Montana law makes landowners legally responsible for controlling noxious weeds and brush on their property. It is unlawful to let noxious weeds propagate or go to seed. Yellowstone County's Weed Department enforces the County Noxious Weed Management Act and can compel control.
Under the Montana County Noxious Weed Management Act (MCA Title 7, Chapter 22, Part 21), 'It is unlawful for any person to permit any noxious weed to propagate or go to seed on the person's land' (MCA 7-22-2116). Landowners must control listed noxious weeds using an integrated program (hand-pulling, herbicide, mowing, biological control, etc.) or follow a management agreement with the county weed district. The Yellowstone County Weed Department assists and enforces this duty countywide. There is no separate 'defensible space' wildfire clearance mandate in Montana as in California, but weed/brush control reduces fine-fuel fire risk. Property sellers must also disclose known noxious-weed infestations to buyers.
Failing to control noxious weeds is unlawful; the county weed district may order control and, if the owner does not comply, perform the work and assess costs against the property.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Yellowstone County, MT
Yellowstone County has no ordinance banning backyard composting. Residents may compost yard and food waste; keep piles from becoming a rodent, odor, or vecto...
Yellowstone County, MT
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Yellowstone County, MT
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Yellowstone County, MT
Rainwater harvesting is legal in Montana and encouraged. Yellowstone County has no ordinance restricting rain barrels. Rooftop collection for outdoor landsca...
Yellowstone County, MT
Unincorporated Yellowstone County imposes no standing lawn-watering rule. The City of Billings enacts temporary Stage 1 restrictions during peak demand, typi...
Yellowstone County, MT
Montana law makes noxious-weed control MANDATORY for every landowner. State statute makes it unlawful to let a noxious weed go to seed on your land, and the ...
See how Yellowstone County's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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