Can I Bring My Plants?

Moving to New Jersey

Can I bring my plants into New Jersey?

New Jersey's inspection-certificate rule targets nurserymen and dealers shipping stock in from out of state, filed with the department once a year before anything ships — what it means for someone driving their own plants across the state line isn't something we've found written down, so check the categories below. Flowers and cuttings grown under glass are left out of the rule entirely, and soil from New York has to be fumigated first no matter who's carrying it.

  • Checked Sep 2026
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What New Jersey asks for

7 of these change depending on where you're leaving. Pick a state to see which.

Plant by plant

Houseplants (no outdoor soil)

No data

What New Jersey publishes about houseplants 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 nurserymen, dealers or other persons residing or doing business outside of New Jersey and desiring to ship nursery stock into New Jersey shall file once each year with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, prior to shipments, a copy of their current valid resident-state certificate of inspection.
"Nursery stock" means all plants, trees, shrubs, and vines grown for sale, as well as grafts, cuttings, and buds and other parts of plants that may be sold for propagation, whether cultivated or wild; but shall not include herbaceous annuals or plants, flowers, vines or cuttings grown under glass and commonly known as florists' stock.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:17-1.1, Persons shipping nursery stock shall file certificate of inspection · N.J. Admin. Code § 2:71-7.2, Definitions · checked 14 Sep 2026

Houseplants in every state

Potted plants in soil

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 6 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: What New Jersey publishes about potted plants in soil 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)

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)

All nurserymen, dealers or other persons residing or doing business outside of New Jersey and desiring to ship nursery stock into New Jersey shall file once each year with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, prior to shipments, a copy of their current valid resident-state certificate of inspection.
"Nursery stock" means all plants, trees, shrubs, and vines grown for sale, as well as grafts, cuttings, and buds and other parts of plants that may be sold for propagation, whether cultivated or wild; but shall not include herbaceous annuals or plants, flowers, vines or cuttings grown under glass and commonly known as florists' stock.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:17-1.1, Persons shipping nursery stock shall file certificate of inspection · N.J. Admin. Code § 2:71-7.2, Definitions · checked 14 Sep 2026

Potted plants in soil in every state

Citrus trees

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 2 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: What New Jersey publishes about citrus trees 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

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)

All nurserymen, dealers or other persons residing or doing business outside of New Jersey and desiring to ship nursery stock into New Jersey shall file once each year with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, prior to shipments, a copy of their current valid resident-state certificate of inspection.
"Nursery stock" means all plants, trees, shrubs, and vines grown for sale, as well as grafts, cuttings, and buds and other parts of plants that may be sold for propagation, whether cultivated or wild; but shall not include herbaceous annuals or plants, flowers, vines or cuttings grown under glass and commonly known as florists' stock.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:17-1.1, Persons shipping nursery stock shall file certificate of inspection · N.J. Admin. Code § 2:71-7.2, Definitions · checked 14 Sep 2026

Citrus trees in every state

Other fruit trees

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 12 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: What New Jersey 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 nurserymen, dealers or other persons residing or doing business outside of New Jersey and desiring to ship nursery stock into New Jersey shall file once each year with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, prior to shipments, a copy of their current valid resident-state certificate of inspection.
"Nursery stock" means all plants, trees, shrubs, and vines grown for sale, as well as grafts, cuttings, and buds and other parts of plants that may be sold for propagation, whether cultivated or wild; but shall not include herbaceous annuals or plants, flowers, vines or cuttings grown under glass and commonly known as florists' stock.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:17-1.1, Persons shipping nursery stock shall file certificate of inspection · N.J. Admin. Code § 2:71-7.2, Definitions · checked 14 Sep 2026

Other fruit trees in every state

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 New Jersey 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)

All nurserymen, dealers or other persons residing or doing business outside of New Jersey and desiring to ship nursery stock into New Jersey shall file once each year with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, prior to shipments, a copy of their current valid resident-state certificate of inspection.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:17-1.1, Persons shipping nursery stock shall file certificate of inspection · checked 14 Sep 2026

Nursery stock & shrubs in every state

Cut flowers & bouquets

Fine

Flowers, vines and cuttings grown under glass are left out of New Jersey's plant rules, so a bouquet needs nothing.

Source & details
but shall not include herbaceous annuals or plants, flowers, vines or cuttings grown under glass and commonly known as florists' stock.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:71-7.2, Definitions · checked 15 Sep 2026

Cut flowers & bouquets in every state

Seeds & bulbs

No data

What New Jersey 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
All nurserymen, dealers or other persons residing or doing business outside of New Jersey and desiring to ship nursery stock into New Jersey shall file once each year with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, prior to shipments, a copy of their current valid resident-state certificate of inspection.
"Nursery stock" means all plants, trees, shrubs, and vines grown for sale, as well as grafts, cuttings, and buds and other parts of plants that may be sold for propagation, whether cultivated or wild; but shall not include herbaceous annuals or plants, flowers, vines or cuttings grown under glass and commonly known as florists' stock.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:17-1.1, Persons shipping nursery stock shall file certificate of inspection · N.J. Admin. Code § 2:71-7.2, Definitions · checked 14 Sep 2026

Seeds & bulbs in every state

Firewood

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 12 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: Nothing stops you bringing firewood into New Jersey. The state does ask you to use wood cut within 50 miles of where you'll burn it, and many federally run sites turn away outside wood.

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)

state authorities in New Jersey ask that you use locally sourced firew

NJ firewood rules, Don’t Move Firewood (The Nature Conservancy) · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out

Firewood in every state

Hay & straw

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 6 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: No data yet on bringing hay and straw into New Jersey.

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)

Hay & straw in every state

Soil & compost

Depends

This one depends on where you are leaving from. 7 states are treated differently from the rest.

From most states: No data yet on bringing soil and compost into New Jersey.

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)

New Jersey treats one origin differently

New York: Conditional . Because of golden nematode, soil, sod and sand from New York can only come into New Jersey if it's been fumigated an approved way, with certification to prove it.

Soil & compost in every state

Still stuck? The people who answer this in New Jersey are New Jersey Department of Agriculture.