What is Illinois’ right to garden law?

Becoming only the second state to do so, Illinois recently passed a law that makes it a legal right to be able to grow vegetables on your own property. This means that if you live in a subdivision or neighborhood that has strict rules about what you can and can’t have in your lawn, under this new law, your neighborhood can’t prohibit you from gardening vegetables on your own property. Formalizing this in law ensures that Illinoisans will always be able to grow their own food on their own land.

As stated in Illinois law, “Right to cultivate vegetable gardens. Notwithstanding any other law, any person may cultivate vegetable gardens on their own property, or on the private property of another with the permission of the owner, in any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state.”

“‘This bill strips local governments of the power to impose HOA-style prohibitions on an act of self-sufficiency in which humans have been engaged for thousands of years,’ said IJ Attorney Ari Bargil. ‘Just about a year ago, as fears of the COVID-19 pandemic took hold nationwide, many Americans developed grave concerns about the weaknesses in our nation’s food-supply chain as grocery stores rationed purchases and shelves grew depleted. If we’ve learned anything from the past twelve months, it’s that the ability to grow food is not just a right—for many, it is a necessity. Passing this bill is an important step in the march for food freedom for all Americans,’” as reported by Institute for Justice.

Growing your own food has many benefits, now protected by this law. Growing your own vegetables produces vegetables healthier than anything you could get at the store, boosts mental and physical health, increases self sufficiency, decreases a reliance on the traditional food system, and can foster a sense of community when sharing or trading a harvest. Growing your own food will never not be a helpful thing to do for yourself, and the Illinois Vegetable Garden Protection Act makes sure that you will always have the right to do so.