Article 1. Weed-free Areas of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 4. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.

The director, after investigation and practical survey, may consult with other state and federal agencies having responsibility for forest management and protection of native species and, by proclamation, declare an area within this state to be practically free from any noxious weed, as defined in Section 5004, which is named in the proclamation.

Any area which is declared by proclamation pursuant to this article to be practically free from any noxious weed named in the proclamation shall be known as a weed-free area, as to any noxious weed named in the proclamation. The name of the noxious weed shall be a part of the name of the weed-free area.

The director may by similar proclamation change the boundaries of a weed-free area or declare the weed-free area free from any additional noxious weeds, naming the noxious weed.

A proclamation pursuant to this article shall be under the seal of the department. It shall be published in a newspaper or farm journal of general circulation, published and circulated in the area which is to be affected by the proclamation, at least once a week for two successive weeks. If there is no such newspaper or farm journal, a copy of the proclamation shall be posted in one or more public places in the area.

The director may adopt such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. He, and the commissioners under the supervision and control of the director, shall enforce such provisions and regulations.

It is unlawful for any person to sell, distribute, or transport into, or within, any weed-free area any seed of any noxious weed of which the area has been declared to be practically free.

It is unlawful for any person that owns or possesses any land within any weed-free area to knowingly permit any noxious weed of which the area has been declared to be practically free, to mature upon his land and disseminate its seed or to propagate itself by other means upon such land, or on the land of another.