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SubjectsLegalNuisances › Regulating Weeds and Noxious Weeds
Updated 01/2011

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 website. 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 websites.  Information on Cooperative Weed Management Areas  can be found at the Department of Agriculture.   Information on  eradicating weeds can also be obtained from Agricultural Extension Offices around the state.   

Statutes and Regulations

  • RCW 35.21.310 - Removal of Overhanging or Obstructing Vegetation -- Removal, Destroying Debris (cities and towns)
  • RCW Chapter 17.04 - Weed Districts - Most weed districts have been replaced by  county noxious weed control boards
  • RCW Chapter 17.10  - Noxious Weeds-Control Boards
  • Ch. 16-750 WAC - State Noxious Weed List and Schedule of Monetary Penalties

Weed Control Provisions Included in General Nuisance Ordinances

  • Chelan Municipal Code  Ch.  8.09 - Vegetation, Weed and Debris Abatement
  • Deer Park Municipal Code  Section 8.04.020(9)  - Noxious Weeds and Similar Vegetation over 12 in.
  • Ellensburg Municipal Code  Ch.  5.40 - Nuisances - See Weed Abatement Provisions  - 5.40.360- 5.40
  • Kelso Municipal Code  Section 8.24.050(C)(2)  - Types of Enumerated Nuisances
  • LaConner Municipal Code  Section 7.10.020(f) (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Types of  nuisances
  • SeaTac Municipal Code  Section 7.15.020  H-J - Property Maintenance - Duty to Maintain Property
  • Union Gap Ordinance No. 2519 (Adobe Acrobat Document)- adds weedy lots to its nuisance provisions, 2-07

Separate Weed Control Provisions

  • Bellevue City Code  Ch. 14.06 - Trees, Weeds, and Vegetation  (affecting right-of-way)
  • Edmonds Municipal Code  Ch. 6.30 - Noxious Weeds
  • Kent Municipal Code  Ch. 8.07 - Weeds and Vegetation
  • Kirkland Municipal  Code Ch. 9.12 - Control of Vegetation
  • Redmond Municipal, Code  Ch. 6.12  - Noxious Weed Control and Tree Regulations

County Weed Control Programs

Milfoil Removal Programs

Fire Season Weed Abatement

  • Asotin Municipal Code  Ch. 8.10 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Weeds,  See Article I - Dry Weeds (Section 8.08.010-.080) - Scroll to provisions
  • Chelan Municipal Code Section 8.09.030 (B) - Dried weed fire hazard
  • DuPont Municipal Code Ch. 14.04 - Vegetation, See  Section  14.04.080  - Hazardous conditions--Fire hazards.
  • Ellensburg Municipal Code  Section 5.40.400  - Time for removal – Maximum height of weeds (See  also 5.40.360 - 5.40.520)
  • Everett Municipal Code Ch. 8.08 - Removal of Vegetation,   See  Section 8.08.030  - Dead vegetation—Fire or health hazard
  • Spokane Municipal Code  Section 10.08.040 - Fire Hazards from Vegetation
  • Wenatchee Municipal Code Chapter 3.20 - Flammable Materials

Integrated Weed and Vegetation Control

Additional Reference Sources

Return to Nuisances - Vegetation