Pennsylvania Law on Trees. Dead tree threatens property There is a dead tree in my neighbor's yard that looks like it is going to fall o n our house. The tree is leaning towards your neighbor's property. You want any evidence you can to show that the tree was dead or diseased when it fell. In other words, it is foreseeable that a dead tree will fail (especially during a storm), which creates a common law duty of care to remove the dead tree to in order to prevent damage to neighboring property. What you can legally do yourself. My neighbors are concerned about one of my trees. When I was not there to prevent it, the neighbor came onto my rental property and took the cut wood and is now claiming she will press charges for trespassing if we attempt to reclaim this wood. Sometimes a tree on one person’s property has roots that extend so far that they damage a fence on the adjacent property. I highly recommend that you check out the NOLO’s book Neighbor Law: Fences, Trees, Boundaries & … If, as a result of your own negligence while performing construction on your property you knock over your own tree, you will likely be held liable for the damage to your neighbor's property. If a person is convicted of violating this statute, and the property loss to the neighbor is over $2,000, then it is a felony instead of a misdemeanor. Often, a tree on your property will crash into your neighbor's property as a result of building or construction on your property. Summarize existing law and recent legislation on maintenance of trees on private property that may pose a danger to a neighbor ' s property and related liability issues. When trees are close to your property line, then the law determines the owner by looking at the trunk of the tree. Another area of concern among homeowners is tree trimming. Generally, if a tree trunk sits on both you and your neighbor’s property, is owned by both of you, and you are both responsible for the tree. The neighbor asks you to take action. There is truly too much to cover in one article. Under Texas property laws, if a tree falls from natural causes (lightning, storms, water) the property owner of the place where a tree has fallen is responsible for removing the tree. You could be found to be negligent and liable. (To learn what you must prove in order to get actual damages, see Nolo’s article When a Neighbor Damages or Destroys Your Tree.) When a tree falls over onto a neighbor's property, a homeowner is often left to wonder if he or she is liable. Examples of issues which can be addressed in this law include adverse possession, boundary line encroachments, and improper trimming. Generally such failure is considered to be “negligence” and a negligence owner can be liable for all damage resulting from such negligence. Again, if you’re not sure if a tree needs maintenance, it’s probably best to get a tree consultant to assess the risk. When negligence is not a factor, Connecticut law states that whosever property a tree falls on is responsible. When a tree falls over onto a neighbor's property, that neighbor should submit a claim to his or her insurance company immediately. - If a neighbor's tree falls onto your property and causes injury or damage, take pictures. If the trunk sits primarily on your property, then you are the owner. The branches on my neighbor's tree are hanging over my house. A neighbor’s dead tree fell on my rental property. The neighbor hired an unlicensed day laborer to trim a tree which was encroaching over his property. If you have a neighbour’s tree hanging over your land, you can: exercise the common law right of abatement—your right to remove overhanging branches and roots to … If you were unaware of the tree’s condition then you are not liable for the damages to your neighbor’s property. Who owns the tree between my house and my neighbor's house? Trim A Neighbor's Trees Under Florida Laws Florida law prohibits a neighbor from cutting down a neighbor’s tree or even entering a neighbor’s property without permission from the owner. In Missouri, if someone damages your tree, you can recover your actual damages (usually, what you paid for the tree or what it would cost to replace the tree). Again, these laws can differ in each state, so be sure to look up the exact law in your area. The owner of the tree may be responsible for damage caused to a neighbor’s property but only if it can be found that the tree’s owner failed to properly maintain the tree. But the worker also cut (i.e., hacked with a chain saw) substantial parts of the tree and that were on the tree owner's land. Tree-trimming laws in Illinois help determine the legal rights of neighbors who have tree-related disputes. Under Florida law, the health of the tree determines who is responsible for damages to neighboring property. The neighbors would have a right to sue, especially if any damages arise from the branches or entire tree falling. It’s not just individuals who could be a tree-keeper; it could be an organisation or body corporate. The Office of Legislative Research is not authorized to give legal opinions and this report should not Hopefully this article gives you a good overview of neighbor law, and the sources where you can find more information on the subject. Old Michigan case law states that you can trim tree branches that cross over the property line onto your property. That's right, even if the tree is rooted in your neighbor's yard, if it crashes onto your property, it's your problem. Adverse possession of property Easements and land use law Real estate. Can I trim them? Section 240.909 of the Texas Local Government Code State law giving authority to certain county commissioners courts to prohibit or restrict clear-cutting of live oak trees in unincorporated parts of the county. California tree law between neighbors requires a landowner be responsible for maintaining a tree's foliage in a hazard-free condition. There are numerous laws on cutting down trees which can vary by municipality, where the tree is situated on a particular piece of property, and how old and/or healthy the tree … theory, one could argue that a dead tree is a hazard that could cause foreseeable damage to a neighboring property. A tree cutter would be hired and generally would cut and remove all of the tree materials on your property up to the property line. If a dead tree falls on a neighboring property resulting in damage, the person who owns the property where the trees was originally located is responsible for damages if they were on notice the tree was dead. In that case, your insurance policy would be liable. Tree disputes can take many forms, such as trees that fall on a neighbor's property and cause damage or circumstances where a neighbor's tree blocks what would be a scenic or otherwise pleasant view. My tenant and I spent several hours cutting this dead wood into manageable pieces. However, you cannot trim past the property line onto the neighbor’s side. The same theory of negligence applies to dying trees and dead branches on any tree. The oak is the responsibility of the present homeowner. My neighbor's tree looks dead, and I'm worried it will fall on my house. In addition, if you enter your neighbor’s property in order to trim, cut down, or otherwise damage their tree, you may run afoul of several other laws, specifically those found in VA Code § 55.1-2835 through VA Code § 55.1-2841. It is accepted law in all states that a tree whose trunk stands wholly on the land of one person belongs to that person. To remove the tree, both property owners must consent. Neighbors and Trees Trees are a common dispute among neighbors. This includes situations in which a tree that was rooted in a neighbor’s yard has fallen down onto another neighbor’s property. For example, under Illinois law, if the trunk of a tree rests on the property line that separates two homes, both homeowners have a legal right to trim or cut the tree but must first get permission from the other neighbor in order to do so. If you cut your neighbor’s tree limbs to protect your own property, then your actions may not be “malicious.” However, cutting the limbs may still be enough to face a criminal charge. While the neighbor’s have the right to prune branches hanging over their property line, the branches create a nuisance. This report updates OLR Report 2015-R-0278.. Martha's Vineyard property owners and their tree contractor cut down ten mature trees on a neighbor's property to improve their own view of the ocean. The Final Word on Neighbor Law. We asked the neighbor to cut it down, and he said he would if we pa id half the costs. The property owner sued for wrongful injury to timber and won the trial. Risks Associated with Settling Tree Trimming If the trunk stands partly on the land of two or more people, it is called a boundary tree, and in most cases it belongs to all the property owners. If that has happened, your neighbor could be required to remove the tree. If a tree causes damage to a neighboring property, the person who owns the tree may be liable if the party who suffered the damage can prove negligence on behalf of the property … In this case, the law is clear. If the tree sits right in the middle of two properties, then both owners are responsible for the tree. Under a negligence theory, one could argue that a dead tree is a hazard that could cause foreseeable damage to a neighboring property. New York Property Lines and Tree Trimming Laws. In other words, it is foreseeable that a dead tree will fail (especially during a storm), which creates a common law duty of care to remove the dead tree to in order to prevent damage to neighboring property. However, this is not always true. Under this theory, the However, utility companies are exempted from this prohibition, under Section 163.3209 of the Florida Statutes. However, in trimming that branch, you are putting yourself at risk for violating other Michigan laws. 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