2008 King County Noxious Weed List

• Class A Noxious Weeds
• Class B Noxious Weeds
• Class C Noxious Weeds
• Non-Designated Noxious Weeds
• Weeds of Concern List

This list is determined each year by the King County Noxious Weed Control Board, in accordance with the Washington State Weed Law, (Chapter 17.10 RCW, external link) and based on the State Noxious Weed List (Chapter 16-750 WAC (external link), adopted each year by the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board to help protect the state’s people, resources and private lands.

Noxious weeds are separated into classes A, B and C based on distribution, abundance, and level of threat (how dangerous the plant is to humans, animals, private and public lands, and native habitats).

In addition to the state-listed Noxious Weeds, there are Weeds of Concern (formerly called "Obnoxious Weeds") that have escaped from intentional plantings and now are naturalizing and causing problems in King County. These plants often impact and degrade native plant and animal habitat. There is no state regulation connected to this list. The County Weed Board recognizes these plants as invasive and is collecting information and providing education on control. The Board encourages and recommends control and containment of existing populations and discourages new plantings. This is not an all inclusive list.

The goal of the weed list is to prevent the spread of new and recently introduced weeds while it is still cost-effective to do so. Class A weeds are the most limited in distribution and therefore the highest priority for control. Class B and C weeds vary in priority based on local distribution and impacts. Noxious weeds that are widespread in King County are called non-designated noxious weeds and control of these is recommended but not required.

For additional details about Washington's weed list and weed laws, please follow the links below.

You will need Acrobat Viewer to read some of these files.

• Chapter 17.10 RCW, the state weed law (external link)
  
• Chapter 16-750 WAC, the state weed list (external link)
  
• WSDA Prohibited Plants List (Quarantine list) - plants that are illegal to buy, sell or offer for sale (73 KB, 10 sec)
  
• State Noxious Weed List (115 KB, 16 sec)
  
• King County Noxious Weed List Brochure (199 Kb, 29 sec)
  
• Noxious Weeds in Washington State (132 KB, 19 sec)
  
• Federal Noxious Weed List (10 KB, external link)