Can I Bring My Plants? Moving to Ohio
Can I bring my plants into Ohio?
Ohio certifies the nursery rather than the plant, so moving your own houseplants asks nothing of you. A nursery sending hardy plants in without an order placed first needs Ohio's own Certificate of Inspection.
- Checked Sep 2026
What Ohio 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 & bulbsNo data
- FirewoodFirewoodNot allowed
- 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
Ohio's rules cover hardy outdoor plants, and tender ones only when they're being sold into a state that asks for a certificate. A houseplant moving with you is neither, so nothing's needed.
Source & details
Any nonhardy plant, or plant part, that is to be offered for sale in any state that requires inspection and certification of the plant or plant part as a condition of entrance therein.
Any hardy tree, shrub, plant, or bulb, whether wild or cultivated, except turfgrass, and any cutting, graft, scion, or bud thereof;
Out of State nurseries which send stock into Ohio without having an order in advance must also apply for a Certificate of Inspection.
Ohio Rev. Code § 927.51: Plant pest control definitions · Ohio Rev. Code § 927.51: Plant pest control definitions · Certificate of Nursery Inspection, Ohio Department of Agriculture · 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 Ohio 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)
Out of State nurseries which send stock into Ohio without having an order in advance must also apply for a Certificate of Inspection.
Any hardy tree, shrub, plant, or bulb, whether wild or cultivated, except turfgrass, and any cutting, graft, scion, or bud thereof;
Certificate of Nursery Inspection, Ohio Department of Agriculture · Ohio Rev. Code § 927.51: Plant pest control definitions · 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: A citrus tree isn't hardy, and Ohio only counts tender plants when they're being sold into a state that asks for a certificate. Moving house is neither, so nothing's needed.
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)
Any nonhardy plant, or plant part, that is to be offered for sale in any state that requires inspection and certification of the plant or plant part as a condition of entrance therein.
Any hardy tree, shrub, plant, or bulb, whether wild or cultivated, except turfgrass, and any cutting, graft, scion, or bud thereof;
Out of State nurseries which send stock into Ohio without having an order in advance must also apply for a Certificate of Inspection.
Ohio Rev. Code § 927.51: Plant pest control definitions · Ohio Rev. Code § 927.51: Plant pest control definitions · Certificate of Nursery Inspection, Ohio Department of Agriculture · 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 Ohio 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)
Out of State nurseries which send stock into Ohio without having an order in advance must also apply for a Certificate of Inspection.
Any hardy tree, shrub, plant, or bulb, whether wild or cultivated, except turfgrass, and any cutting, graft, scion, or bud thereof;
Certificate of Nursery Inspection, Ohio Department of Agriculture · Ohio Rev. Code § 927.51: Plant pest control definitions · 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 Ohio 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)
Out of State nurseries which send stock into Ohio without having an order in advance must also apply for a Certificate of Inspection.
A Certificate of Inspection is required each year for all nurseries and other place where nursery stock is stored or held for sale before the stock is sold, offered for sale, removed, or shipped.
Certificates are valid for one year and expire annually on December 31.
Certificate of Nursery Inspection, Ohio Department of Agriculture · Certificate of Nursery Inspection, Ohio Department of Agriculture · Certificate of Nursery Inspection, Ohio Department of Agriculture · checked 14 Sep 2026
Cut flowers & bouquets
Fine
Cut flowers are grown as annuals, not hardy plants, so Ohio's rules don't reach them and nothing has to travel with a bouquet.
Source & details
Any nonhardy plant, or plant part, that is to be offered for sale in any state that requires inspection and certification of the plant or plant part as a condition of entrance therein.
Any hardy tree, shrub, plant, or bulb, whether wild or cultivated, except turfgrass, and any cutting, graft, scion, or bud thereof;
Because annual flowers and cuttings from those flowers don’t fall into the definition of “nursery stock,” a seller need not obtain the nursery dealer license.
Ohio Rev. Code § 927.51: Plant pest control definitions · Ohio Rev. Code § 927.51: Plant pest control definitions · Cut flower licensing - Ask Extension · checked 15 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Seeds & bulbs
No data
What Ohio 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
Out of State nurseries which send stock into Ohio without having an order in advance must also apply for a Certificate of Inspection.
Any hardy tree, shrub, plant, or bulb, whether wild or cultivated, except turfgrass, and any cutting, graft, scion, or bud thereof;
Any nonhardy plant, or plant part, that is to be offered for sale in any state that requires inspection and certification of the plant or plant part as a condition of entrance therein.
Certificate of Nursery Inspection, Ohio Department of Agriculture · Ohio Rev. Code § 927.51: Plant pest control definitions · Ohio Rev. Code § 927.51: Plant pest control definitions · checked 14 Sep 2026
Firewood
Not allowed
It's against the law to take firewood out of any area with spongy moth, and out of parts of Clermont County because of Asian longhorned beetle.
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 against the law to take firewood out of any area infested with the spongy moth ; this includes 51 co
OH 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
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 Ohio.
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. 6 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: No data yet on bringing soil and compost into Ohio.
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 Ohio are Ohio Department of Agriculture.