Greensboro, NC Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

City code declares uncontrolled invasive-plant spread a public nuisance whenever kudzu, poison sumac, poison ivy, poison oak, or any other noxious or invasive species identified by the North Carolina Forest Service or the North Carolina Department of Agriculture crosses a lot line by roots, vegetative growth, or seed drop, under § 17-1(a)(16). The prohibition sits inside the city's general nuisance article, so it applies citywide except on land the city has formally dedicated or accepted as a natural stream corridor, floodplain, or open space meant to preserve greenways and stream buffers, which § 17-1(a) exempts from enforcement.

When the chief of code compliance or a designated representative finds a violation, § 17-2 requires written notice to the owner or occupant directing abatement within 10 days, delivered by personal service, posting on the property, and certified mail under § 17-3. If the invasive growth poses an imminent danger, the city may abate it immediately without notice. An owner who does not clear the growth within the 10-day window faces city abatement under § 17-5: the tax collector bills the actual cleanup cost plus a 20 percent fee (minimum $200) for a first abatement, 30 percent (minimum $300) if a second violation on the same property is abated within a rolling 12 months, and 50 percent (minimum $500) for a third.

Unpaid bills become a lien on the property, collected like delinquent taxes. Owners can appeal a chief of code compliance finding to the Minimum Housing Standards Commission within the 10-day notice period under § 17-6, which stays abatement pending a decision. The Guilford County health officer may also exercise this enforcement authority under § 17-7 when it deems action advisable.