No, chopping down a cactus in your Nebraska yard is not illegal. Unlike Arizona—where native saguaro cacti on public/private lands are protected as state property under A.R.S. § 3-931, making unauthorized removal a Class 6 felony—Nebraska treats backyard cacti as standard private landscaping with no special protections.[ from prior context on property laws]
Nebraska Rules
Nebraska statutes regulate trees, hedges, and obstructions near roads or sidewalks (e.g., NRS 17-555, 39-1812), requiring trimming to avoid nuisances, but cacti fall under general property rights. Homeowners can remove or prune non-native plants like prickly pear (common in Nebraska gardens) on their deed-held land without permits, unless locally zoned as heritage or in protected areas like state parks.
Key Differences
| State | Cactus Status [prior AZ context] | Penalty for Removal |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Native species protected statewide | Felony fines/jail |
| Nebraska | Ornamental/nonnative; private property | None; standard nuisance rules only |
Local ordinances might apply for invasive species or neighbor disputes, but no felony risk exists.
