Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pacific County Noxious Weed Control Board?
The Pacific County Noxious Weed Control Board (NWCB) is the local authority pertaining to noxious weed management (Not to be confused with the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board). The Pacific County NWCB establishes weed control priorities, adopts the annual weed list, administers the noxious weed control program, and enforces noxious weed laws in Pacific County, according to the requirements of RCW 17.10 and WAC 16-750.
What is the Noxious Weed List?
Each year the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board produces a state-wide noxious weed List which contains all of the weed species identified as threats to the Washington State ecosystem or economy. The list is broken down into categories and weeds are classified as either A, B, or C, depending on the determined threat criteria. The WA State Weed Board sends that list to each county weed board, and they must either adopt it as is, or make editions and then adopt it. County weed lists must contain all of the species listed on the state list, plus whichever class B and/or C species that the county board designates as “County Select”, making control mandatory.
Who is responsible for getting rid of noxious weeds?
According to RCW 17.10.140, it is the responsibility of the property owner to control the spread of noxious weeds.
RCW 17.10.140
Owner's duty to control spread of noxious weeds.
(1) Except as is provided under subsection (2) of this section, every owner shall perform or cause to be performed those acts as may be necessary to:
(a) Eradicate all class A noxious weeds;
(b) Control and prevent the spread of all class B noxious weeds designated for control in that region within and from the owner's property; and
(c) Control and prevent the spread of all class B and class C noxious weeds listed on the county weed list as locally mandated control priorities within and from the owner's property.
(2) Forestlands classified under RCW 17.10.240(2), or meeting the definition of forestlands contained in RCW 17.10.240, are subject to the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section at all times. Forestlands are subject to the requirements of subsection (1)(c) of this section only within a one thousand foot buffer strip of adjacent land uses. In addition, forestlands are subject to subsection (1)(c) of this section for a single five-year period following the harvesting of trees for lumber.
Why is there a noxious plant fee on my tax statement?
RCW 17.10.240 provides two options for funding the county’s Noxious Weed Control Program. The first option is an allotment from the county’s general fund. Pacific County does not have a substantial reserve and this option is not possible. The second option is via tax assessment, by which all qualifying lands within the county are assessed at a standard rate. The Board of County Commissioners approved a tax assessment which took effect January 1st 2019.
What are the assessment rates?*
Land Classification Assessment Rate
Non-forest lands (<1 acre) $3.00 per parcel
Non-forest lands (1 acre and larger) $3.00 per parcel, plus $0.10 per acre
Designated Forestlands $0.30 per parcel, plus $0.01 per acre
Federal/Tribal Lands N/A
Exempt Parcels N/A
*Actual calculations may vary slightly due to the parcel-size classification of each property. See below.
Why is the noxious plant fee on my tax statement a few cents more than I expected?
The amount on your tax statement could be different (within cents) than you expected (based on the rates above). The final calculations were made using a grid system (get a copy), which places parcels into groups by size, and then charges the appropriate amount based on the rate for that size category. For example, all parcels up to 1 acre are in the same group and all receive an assessment of $3.00. All parcels ranging in size from 1.01 to 2.0 acres are grouped and charged $3.10. All parcels from 2.01 to 3.0 acres are grouped and charged $3.20. Between 2 and 10 acres, parcels were lumped into three grids (2.01-5, 5.01-7, and 7.01-10). At 10 acres, parcels were lumped in 10 acre increments. The entire parcel grid is available as a Microsoft Excel file.
Without this system, every parcel would have to be calculated individually and the resources needed to do this are not available. The extra weeks that would be required to calculate every parcel exactly would increase the cost of the assessment by a large margin and everyone would have to pay more. If you still have questions regarding this issue please contact Vegetation Management Director Jeff Nesbitt ([email protected]).
Does this have anything to do with cannabis?
No. This has nothing to do with cannabis.
What will the noxious weed assessment money be used for?
The assessment will directly fund the Noxious Weed Control Board and its programs. Prior to the assessment, the NWCB was reliant on grant funding and service contracts to function, which are inconsistent and short-term. With the adoption of the assessment, and the predictability that comes with dedicated funding, the NWCB will expand and improve services.
I haven’t noticed any weeds on my property, why do I still have to pay?
Noxious Weed Control is a public service that we all benefit from, and so we must all help to pay for it. Prevention is the foundation of good weed management. You don’t have weeds on your property because the system is working.
I control the weeds on my property myself, why do I still have to pay?
The NWCB has basic expenses, much like a private enterprise. We have to fund payroll, office/shop lease, vehicle maintenance, and public utilities. Everyone pays a little, so that no one has to pay a lot.
What if my neighbor is not controlling their noxious weeds?
The activity of your neighbor has no impact on your own obligation to control the noxious weeds on your property. Every landowner must control his or her noxious weeds, regardless of the condition of adjacent properties. However, control is required by law for several weed species (see Pacific County Weed List) and you may file a complaint against your neighbor with the Noxious Weed Control Board. Properties that have one or more complaints against them will receive priority for enforcement action.
The Pacific County Noxious Weed Control Board (NWCB) is the local authority pertaining to noxious weed management (Not to be confused with the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board). The Pacific County NWCB establishes weed control priorities, adopts the annual weed list, administers the noxious weed control program, and enforces noxious weed laws in Pacific County, according to the requirements of RCW 17.10 and WAC 16-750.
What is the Noxious Weed List?
Each year the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board produces a state-wide noxious weed List which contains all of the weed species identified as threats to the Washington State ecosystem or economy. The list is broken down into categories and weeds are classified as either A, B, or C, depending on the determined threat criteria. The WA State Weed Board sends that list to each county weed board, and they must either adopt it as is, or make editions and then adopt it. County weed lists must contain all of the species listed on the state list, plus whichever class B and/or C species that the county board designates as “County Select”, making control mandatory.
Who is responsible for getting rid of noxious weeds?
According to RCW 17.10.140, it is the responsibility of the property owner to control the spread of noxious weeds.
RCW 17.10.140
Owner's duty to control spread of noxious weeds.
(1) Except as is provided under subsection (2) of this section, every owner shall perform or cause to be performed those acts as may be necessary to:
(a) Eradicate all class A noxious weeds;
(b) Control and prevent the spread of all class B noxious weeds designated for control in that region within and from the owner's property; and
(c) Control and prevent the spread of all class B and class C noxious weeds listed on the county weed list as locally mandated control priorities within and from the owner's property.
(2) Forestlands classified under RCW 17.10.240(2), or meeting the definition of forestlands contained in RCW 17.10.240, are subject to the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section at all times. Forestlands are subject to the requirements of subsection (1)(c) of this section only within a one thousand foot buffer strip of adjacent land uses. In addition, forestlands are subject to subsection (1)(c) of this section for a single five-year period following the harvesting of trees for lumber.
Why is there a noxious plant fee on my tax statement?
RCW 17.10.240 provides two options for funding the county’s Noxious Weed Control Program. The first option is an allotment from the county’s general fund. Pacific County does not have a substantial reserve and this option is not possible. The second option is via tax assessment, by which all qualifying lands within the county are assessed at a standard rate. The Board of County Commissioners approved a tax assessment which took effect January 1st 2019.
What are the assessment rates?*
Land Classification Assessment Rate
Non-forest lands (<1 acre) $3.00 per parcel
Non-forest lands (1 acre and larger) $3.00 per parcel, plus $0.10 per acre
Designated Forestlands $0.30 per parcel, plus $0.01 per acre
Federal/Tribal Lands N/A
Exempt Parcels N/A
*Actual calculations may vary slightly due to the parcel-size classification of each property. See below.
Why is the noxious plant fee on my tax statement a few cents more than I expected?
The amount on your tax statement could be different (within cents) than you expected (based on the rates above). The final calculations were made using a grid system (get a copy), which places parcels into groups by size, and then charges the appropriate amount based on the rate for that size category. For example, all parcels up to 1 acre are in the same group and all receive an assessment of $3.00. All parcels ranging in size from 1.01 to 2.0 acres are grouped and charged $3.10. All parcels from 2.01 to 3.0 acres are grouped and charged $3.20. Between 2 and 10 acres, parcels were lumped into three grids (2.01-5, 5.01-7, and 7.01-10). At 10 acres, parcels were lumped in 10 acre increments. The entire parcel grid is available as a Microsoft Excel file.
Without this system, every parcel would have to be calculated individually and the resources needed to do this are not available. The extra weeks that would be required to calculate every parcel exactly would increase the cost of the assessment by a large margin and everyone would have to pay more. If you still have questions regarding this issue please contact Vegetation Management Director Jeff Nesbitt ([email protected]).
Does this have anything to do with cannabis?
No. This has nothing to do with cannabis.
What will the noxious weed assessment money be used for?
The assessment will directly fund the Noxious Weed Control Board and its programs. Prior to the assessment, the NWCB was reliant on grant funding and service contracts to function, which are inconsistent and short-term. With the adoption of the assessment, and the predictability that comes with dedicated funding, the NWCB will expand and improve services.
I haven’t noticed any weeds on my property, why do I still have to pay?
Noxious Weed Control is a public service that we all benefit from, and so we must all help to pay for it. Prevention is the foundation of good weed management. You don’t have weeds on your property because the system is working.
I control the weeds on my property myself, why do I still have to pay?
The NWCB has basic expenses, much like a private enterprise. We have to fund payroll, office/shop lease, vehicle maintenance, and public utilities. Everyone pays a little, so that no one has to pay a lot.
What if my neighbor is not controlling their noxious weeds?
The activity of your neighbor has no impact on your own obligation to control the noxious weeds on your property. Every landowner must control his or her noxious weeds, regardless of the condition of adjacent properties. However, control is required by law for several weed species (see Pacific County Weed List) and you may file a complaint against your neighbor with the Noxious Weed Control Board. Properties that have one or more complaints against them will receive priority for enforcement action.