Invasive Plant Rules in Virginia (2026)
12 rules on the books across Virginia, 10 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Bamboo Restrictions
Rules about planting running bamboo near property lines, containment requirements, removal obligations, and fines for bamboo that spreads to neighboring properties.
Fairfax County
Some RestrictionsFairfax County requires owners of running bamboo to keep it from spreading onto neighboring property or the public…
Read full rule →Loudoun County
Some RestrictionsLoudoun County requires owners of "running bamboo", spreading species like Phyllostachys, to keep it properly…
Read full rule →Prince William County
Some RestrictionsPrince William County treats running bamboo as a regulated weed. Code of Ordinances Section 29-17 makes it unlawful to…
Read full rule →Stafford County
Some RestrictionsStafford County bars landowners from letting running bamboo, defined by its aggressive spreading genus Phyllostachys…
Read full rule →Prohibited Species
Plants that are banned or regulated in your area, including Japanese knotweed, kudzu, purple loosestrife, and other species that threaten native ecosystems.
Montgomery County
Heavy RestrictionsMontgomery County treats multiflora rose as a controlled invasive species under Code Sec. 7-9: no one may knowingly let…
Read full rule →Loudoun County
Some RestrictionsLoudoun County's Zoning Ordinance bars planting any Invasive Plant species within the buffers, road corridor buffers…
Read full rule →Newport News
Some RestrictionsNewport News bars site developers from counting sixteen invasive or weak-wooded tree species, including Tree of Heaven…
Read full rule →Norfolk
Some RestrictionsNorfolk's nuisance code defines "overgrowth" to include running bamboo, vines, ivy, and noxious weeds that inhibit…
Read full rule →Roanoke
Some RestrictionsRoanoke's vegetation code brands a specific list of invasive and noxious plants, including poison ivy, poison oak…
Read full rule →Spotsylvania County
Light RestrictionsSpotsylvania County's Chesapeake Bay Preservation ordinance names Johnson grass, kudzu, and multiflora rose as noxious…
Read full rule →Albemarle County
Few RestrictionsAlbemarle County does not maintain a standalone noxious-weed list, but its riparian buffer ordinance singles out…
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.