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SUBJECTS › LEGAL › NUISANCES › Regulating Weeds and Noxious Weeds
Updated 10/08

Regulating Weeds and Noxious Weeds

Contents

About Uncontrolled Weeds

The need to regulate the growth of uncontrolled weeds and other vegetation include: the prevention of serious fire hazards, the removal of obstructions or interfere with streets and sidewalks, the prevention of noxious weed infestation, and neighborhood preservation. Weeds tend to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants such as desired crops, flowers gardens and lawn cover and may become detrimental to public health. See also Nuisances - Vegetation.

There are statutory provisions in  RCW 35.21.310 for any class of city or town to enact a general ordinance to require the owner of a property to remove or destroy grass, weed, shrubs, bushes or trees which are growing or which have grown and died from property owned or occupied by them which are a fire hazard or a menace to public health, safety or welfare.   Noxious weeds are addressed in Ch. RCW 17.10  - Noxious Weeds – Control Boards.  A noxious weed is defined as a plant that when established is highly destructive, competitive, or difficult to control by cultural or chemical practices. A Washington state noxious weed list appears  in Ch. 16-750 WAC and on the Noxious Weed Control Board's Web site. An additional reference source for noxious weeds is the Noxious Weeds in the U.S. and Canada Database at the University of Montana, supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Some local jurisdictions have broadened the definition of weed to include both the state list of noxious weeds and other weeds that are commonly considered a nuisance.  An example is the definition found in a few municipalities. The state Weed Control Board has Links to the County Weed Control Boards with Web sites.   Information on  eradicating weeds can be obtained from Agricultural Extension Offices around the state.

Statutes and Regulations

Weed Control Provisions Included in General Nuisance Ordinances

Separate Weed Control Provisions

County Weed Control Programs

Milfoil Removal Programs

Fire Season Weed Abatement

Integrated Weed and Vegetation Control

Additional Reference Sources

Return to Nuisances - Vegetation