# Title 4.1 — Agriculture

## Chapter 4.1-22 — Nurseries

### § 4.1-22-01. Definitions.

In this chapter, except as otherwise provided:
1. "Certificate of inspection" means a document issued or authorized by the
commissioner stating nursery stock is practically free from damaging pests.
2. "Commissioner" means the agriculture commissioner or the commissioner's designee.
3. "Grower" means any person that takes a reproductive part of nursery stock and
increases the size and development of the stock for at least one full growing season. A
grower includes a person producing nursery stock from tissue culture.
4. "Infested" means infected with a quantity of pests or so exposed to a quantity of pests
that it would be reasonable to believe potential for harm or threat to the health of the
host nursery stock exists.
5. "Nonhardy" means plant species, varieties, and cultivars that will not survive climatic
conditions in North Dakota.
6. "Nursery" means any place where nursery stock is propagated, grown, or offered for
sale.
7. "Nursery stock" means all trees, shrubs, woody vines and their parts that are capable
of propagation or growth, except seed. Only plants intended for outdoor planting are
considered nursery stock.
8. "Pest" means any invertebrate animal, pathogen, parasitic plant, or other similar
organism that can cause damage to nursery stock.
9. "Place of business" means each separate location from which nursery stock is being
offered for sale.
10. "Viable nursery stock" means nursery stock that is capable of living and accomplishing
the purpose for which it is grown, whether for foliage, flowers, fruit, or special use.
### § 4.1-22-02. Administration - Rulemaking authority.

The commissioner shall administer this chapter. The commissioner may adopt rules under
chapter 28-32 to implement this chapter.
### § 4.1-22-03. Authority for inspection.

The commissioner shall inspect all nursery stock being grown in North Dakota at least once
each year and may enter and inspect any nursery or place of business during normal business
hours.
### § 4.1-22-04. Authority for abatement - Removal from sale.

After giving notice to the owner or the owner's agent, the commissioner may destroy, treat,
or remove from sale, at the owner's expense, any nursery stock offered for sale found to be not
viable, not accompanied by a certificate of inspection, not labeled correctly, or infested with a
pest.
### § 4.1-22-05. Certification of nursery stock.

The commissioner shall issue a certificate of inspection annually for nursery stock grown in
licensed nurseries within the state found to be practically free from damaging pests. Certificates
expire on December thirty-first each year unless canceled at an earlier date. Certification may
be withheld by the commissioner when nursery stock is infested with a pest or if weeds or other
objects prevent an adequate inspection of the nursery stock. All nursery stock being offered for
sale within the state must be from officially inspected sources. A copy of a certificate of
inspection from the state of origin must accompany each commercial lot or shipment of nursery
stock that is transported into or offered for sale within North Dakota. All copies of the North
Dakota certificate of inspection required for shipping purposes must be approved by the
commissioner.

### § 4.1-22-06. Nursery license - Fee.

A person may not sell nursery stock without a license issued by the commissioner. Licenses
expire on December thirty-first each year unless revoked at an earlier date. An application for
renewal of license with any additional information required by the commissioner must be
submitted and accompanied by a fee of fifty dollars on or before December thirty-first each year.
A separate license is required for each place of business. A fee of ten dollars must be submitted
for each additional license, other than the principal place of business. A license may not be
issued to a grower unless the grower has first been issued a certificate of inspection.
### § 4.1-22-07. Labeling and standards for nursery stock.

A person may not sell or offer for sale any nursery stock not labeled in accordance with the
international code of nomenclature for cultivated plants with the complete correct botanical or
approved recognized common name. All nonhardy trees and shrubs, as determined by the
commissioner, must be labeled "nonhardy in North Dakota". All nursery stock offered for sale or
distribution must be in a viable condition and must be stored and displayed under conditions
that will maintain its viability. Materials used to coat the aerial parts of the plant which change
the appearance of the plant surface to prevent adequate inspection are prohibited.
### § 4.1-22-08. Misrepresentation.

A person may not misrepresent the name, age, origin, grade, variety, quality, or hardiness of
any nursery stock being offered for sale.
### § 4.1-22-09. Reciprocal agreements.

The commissioner may enter reciprocal agreements with officers of other states for the
recognition of official licenses and inspection certificates.
### § 4.1-22-10. Exemptions.

The commissioner may exempt certain nursery stock, nurseries, or persons from all or part
of the provisions of this chapter. Exemptions from licenses and fees may include:
1. Persons growing and propagating nursery stock for research or experimental
purposes;
2. Soil conservation districts selling nursery stock for the prevention of soil and wind
erosion or other conservation plantings; and
3. Persons growing nursery stock for noncommercial purposes or that the commissioner
designates as exempt.
### § 4.1-22-11. Penalties - Criminal - Civil - License revocation or nonrenewal.

1. It is a class B misdemeanor for any person to violate this chapter, or any rules adopted
under this chapter.
2. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, or rule adopted under this
chapter, is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars for each
violation. The civil penalty may be adjudicated by the courts or by the commissioner
through an administrative hearing under chapter 28-32.
3. The department may maintain, in accordance with the laws of this state, an
appropriate civil action in the name of the state against any person violating this
chapter or rules adopted under this chapter.
4. The commissioner may refuse to grant a license to any person found guilty of repeated
violations of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter, or to any person who has
failed to pay an adjudicated civil penalty for violation of this chapter within thirty days
after a final determination that the civil penalty is owed.
