Noxious weeds must be controlled, meaning the growth or spread needs to be prevented. Mechanical mowing is the easiest form of control.
Municipal Enforcement Officers will be patrolling the city for noxious and prohibited noxious weeds, as well as promptly responding to citizen complaints. If regulated weeds are found on your property, you will receive a Local Authority Notice and/or Inspector’s Notice to remove or control the weeds on your property.
If you do not comply with the notice, the City has the authority under the Alberta Weed Control Act to enter your property without notification and initiate remedial weed control and/or destroy measures. All costs incurred by the City are added to your property tax bill. Costs may vary depending on the amount of infestation and area cleared, but ranges from $250 to $5,000 or more.
Prohibited noxious weeds must be destroyed, meaning all growing parts need to be killed or the plant's reproductive mechanisms need to be rendered non-viable. The easiest form of destruction is the removal of the entire root system, by digging up or hand pulling the prohibited noxious weed.
The Government of Alberta regulates the spread of noxious weeds and prohibited noxious weeds through the Alberta Weed Control Act. Owners of residential, commercial, under construction and/or infill, and vacant lots are subject to enforcement. This includes your back alley, flankage and boulevards.
These plants might look harmless, but they can do serious damage to our local ecosystem. These regulated weeds are non-native plants that cause economic or environmental harm and can spread quickly to new areas. These plants can invade crops, infest streams, riverbanks and waterways. These plants can also out compete our native plants and reduce wildlife that live off our ecosystems.
Your property includes the back alley, flankage and adjacent boulevards.
Your property includes the entire lot, as well as the back alley, flankage and adjacent boulevards. The Local Authority Notice and/or Inspector’s Notice provides detailed information where the regulated weeds were found on the property. If further information is required for compliance please contact the officer at the number provided at the bottom of the notice. If you do not remove all regulated weeds as described in the Local Authority Notice and/or Inspector’s Notice, the City Contractor will cut and/or remove the remaining regulated weeds at your expense.
An officer will send out one Local Authority Notice and/or Inspector’s Notice which is in effect for the entire season, up to October 31. Officers can follow up on this notice multiple times throughout the season to ensure the regulated weeds are being controlled and/or destroyed for that property.
Weed Inspectors appointed under the Alberta Weed Control Act have the legal authority to enter private property without consent for the purpose of investigating and enforcing regulated weeds.
Many of the regulated weeds are plants, trees, and bushes that are colourful, sweet smelling, and beautiful to the eye. However, this does not make the regulated weeds any less dangerous to spread. All species can be found on the city website and through different apps which show the name and pictures for easy identification.
Download the 311 app for helpful weed identification.
The Alberta Weed Control Act is enforced throughout Alberta. Other provinces may have similar regulated weeds under their Government Acts and/or bylaws.
Weed removal is a set price with an external contractor, which is calculated by the square meters of the area that weed removal is required. Contract fees include the cost of labour, equipment and disposal of regulated weeds.
Invoice appeals can be submitted online for review. A City representative will respond in 10 days. Please review the criteria below for acceptable appeals. There is also a formal appeal process which is listed on the Local Authority Notice and/or Inspector’s Notice and within the Alberta Weed Control Act under section 19(2). A formal hearing can be made at the Community Standards and Licence Appeal Committee.
Information pertaining to an invoice will only be released to the owner of the property. Individual agreements between the landlord and tenant will not be considered in the review process.
Once the work is completed, the charges are applied to the legal property owner’s tax bill. For multiple owners of a property - the charges are divided equally and applied to everyone identified as legal property owners. Condominium fees are not part of the city review and should be discussed with the condominium association.
The charges are applied to taxes owed for the property.
Not necessarily. It is important to research plants or seed packs before purchasing. Be sure to check the Alberta Weed Control Act if you aren’t 100% sure. If a store is selling regulated species please report to 311 to be investigated.