Can I Bring My Plants?

Moving to South Dakota

Can I bring my plants into South Dakota?

South Dakota puts the paperwork on the seller: an out-of-state nursery files its home-state inspection certificate and that becomes its licence. Firewood from emerald ash borer states is turned away.

  • Checked Sep 2026
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What South Dakota asks for

5 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 South Dakota 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
Out-of-state nurserymen may obtain a license to sell nursery stock in South Dakota by filing a certified copy of the official inspection certificate issued from their home state with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.
ck. Seventy-nine nursery/greenhouses in South Dakota grow their own products. Definitions Nursery stock includes trees, shrubs or other plants having a persistent woody stem; all herbaceous perennials; and parts of either of those which are capable of propagation, except for seeds, true bulbs, rhizomes, corms and tubers while in dormant condition. State law prohibits any person from selling, offering for sale or distributing any

Nursery Inspection Program, South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources · South Dakota Nursery Inspection Program · 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 South 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)

Out-of-state nurserymen may obtain a license to sell nursery stock in South Dakota by filing a certified copy of the official inspection certificate issued from their home state with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.
ck. Seventy-nine nursery/greenhouses in South Dakota grow their own products. Definitions Nursery stock includes trees, shrubs or other plants having a persistent woody stem; all herbaceous perennials; and parts of either of those which are capable of propagation, except for seeds, true bulbs, rhizomes, corms and tubers while in dormant condition. State law prohibits any person from selling, offering for sale or distributing any

Nursery Inspection Program, South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources · South Dakota Nursery Inspection Program · 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 South 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)

Out-of-state nurserymen may obtain a license to sell nursery stock in South Dakota by filing a certified copy of the official inspection certificate issued from their home state with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.
ck. Seventy-nine nursery/greenhouses in South Dakota grow their own products. Definitions Nursery stock includes trees, shrubs or other plants having a persistent woody stem; all herbaceous perennials; and parts of either of those which are capable of propagation, except for seeds, true bulbs, rhizomes, corms and tubers while in dormant condition. State law prohibits any person from selling, offering for sale or distributing any nursery stock, deco

Nursery Inspection Program, South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources · South Dakota Nursery Inspection Program · checked 14 Sep 2026

Citrus trees in every state

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 South 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)

Out-of-state nurserymen may obtain a license to sell nursery stock in South Dakota by filing a certified copy of the official inspection certificate issued from their home state with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.
Nursery stock includes trees, shrubs or other plants having a persistent woody stem; all herbaceous perennials; and parts of either of those which are capable of propagation, except for seeds, true bulbs, rhizomes, corms and tubers while in dormant condition

Nursery Inspection Program, South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources · Nursery Inspection Program, South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources · checked 14 Sep 2026

Other fruit trees in every state

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 South 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)

Out-of-state nurserymen may obtain a license to sell nursery stock in South Dakota by filing a certified copy of the official inspection certificate issued from their home state with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.

Nursery Inspection Program, South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources · checked 14 Sep 2026

Nursery stock & shrubs in every state

Cut flowers & bouquets

No data

No data yet on bringing cut flowers and bouquets into South Dakota.

South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the office that answers this one.

Seeds & bulbs

No data

No data yet on bringing seeds and bulbs into South Dakota.

South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the office that answers this one.

Firewood

Not allowed

South Dakota won't let firewood in from any state that has emerald ash borer. Inside the state, wood can't leave seven affected counties either.

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)

South Dakota also prohibits the entry of firewood from all states infested with emerald

SD 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: Nothing stops hay or straw crossing into South Dakota. The state's weed free forage scheme only sets where hay can be used, on Forest Service and BLM land, national parks and tribal land.

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)

Certified public and provincial lands have areas that require North American weed free forage. Weed free forage is required on many U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands, in National Parks, Bureau of Reclamation land, military locations, tribal lands as well as National Fish and Wildlife refuges.
Applications must be submitted to the Department of Agriculture at least 10 business days prior to cutting or harvesting.

Weed Free Forage Program, South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources · Weed Free Forage Program, South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources · checked 14 Sep 2026

Hay & straw in every state

Soil & compost

Conditional

  • Certificate

Because of Japanese beetle, soil, compost, manure and growing media have to be produced and certified under the national plan before they come in. Commercially packaged media is the exception.

You'd need: Certificate showing it was produced under the Japanese beetle plan

Because of: Japanese beetle.

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)

Regulated articles shipped to category 1 and category 2 states must be produced and certified according to options as outlined additional requirements or limitations imposed by a state quarantine must be followed.
Soil, humus, compost, manure, and all growing media (except when commercially packaged)

U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · checked 15 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out

Soil & compost in every state

Still stuck? The people who answer this in South Dakota are South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.