the SD Ag Commissioner can issue stop-sale orders for infested or contaminated nursery shipments.
There is no homeowner penalty for an existing ailanthus, but landscape contractors moving infested material face CDFA quarantine penalties and stop-sale orders. MHPA conservation easement holders failing required removal are cited under habitat management agreements with USFWS.
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