In Arizona, damaging or removing a protected native saguaro cactus without a permit is a felony under the Native Plant Protection Act, with penalties up to 25 years in prison for severe cases.​
Kentucky Laws
Kentucky law (KRS Chapter 146) prohibits cutting, destroying, or removing native trees, shrubs, ferns, herbs, bulbs, cacti, or flowers from public lands, state property, or another’s private land without permission, mainly to protect natural habitats. On your own property, no such statewide restriction applies to common or non-protected plants, including non-native cactuses unlikely in Kentucky yards.​
Exceptions
Protected endangered or threatened species (federally listed or state rare plants) require compliance with conservation rules, but Kentucky lacks broad native cactus protections like Arizona’s saguaro. Local ordinances might regulate yard nuisances, but cactus removal alone isn’t targeted.​
SOURCES
[1](https://mylolowcountry.com/south-carolina-city-news/chopping-down-a-cactus-could-land-you-in-jail-weird-property-laws-in-kentucky/)
[2](https://wbkr.com/is-it-illegal-to-pick-wildflowers-from-the-side-of-the-road-in-kentucky-video/)=
[3](https://joseknowstrees.com/saguaro-cactus-removal/)
[4](https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-02-26/border-wall-saguaro-cactus)
[5](https://wheninyourstate.com/arizona/you-can-go-to-prison-for-25-years-for-cutting-down-a-cactus-in-arizona/)
