Can I Bring My Plants? Moving to Florida
Can I bring my plants into Florida?
Florida wants an inspection certificate from the state you're leaving on just about anything green, and cars get checked at the agricultural inspection stations. Citrus is the hard one: it needs a permit before it can come in at all.
Driving in? Whether you have to stop, and what they check
- They check what you bring in
- Checked Sep 2026
What Florida asks for
- HouseplantsHouseplants (no outdoor soil)Conditional
- Potted plants in soilPotted plants in soilConditional
- Citrus treesCitrus treesNot allowed
- Other fruit treesOther fruit treesDepends
- Nursery stock & shrubsNursery stock & shrubsDepends
- Cut flowers & bouquetsCut flowers & bouquetsNo data
- Seeds & bulbsSeeds & bulbsNo data
- FirewoodFirewoodConditional
- Hay & strawHay & strawDepends
- Soil & compostSoil & compostDepends
4 of these change depending on where you're leaving. Pick a state to see which.
Plant by plant
Houseplants (no outdoor soil)
Conditional
- Certificate
Houseplants riding along with your household goods need an inspection certificate. If the state you're leaving doesn't certify houseplants, give Florida an address where they'll be so it can check them there.
You'd need: Inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, or a Florida address where the plants will be
Source & details
Non-commercial shipments of house plants which are part of a passenger's baggage or household effects may enter the state provided the plants are accompanied with a certificate of inspection. Should the plants originate from a state that does not offer an inspection and certification service for house plants, the owner must be able to furnish the department a Florida address where the plants will be located.
5B-3.003 Requirements for the Interstate Movement of Nursery Stock and Other Plants and Plant Products · checked 13 Sep 2026
Potted plants in soil
Conditional
- Certificate
Same as houseplants: an inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, or a Florida address on file so someone can come and check them after you arrive.
You'd need: Inspection certificate from the state you're leaving, or a Florida address where the plants will be
Source & details
Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving
Imported fire ant (7 CFR 301.81): Leaving a fire ant quarantine area with soil, baled hay or plants rooted in soil needs a federal certificate or permit, attached to the container, wherever you're going. (NM's only county was deregulated in Aug. 2025.) Leaving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, or parts of Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. 7 CFR 301.81 Imported Fire Ant: Federal Domestic Quarantine (California PQM 214)
Witchweed (7 CFR 301.80): Witchweed is regulated in a handful of Carolina counties, not the whole of either state. Leaving one of those with soil or plants that carry it needs a federal certificate or permit; the rest of the Carolinas, it doesn't apply. Leaving parts of North Carolina, South Carolina. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart O: Witchweed (eCFR)
Golden nematode (7 CFR 301.85): Golden nematode is regulated in parts of a few New York counties, not the whole state. Leaving one of those with soil or plants that carry it needs a federal certificate or permit; the rest of New York, it doesn't apply. Leaving parts of New York. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart R: Golden Nematode (eCFR)
Non-commercial shipments of house plants which are part of a passenger’s baggage or household effects may enter the state provided the plants are accompanied with a certificate of inspection.
5B-3.003 Requirements for the Interstate Movement of Nursery Stock and Other Plants and Plant Products · checked 14 Sep 2026
Citrus trees
Not allowed
- Permit
You can't bring a citrus tree, or any part of one, into Florida without a special permit first. Citrus fruit is fine.
You'd need: Special permit to bring citrus in, applied for on form FDACS-08084
Because of: Citrus canker, Citrus greening (HLB).
Source & details
Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving
Citrus greening and Asian citrus psyllid (7 CFR 301.76): Citrus plants may not be moved interstate out of a citrus greening quarantine area unless a specific provision allows it. APHIS asks people not to mail or carry home-grown citrus plants out at all. Leaving Georgia, Florida, or parts of Alabama, California, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart N: Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid (eCFR)
It is unlawful to move into Florida any and all kinds of citrus trees and parts thereof except by a special permit from the Division Director. Permits are not required to move citrus fruits into the state.
A permit to bring citrus plants and citrus plant products into the state may be requested, by submitting to the Division at the address shown on the form, an Application to Introduce Citrus Plants and Citrus Plant Parts, FDACS-08084, revised 5/12
Summary of Florida Plant Import Regulations - FDACS · 5B-3.003 Requirements for the Interstate Movement of Nursery Stock and Other Plants and Plant Products · checked 13 Sep 2026
Other fruit trees
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 13 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: What Florida publishes about fruit trees other than citrus is a rule for nurseries and sellers, not for moving your own. We have not found one that covers bringing them yourself.
Source & details
Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving
Spongy moth (trees and shrubs with roots) (7 CFR 301.45): A tree or shrub with roots needs a federal certificate or permit to leave a spongy moth quarantine area. Anything greenhouse-grown all year is exempt, so this is about what has been living in your garden. Leaving Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, or parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart E: Gypsy Moth (eCFR)
All commercial shipments of nursery stock or other plants and plant products entering Florida by road are required to stop at an agricultural inspection station where they will be screened for proper certification
5B-3.003 Requirements for the Interstate Movement of Nursery Stock and Other Plants and Plant Products · checked 13 Sep 2026
Nursery stock & shrubs
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 18 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: What Florida publishes about nursery stock and shrubs is a rule for nurseries and sellers, not for moving your own. We have not found one that covers bringing them yourself.
Source & details
Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving
Imported fire ant (7 CFR 301.81): Leaving a fire ant quarantine area with soil, baled hay or plants rooted in soil needs a federal certificate or permit, attached to the container, wherever you're going. (NM's only county was deregulated in Aug. 2025.) Leaving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, or parts of Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. 7 CFR 301.81 Imported Fire Ant: Federal Domestic Quarantine (California PQM 214)
Spongy moth (trees and shrubs with roots) (7 CFR 301.45): A tree or shrub with roots needs a federal certificate or permit to leave a spongy moth quarantine area. Anything greenhouse-grown all year is exempt, so this is about what has been living in your garden. Leaving Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, or parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart E: Gypsy Moth (eCFR)
Witchweed (7 CFR 301.80): Witchweed is regulated in a handful of Carolina counties, not the whole of either state. Leaving one of those with soil or plants that carry it needs a federal certificate or permit; the rest of the Carolinas, it doesn't apply. Leaving parts of North Carolina, South Carolina. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart O: Witchweed (eCFR)
For nursery stock, a valid certificate of inspection issued by the state of origin must be attached to and readily visible on each separate package, bundle, box, or shipment of nursery stock shipped into Florida.
The movement of dogwood plants or part thereof from infested states into Florida is prohibited except by master permit issued by the Division Director.
A special permit may be requested by submitting to the Division at the address shown on the form an Application for Special Permit to Import Sugarcane, FDACS-08083, revised 9/16
5B-3.003 Requirements for the Interstate Movement of Nursery Stock and Other Plants and Plant Products · Summary of Florida Plant Import Regulations - FDACS · 5B-3.003 Requirements for the Interstate Movement of Nursery Stock and Other Plants and Plant Products · checked 14 Sep 2026
Cut flowers & bouquets
No data
What Florida publishes about cut flowers and bouquets is a rule for nurseries and sellers, not for moving your own. We have not found one that covers bringing them yourself.
Source & details
All seeds, cut flowers, cut fern, cut foliage not for propagation, and lawn and pasture grasses not produced as certified turfgrass are specifically exempted from nursery stock classification for registration purposes when apparently free from injurious plant pests.
Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 5B-2.002: Registering with the Division · checked 15 Sep 2026
Seeds & bulbs
No data
What Florida publishes about seeds and bulbs is a rule for nurseries and sellers, not for moving your own. We have not found one that covers bringing them yourself.
Source & details
For nursery stock, a valid certificate of inspection issued by the state of origin must be attached to and readily visible on each separate package, bundle, box, or shipment of nursery stock shipped into Florida.
All plants, trees, shrubs, vines, bulbs, cuttings, grafts, scions or buds, grown or kept for or capable of propagation or distribution, unless specifically excluded by the rules of the department.
5B-3.003 Requirements for the Interstate Movement of Nursery Stock and Other Plants and Plant Products · Summary of Florida Plant Import Regulations - FDACS · checked 14 Sep 2026
Firewood
Conditional
- Certificate
Firewood with the bark still on, and unpeeled lumber, can't come into Florida from a pest-affected area without a certificate from an official back there.
You'd need: Certificate from an official in the state you're leaving
Because of: State firewood rules.
Source & details
Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving
Gypsy moth (outdoor household articles) (7 CFR 301.45): Firewood counts as an outdoor household article. Moving it out of a gypsy moth quarantine area needs a certificate, or the self-inspection checklist from the "Don’t Move Gypsy Moth" program aid. Leaving Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, or parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart E: Gypsy Moth (eCFR)
The movement of firewood with bark and unpeeled lumber into the state from an infested or regulated area is prohibited except by a certificate issued by an authorized representative of the state of origin.
Summary of Florida Plant Import Regulations - FDACS · checked 14 Sep 2026
Hay & straw
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 5 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: No data yet on bringing hay and straw into Florida.
Source & details
Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving
Imported fire ant (7 CFR 301.81): Leaving a fire ant quarantine area with soil, baled hay or plants rooted in soil needs a federal certificate or permit, attached to the container, wherever you're going. (NM's only county was deregulated in Aug. 2025.) Leaving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, or parts of Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. 7 CFR 301.81 Imported Fire Ant: Federal Domestic Quarantine (California PQM 214)
Soil & compost
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 5 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: No data yet on bringing soil and compost into Florida.
Source & details
Federal quarantines, depending where you are leaving
Imported fire ant (7 CFR 301.81): Leaving a fire ant quarantine area with soil, baled hay or plants rooted in soil needs a federal certificate or permit, attached to the container, wherever you're going. (NM's only county was deregulated in Aug. 2025.) Leaving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, or parts of Arkansas, California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. 7 CFR 301.81 Imported Fire Ant: Federal Domestic Quarantine (California PQM 214)
Witchweed (7 CFR 301.80): Witchweed is regulated in a handful of Carolina counties, not the whole of either state. Leaving one of those with soil or plants that carry it needs a federal certificate or permit; the rest of the Carolinas, it doesn't apply. Leaving parts of North Carolina, South Carolina. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart O: Witchweed (eCFR)
Golden nematode (7 CFR 301.85): Golden nematode is regulated in parts of a few New York counties, not the whole state. Leaving one of those with soil or plants that carry it needs a federal certificate or permit; the rest of New York, it doesn't apply. Leaving parts of New York. 7 CFR Part 301 Subpart R: Golden Nematode (eCFR)
Still stuck? The people who answer this in Florida are Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services .