Weed Inspection

An Inspector who is appointed by a local authority or by the Minister can enter land without permission of the landowner. An inspector can enter on any land at a reasonable hour to inspect for violations.

Weed Request

A Weed Request is used to notify a landowner that noxious and/or prohibited noxious weeds have been identified on their property. Notification may occur in person, by mail, or via a door hanger.

Following this notification, landowners are expected to initiate a weed management plan to ensure the weeds are addressed in a timely and appropriate manner. This plan must be communicated to the County Weed Control Inspector who sent the request.

A Weed Request is intended as a first step and focuses on education and awareness of legislated weeds within the County, including management strategies and support for control/destruction.

Weed Notice

A Weed Notice is a legal document issued under the Alberta Weed Control Act. It requires the control or eradication of identified weeds within a specified timeframe. In the County of Grande Prairie, a Weed Notice is issued if:

• Following notification (a Weed Request), a weed management plan has not been developed and there is no indication that control and/or destruction of the weed(s) will occur (e.g. lack of communication and/or follow through from the landowner), or
• A prohibited noxious weed is identified on private land

If a landowner fails to comply with a Weed Notice and enforcement is required, the County may complete the work and bill the associated costs to the landowner.

If you've been asked to provide a weed management plan for weeds identified on your property, you can consider the following methods:

• Physical control (mowing, hand-picking)
• Chemical control (herbicide application) 
• Cultural control (crop rotation, selecting competitive varieties, fertilization)
• Biological control (introduction of natural enemies)

For best long-term weed control, it is recommended to use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, which involves employing one or more of the above methods.

Yes, a violator has the right to appeal within the time specified on the Weed Notice or within 10 days, whichever is sooner.

Alberta's Weed Control Act defines weeds as either "noxious" or "prohibited noxious". The most important difference is that noxious weeds must be controlled at minimum, while prohibited noxious weed must be destroyed.

Noxious Weeds:

• Have an established presence in the province
• Must be controlled to prevent further spread (can be physical (mowing, hand-pulling), chemical, cultural, or biological control)
• Common examples throughout the County include Canada Thistle, Common Tansy, Scentless Chamomile, and Perennial Sow Thistle

Prohibited Noxious Weeds:

• Have yet to establish largely throughout the province
• Must be destroyed to prevent establishment and spread
• Prohibited noxious weeds that are on our radar include Meadow Hawkweed, Orange Hawkweed, and Himalayan Balsam

Your role is protect the productivity of land through prevention and control of weeds. You have the responsibility to:

• Control noxious weeds
• Destroy prohibited noxious weeds
• Comply with Weed Notices

You have the power to:

• Request proof of identification from an Inspector
• Appeal a Notice