About the Weed Commissioner
The Benton County Weed Commission is tasked with upholding sections of Iowa Code that pertain to the destruction of noxious weeds within the county. The Benton County Board of Supervisors appoints a Weed Commissioner annually to carry out these duties. A list of noxious weeds can be found here. If noxious weeds are found on your property they are required by law to be destroyed. This responsibility falls to the landowner. If noxious weeds are not destroyed by mowing, burning or spraying a complaint may be filed. If a complaint is filed, you will be served a notice and given 5 days to destroy the noxious weeds. If this is not done, the Benton County Weed Commission is tasked with destroying the weeds. The cost of this destruction is then billed to the landowner.
Benton County is required by law to post a list of noxious weeds annually. This is done in the spring and can be found in the local papers and on the website. If you are interested in learning more about noxious weeds or how to identify them please browse the noxious weeds profiles.
Iowa Code
- Noxious Weeds
Chapter 317, Section 1A, Code of Iowa - Weed Commissioner – Standards for Noxious Weed Control
Chapter 317, Section 3, Code of Iowa - Direction and Control
Chapter 317, Section 4, Code of Iowa - Weeds in Abandoned Cemeteries
Chapter 317, Section 5, Code of Iowa - Entering Land to Destroy Weeds -- Notice
Chapter 317, Section 6, Code of Iowa - Report to Board
Chapter 317, Section 7, Code of Iowa - Duty of Owner or Tenant
Chapter 317, Section 10, Code of Iowa - Failure to Comply
Chapter 317, Section 16, Code of Iowa - Cost of Weed Destruction
Chapter 317, Section 21, Code of Iowa - Duty of Highway Maintenance Personnel
Chapter 317, Section 22, Code of Iowa
