Invasive Plant Rules in Michigan (2026)
38 rules on the books across Michigan, 23 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Prohibited Species
Plants that are banned or regulated in your area, including Japanese knotweed, kudzu, purple loosestrife, and other species that threaten native ecosystems.
Grand Rapids
Heavy RestrictionsGrand Rapids' zoning ordinance bans planting any of eighteen invasive tree and shrub species citywide, including common…
Read full rule →Wyoming
Heavy RestrictionsWyoming, Michigan bans planting, propagating or cultivating noxious weeds on any parcel in the city, and bars letting…
Read full rule →Detroit
Significant RestrictionsDetroit's zoning code bars planting silver maple, boxelder, mulberry, cottonwood, black locust, willow, American and…
Read full rule →Kalamazoo
Significant RestrictionsCity Code § 50-6.2(J)(4)(b) bars planting anything on Table 6.2-6, the Prohibited Planting List, or any species the…
Read full rule →Troy
Significant RestrictionsTroy's Zoning Ordinance bars anyone from newly planting more than 40 invasive species listed in Table 13.02-D…
Read full rule →Battle Creek
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Battle Creek, Michigan, Section 1262.04(d)(4) prohibits any plants, trees, shrubs or vegetation…
Read full rule →Clinton Township
Some RestrictionsClinton Township outlaws ten named noxious weeds, including Canada thistle, poison ivy, poison sumac, ragweed and…
Read full rule →Dearborn
Some RestrictionsDearborn bans growing noxious weeds -- Canada thistle, wild carrot, ox-eye daisy, wild mustard, and ragweed goldenrod…
Read full rule →Flint
Some RestrictionsFlint's code names ten specific noxious weed species, from Canada thistle to poison sumac, plus a catch-all for any…
Read full rule →Novi
Some RestrictionsSection 21-16 of the Novi code gives the city council authority to designate specific plant varieties or species as…
Read full rule →Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsRochester Hills' Property Maintenance Code names specific noxious and invasive plants at Section 18-532, including…
Read full rule →Royal Oak
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Royal Oak, landscaping plans required under the zoning code may not include poplar, soft maples…
Read full rule →Royal Oak Township
Some RestrictionsIn the Charter Township of Royal Oak, Michigan, no owner, occupant, agent or person in control of any public or private…
Read full rule →Sterling Heights
Some RestrictionsSterling Heights' Property Maintenance Code names specific noxious weeds, Canada thistle, poison ivy, giant hogweed…
Read full rule →Taylor
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Taylor, Michigan, Code section 20-147 names Canada thistle, dodders, mustards, wild carrot, bindweed…
Read full rule →Warren
Some RestrictionsWarren's Code of Ordinances Article III bans noxious weeds, defined as plants listed under state law, overgrowth over…
Read full rule →Dearborn Heights
Light RestrictionsIn the City of Dearborn Heights, Chapter 33 defines poplar, willow, box elder, and elm as 'prohibited species,' and…
Read full rule →Lansing
Light RestrictionsLansing's landscaping code discourages invasive plants in any required site landscape plan. Species the State of…
Read full rule →West Bloomfield
Light RestrictionsWest Bloomfield Township leaves invasive-plant classification to Michigan law but still regulates it locally: Sec…
Read full rule →Westland
Light RestrictionsWestland's vegetation code labels poplar, willow, box elder, and elm as 'prohibited species': trees excluded from the…
Read full rule →Front Yard Gardens
Whether your city allows vegetable gardens, wildflower meadows, or native plant landscapes in the front yard, including any height limits or appearance standards.
Dearborn
Significant RestrictionsDearborn's nuisance code lists any front yard garden growing vegetables, fruits, berries, or other edible plants as a…
Read full rule →Detroit
Some RestrictionsDetroit allows urban gardens by right in every residential district, but the city's Forestry Division bans planting any…
Read full rule →Royal Oak
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Royal Oak, a domestic garden accessory to a home cannot go in the front yard. City Code § 770-56C(1)…
Read full rule →Royal Oak Township
Some RestrictionsIn residentially zoned parts of the Charter Township of Royal Oak, Michigan, all visible front and side yards must be…
Read full rule →Wyoming
Some RestrictionsWyoming, Michigan permits front-yard vegetable gardens but caps them at six feet in plant height with a three-foot side…
Read full rule →Tree-of-Heaven Removal
Rules requiring removal of Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven), the invasive species that hosts spotted lanternfly, including state programs and city-level mandates.
Kalamazoo
Heavy RestrictionsCity Code § 42-6A(1) bars anyone from planting Ailanthus Altissima, the Tree of Heaven, in any Kalamazoo curblawn or…
Read full rule →Rochester Hills
Heavy RestrictionsRochester Hills bans planting Ailanthus altissima, the tree of heaven, as a street tree anywhere in the public…
Read full rule →Clinton Township
Significant RestrictionsClinton Township's landscaping code flatly bars tree of heaven from any required site-plan planting. Zoning Code…
Read full rule →Southfield
Significant RestrictionsThe City of Southfield outright bans planting Tree of Heaven, along with willow, poplar, soft maple, box elder, wild…
Read full rule →Troy
Some RestrictionsTroy's Zoning Ordinance names Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) on its Table 13.02-D prohibited species list…
Read full rule →West Bloomfield
Some RestrictionsNew subdivisions in West Bloomfield Township may not plant Tree of Heaven, an invasive, foul-smelling species, as part…
Read full rule →Battle Creek
Light RestrictionsBattle Creek's tree chapter lists tree of heaven among its prohibited species, alongside poplar, willow, box elder…
Read full rule →Dearborn
Light RestrictionsDearborn's zoning landscaping code flags Tree of Heaven as an undesirable species for required plantings, alongside…
Read full rule →Dearborn Heights
Light RestrictionsIn the City of Dearborn Heights, City Code § 36-401 lists Ailanthus altissima, the tree of heaven, on the zoning…
Read full rule →Livonia
Light RestrictionsLivonia's Zoning Ordinance keeps tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) off the list of species that can satisfy any…
Read full rule →Taylor
Light RestrictionsIn the City of Taylor, Michigan, developers platting a new subdivision cannot plant tree of heaven as a required street…
Read full rule →Westland
Light RestrictionsWestland's zoning ordinance classifies Tree of Heaven as an invasive species, exempting it from the tree-preservation…
Read full rule →Pontiac
Few RestrictionsPontiac's Zoning Ordinance does not ban Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Section 4.411(L), Undesirable Plantings…
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