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SUBJECTS › LEGAL › NUISANCES › Nuisances - Vegetation
Updated 03/07

Nuisances - Vegetation

Contents

About Regulating Vegetation 

Regulation of unkempt lots and property containing overgrown weeds, debris, and litter is generally accomplished through enforcement of nuisance ordinances.  Cities and towns have general authority to address vegetation issues through general nuisance statutes and specific statutes.  Counties have specific statutes authorizing weed control districts.  See Authority  to Regulate and Abate Nuisances for a listing of statutes.

General Vegetation Provisions

  • SeaTac Municipal Code  Chapter 7.15  - Property maintenance
  • Pasco Municipal Code Section 12.12.080 - Nuisance
  • Kent Municipal Code  Chapter 8.07 - Weeds and Vegetation
  • Kirkland Municipal, Code Chapter 9.12 - Control of Vegetation
  • LaConner Municipal Code, Section 7.10.020 (4)  - Nuisance types ...The existence of any vines or climbing plants growing into or over any street, public hydrant, pole or electroller, or the existence of any shrub, vine or plant growing on, around, or in front of any hydrant, standpipe, sprinkler system connection or any other appliance or facility provided for fire protection purposes, in such a way as to obscure the view thereof, or impair the access thereto;....[Ord. 672 §§ 1, 2, 1995; Ord. 567 § 2, 1989; Ord. 536 § 2, 1986.]
  • Longview Municipal Code Section 10.22.040 (11)  - Uncontrolled, uncultivated and/or unattended
  • Moxee Municipal Code, Section  8.05.020 (2)  - Nuisances designated ... The existence of any tree, shrub or overhanging foliage which is apt to impair, interfere with, destroy or restrict:   (a) Travel over any streets, sidewalks or alleys;  (b) Access to any fire hydrants, sprinklers or any other appliance or facility provided for fire protection;   (c) Access to any city utilities such as water meters;  (4.) Poison oak, poison ivy, deadly nightshade, or any noxious or toxic weed or uncultivated plant (whether growing or otherwise), weeds, tall grass, uncultivated shrubs or growth higher than two feet, or grass clippings, cut brush or cut weeds....(Ord. 503 § 3, 1993)
  • See also provisions on Weed Control and Noxious Weeds page

Integrated Vegetation Management

Interference with Public Right-of-Way

  • Bellevue City Code  Ch. 14.06 - Trees, Weeds and Vegetation
  • Edmonds City Code  Ch. 9.25 - Street Obstruction - (see sec. 9.25.010(B)
  • Colville Municipal Code  Ch. 12.16 - Trees
  • Kent Municipal Code,  Section. 7.04.260 - Planting of certain trees and shrubbery prohibited  (public and private sewer obstruction)
  • Pasco Municipal Code Section 12.12.080  - Right-of-way, public property, vegetation over 12 inches  
  • Sequim Municipal Code  Section  8.04.030 ( 152 KB)  - See (A)
  • Walla Walla Municipal Code  Ch. 12.44 - Overhanging Vegetation  

Height Measures

  • Grasses and weeds over 12 inches - Richland Municipal Code, Section 9.16.040(Q) ( 283 KB)
  • Growth higher than 2 feet - Moxee Municipal Code, Section 8.05.020 (4.) - Poison oak, poison ivy, deadly nightshade, or any noxious or toxic weed or uncultivated plant (whether growing or otherwise), weeds, tall grass, uncultivated shrubs or growth higher than two feet, or grass clippings, cut brush or cut weeds....(Ord. 503 § 3, 1993)
  • Right-of-way, public property, vegetation over 12 inches - Pasco Municipal Code Section 12.12.080
  • Vegetation which has grown higher than an average of 12 inches Longview Municipal Code Section 10.22.040 (11.b)

Overgrown Lots

  • Hoquiam Municipal Code,  Section 3.65.010 Overgrown lots unlawful.    It is a misdemeanor, punishable upon conviction, by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars, for any person to commit any of the following acts:    (1) Having ownership and control of any overgrown lot upon which grasses, trees, plants, shrubs or vegetation, or parts thereof, are located and overhang any sidewalk or which are growing thereon in such manner as to obstruct or impair the free and full use of the sidewalk or street by the public.    (2) Having possession and control of any overgrown lot upon which grass, weeds, shrubs, noxious weeds, bushes, trees or vegetation growing or which has grown and died which are a fire hazard, a harborage for rats, animals, pests and a menace to public health, safety or welfare.   The conditions described in subsections (1) and (2) of this section are declared to be public nuisances and misdemeanors and punishable as provided in this section. (Ord. 87-9 § 1, 1987).

Trees as Nuisances

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