Can I Bring My Plants? Moving to North Dakota
Can I bring my plants into North Dakota?
North Dakota's rules are aimed at selling plants rather than carrying your own, so the licence falls on the seller. Firewood is the strict one: from a state with emerald ash borer, it needs treatment or an inspection certificate first.
- Checked Sep 2026
What North Dakota asks for
- HouseplantsHouseplants (no outdoor soil)Fine
- Potted plants in soilPotted plants in soilDepends
- Citrus treesCitrus treesDepends
- Other fruit treesOther fruit treesDepends
- Nursery stock & shrubsNursery stock & shrubsDepends
- Cut flowers & bouquetsCut flowers & bouquetsFine
- Seeds & bulbsSeeds & bulbsFine
- FirewoodFirewoodConditional
- Hay & strawHay & strawDepends
- Soil & compostSoil & compostDepends
6 of these change depending on where you're leaving. Pick a state to see which.
Plant by plant
Houseplants (no outdoor soil)
Fine
North Dakota's rules only reach plants meant to go in the ground outdoors. A houseplant isn't one of those, so yours can come as it is.
Source & details
means all trees, shrubs, woody vines and their parts that are capable of propagation or growth, except seed. Only plants intended for outdoor planting are considered nursery stock
A person may not sell nursery stock without a license issued by the commissioner. Licenses expire on December thirty-first each year
N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · checked 14 Sep 2026
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 North Dakota 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)
A person may not sell nursery stock without a license issued by the commissioner. Licenses expire on December thirty-first each year
means all trees, shrubs, woody vines and their parts that are capable of propagation or growth, except seed. Only plants intended for outdoor planting are considered nursery stock
N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · checked 14 Sep 2026
Citrus trees
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 2 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: What North Dakota 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)
A person may not sell nursery stock without a license issued by the commissioner. Licenses expire on December thirty-first each year
"Certificate of inspection" means a document issued or authorized by the commissioner stating nursery stock is practically free from damaging pests.
rsery" means any place where nursery stock is propagated, grown, or offered for sale. 7. "Nursery stock" means all trees, shrubs, woody vines and their parts that are capable of propagation or growth, except seed. Only plants intended for outdoor planting are considered nursery stock. 8. "Pest" means any invertebrate animal, pathogen, parasitic plant, or other similar organism that can cause damage to nursery stock. 9. "Place of business" means e
N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t04-1c22.pdf · checked 14 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 North Dakota 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)
A person may not sell nursery stock without a license issued by the commissioner. Licenses expire on December thirty-first each year
means all trees, shrubs, woody vines and their parts that are capable of propagation or growth, except seed. Only plants intended for outdoor planting are considered nursery stock
N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · checked 14 Sep 2026
Nursery stock & shrubs
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 19 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: What North Dakota 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)
A person may not sell nursery stock without a license issued by the commissioner. Licenses expire on December thirty-first each year
"Certificate of inspection" means a document issued or authorized by the commissioner stating nursery stock is practically free from damaging pests.
N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · checked 14 Sep 2026
Cut flowers & bouquets
Fine
North Dakota's rules reach trees, shrubs and woody vines meant for planting outdoors. Cut flowers are none of those, so they travel freely.
Source & details
means all trees, shrubs, woody vines and their parts that are capable of propagation or growth, except seed. Only plants intended for outdoor planting are considered nursery stock
A person may not sell nursery stock without a license issued by the commissioner. Licenses expire on December thirty-first each year
N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · checked 14 Sep 2026
Seeds & bulbs
Fine
Seed is written out of North Dakota's rules by name, and the rest only reaches trees, shrubs and woody vines. A bulb is none of those.
Source & details
means all trees, shrubs, woody vines and their parts that are capable of propagation or growth, except seed. Only plants intended for outdoor planting are considered nursery stock
A person may not sell nursery stock without a license issued by the commissioner. Licenses expire on December thirty-first each year
N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · N.D. Cent. Code ch. 4.1-22: Nurseries · checked 14 Sep 2026
Firewood
Conditional
- Treatment
- Certificate
Firewood from a state with emerald ash borer needs to be heat-treated, or inspected and certified pest-free, before it can come in. That's what gets turned away untreated -- not firewood generally.
You'd need: State or federal inspection certificate, or a stamp certifying heat treatment
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)
it is illegal to move any regulated items (most firewood is considered a regulated item) from quarantined zones out of those states and into North Dakota without a state or federal inspection certificate, or a stamp certifying heat treatment.
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) has an emerald ash borer quarantine which means they prohibit bringing firewood into North Dakota from any of the states where the emerald ash borer is present .
Firewood, North Dakota Department of Agriculture · ND firewood rules, Don’t Move Firewood (The Nature Conservancy) · checked 16 Sep 2026
Hay & straw
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 6 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: Ordinary hay and straw are fine. What's banned is willfully hauling a load that actually contains noxious weed seed or propagating parts on a public road in a way that spreads the weed.
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)
A person may not willfully transport any material that contains noxious weed seeds or propagating parts, on a public road, in a manner that allows for the dissemination of noxious weeds.
N.D. Cent. Code § 4.1-47-30: Preventing the dissemination of noxious weeds · checked 15 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Soil & compost
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 soil and compost into North Dakota.
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 North Dakota are North Dakota Department of Agriculture.