HB4839 - Protecting Illinois Native Landscapes Act

• Local governments cannot prohibit or unreasonably restrict property owners from allowing Illinois native species to grow voluntarily or from installing and maintaining managed native landscapes on privately owned residential land.

• Native landscaping protection applies to small or large areas in front, back, or side yards, as well as non-standard yard areas such as farms, rural properties, corporate campuses, school campuses, and large estates.

• Illinois native species are defined as trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, flowers, forbs, sedges, grasses, and other plants that grew in Illinois prior to European settlement, or as defined by the Department of Natural Resources.

• Local ordinances may still regulate native plants and landscaping to prevent interference with public transportation, vehicular traffic, sight lines for driveways and entrances, or crossing of sidewalks and property boundaries.

• Home rule units cannot regulate Illinois native species and native landscapes in a manner inconsistent with this Act, which operates as a limitation on home rule powers under the Illinois Constitution.