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Patch reader Mike writes: "My neighbor would like to trim a portion of a tree on my property that hangs over his home. How does this work?"
To answer Mike's question, Patch called Royal Oak's Department of Public Service. We were told a resident can draw an imaginary vertical line from the fence line and remove and dispose of branches that physically extend onto his or her property, provided it does not kill or injure the tree. The person trimming the tree is responsible for the disposal of branches. (He or she cannot throw trimmed materials over the fence, for example.)
The rights of property owners are always hotly debated, so it's probably a good idea to consult an appropriate professional and talk to your neighbor about the situation before grabbing your loppers.
To answer Mike's question, Patch called Royal Oak's Department of Public Service. We were told a resident can draw an imaginary vertical line from the fence line and remove and dispose of branches that physically extend onto his or her property, provided it does not kill or injure the tree. The person trimming the tree is responsible for the disposal of branches. (He or she cannot throw trimmed materials over the fence, for example.)
The rights of property owners are always hotly debated, so it's probably a good idea to consult an appropriate professional and talk to your neighbor about the situation before grabbing your loppers.
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