Richland, WA Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

Richland Municipal Code § 10.04.040(O) singles out three named noxious weeds, morning glory, tackweed, and Russian thistle, along with 'other noxious weed,' and declares it a nuisance to keep or permit their existence, whether the plants are actively growing or simply present on the property, once they are a health or safety hazard to persons or property. This provision sits alongside the general vegetation-height nuisance in § 10.04.040(P) but is not limited by height: even a low-growing patch of an invasive species like Russian thistle or morning glory can be cited if it creates a hazard, unlike the six-inch/twelve-inch rule that governs ordinary grass and weeds.

Enforcement follows the same RMC Title 10.02 process used for the rest of Chapter 10.04: a compliance officer first attempts voluntary correction, and a person who ignores a final abatement order faces a civil penalty under § 10.02.050(E) running from a $50 minimum to $500 per violation per day, capped at $5,000 for all offenses, with the daily amount doubled for a repeat violation at the same location. A third violation of the same regulation at the same location within two years is elevated to a criminal misdemeanor under § 1.30.010, carrying up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine.