{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-2-2-3-220","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 2, § 2-3-220","heading":"Noxious weeds - Eradication","body":"A. 1. The plants musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.), Scotch\n\nthistle (Onoprodum acanthium L.), and Canada thistle (Cirsium\n\narvense) are designated as noxious weeds. The Legislature finds\n\nthat these thistles are a public nuisance in all counties across\n\nthis state.\n\n2. It shall be the duty of every landowner in each county to\n\ntreat, control, or eradicate all Canada, musk, or Scotch thistles\n\ngrowing on the landowner’s land every year as shall be sufficient to\n\nprevent these thistles from going to seed.\n\n3. The Department of Transportation, the boards of county\n\ncommissioners, and any other public, private, or corporate entity\n\nwho shall maintain rights-of-way in the State of Oklahoma shall be\n\nresponsible for removing any thistle infestation that occurs within\n\ntheir jurisdiction.\n\n4. Failure of the landowner to treat, eradicate, or control all\n\nmusk, Canada, or Scotch thistle may result in a fine not to exceed\n\nOne Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation per day.\n\n5. Upon written complaint, the State Department of Agriculture\n\nshall inspect the type of thistle infestation, assess the nature and\n\nextent of the thistle infestation on the property of the landowner\n\nand determine the most appropriate thistle treatment, control, or\n\neradication method available for the type of thistle and location of\n\nthe property.\n\nB. The Board shall:\n\n1. Promulgate rules setting categories or degrees of\n\ninfestation which would require specified treatment, control, or\n\neradication;\n\n2. Include musk, Scotch, and Canada thistles as prohibited\n\nnoxious weed and weed seed pursuant to the Department’s authority\n\nand responsibility under Article 8 of the Oklahoma Agricultural\n\nCode;\n\n3. By November 1, 2000, and annually thereafter prior to the\n\ngrowing season of musk, Scotch, and Canada thistles, complete an\n\nannual survey detailing the degree of infestation of these thistles\n\nacross the state. The results of these surveys shall be reported to\n\nOklahoma State University; and\n\n4. In all counties of this state, provide information to\n\nnewspapers of general circulation stating that musk, Scotch, and\n\nCanada thistles are a public nuisance and that it is the duty of\n\nevery public, private, or corporate landowner to treat, control, or\n\neradicate these thistles growing on any property owned by the\n\nlandowner. The information shall be provided at the beginning of\n\nthe cycle of growth of the musk, Scotch, and Canada thistles and at\n\nother times as necessary to inform landowners of the provisions of\n\nthis subsection. The information material shall also include:\n\na. information detailing the process by which an\n\ninterested landowner may receive assistance pursuant\n\nto this subsection for the removal of thistles from\n\ninfested property,\n\nb. the telephone number of the Department, and\n\nc. a statement informing the landowner that failure to\n\nremove musk, Scotch, and Canada thistles may subject\n\nthe landowner to legal action requiring the treatment,\n\ncontrol, or eradication of these thistles.\n\nC. Upon request of the landowner or the Department, the\n\ndesignated Oklahoma State University extension agent for a\n\nparticular county shall evaluate or, if there is no extension agent\n\nfor a particular county, the Department shall inspect the type of\n\nthistle infestation, assess the nature and extent of the thistle\n\ninfestation on the property of the landowner, and determine the most\n\nappropriate thistle treatment, control, or eradication method\n\navailable for the type of thistle and location of the property.","path":["OK Code","Title 2"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os2.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"ffff86ff8efbfa67bf16c9e3a1304a6f6fbb2ff5278e1971138656b717b3abd5","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-2-2-3-215","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-2-2-3-310"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}