What’s the rule on trees?
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Anonymous
| Neighbor has three old trees that lean over our property and large branches are snapping and falling into our yard when it’s windy. Some of these could definitely injure someone or worse if it landed on them. What’s the DC law? Is it our responsibility because the branches cross our property line? Or theirs because it’s rooted on their property? |
Anonymous
| Yours. |
Anonymous
| Their responsibility, but you can cut any branches that overhang your property as long as it doesn’t kill the tree. |
Anonymous
| You have to clean up what falls into your yard. You can trim back branches crossing into your yard if you wish as long as you don't jeopardize the health of the neighbors tree. |
Anonymous
So it’s not the neighbors responsibility. |
Anonymous
You said two different things. |
Anonymous
No…it’s their responsibility in terms of taking care of the tree/if a branch fell and killed someone, but OP is *allowed* to trim branches that overhang their property, if they wish to. |
Anonymous
Not always. |
Anonymous
|
If the trees are unhealthy and hazardous you can write them a letter and they have to take care of the problem.
If they are healthy trees you have to trim the extended branches in your side of the property. |
Anonymous
Get an arborist to evaluate the trees. If the arborist says they're unsafe, send a copy of the report by certified mail to the homeowner and keep a copy for yourself. If you live in a municipality that has an interest in trees on private property, send a copy to them, too. Regardless, trim whatever you need above your property so long as you don't kill the tree. |
Anonymous
|
What falls into your yard (leaves, branches, etc) are your responsibility to clean up.
You are also within your right to trim an branches that over the property line. No one but you is responsible for what wind blows into your yard. |