Citing requests from locals concerned over a local explosion of bamboo, the Bellevue city council heard the first reading of a new invasive plant species ordinance at Wednesday night’s meeting.
The law, Ordinance 2026-01-02, defines invasive plant species as “those specific types of vegetation and/or plants and trees as defined and set forth in the Kentucky Invasive Plant Council List, including any species of bamboo.” That list includes much-dreaded foliage like Japanese honeysuckle and kudzu, which it regards as a Schedule One severe threat to native plant populations.
The new legislation also clearly defined the city’s “Massachusetts Rule,” which allows property owners to cut back any vegetative overgrowth to their neighbor’s property line, even if doing so would kill the plant.
Any pre-existing scheduled species planted before the law comes into effect will be grandfathered in, but only under strict guidelines. These include constructing impenetrable fencing at the property line of any unaffected land, and a potential $200.00 fine if overgrowth does occur.
If overgrowth occurs on public property, the planter is liable to the city for the cost of the removal. Bamboo species incur a particularly harsh treatment in the first draft, not being allowed to be replanted or replaced after the grass’s injury or death.
When asked how the specific Council List came to be selected in the regulation, city attorney Dave Fessler said, “I spent hours, and hours, and hours; and I stole it from Newport.”
The final reading of the law is planned for the next city council meeting on Feb. 11.