Kanawha County, WV Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- State weed statute
- W. Va. Code §19-12D
- Named noxious weed
- Multiflora rose
- City height limit
- ~10 inches
- State agency
- WV Dept. of Agriculture
Summary
Two layers apply in Kanawha County. Charleston and neighboring cities order weeds and overgrowth cut at 10 inches under nuisance codes, while noxious species like multiflora rose fall under the state Noxious Weed Act, W. Va. Code §19-12D.
Multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora, is a detriment to agriculture in West Virginia and is hereby declared to be a noxious weed.
Full Breakdown
There is no single statewide weed-height law; local nuisance ordinances set the 8-to-10-inch limits enforced by Charleston, South Charleston, St. Albans, Dunbar, and Nitro code officers, who notice the owner and then cut and lien uncorrected lots. Overlaid on that is the West Virginia Noxious Weed Act, W. Va. Code §19-12D, administered by the WV Department of Agriculture, which targets designated invasives. Multiflora rose is declared a noxious weed by name, and Japanese knotweed, autumn olive, and tree-of-heaven crowd Appalachian stream banks and disturbed slopes across the county. The Department of Agriculture, not the city, drives noxious-weed control and can require landowner suppression.
Violations & Fines
City weed ordinances notice the owner, then cut the growth and lien the cost. Noxious-weed violations under W. Va. Code §19-12D are handled by the WV Department of Agriculture and can require suppression on the owner's land.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a noxious weed in West Virginia?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kanawha County
How Kanawha County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Kanawha County to another location·View the West Virginia landscaping rules overview
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