can the town make someone remove a tree?

UGHHHHH... neighbors have a huge tree that is absolutely falling apart. Every storm, big or small loses some decent sized branches. We stayed up ALL night long saturday waiting for the tree to fall on our house/garage (its that big and WILL hit both).
Its a miracle that it lost only 3 small branches on our side and a decent branch on their side that did slightly damage their house.
They removed the down limbs and that is all. I am so nervous about this tree.. it has a family of squirrels that live in it, seems so hollow. My FIL walked over when they were removing the one branch and asked if they were taking the whole thing down but it was just their neighbors helping out and no one knew. Could I call the town, or even my homeowners to alert them to this? I know that if it falls on my property its my homeowners that will have to pay for it which is absurd but thats another thread. TIA

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

See my post below! It depends on the town I think, but Town of Smithtown I have learned will not get involved.

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

most likely nope its their property unless its on the front of the property near the street (most places have a 7ft rule from the street is actual town property so the town/village can remove it.)

we have tons of trees on our property and when we moved in we removed 4. I still have 7 and we did trim them all. We plan on removing two at a time every 3-4 years because the cost is overwhelming. If you offer to pay for the tree removal perhaps your neighbor will allow the tree to be removed.

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

In some township (like mine!), you need a permit to take ANY trees down. Frontyard, backyard. Does not matter! Permit is $75 per tree for us.

You can't really force your neighbor to take a tree down that does not cover over your property. And even that you can only trim if it goes into your property. You cannot force them to cut it.

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

I doubt any town would 'force' someone to remove a tree.

Tree removal is expensive and they may not have the money. Have you offered to help split the cost since the tree is a direct concern to you and your property?

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

Town will not get involved and won't cut down a healthy tree. The tree in front of our house cracked the entire sidewalk during the storm , we called the town but doubt they will chop it

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

I have asked my village to remove my "power" line trees but since its just at 7 feet from the curb they won't do it. Every village has its own rules - some won't allow you to touch a tree which I get since you want to have trees.

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

Force definitely wasnt the right word to use. I was just wondering if there were "rules" as far as a homeowners responsibility for clearly dead trees. For instance friends in Garden City got a notice when their bushes were too wide into the sidewalk, something like that. I would never want a healthy tree removed.
I dont feel I should pay to have their tree removed but if I have to I have to. I think I will have my tree guy come and cut off whatever hangs over my side and take it from there.

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

Homeowner Insurance is weird.

I have a huge nearly dead half a tree on my property. It's gonna cost some bills to remove. I'm out of work and my husband is in a precarious position job wise.

MY Homeowner Insurance will not cover anything for that tree UNLESS it falls and damages something on MY property. If it falls on my neighbors house and decimates their stuff it becomes the problem of THEIR homeowner's insurance.

We are actually having it taken down today because we don't want to see it injure anyone in the neighborhood (or our kids) - but man it would have been great if one of our neighbors offered to chip in.

It's a lot of money to even have large branches removed - is there a reason you wouldn't just ask about splitting the cost of the tree removal in it's entirety? It might actually wind up costing less than just cutting branches and paying for it on your own, it would possibly improve neighbor relations and it could potentially save you a lot more money and aggravation if the whole tree comes down on your property next time..

Message edited 9/1/2011 11:12:55 AM.

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

HO ins. is totally weird, I agree.
3 weeks ago my big beautiful front tree lost a HUGE "branch" and took my mothers car with it . thankfully she wasnt in it (though 10 minutes before both she and my DD were). Anyway we had the tree removed because it just wasnt safe at that point, so I completely understand the cost involved.
If I had tons of extra $ lying around I would love to split it or even pay for it at this point, but with just having one taken down at my house and everything else that always pops up I just dont have it and in the end do feel that its their responsibility.
Its more cost effective for me to pay for at least the removal of the branches on my side than splitting the cost of the entire removal which will certainly be $$$$.
This is a lose lose situation.
Also, they moved out on Saturday and are actually renting this house now, so I really have to find a way to get in touch with them.

Re: can the town make someone remove a tree?

Ahh! That stinks. And knowing that they don't even live there anymore and are renting almost makes it seem like they will be less inclined to do anything about it.

I really WISH homeowners would pay out on PREVENTATIVE measures!!