Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal?

A fallen tree can pose many hazards, especially if it's a large tree. There's the risk that the branches may cause damage or personal injury, and there may be a need to have the fallen tree removed promptly.

However, there is the question of who should be responsible for removal after a tree falls. You may wonder whether you, your neighbor, or the property's owner should bear responsibility.

Read on to know who is responsible for fallen tree removal. You can also read up on the risks of dead or falling trees and learn who's responsible when a tree falls on the road. To wrap things up, we will cover the tree care responsibilities of tree owners. Let's dive in!

Risks of Dead or Falling trees

• Falling trees kill quite a number of people every year.
• Those who fail to promptly deal with a dead or falling tree risk being injured by falling branches.
• Fallen trees can put pressure on power lines, leading to electrical shocks, electrical fires, and other hazards.
• Precarious dead trees can cause severe property damage. For example, they can cause storm damage and also threaten lives.
• A safety tip is quickly evacuating the area and calling 911 for injury treatments if a tree falls on your property.
• Maintain a safe distance if a tree falls on power lines. You can also contact your local power company.

Who is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal?

You may or may not have to worry about who bears the costs of damage caused by a fallen tree. However, determining who is responsible for fallen tree removal is usually in your best interest.

This is because of the potential safety hazards that a fallen tree can pose. Here are some things to consider as you determine who is responsible for having a fallen tree removed.

Whose fallen tree is it?

Determining who the fallen tree belongs to may not be so apparent if you have close-boundary neighbors.

When it's a neighboring tree

A tree belongs to your neighbor if the trunk has its roots within the boundary of their property. Therefore, the responsibility for tree removal will rest on your neighbor if your neighbor's tree falls on your property.

When it's shared with a neighboring property

You may have a shared or common tree with your neighbor. This is if the tree trunk grows right on property lines or between both properties. Therefore, the responsibility for tree removal is a shared one between you and your neighbor.

When are you responsible for removal?

Trees with trunks that grow within your property (within the property's boundary lines) are considered yours. This is applicable no matter how the tree grows onto another property. Trees with trunks that have roots on your land are your property. You are, therefore, responsible for having the tree removed.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Falls?

A home insurance company can cover the costs of having a fallen tree removed from your property. However, such a possibility is affected by the following factors.

If the tree fell from natural causes

Your homeowner's insurance is more likely to cover the cost of damage and removal if the tree fell due to natural circumstances. The insurance coverage maybe 50% (with the other 50% coming from your neighbor's insurance coverage) if the damage is to a shared fence.

If the tree fell from poor tree care

It is less likely that your homeowner's insurance will cover fallen tree removal costs if the tree fell due to lack of care or negligence.

When a Neighbors Trees Falls Unavoidably

The responsibility for removing a fallen tree when your neighbors' trees fall onto your property is often straightforward. Your homeowner's insurance will likely only cover the costs related to the aftermath if unavoidable circumstances cause a tree from your neighbor's property to fall onto yours.

However, your neighbor bears the responsibility for removal if the tree falls directly onto your property and the cause is due to their negligence. They can be held liable for associated costs and damages.

When Your Tree Falls on the Road

The responsibility for fallen tree removal rests on you if your tree has fallen on the road, which is your private roadway. City authorities usually recommend that you use certified arborists when removing the tree.

A state or local municipality removes fallen trees from roads, such as state roads or town roads, that they are responsible for maintaining. Local governments can also preserve roads in cities.

When Trees on Public Land Falls on Your Property

If a tree from a public land, such as a park, falls on your property, the responsibility for its removal falls on community officials. However, your homeowner insurance may have to cover the costs of fixing related damages.

Can I Have a Fallen Tree Removed Myself?

Professional arborists are trained on tree risks and have the licensing and specialized equipment for safe and effective tree removal. You shouldn't attempt a DIY fallen tree removal for safety reasons. Moreover, you may be held liable legally for damages and injuries resulting from removing, transporting, or disposing of the tree.

Tree Owner Tree Care Responsibilities

You are a tree owner if you have a tree that sits entirely on your property. You are, therefore, responsible for maintaining or removing it when needed. It is best to seek the services of certified arborists if you need to have a tree removed. Here are other services that professional arborists can help you with regarding tree care.

Identifying diseased or dangerous trees

You must quickly spot and manage diseased, dying, or dangerous trees on your property.

Planting trees away from property lines

As a tree owner, you can prevent disputes by not planting trees on your property line. If you, however, do decide to plant a tree on property lines, you can seek your neighbor's permission. Any tree that shares property lines with the neighboring property is often regarded as a shared or common tree.

Tree trimmings

It is the responsibility of tree owners to remove a tree if the tree falls. Likewise, tree owners have to foot the cost of tree trimmings if such trimmings are needed for safety or landscaping reasons.

Tree maintenance

Tree owners and property owners are responsible for maintaining the foliage on a property. In other words, as a tree owner, you are responsible for performing tree care activities, including tree pruning and tree maintenance.

In addition, it is your legal responsibility to trim branches and maintain public land safety if your front yard tree has branches that are growing over the sidewalk. In other words, you are typically responsible for maintaining the public space and sidewalk in front of your property.

Your home insurance company typically considers it your responsibility to remove dead, rotted, or diseased trees yourself as a property maintenance routine. They will, therefore, not be so likely to pay for tree removal or cleanup if such a tree falls on your property.

Contact a Tree Service for Tree Removal

After reading this post on who is responsible for fallen tree removal, you now know who removes fallen trees. This post explored various scenarios, such as when it's a neighboring tree when your tree falls on the road, and when a tree on public land falls on your property.

The process of fallen tree removal can be complicated and tasking. It is not something you should take lightly or attempt to do yourself. A professional tree service company can provide comprehensive tree removal services.

This can include stump grinding and stump removal services. However, be sure to check that they have the proper credentials and memberships. They should, for example, be members of the Tree Care Industry Association, which is an indication that they follow current safety procedures.