{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/33.2-217.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/33.2-217.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/33.2-217.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/33.2-217.html"}],"law_id":360045,"edition_id":2,"section_id":360045,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-217","catch_line":"Prohibition of certain weeds and plants on highway rights-of-way","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 33-124; 1970, c. 322, \u00a7 33.1-209; 2014, c. 805.","full_text":"Neither the Board nor the Commissioner of Highways shall plant or cause or suffer to be planted on the right-of-way of any state highway any of the weeds or plants known as devil shoestring (Tephrosia virginiana), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), or barberry (Berberis vulgaris) if the governing body of the county in which the highway is located declares by resolution such weeds or plants to be injurious to adjacent property.\n\nThe Board shall cause all such weeds or plants planted or caused to be planted by the Board or Commissioner of Highways on any state highway right-of-way to be dug up and destroyed.\n\nAny owner of land adjacent to any state or other public highway right-of-way, or his agents and employees, may dig up, cut down, or otherwise remove and destroy any of such plants or weeds and any other plants or weeds that are or may become noxious or otherwise injurious to his property found growing upon any state or other public highway right-of-way adjacent to his land.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1339637,"text":"Neither the Board nor the Commissioner of Highways shall plant or cause or suffer to be planted on the right-of-way of any state highway any of the weeds or plants known as devil shoestring (Tephrosia virginiana), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), or barberry (Berberis vulgaris) if the governing body of the county in which the highway is located declares by resolution such weeds or plants to be injurious to adjacent property.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1339638,"text":"The Board shall cause all such weeds or plants planted or caused to be planted by the Board or Commissioner of Highways on any state highway right-of-way to be dug up and destroyed.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1339639,"text":"Any owner of land adjacent to any state or other public highway right-of-way, or his agents and employees, may dig up, cut down, or otherwise remove and destroy any of such plants or weeds and any other plants or weeds that are or may become noxious or otherwise injurious to his property found growing upon any state or other public highway right-of-way adjacent to his land.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":51517,"edition_id":2,"name":"Commonwealth Transportation Board; Powers and Duties","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":2,"parent_id":51514,"metadata":{"child_laws":19,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:43:12","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:29","permalink":{"id":1431913,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51517,"identifier":"2","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2","url":"\/33.2\/I\/2\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51514,"edition_id":2,"name":"Transportation Entities","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":51473,"metadata":{"child_laws":120,"child_structures":6},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:43:10","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:29","permalink":{"id":1431877,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51514,"identifier":"2","token":"33.2\/I\/2","url":"\/33.2\/I\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51473,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Provisions and Transportation Entities","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":51472,"metadata":{"child_laws":141,"child_structures":8},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:42:40","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:29","permalink":{"id":1431789,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51473,"identifier":"I","token":"33.2\/I","url":"\/33.2\/I\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51472,"edition_id":2,"name":"Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems","identifier":"33.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":77,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":749,"child_structures":88},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:42:40","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:28","permalink":{"id":1431787,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51472,"identifier":"33.2","token":"33.2","url":"\/33.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":360015,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-208","catch_line":"Location of routes","url":"\/33.2-208\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-208","metadata":false},{"id":360016,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-209","catch_line":"Construction and maintenance contracts and activities related to passenger and freight rail and public transportation","url":"\/33.2-209\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-209","metadata":false},{"id":360017,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-210","catch_line":"Traffic regulations; penalty","url":"\/33.2-210\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-210","metadata":false},{"id":360028,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-211","catch_line":"Copies of regulations as evidence","url":"\/33.2-211\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-211","metadata":false},{"id":360036,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-212","catch_line":"Sections not applicable to certain engines and tractors","url":"\/33.2-212\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-212","metadata":false},{"id":360037,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-213","catch_line":"Naming highways, bridges, interchanges, and other transportation facilities","url":"\/33.2-213\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-213","metadata":false},{"id":360042,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-214","catch_line":"Transportation; Six-Year Improvement Program","url":"\/33.2-214\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-214","metadata":false},{"id":360038,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-214.1","catch_line":"Statewide prioritization process for project selection","url":"\/33.2-214.1\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-214.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":360039,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-214.2","catch_line":"Transparency in the development of the Six-Year Improvement Program, statewide prioritization process, and state of good repair program","url":"\/33.2-214.2\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-214.2","metadata":false},{"id":360040,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-214.3","catch_line":"Transparency in project selection in Planning District 8","url":"\/33.2-214.3\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-214.3","metadata":false},{"id":360041,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-214.4","catch_line":"Statewide prioritization for the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund","url":"\/33.2-214.4\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-214.4","metadata":false},{"id":360043,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-215","catch_line":"Policies and operation of Departments","url":"\/33.2-215\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-215","metadata":false},{"id":360044,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-216","catch_line":"Roadside memorials; penalty","url":"\/33.2-216\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-216","metadata":false},{"id":360045,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-217","catch_line":"Prohibition of certain weeds and plants on highway rights-of-way","url":"\/33.2-217\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-217","metadata":false},{"id":360046,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-218","catch_line":"Fees for participating in the Integrated Directional Sign Program","url":"\/33.2-218\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-218","metadata":false},{"id":360047,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-219","catch_line":"Statements to be filed with Commonwealth Transportation Board by transit systems","url":"\/33.2-219\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-219","metadata":false},{"id":360048,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-220","catch_line":"Transfer of interest in and control over certain highways, highway rights-of-way, and landings","url":"\/33.2-220\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-220","metadata":false},{"id":360060,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-221","catch_line":"Other powers, duties, and responsibilities","url":"\/33.2-221\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-221","metadata":false},{"id":360059,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-221.1","catch_line":" Use of biodiesel and other alternative fuels in vehicles providing public transportation","url":"\/33.2-221.1\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-221.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":360044,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-216","catch_line":"Roadside memorials; penalty","url":"\/33.2-216\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-216","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":360046,"structure_id":51517,"section_number":"33.2-218","catch_line":"Fees for participating in the Integrated Directional Sign Program","url":"\/33.2-218\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-218","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/33.2-217\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1970, chapter 322; in 2014, chapter 805<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1431967,"object_type":"law","relational_id":360045,"identifier":"33.2-217","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-217","url":"\/33.2-217\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/33.2-217\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/2\/33.2-217","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prohibition of certain weeds and plants on highway rights-of-way","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 33.2-217","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Neither the Board<\/span> nor the Commissioner of Highways<\/span> shall plant or cause or suffer to be planted on the right-of-way of any state highway<\/span> any of the weeds or plants known as devil shoestring (Tephrosia virginiana), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), or barberry (Berberis vulgaris) if the governing body of the county in which the highway<\/span> is located declares by resolution such weeds or plants to be injurious to adjacent property.<\/p>

The Board<\/span> shall cause all such weeds or plants planted or caused to be planted by the Board<\/span> or Commissioner of Highways<\/span> on any state highway<\/span> right-of-way to be dug up and destroyed.<\/p>

Any owner of land adjacent to any state or other public highway<\/span> right-of-way, or his agents and employees, may dig up, cut down, or otherwise remove and destroy any of such plants or weeds and any other plants or weeds that are or may become noxious or otherwise injurious to his property found growing upon any state or other public highway<\/span> right-of-way adjacent to his land.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROHIBITION OF CERTAIN WEEDS AND PLANTS ON HIGHWAY RIGHTS-OF-WAY (\u00a7 33.2-217)\n\nNeither the Board nor the Commissioner of Highways shall plant or cause or\nsuffer to be planted on the right-of-way of any state highway any of the weeds\nor plants known as devil shoestring (Tephrosia virginiana), Johnson grass\n(Sorghum halepense), or barberry (Berberis vulgaris) if the governing body of\nthe county in which the highway is located declares by resolution such weeds or\nplants to be injurious to adjacent property.\n\nThe Board shall cause all such weeds or plants planted or caused to be planted\nby the Board or Commissioner of Highways on any state highway right-of-way to be\ndug up and destroyed.\n\nAny owner of land adjacent to any state or other public highway right-of-way, or\nhis agents and employees, may dig up, cut down, or otherwise remove and destroy\nany of such plants or weeds and any other plants or weeds that are or may become\nnoxious or otherwise injurious to his property found growing upon any state or\nother public highway right-of-way adjacent to his land.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 33-124; 1970, c. 322, \u00a7 33.1-209; 2014, c. 805.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}