No, chopping down a cactus on your own property in Arkansas won’t land you in jail. Arkansas lacks specific laws protecting cacti like Arizona does for saguaros, treating them as standard plants under general property rights.​
Arkansas Property Rules
Trees and plants on private land belong to the owner, who can prune, maintain, or remove them without state felony charges, though local city or county ordinances might require permits for large removals or if protected species are involved. Damaging vegetation on someone else’s land triggers treble damages or misdemeanor trespass penalties (Ark. Code § 18-60-102), but your own yard is exempt.
No Cactus-Specific Bans
Cacti aren’t classified as protected native plants statewide; rules apply mainly to state lands or natural areas where removal needs Commission permits. HOAs or zoning could restrict landscaping changes, but no “weird felony” exists for backyard cacti—unlike Arizona’s strict Native Plant Law.
Myth Origins
Such claims often stem from exaggerated “bizarre laws” lists mixing real tree statutes with folklore; Arkansas focuses on neighbor disputes and public lands.
