Chopping down a cactus is indeed a felony in Arizona due to state protections for native saguaro and other cacti, but Iowa has no such restrictions for cacti in your private yard.​
Arizona Rules
Arizona Revised Statutes § 3-901 et seq. classify native cacti like saguaro as protected plants; unauthorized removal or destruction on private or public land is a Class 5 felony with up to 2.5 years in prison and $150,000 fines, mainly to preserve desert ecosystems. Permits are required even for landowners wanting to relocate them.​
Iowa Rules
Iowa lacks specific cactus laws statewide—no felony or misdemeanor for cutting one in your yard since cacti aren’t native or protected flora there. General property rights apply: you can remove non-protected plants on your land without issue, though local ordinances might cover nuisances or HOA rules. Protected plants in Iowa focus on wildflowers or state park species, not ornamental desert cacti.
