Noxious Weeds Regulations
made under Section 20 of the
Agricultural Weed Control Act
S.N.S. 2025, c. 4
N.S. Reg. 215/2026 (effective September 25, 2026)
Table of Contents
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Citation
Definitions
Noxious weeds
Notifying inspector
Treatment of noxious weeds
Treatment of contaminated material
Interfering with signs installed
Form of inspector’s orders
Person served with order not owner
Forms
Form 1—Order to Destroy Noxious Weeds
Form 2—Order to Prohibit Sowing of a Crop
Form 3—Order to Destroy or Treat Contaminated Material
Form 4—Order to Prohibit the Movement of Contaminated Material
Citation
1 These regulations may be cited as the Noxious Weeds Regulations.
Definitions
2 In these regulations,
“Act” means the Agricultural Weed Control Act.
Noxious weeds
3 The following plants and their seeds are designated by the Minister as noxious weeds for
the corresponding designated area of the Province where the weed may negatively
impact agricultural activities:
Noxious Weed
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Area Designation Applies
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Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.)
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Province-wide
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Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.)
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Province-wide
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Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.)
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Province-wide
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Marsh hedge nettle (Stachys palustris L.)
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Province-wide
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Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.)
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Counties of Kings, Annapolis, Digby,
Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens, and
Lunenburg, and including Halifax County
and areas near the Halifax/
Colchester/Hants County lines or near
rivers and streams flowing into Halifax
and Hants Counties
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Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.)
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Province-wide
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White cockle (Lychnis alba Mill.)
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Province-wide
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Wild Chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris)
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Province-wide
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Yellow nut sedge (Cyperus esculentus L.)
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Province-wide
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Notifying inspector
4 A responsible person must notify an inspector as soon as they become aware that a
noxious weed is present on their land within a designated area.
Treatment of noxious weeds
5 (1) All of the following are designated as treatment methods for preventing the growth
or spread of noxious weeds:
(a) covering the noxious weeds with a deep layer of mulch or other substances
that prevent the growth of the noxious weeds or ripening of seeds;
(b) cultivating the soil in which the noxious weeds are growing and cutting
roots or stalks before seeds ripen and become viable;
(c) treating the noxious weeds with chemicals that destroy the noxious weeds
or prevent their growth or the ripening of their seeds;
(d) solarization of the noxious weeds by placing them in a black bag in direct
sunlight for 3 to 4 weeks;
(e) composting the noxious weeds at a high temperature.
(2) Unless otherwise ordered by an inspector, a responsible person must use 1 or more
of the methods designated in subsection (1), at the responsible person’s cost, at
such times as are necessary to prevent the growth or spread of noxious weeds.
Treatment of contaminated material
6 (1) All of the following are designated as treatment methods for contaminated
material:
(a) removing the contaminated material to locations where noxious weeds are
unable to spread or germinate or, if germination were to take place, where
noxious weeds are unable to grow to maturity;
(b) composting;
(c) grinding;
(d) crushing;
(e) burning;
(f) burying;
(g) chemical treatment.
(2) Unless otherwise ordered by an inspector, a person must use 1 or more of the
methods designated in subsection (1), to treat contaminated material.
Interfering with signs installed
7 A person must not remove, deface, or obscure any signs installed by the Minister, the
Chief Inspector or an inspector without authorization from the Minister, the Chief
Inspector or an inspector.
Form of inspector’s orders
8 The following forms attached to these regulations are prescribed as the forms to be used
for an order issued by an inspector under the Act:
(a) Form 1—Order to Destroy Noxious Weeds under the Agricultural Weed
Control Act, for an order under subsection 11(2) or Section 12 of the Act;
(b) Form 2—Order to Prohibit Sowing of a Crop under the Agricultural Weed
Control Act, for an order under Section 13 of the Act;
(c) Form 3—Order to Destroy or Treat Contaminated Material under the
Agricultural Weed Control Act, for an order under subsection 14(2) of the
Act;
(d) Form 4—Order to Prohibit the Movement of Contaminated Material under
the Agricultural Weed Control Act, for an order under subsection 14(3) of
the Act.
Person served with order not owner
9 If the person served with an order under Section 11, 12, 13 or 14 of the Act is not the
owner, a copy of the order must be delivered to the owner.
Forms
Form 1—Order to Destroy Noxious Weeds
(subsection 11(2) and Section 12, Agriculture Weed Control Act)
To:
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(name of responsible person)
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Address:
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Copy to:
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(name of owner, if not person served)
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Noxious weeds have been found on the following land for which you are a responsible person
under the Agricultural Weed Control Act:
(description of land)
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|
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Located at:
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(civic address)
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Municipality:
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(name of municipality)
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In accordance with subsection 11(2) (prompt effective action not taken) or Section 12
(responsible person not located) of the Agricultural Weed Control Act, you are hereby ordered
to destroy the following noxious weeds on the land described above:
The noxious weeds must be destroyed no later than _______ (not less than 7) days from the
date this order is served on you.
Dated at
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(municipality where signed)
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,
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(mmmm, dd, yyyy).
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Inspector:
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(print name)
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Phone:
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Signature of Inspector
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________________________________________________________________
Form 2—Order to Prohibit Sowing of a Crop
(Section 13, Agricultural Weed Control Act)
To:
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(name of responsible person)
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Address:
|
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Copy to:
|
(name of owner, if not person served)
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Noxious weeds have been found on the following land for which you are a responsible person
under the Agricultural Weed Control Act:
(description of land)
|
|
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Located at:
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(civic address)
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Municipality:
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(name of municipality)
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In accordance with Section 13 of the Agricultural Weed Control Act, you are hereby prohibited
from sowing a crop of any kind, due to the presence of the following noxious weeds on the land
described above:
This order is effective immediately and remains in effect for 3 years from the date of this
order unless sooner rescinded by an inspector appointed under the Agricultural Weed Control
Act.
Dated at
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(municipality where signed)
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,
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(mmmm, dd, yyyy).
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Inspector:
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(print name)
|
|
|
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Phone:
|
|
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Signature of Inspector
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________________________________________________________________
Form 3—Order to Destroy or Treat Contaminated Material
(subsection 14(2), Agricultural Weed Control Act)
To:
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(name of responsible person)
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Address
|
|
Copy to:
|
(name of owner, if not person served)
|
Noxious weeds have been found on the following land for which you are a responsible person
under the Agricultural Weed Control Act:
(description of land)
|
|
|
Located at:
|
(civic address)
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Municipality:
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(name of municipality)
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In accordance with subsection 14(2) of the Agricultural Weed Control Act, to reduce or
eliminate the risk of the noxious weed from the contaminated material from spreading, you are
hereby ordered to treat, destroy or dispose of the following contaminated material found on the
lands described above:
All contaminated material must be treated, destroyed or disposed of using the following
method(s):
(manner determined by inspector)
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Dated at
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(municipality where signed)
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,
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(mmmm, dd, yyyy).
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Inspector:
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(print name)
|
|
|
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Phone:
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Signature of Inspector
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________________________________________________________________
Form 4—Order to Prohibit the Movement of Contaminated Material
(subsection 14(3), Agricultural Weed Control Act)
To:
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(name of responsible person)
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Address:
|
|
Copy to:
|
(name of owner, if not person served)
|
Noxious weeds have been found on the following land for which you are a responsible person
under the Agricultural Weed Control Act:
(description of land)
|
|
|
Located at:
|
(civic address)
|
Municipality:
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(name of municipality)
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In accordance with subsection 14(3) of the Agricultural Weed Control Act, you are hereby
prohibited to move the following listed contaminated material:
This order is effective immediately and remains in effect until the requirements of the
Agricultural Weed Control Act and the Noxious Weeds Regulations respecting the treatment of
contaminated material have been met.
Dated at
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(municipality where signed)
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,
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(mmmm, dd, yyyy).
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Inspector:
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(print name)
|
|
|
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Phone:
|
|
|
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Signature of Inspector
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