Phone Number   701-667-3389

NORTH DAKOTA CENTURY CODE

CHAPTER 63-01.1

NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL

63-01.1-01.   Control and eradication of noxious weeds.

 It shall be the duty of every person in charge of or in possession of land in this state, whether as a landowner, lessee, renter or tenant, under statutory authority or otherwise, to eradicate or to control the spread of noxious weeds on those lands.

63-01.1-02.           Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

3.      “Control” means to prevent the spread of any noxious weed, designated by the commissioner or other control authority, by seed or any other propagating part or, if authorized, to suppress, eradicate, or prevent or retard the spread of a pest. 

4.      “Control authority” means the commissioner, the county weed board, and, pursuant to the county weed board’s authorization, the county weed control officer. 

7.       “Eradicate” or “eradication” means to destroy a plant or, if authorized, a pest so that it is not viable. 

9.       “Noxious weed” means any plant propagated by either seed or vegetative parts which is determined by the commissioner after consulting with the North Dakota State University Extension Service, or a county weed board after consulting with the county extension agent, to be injurious to public health, crops, livestock, land, or other property. 

ALL LANDOWNERS, BUYERS, SELLERS AND DEVELOPERS! 

      PLEASE READ THIS!

            The seller must tell the buyer if noxious weeds are on the land to be purchased.  The buyer should ask the seller if noxious weeds are present if not told by the seller. 

            7-06-01-02.  Noxious weeds listed.  Weeds declared noxious shall be confined to weeds that are difficult to control, easily spread, and injurious to public health, crops, livestock, land, or other property.  The following weeds have been declared noxious for the purpose of North Dakota Century Code chapter 63-01-1: 

            1.   Absinth wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.). 

            2.  Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.). 

            3.  Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa Lam.). 

            4.   Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.). 

            5.   Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). 

            6.   Musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.). 

   7.      Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L., Lythrum virgatum L., and all cultivars). 

            8.   Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens L.). 

            9.   Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa Lam.). 

            10.  Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.). 

History:  Amended effective June 1, 1985;  February 1, 2000.

General Authority:  NDCC 28-32-02, 63-01.1-03

Law Implemented:  NDCC 63-01.1-03

63-01.1-08.            Entry upon land for weed control purposes

-  Notices – Landowner rights –

Remedial requirements – Liens – Penalty. 

1.   Any control authority or anyone authorized thereby, may enter upon all land under their jurisdiction for the purpose of performing their duties and exercising their powers under this chapter, including the taking of specimens of weeds or, if authorized, pests or other materials, without the consent of the landowners, lessee, renter, tenant, or operator, and without being subject to any action for trespass or damages, including damages for destruction of growing crops, if reasonable care is exercised. 

2.   If any land is found to be infested with noxious weeds or, if authorized, pests by any control authority, the county weed control officer may serve upon the landowner written notice either personally or by certified mail, requiring the landowner to control or eradicate the noxious weeds or, if authorized, pests within the time period prescribed by the county weed control officer.  If the landowner resides in another state, the landowner shall control or eradicate the noxious weeds or, if authorized, pests within the time period prescribed by county weed control officer.  Additional time may be requested from the county weed board.  The notice must specify the landowner may be subject to the penalties provided in section 63-01.1-15 if the landowner fails to comply.  The notice must specify minimal remedial requirements.  A copy of the notice may be sent by certified mail to any tenant, lessee, or operator of the land.  If the county weed board will control the weeds or, if authorized, pests upon failure of the landowner to control the weeds or, if authorized, pests, the notice must also include a statement of costs.  If the landowner does not control or eradicate the noxious weeds or, if authorized, pests within the specified time, the county weed control officer may cause the noxious weeds or, if authorized, pests to be controlled or eradicated and the expenses charged against the land of the landowner.  These expenses are part of the taxes to be levied against the land for the ensuing year and must be collected in the same manner as other real estate taxes.  If the county weed board intends to control the weeds or, if authorized, pests, the notice must include a statement informing the landowner that the landowner may request the county weed board not to control the weeds or, if authorized, pests.  If the landowner requests the county weed board not to control the weeds or, if authorized, pests, the board may not control the weeds or, if authorized, pests until by a majority vote of the board control is authorized. 

63-01.1-12.  Preventing dissemination of noxious weeds. 

            1.   To prevent the dissemination of noxious weeds by machinery, trucks, harvesting or other farm equipment, or during transportation of plants, forage, screenings, dirt, and other articles which may be transported by any means, the commissioner shall, from time to time, publish a list of the possible methods of disseminating the propagating parts of such weeds. 

            2.   All operators of tillage, seeding, and harvesting equipment shall be required to clean such equipment to prevent the spread of noxious weeds by seed or other propagating parts prior to moving such equipment on public highways, airways, waterways, or by any other means of conveyance, public or otherwise.  Trucks or trailers transporting grain screenings shall be constructed and covered so as to prevent weed seed dissemination.  Scattering and dumping on land or in water of any material containing noxious weed seeds or propagating parts is prohibited unless such material has been processed or treated, or is buried sufficiently deep to destroy seeds and other propagating parts.