PlantLegitIllinois: invasive & noxious plant laws
Illinois has two laws. The Illinois Exotic Weed Act (525 ILCS 10) makes it unlawful to buy, sell, offer for sale, distribute or plant a listed exotic weed (or its seeds) without an IDNR permit; the official list is 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1100.30. The Illinois Noxious Weed Law (505 ILCS 100) requires control of the noxious weeds in 8 Ill. Adm. Code 220.60.
Official sources
- 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1100.30 Official List of Exotic Weeds (IDNR)
- 8 Ill. Adm. Code 220.60 Noxious weeds (IDOA)
- Illinois Exotic Weed Act, 525 ILCS 10 (Justia copy)
- Federal Noxious Weed List, 7 CFR § 360.200 (USDA APHIS) — applies in every state
Exotic weed (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1100.30, Illinois Exotic Weed Act) — no buying, selling, distributing or planting without an IDNR permit (35)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Ailanthus altissima | tree of heaven |
| Alliaria petiolata | garlic mustard |
| Celastrus orbiculatus | Oriental bittersweet |
| Conium maculatum | poison hemlock |
| Dipsacus spp. | teasels |
| Elaeagnus angustifolia | Russian olive |
| Elaeagnus pungens | thorny olive |
| Elaeagnus umbellata | autumn olive |
| Euphorbia virgata | leafy spurge |
| Ficaria verna | lesser celandine |
| Frangula alnus | glossy buckthorn |
| Heracleum mantegazzianum | giant hogweed |
| Lespedeza cuneata | sericea lespedeza |
| Lonicera fragrantissima | winter honeysuckle |
| Lonicera japonica | Japanese honeysuckle |
| Lonicera maackii | Amur honeysuckle |
| Lonicera morrowii | Morrow's honeysuckle |
| Lonicera tatarica | Tatarian honeysuckle |
| Lythrum salicaria | purple loosestrife |
| Microstegium vimineum | Japanese stiltgrass |
| Phellodendron amurense | Amur corktree |
| Pueraria montana | kudzu |
| Reynoutria japonica | Japanese knotweed |
| Reynoutria sachalinensis | giant knotweed |
| Reynoutria x bohemica | Bohemian knotweed |
| Rhamnus arguta | saw-toothed buckthorn |
| Rhamnus cathartica | common buckthorn |
| Rhamnus davurica | Dahurian buckthorn |
| Rhamnus japonica | Japanese buckthorn |
| Rhamnus utilis | Chinese buckthorn |
| Rosa multiflora | multiflora rose |
| Tamarix spp. | salt cedars |
| Vincetoxicum nigrum | black swallow-wort |
| Vincetoxicum rossicum | pale swallow-wort |
| Pyrus calleryana | callery pear — exotic weed starting January 1, 2028 |
Noxious weed (8 Ill. Adm. Code 220.60, Illinois Noxious Weed Law) — landowners must control (8)
| Scientific name | Common name / notes |
|---|---|
| Cannabis sativa | marihuana |
| Ambrosia trifida | giant ragweed — within city/village limits |
| Ambrosia artemisiifolia | common ragweed — within city/village limits |
| Cirsium arvense | Canada thistle |
| Sonchus arvensis | perennial sowthistle |
| Carduus nutans | musk thistle |
| Sorghum halepense | johnsongrass and other perennial Sorghum incl. S. almum |
| Pueraria lobata | kudzu |
Check plants against Illinois law →
Informational only, not legal advice. Lists change; always check the official source linked above before you buy, sell, plant or move a plant. Lists checked 2026-10-14.