Updated October 11, 2026
Most people moving from New York or New Jersey to a state like Florida have never heard of this rule, but it covers almost every family with a yard, a balcony or a garage. The spongy moth, once called the gypsy moth, is an invasive insect whose caterpillars eat the leaves of more than 300 kinds of trees and shrubs. Female moths lay their eggs on outdoor things: firewood, trailers, grills, lawn furniture and toys. When those things move, the eggs move with them (USDA APHIS).
Who has to do the check
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that if you move from a spongy moth quarantine area to a place outside it, you must inspect your outdoor household items and remove every life stage of the moth before you move. You may face penalties if you are required to inspect and do not.
According to the USDA list updated April 15, 2026, all of New York and all of New Jersey are in the quarantine area (APHIS list). So are the entire states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, and Washington, D.C., plus parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
- Moving from Brooklyn to Florida, Georgia, Texas or Arizona? None of those states is on the list, so the inspection applies to your outdoor items.
- Moving to North Carolina? Only Currituck County and part of Dare County are on the list. Most of the state is outside the quarantine area.
- Moving from New York to New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Massachusetts? You stay inside the quarantine area, so this rule does not require the check.
Check your exact new address on the USDA spongy moth quarantine map before you plan the move.
What to check
The USDA names patio furniture, lawn equipment, outdoor play toys, grills, trailers and vehicles. Think of anything that has spent time outside: bikes kept on a balcony, planters, a kids’ playhouse, the camping gear in the shed. Do not move firewood at all; the USDA says to buy firewood where you will burn it.
How to do the self-inspection
- Print the free USDA self-inspection checklist, or use the online version.
- Look over every surface and crevice of each outdoor item, including the undersides and folds.
- Look for egg masses. The USDA describes them as about 1-1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide, covered with buff or yellowish hair. One mass can hold up to 1,000 eggs.
- Scrape off anything you find with a putty knife or stiff brush. Drop it in a container of hot, soapy water, or seal it in a plastic bag and set the bag in the sun.
- Check each item off on the checklist as you go and fill in the information it asks for.
If you move between April and August, the USDA says to do the inspection on moving day if you can. If you cannot, protect the items until they go: seal them under a tarp, keep them indoors, or keep them in a closed moving truck. You can also hire a qualified certified applicator to do the inspection; if you do, get a copy of the signed checklist (USDA flyer).
During and after the move
Keep a copy of the completed checklist in the vehicle that carries your things, because USDA or state officials may ask for it on the way. If you are not driving, give a copy to the driver. When movers carry your things, that means handing a copy to the crew with your bill of lading. After the move, the USDA suggests keeping the checklist with your moving papers for at least 5 years.
Fit it into your moving week
- A week before: decide which outdoor items are coming. A long move is a good time to leave behind a rusty grill.
- The day before or the morning of the move: clean and inspect each item, and fill in the checklist.
- Moving day: tell the crew which items were inspected and hand them a copy of the checklist.
- Long-distance planning: see how to move long distance and how to read a written moving estimate.
Common questions
Do I need a spongy moth inspection if I move from New York to Florida?
Yes, for your outdoor household items. All of New York is in the USDA quarantine area and Florida is not, so the USDA requires the self-inspection before you move.
Do I need it if I move from Brooklyn to New Jersey?
No. According to the USDA list, both New York and New Jersey are entirely inside the quarantine area, so this rule does not apply to that move.
Which items do I have to check?
Outdoor household items such as patio furniture, lawn equipment, outdoor toys, grills, trailers and vehicles. The USDA also says not to move firewood.
What do I do with the checklist?
Keep a copy in the vehicle that carries your things, give a copy to the driver if you are not driving, and keep it with your moving papers for at least 5 years.
How do I get a free written estimate from you?
Call (929) 339-6014 or use the quote form on our home page.
Free written estimate: call (929) 339-6014 or use the quote form on our home page. Family business since 1999 · U.S. DOT No. 967970 (MC-432549) · NYSDOT 34875 · NJPM 000930 · Company facts
We checked the official links on this page on October 11, 2026. Rules change, so confirm on the linked page before you rely on them.
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- How to Move Long Distance
- How to Read a Written Moving Estimate
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