12 places on LI that have banned bamboo
Bamboo, a fast-growing invasive plant that originated in China, is favored by some homeowners as a privacy screen. Credit: Missouri Botanical Garden
Bans on bamboo across Long Island, like the one passed by the village of Malverne on Wednesday, have gained momentum in the past few years.
Advocates for banning the plant say it is invasive and encroaches on properties, causing damage.
How far back do bamboo bans go?
The Fire Island village of Ocean Beach banned the plant in 1981, according to its village code. It took 27 years for the next area to take up the cause. The village of Saltaire, also on Fire Island, passed a ban in 2008, followed by the villages of Woodsburgh and Babylon and the Town of Smithtown in 2011. The towns of Brookhaven and Hempstead and the city of Long Beach approved bans in 2012.
This year, the Town of Huntington and the village of Lindenhurst joined the act, with Malverne the latest.
Penalties for growing or maintaining bamboo vary among Long Island municipalities; Malverne might be the only place that offers the potential for jail time -- up to 15 days -- for violating the law.
Municipalities on LI that have passed bamboo bans:
Malverne -- May 2013
Huntington -- April 2013
Lindenhurst -- March 2013
Long Beach -- August 2012
Hempstead -- July 2012
Brookhaven -- July 2012
Plandome Heights -- February 2012
Babylon Village -- September 2011
Smithtown -- August 2011
Woodsburgh -- April 2011
Saltaire -- 2008
Ocean Beach -- 1981
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