Salt Lake County, UT Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Utah's noxious weed framework is unusual: state law (Utah Code Sec. 4-17-104) requires every county to have a weed control board, but Salt Lake County's program is education-and-technical-assistance rather than enforcement-driven. The county explicitly states it 'is unable to actively investigate noxious weed complaints or conduct enforcement activities related to Utah's noxious weed law.' Property owners are responsible for controlling noxious weeds and preventing their spread to adjacent property. The state noxious weed list - maintained by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food under Utah Admin. Code R68-9 - is grouped into four classes: Class 1A Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR), Class 1B EDRR Watch List, Class 2 Control, and Class 3 Containment. Notable Class 1A/1B species along the Wasatch Front include garlic mustard, common St. Johnswort, plumeless thistle, and giant reed. Class 2 (must be controlled) species widespread in Salt Lake County include Canada thistle, musk thistle, dyer's woad, and field bindweed. In the cities, enforcement is municipal: Salt Lake City Code Sec. 9.16.030 requires real property to be kept clean and secured; Sec. 9.16.040 sets the 6-inch height cap and requires removal of low-growing puncturevine, poison ivy, and bindweed regardless of height. South Salt Lake, West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy, and Murray each maintain analogous nuisance-weed chapters. Under Utah Code Sec. 4-17-104, after a property is declared a public nuisance the owner has five working days to act; if they fail, the county or municipality may enter, abate the weeds, and bill the owner within 90 days, with the cost becoming a lien if unpaid.