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Pima County, AZ Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governs
Unincorporated Pima County only
Weed definition
Any AAC R3-4-244 species, including buffelgrass
Correction window
30 days to acknowledge, 60 days for abatement plan
Appeal window
10 business days to Board of Supervisors
Penalty
Class 1 misdemeanor for dumping rubbish or debris
Lien interest
Legal rate under A.R.S. Section 44-1201(A)

Summary

Pima County's weed ordinance requires owners, lessees and occupants of unincorporated-area property to remove any species listed as a noxious weed in Arizona Administrative Code R3-4-244, including buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare), along with rubbish, trash, filth and debris that endangers public health. The county can issue a correction notice, then a formal abatement order, and recover its removal costs as a lien on the property.

City-specific rules exist: Tucson has its own prohibited species rules that differ from Pima County's county-level regulations. If you live in Tucson, check the city-specific page instead.

4. "Weed" includes any species of plant that is listed in Arizona Administrative Code R3-4-244, including Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link-Buffelgrass

7.33.020 Removal. The owner, lessee or occupant of property shall remove all rubbish, trash, weeds, filth, debris, and dilapidated buildings that constitute a hazard to public health and safety from the property and contiguous areas.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-64: Contains Supplement, with local legislation through Ordinance 2026-9, passed 7-28-2026, current through 7-28-2026).

Full Breakdown

) Link, the invasive grass that has spread through the Sonoran Desert around Tucson and raises wildfire risk in areas that historically had none. 020 requires the owner, lessee or occupant of unincorporated-area property to remove weeds, rubbish, trash, filth, debris and dilapidated buildings that constitute a hazard to public health and safety from the property and any adjoining sidewalks, streets, trails or alleys. Before penalizing anyone, the county must first send an opportunity to correct by certified mail or hand delivery: the recipient has thirty days to acknowledge receipt in writing and sixty days to submit a written abatement plan mapping the infestation, describing eradication techniques and a schedule, and estimating costs.

030 setting a compliance date at least thirty calendar days out; the owner has ten business days to appeal that notice to the Board of Supervisors, whose decision is final. S. Section 44-1201(A) and must be paid off within one to ten years depending on the amount owed. 070; Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and South Tucson enforce their own weed and property-maintenance codes.

Violations & Fines

Beyond the abatement lien, Section 7.33.060 makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person, firm or corporation to place rubbish, trash, filth or debris on private or public property in the unincorporated county that they do not own or control. If the county sues to force compliance, Section 7.33.055 lets a court award the county its attorneys' fees and all costs of securing or enforcing the injunction, which can also be recorded and collected as an assessment lien against the property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pima County require me to remove buffelgrass from my property?
Yes, if your property sits in the unincorporated county. Section 7.33.010 defines "weed" as any species listed as noxious in Arizona Administrative Code R3-4-244, which specifically names buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare). Section 7.33.020 then requires owners, lessees and occupants to remove listed weeds, along with rubbish, trash, filth and debris, from the property and any adjoining sidewalks, streets, trails or alleys that constitute a health or safety hazard.
What happens if I ignore the county's weed notice?
The county first sends an opportunity to correct giving you thirty days to acknowledge and sixty days to submit an abatement plan. If you miss those deadlines or the plan is denied, a department director can issue a notice of abatement under Section 7.33.030 with a compliance date at least thirty days out. Ignoring that lets county crews abate the property and bill you through a recorded lien.
Can I appeal a Pima County weed abatement notice?
Yes. Section 7.33.030(C) gives you ten business days from the date of the notice of abatement to file a written appeal with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, stating your grounds. The Board sets a hearing date and its decision is final. Decisions on the earlier opportunity-to-correct notice or abatement plan, however, are not appealable under Section 7.33.025(E).
How much interest accrues on a Pima County weed abatement lien?
Once the county abates a property and records an assessment, any delinquent balance accrues interest at the legal rate set in A.R.S. Section 44-1201(A). Section 7.33.050(H) also spreads repayment over one to ten years depending on the assessment amount: under $500 must be paid within one year, while $10,000 or more can be paid over ten years.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pima County

All Pima County rules

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