Is bamboo illegal in New York?

What the law says

6 NYCRR § 575.3 lists Phyllostachys aurea (golden bamboo) and Phyllostachys aureosulcata (yellow groove bamboo) as prohibited invasive species. For prohibited species, “no person shall sell, import, purchase, transport, introduce or propagate” them (§ 575.3(c)). Other bamboos are not on the list.

Already have it? The rule restricts selling, moving, introducing and propagating. It doesn't say you must remove plants already in your yard. See golden bamboo in New York and yellow groove bamboo in New York.

Local rules: some villages and towns go further. For example, the Village of Sea Cliff has a bamboo chapter (Chapter 42) in its code. Search your municipality's code.

Want a privacy screen instead?

Bamboo is usually planted for privacy. Native evergreens like wax myrtle and yaupon holly are rated fast-growing by NC State Extension; see fast-growing privacy trees & hedges (native). Giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) is a native bamboo-like grass in parts of the eastern US.

More: bamboo laws in other states · Virginia · all New York plant laws

Sources

1. 6 NYCRR § 575.3 Prohibited invasive species (LII)
2. NYS DEC: List of regulated and prohibited invasive species
3. Village of Sea Cliff, NY, Code Chapter 42: Bamboo and Invasive Plant Species (eCode360)

Checked October 19, 2026. Not legal or professional advice; the official text controls.