No, chopping down a cactus in your Georgia yard is not a felony or otherwise illegal if it’s on your private property and not a protected species.
Arizona Law
In Arizona, removing or damaging a saguaro cactus without a permit is a felony under the Native Plant Protection Act, punishable by up to 25 years in prison due to its status as a protected desert icon.
Georgia Rules
Georgia lacks specific protections for cacti; laws focus on wildflowers, trees, or endangered plants, none of which typically classify common yard cacti as restricted.
Property Considerations
On private Georgia property, owners can generally remove plants like cacti without penalty, barring local ordinances on nuisances or HOA rules; no statewide felony applies.
SOURCES
[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghFcRpvHqhg)
[2](https://www.apnursery.com/saguaro-cactus-protection-laws/)
[3](https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-12/chapter-6/article-3/section-12-6-173/)
[4](http://ga.elaws.us/law/12-6%7C3)
[5](https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-27/chapter-1/section-27-1-31/)
