Can I Bring My Plants? Moving to Utah
Can I bring my plants into Utah?
Utah's plant rules are written for nurseries selling into the state, so a plant you're carrying for yourself mostly isn't caught. Anything rooted in soil is the exception: Japanese beetle certification comes first.
- Checked Sep 2026
What Utah asks for
- HouseplantsHouseplants (no outdoor soil)No data
- Potted plants in soilPotted plants in soilConditional
- Citrus treesCitrus treesDepends
- Other fruit treesOther fruit treesDepends
- Nursery stock & shrubsNursery stock & shrubsDepends
- Cut flowers & bouquetsCut flowers & bouquetsNo data
- Seeds & bulbsSeeds & bulbsConditional
- FirewoodFirewoodDepends
- Hay & strawHay & strawDepends
- Soil & compostSoil & compostConditional
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 Utah 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
Nursery stock originating outside and imported into Utah for customer delivery or for resale shall bear a tag stating that the nursery stock has been inspected and certified free from plant pests and disease.
"Nursery stock" means all plants, whether field grown, container grown, or collected native plants; trees, shrubs, vines, grass sod; seedlings, perennials, biennials; and buds, cuttings, grafts, or scions grown or collected or kept for propagation, sale, or distribution;
Utah Summaries of Exterior Quarantines, National Plant Board · Utah Summaries of Exterior Quarantines, National Plant Board · checked 15 Sep 2026
Potted plants in soil
Conditional
- Certificate
Because of Japanese beetle, a plant rooted in soil has to be certified under the national plan before it comes into Utah. 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.
Category 1 States Arizona Administrative Code, Title 3, Chapter 4, Supp. 12-3, Section R3-4-248 https://agriculture.az.gov/r3-4-248-japanese-beetle California Code of Regulations, Title 3, Division 4, Chapter 3, Subchapter 4, Article 3, Section 3280 http://pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/htm/pqm_index.htm Idaho - Administrative Code, Rule 02.06.24 http://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/2001/02/0624.pdf Montana Order MTQ-2013-01 http://agr.mt.gov/agr/Programs/PestMgt/quarantines/ Nevada Administrative Code, Chapter 554.162 through 554-220 http://agri.nv.gov/Resources/Regulations/Nursery/ Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 603, Division 52, Section 603 -52-0127 http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_600/oar_603/603_052.html 35 Utah Administrative Code, Rule R68-15 http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r068/r068-015.htm Washington Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 470, Section 16-470-700 through 19-470-720
Soil, humus, compost, manure, and all growing media (except when commercially packaged) All plants with roots (except bareroot plants free from soil). Free from soil means plants with less the amount of soil or growing media that can harbor any life stage of Japanese beetle (egg, pupa, or larva). Some states define this as free from soil or growing media larger than ½ inch. Grass sod Plants with crowns or roots for propagation (except when free from soil) Bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes of ornamental plants (except when free from soil)
U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Citrus trees
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 2 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: What Utah 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)
Nursery stock originating outside and imported into Utah for customer delivery or for resale shall bear a tag stating that the nursery stock has been inspected and certified free from plant pests and disease.
"Nursery stock" means all plants, whether field grown, container grown, or collected native plants; trees, shrubs, vines, grass sod; seedlings, perennials, biennials; and buds, cuttings, grafts, or scions grown or collected or kept for propagation, sale, or distribution;
Utah Summaries of Exterior Quarantines, National Plant Board · Utah Summaries of Exterior Quarantines, National Plant Board · 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 Utah 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)
Nursery stock originating outside and imported into Utah for customer delivery or for resale shall bear a tag stating that the nursery stock has been inspected and certified free from plant pests and disease.
"Nursery stock" means all plants, whether field grown, container grown, or collected native plants; trees, shrubs, vines, grass sod; seedlings, perennials, biennials; and buds, cuttings, grafts, or scions grown or collected or kept for propagation, sale, or distribution;
Utah Summaries of Exterior Quarantines, National Plant Board · Utah Summaries of Exterior Quarantines, National Plant Board · 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 Utah 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)
Nursery stock originating outside and imported into Utah for customer delivery or for resale shall bear a tag stating that the nursery stock has been inspected and certified free from plant pests and disease. The tag shall also bear the name and address of the shipper or consignor.
"Nursery stock" means all plants, whether field grown, container grown, or collected native plants; trees, shrubs, vines, grass sod; seedlings, perennials, biennials; and buds, cuttings, grafts, or scions grown or collected or kept for propagation, sale, or distribution;
Utah Summaries of Exterior Quarantines, National Plant Board · Utah Summaries of Exterior Quarantines, National Plant Board · checked 14 Sep 2026
Cut flowers & bouquets
No data
What Utah 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
except that it shall not mean dormant bulbs, tubers, roots, corms, rhizomes, pips; field vegetable, or flower seeds; or cut flowers, unless stems or other portions of the cut flowers are intended for propagation.
"Nursery stock" means all plants, whether field grown, container grown, or collected native plants; trees, shrubs, vines, grass sod; seedlings, perennials, biennials; and buds, cuttings, grafts, or scions grown or collected or kept for propagation, sale, or distribution;
Utah Summaries of Exterior Quarantines, National Plant Board · Utah Summaries of Exterior Quarantines, National Plant Board · checked 14 Sep 2026
Seeds & bulbs
Conditional
- Certificate
Bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes need certifying under the national Japanese beetle plan before they come into Utah. Commercially packaged media is the exception.
You'd need: Certificate showing it was produced under the Japanese beetle plan
Source & details
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.
Category 1 States Arizona Administrative Code, Title 3, Chapter 4, Supp. 12-3, Section R3-4-248 https://agriculture.az.gov/r3-4-248-japanese-beetle California Code of Regulations, Title 3, Division 4, Chapter 3, Subchapter 4, Article 3, Section 3280 http://pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/htm/pqm_index.htm Idaho - Administrative Code, Rule 02.06.24 http://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/2001/02/0624.pdf Montana Order MTQ-2013-01 http://agr.mt.gov/agr/Programs/PestMgt/quarantines/ Nevada Administrative Code, Chapter 554.162 through 554-220 http://agri.nv.gov/Resources/Regulations/Nursery/ Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 603, Division 52, Section 603 -52-0127 http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_600/oar_603/603_052.html 35 Utah Administrative Code, Rule R68-15 http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r068/r068-015.htm Washington Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 470, Section 16-470-700 through 19-470-720
Soil, humus, compost, manure, and all growing media (except when commercially packaged) All plants with roots (except bareroot plants free from soil). Free from soil means plants with less the amount of soil or growing media that can harbor any life stage of Japanese beetle (egg, pupa, or larva). Some states define this as free from soil or growing media larger than ½ inch. Grass sod Plants with crowns or roots for propagation (except when free from soil) Bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes of ornamental plants (except when free from soil)
U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Firewood
Depends
This one depends on where you are leaving from. 13 states are treated differently from the rest.
From most states: Utah has rules on firewood brought in from out of state, though this page doesn't say what they ask for.
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)
Utah regulates the importation of firewood from outside the state to protect against the importation of
UT 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 Utah.
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
Conditional
- Certificate
Soil, compost and manure need certifying under the national Japanese beetle plan before they come into Utah. 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.
Category 1 States Arizona Administrative Code, Title 3, Chapter 4, Supp. 12-3, Section R3-4-248 https://agriculture.az.gov/r3-4-248-japanese-beetle California Code of Regulations, Title 3, Division 4, Chapter 3, Subchapter 4, Article 3, Section 3280 http://pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/htm/pqm_index.htm Idaho - Administrative Code, Rule 02.06.24 http://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/2001/02/0624.pdf Montana Order MTQ-2013-01 http://agr.mt.gov/agr/Programs/PestMgt/quarantines/ Nevada Administrative Code, Chapter 554.162 through 554-220 http://agri.nv.gov/Resources/Regulations/Nursery/ Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 603, Division 52, Section 603 -52-0127 http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_600/oar_603/603_052.html 35 Utah Administrative Code, Rule R68-15 http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r068/r068-015.htm Washington Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 470, Section 16-470-700 through 19-470-720
Soil, humus, compost, manure, and all growing media (except when commercially packaged) All plants with roots (except bareroot plants free from soil). Free from soil means plants with less the amount of soil or growing media that can harbor any life stage of Japanese beetle (egg, pupa, or larva). Some states define this as free from soil or growing media larger than ½ inch. Grass sod Plants with crowns or roots for propagation (except when free from soil) Bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes of ornamental plants (except when free from soil)
U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (hosted by WSDA) · checked 14 Sep 2026 · the general rule is clear, this exact case isn’t spelled out
Still stuck? The people who answer this in Utah are Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.