Invasive Plant Rules in Washington (2026)
22 rules on the books across Washington, 20 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Prohibited Species
Plants that are banned or regulated in your area, including Japanese knotweed, kudzu, purple loosestrife, and other species that threaten native ecosystems.
Bellingham
Significant RestrictionsBellingham bans transporting or releasing aquatic invasive plant species into public water bodies and requires…
Read full rule →Federal Way
Significant RestrictionsFederal Way's property maintenance code bans noxious weeds outright and caps other weed growth at six inches on…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Significant RestrictionsSpokane County has designated a countywide weed extermination area under Chapter 8.32 of the county code, declaring…
Read full rule →Tacoma
Significant RestrictionsTacoma bars noxious weeds rated Class A, B, or C by the Pierce County Noxious Weed Control Board from any required…
Read full rule →Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn's amended International Property Maintenance Code bans noxious weeds outright and caps other weeds or plant…
Read full rule →Edmonds
Some RestrictionsEdmonds bans letting noxious weeds, thistles or nettles grow on any lot or on bordering streets, alleys or highways…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsEverett's landscaping code, EMC 19.35.055(D)(3), bars any Snohomish County Class A, B or C noxious weed from required…
Read full rule →Kent
Some RestrictionsKent's critical areas code bars any Washington State Department of Agriculture-listed noxious weed from replanting done…
Read full rule →King County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated King County treats any plant on Washington's official noxious weed list, WAC chapter 16-750, as a…
Read full rule →Kirkland
Some RestrictionsKirkland bans planting or retaining any species on the City's Prohibited Plant List. The rule has applied citywide…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsAlong American Lake, Gravelly Lake, Lake Steilacoom and Lakewood's other shoreline waterbodies, the Shoreline Master…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Some RestrictionsLynnwood's landscaping code bars planting anything on the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board's Noxious Weed…
Read full rule →Marysville
Some RestrictionsMarysville maintains a list of prohibited invasive and noxious plant species for landscaped development and requires…
Read full rule →Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsPort Townsend classifies noxious weeds, species on the state's official noxious weed list, as a public nuisance…
Read full rule →Puyallup
Some RestrictionsPuyallup's landscaping code forbids using invasive or noxious plant material, as listed by the Washington State Noxious…
Read full rule →Renton
Some RestrictionsPlants listed as a nuisance or prohibited by the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board, or listed by King County…
Read full rule →Seattle
Some RestrictionsSeattle follows the Washington State Noxious Weed List and King County's noxious weed regulations. Property owners must…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Some RestrictionsThurston County does not print a fixed list of banned invasive plants in its own code; instead it defines a 'noxious…
Read full rule →Cowlitz County
Light RestrictionsCowlitz County's critical areas code names six invasive plants that landowners may hand-remove from wetland and stream…
Read full rule →Pasco
Light RestrictionsPasco's Shoreline Master Program requires removal of noxious weeds and invasive species within shoreline jurisdiction…
Read full rule →Tree-of-Heaven Removal
Rules requiring removal of Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven), the invasive species that hosts spotted lanternfly, including state programs and city-level mandates.
Auburn
Significant RestrictionsAuburn's street tree code, ACC 12.36.040, names ailanthus, the tree of heaven, among the species it is unlawful to…
Read full rule →Federal Way
Some RestrictionsFederal Way's landscaping code singles out Ailanthus altissima, Tree of Heaven, by name and bars planting it within 25…
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