Counties Support Additional Tools for Managing Bamboo

On February 7, 2023, Associate Policy Director Dominic Butchko testified before the House Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 0090 – Local Government – Regulatory Powers – Control of Running Bamboo.

In authorizing counties to adopt ordinances relating to the upkeep and containment of running bamboo, HB 0090 establishes a commonsense system whereby localities can regulate and penalize property owners for the unwelcome spread of bamboo overgrowth to both adjoining properties and within public rights-of-way.

From the MACo Testimony:

As an invasive species, uncontrolled bamboo can present a threat to the health of Maryland’s ecosystem. Depending on the species, bamboo can grow up to roughly three feet per day, quickly overwhelming natural landscapes, destroying private property, and negatively altering communities. While counties respect a homeowner’s right to transform the landscape of their property within certain limits, it is critical that nonnative plant species be controlled from spreading beyond areas which they were intended.