Wisconsin Statewide Rule
Wisconsin Noxious Weed Destruction Statute
Key Facts
- Statute
- Wis. Stat. 66.0407
- Applies To
- All Wisconsin land
- Core Weeds
- Thistle, spurge, bindweed
- Enforcement
- Town weed commissioner
- Cost Recovery
- Special property tax
Summary
Wisconsin Statute 66.0407 universally requires every property owner to destroy noxious weeds, including Canada thistle, leafy spurge, and field bindweed, on their land. Municipalities may add additional weeds by ordinance, but the destruction duty applies statewide.
66.0407 66.0407 Noxious weeds. 66.0407(1) (1) In this section: 66.0407(1)(a) (a) “Destroy” means the complete killing of weeds or the killing of weed plants above the surface of the ground by the use of chemicals, cutting, tillage, cropping system, pasturing livestock, or any or all of these in effective combination, at a time and in a manner as will effectually prevent the weed plants from maturing to the bloom or flower stage. 66.0407(1)(b) (b) “Noxious weed” means Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed, any weed designated as a noxious weed by the department of natural resources by rule, and any other weed the governing body of any municipality or the county board of any county by ordinance or resolution declares to be noxious within its respective boundaries. 66.0407(3) (3) A person owning, occupying or controlling land shall destroy all noxious weeds on the land. The person having immediate charge of any public lands shall destroy all noxious weeds on the lands. The highway patrolman on all federal, state or county trunk highways shall destroy all noxious weeds on that portion of the highway which that highway patrolman patrols. The town board is responsible for the destruction of all noxious weeds on the town highways. 66.0407(4) (4) The chairperson of each town, the president of each village and the mayor or manager of each city may annually on or before May 15 publish a class 2 notice, under ch.
Full Breakdown
Under Wis. Stat. 66.0407, all landowners must destroy noxious weeds growing on their property each year. The statute defines noxious weeds as Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed (creeping jenny), weeds designated by the Department of Natural Resources, and any others a municipality or county declares noxious by ordinance. Town boards designate weed commissioners who may enter property to destroy weeds when owners fail to comply. Costs of destruction are charged back to the landowner as a special tax. Highway patrolmen handle weeds in highway rights-of-way. The duty applies uniformly to all Wisconsin property regardless of municipality.
Violations & Penalties
Failure to destroy noxious weeds allows the weed commissioner to enter property, destroy them, and charge costs (typically $50-$300+) to the owner as a property tax assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which weeds must I destroy under Wisconsin law?
What happens if I do not destroy noxious weeds?
Are there any exemptions to the weed destruction rule?
Sources
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