Utah County, UT Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Authority
- County Commission can designate local noxious weeds
- Board
- 5-member Weed Control Board, 2+ farmers/ranchers
- Annual notice
- Posted and published before May 1 each year
- Noncompliance window
- 5 working days before County can act
- Cost recovery
- Unpaid bill becomes a property tax lien
- Appeal
- 10 days to Board, then 10 days to Commission
Summary
Utah County can declare a plant a County noxious weed even if it is not on the state's list, and can force any property owner to control or destroy it. Utah County Code § 7.11.060 lets the County Commission designate a County noxious weed, and § 7.11.100 lets the Weed Control Board order an owner to remove it or face a public nuisance charge.
The County Commission may declare a particular weed or competitive plant, not appearing on the state noxious weed list, a County noxious weed within the County. ... If the Utah County Weed Control Board determines that a particular property within the county requires prompt and definite attention to prevent or control noxious weeds, the board shall serve the owner or the person in possession of the property, personally or by certified mail, a notice specifying when and what action is required to be taken on the property. ... An owner or person in possession of property who fails to take action to control or prevent the spread of noxious weeds as specified in the notice is maintaining a public nuisance.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 7.11, "Utah County Weed Control," carries out the state's Utah Noxious Weed Act locally. Section 7.11.010 defines a "noxious weed" as any plant the Utah Commissioner of Agriculture finds especially injurious to public health, crops, livestock, or land, and adds a separate "County noxious weed" category for a plant not on the state list that the County Commission declares especially troublesome locally under § 7.11.060, after a duly noticed public hearing if the County later wants that weed removed from the state list. A five-member Utah County Weed Control Board, created under § 7.11.040 with at least two farmer or rancher members serving four-year terms, runs the control program under § 7.11.050 and employs a weed control supervisor under § 7.11.070 to detect, treat, and investigate violations.
Before May 1 each year, § 7.11.090 requires the board to post and publish a general notice of the County's noxious weeds. If the board decides a specific property needs prompt attention, § 7.11.100 lets it serve the owner or occupant personal or certified-mail notice specifying what action and timeline is required, and failing to comply makes the owner "maintaining a public nuisance." Section 7.11.110 then lets the County enter the property after five working days of noncompliance, perform the weed control itself, and bill the owner, who has 90 days to pay before the charge becomes a property tax lien collectible by the County Treasurer.
Section 7.11.120 gives an owner 10 days to appeal a violation notice to the Weed Control Board, then another 10 days to appeal that decision to the County Commission, and finally to court.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring a weed-control notice under § 7.11.100 makes the property owner "maintaining a public nuisance," and § 7.11.110 lets the County enter the land after five working days, do the weed work itself, and bill the owner. An unpaid bill becomes a lien collectible with property taxes if not paid within 90 days of the demand under § 7.11.110.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Utah County make me remove a weed that's not on the state noxious weed list?
What happens if I ignore a notice to control weeds on my land?
What if I can't pay the County's weed-removal bill?
Can I appeal a noxious weed violation notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Utah County
Compare Utah County to another location·View the Utah invasive plant rules overview
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