Well I cant site specific case law, but I asked my attorney about this last year and he told me I had the right to trim trees that over hang my property. Especially if they are hazardous to my house or property. I know that doesnt tell you much. Do you not have a good relationship with your neighbor to where you could trim what you wanted or are you trying to force them to trim them?
Your property line goes vertical upward into the sky essentially. (With exceptions for Easements) Ending at a height beyond any likely tree is the common law standard as well as in Oklahoma.
They are not hazardous to my property but have become a real nuisance from what they drop on my property and the amount of time I spend cleaning up what they drop. Some are pine trees that drop sap where I can not park a car on my driveway without it getting covered in pine needles and tree sap. My relationship with them has deteriorated over the years because they don't maintain their property like I do and I feel it hurts the value of mine. Everytime I trim some on their trees the wife comes out and tells me they planted them to provide shade and not to trim them much. I feel like they should keep them trimmed and bear the cost of keeping them trimmed. And I'm actually in Warr Acres if that matters.
I know that when the utility companies trim trees... along the utility easements, they can legally cut a tree all the way to the ground if they wanted too... but to keep the home owners happy and the complaints down... they usually just give them a good pruning to get branched out of the lines for a few yrs and tell the home owner that the tree is why they are without power a lot of times.
Now for private property, you the home owner can trim trees to the property line. Same for people whose neighbor has Ivy or trumpet vines growing on their privacy or chain link fence... you can trim what is on your side of the fence.
But for peace of mind... you could call your local Code Enforcement office and get the official 411.
Now for private property, you the home owner can trim trees to the property line. Same for people whose neighbor has Ivy or trumpet vines growing on their privacy or chain link fence... you can trim what is on your side of the fence.
But for peace of mind... you could call your local Code Enforcement office and get the official 411.
Or.......rent you small bucket truck and have a fit. It just depends on much of legal battle you are willing to assume, right or wrong you will have to defend your actions. Negotiate as much as you can, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.
Can I have them trimmed and send them the bill? Some of the trees are so tall I can not get to the branches to cut them back. I imagine that would involve some kind of legal remedy. I guess I feel they should be responsible for keeping their trees trimmed back so they are not a nuisance to me. What are people thinking when they plant a tree 1 or 2 feet from their property line?
Nope. It's on your dime. Now, if there tree becomes a hazardous condition, different story. Tough to prove unless it falls on your house though.
As others have said if it hangs over on your property its yours to do with as you please. i remember my parents having the same issue with a neighbor back when i was growing up in the village.
