In British Columbia, it is the responsibility of land owners under the Weed Control Act to manage noxious plants on their property - either by managing the plants themselves, or hiring a certified contractor.

Not all noxious plants need to be managed by chemical control, and there are other tools available (ie. mechanical, biological). However, some plants (ie. knotweeds) only have chemical control as the only effective option, either due to the way the plants grow, the toxicity, or the large area infested.

Pesticide applicators must be either the land manager/owner or have permission from the land manager/owner prior to herbicide application.

Pesticides (e.g., herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) are regulated by the federal and provincial government, and municipal governments often have pesticide bylaws.

• Health Canada evaluates and approves chemical pest control products as per the Pest  Control Products Act.
• The BC Integrated Pest Management Act sets out the requirements for the use and sale of pesticides in British Columbia. This Act is administered by the Ministry of Environment.
• Several municipalities have adopted bylaws which prohibit the use of certain pesticides.

Everyone who uses pesticides must be familiar with all relevant laws.

Private Property

Property owners have the option of hiring an invasive plant management contractor to help them manage noxious weeds. However, if land owners decide to do control work themselves, there are some things to keep in mind.

On private property, residents may require a Residential Applicator Certificate (RAC). However, this is not required for treatment of plants that are poisonous for people to touch, invasive plants and noxious weeds listed in the Weed Control Legislation, and weeds growing through cracks in hard surfaces such as asphalt or concrete.

For other invasive plants not listed in the Weed Control Legislation, the owner may obtain a Residential Applicators Certificate or use a qualified company.

For specific details on how to manage knotweed on your own, please refer to the management section from our knotweed fact page. 

If property owners prefer to hire an invasive plant management contractor, we have provided a list of local contractors here.