Arizona’s Native Plant Protection Act (ARS §3-932) classifies protected native plants like saguaros as state property, even on private land, requiring a permit for removal. Violating this by cutting down a cactus valued at $500 or more results in felony charges: Class 6 for $500-$749, Class 5 for $750-$1,499, or Class 4 for $1,500+, with potential fines, probation, or prison time up to several years. Landowners must notify authorities and obtain tags, as saguaros grow slowly and hold ecological value.
Alabama Regulations
Alabama lacks state-level protections for cacti on private property, with no felony penalties for chopping them down in your yard. General laws address noxious weeds or specific pests like the South American cactus moth (affecting Opuntia transport, not removal), but native cacti such as Opuntia humifusa face no removal bans. Local ordinances might regulate “weeds” over 12 inches or tree removal, treating unauthorized cuts of ornamental plants as civil matters with $15 penalties per item, not felonies.
