Am I obligated to trim a tree in my yard that hangs over my neighbors yard?

Answer 1

No, your not obligated to do it, but it would be nieghborly.I will tell you this much from my own experience though, If the tree is a hazard and you've been asked to do something about it and you don't, any and all damage it causes is your responsibility. Also your nieghbor has the right to trim any and all branches hanging over his side of the fence or property from your tree. Being a good nieghbor is always nice, but like my father-in-law used to say, "good nieghbors come from good fences." GOOD LUCK

Answer 2

Unless the tree is dead or diseased, you have
no legal obligation to trim it. He may trim what is
hanging over his property as long as his trimming
does not affect the health and integrity of the tree.
He cannot come on to your property without your
permission.
If you agree that the tree needs trimming, both
of you get together and hire a company to do it.
Ask your neighbors, tree trimming companies will
give discounts if they come out to do multiple trees
in the same neighborhood.

Answer 3

If the tree is in sound shape, no rot, no dead limbs, etc., then you have no obligation. If the tree is in sound shape, even if the limb falls on his property and damages his house or car, you are under no obligation to cover the cost of removing the debris. If he wants to trim the limbs, he can, but if he needs to come into your yard, you need to see the tree man and make sure he is adequately insured and knows how to do it.

Answer 4

Obligation is more of a feeling.

Do you feel obligated? You don't have to trim it, but if you feel badly about it, then you probably feel obligated.

There's no law that says you have to, but if your neighbor asks you, it's probably better to trim the tree than have bad blood between neighbors.

Answer 5

This is gonna be a long one. Okay, I am living next-door to the neighbour from HELL! I, being the nice neighbour, had a mountain ash tree that grew over the fence onto her side, and I asked her on more than one occasion that if she wanted, I would prune this part away for her. No, she would say, and she'd always say that she liked the tree. Then, she told the neighbour next-door on the other side (who is my good friend) that my tree hung over on her side and that she hated it. I also had a poplar tree, and it produced the fuzz every year. She would complain that it got into her air conditioner unit; meanwhile, there are poplars all over the neighbourhood, but it had to have been from MY tree. So I said, "Do you want me to come over and clean your air conditioner?" She shut up, and still complained about it to my friend. I eventually cut down both trees, but because I wanted them gone. So, you see, there are 2 kinds of people out there: people who are kind and accommodating, and also, evil, rotten selfish people who cannot be pleased no matter what you do. So if you have a decent neighbour, treasure that neighbour, because you could have ended up with the monster that lives next to me. So I erected a 6-foot 7 inch wood fence, and I rarely see this idiot. If you have a good neighbour, as I have on the OTHER side of my house (thank God), then say, hey, Joe/Josephine, how about that tree of mine growing over on your side: do you want me to cut it back to my property line? Chances are, if you treat someone the way that you would want to be treated, they will reciprocate. I did that with the nice neighbour, and he said to leave anything that grows over the fence. Though you're not legally responsible for what grows on the neighbour's side, it would be the neighbourly thing to do, to offer to take care of it, and do so if they make it known that they would like it cut. And I prefer to cut it myself, because I know how to prune properly, and I would do it nice and neatly instead of risking someone else doing a hack job. And they can only prune back to the property line, which would probably entail having a tree with stubs as a result. If the neighbour is horrible like that other one, they can cut it, but don't let them throw the cuttings into your yard: that's illegal. I checked. And you can call the police regarding that. And I would do just that on someone like that. And if the branch fell on the other side during a storm and caused damage to the neighbour's side, you would be held responsible, since it originated from your tree. So if the neighbours are good, offer to cut it. If they're bad, cut it anyway, because Murphy's Law will have that branch fall and cause injury, causing you more of a headache. So cut it, either way, unless the good neighbour declines your offer to remove it. Unfortunately, I am an expert on the subject. And I hope that none of you out there ever end up stuck with such a despicable devil as I have for a neighbour. Enough said.

Answer 6

If the tree is on your property but hangs over the property line ...your neighbor has a right to trim it. They also have the right to trim it as they see fit (butcher it). I would trim it myself to avoid problems.

Answer 7

No, you're not. There is a liability issue though if a limb breaks off and injures someone or damages their house. On the other hand, in most states they can legally cut off any limbs from your tree that comes onto their property.

Answer 8

not at all whatever hangs over the fence or property line is their responsibility you might wanna trim so theres no trouble

Answer 9

No, if it is over the property line, they trim it.

Answer 10

Not really, but they can trim whats on their side.