No, chopping down a cactus in your Tennessee yard will not land you in jail, as no specific statewide law prohibits it on private property.
Tennessee Property Rights
Owners have broad rights to manage vegetation on their own land, including removing non-protected plants like cacti, which aren’t native or regulated in Tennessee. Tree trespass laws (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-405) penalize unauthorized damage to neighbors’ trees but don’t apply to your own yard cacti.
Protected Contexts
Restrictions exist for public lands, state parks, or rare/endangered species under CITES, but everyday yard cacti (often non-native) face no felony risk. Invasive plant rules target sales, not removal.
Local Variations
HOAs, zoning for aesthetics, or municipal ordinances might limit drastic landscaping, but jail time is unlikely without broader violations like public nuisance.​
