Lexington, KY Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 12-2
- Named species
- Thistle, jimson, ragweed, poison ivy/oak/sumac, hemlock
- Catch-all
- Any USDA-classified noxious weed
- Naturalized-garden limit
- No KY Exotic Plant Pest Council level-one species
- Fine
- $100–$2,500 per offense
Summary
Lexington-Fayette's nuisance code doesn't just cap weed height: it names specific invasive and noxious species outright unlawful on any property under Sec. 12-2, and it separately bars even exempt naturalized gardens from containing any plant the Kentucky Exotic Plant Pest Council rates a level-one threat.
Any weeds such as thistle, jimson, burdock, ragweed, cocklebur, poison ivy, poison oak, pokeweed, poison sumac, and poison hemlock and any other weed, plant or shrub, or other weed of a like kind classified by the United States Department of Agriculture as a noxious weed is prohibited and unlawful. ... Naturalized gardens shall not contain plant species that are categorized as a level one threat by the Kentucky Exotic Plant Pest Council.
Full Breakdown
Sec. ' That catch-all phrase pulls in the full USDA noxious-weed list, not just the ten named species, so the prohibition automatically expands as federal designations change. The rule sits inside the same nuisance framework that caps weeds and grass at ten inches, so a single noxious plant of any height can trigger a citation even where the rest of the lawn is compliant. ' That means a property owner claiming the native-planting exemption can still be cited if the garden includes a state-recognized level-one invasive, even though the same garden is otherwise protected from the general height rule.
Violations & Fines
Violations run through the same code enforcement board process as the rest of Sec. 12-2: a notice of violation demands abatement, and if it isn't cleared, a citation can carry a civil fine of $100 to $2,500 per offense under Sec. 12-5, with each day the prohibited species remains counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which specific plants are banned outright in Lexington?
Can my native garden include any invasive plant?
What happens if a noxious weed is found on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lexington
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