The short answer: It depends
If your tree falls on public property, the city is responsible.
Homeowners are responsible for fallen limbs or debris on their property.
Whether you maintain the health of your trees is also a factor.
Trees are an asset to any property, but they can sometimes become a liability in the event of a severe storm. Strong winds can snap branches and, in some cases, even cause trees to fall. If one of your trees or its branches falls and blocks a street or sidewalk, you can likely give the city a ring to handle the removal. However, our guide below breaks down the removal process and answers the question of who removes fallen trees from roads in different scenarios.
Your municipality is responsible for maintaining the roads and sidewalks within their limits, so they’re in charge of removing fallen trees and other debris on public property. In most cases, your city should have procedures in place that allow them to stay on top of any fallen trees or branches, but you can also contact them directly to report a problem. Once they’re aware of the debris, they’ll send a crew out to clear them and ensure all roads and sidewalks are easily accessible. Note that crews are not responsible for cleaning up or removing any debris that remains on your property.
If the tree falls only on your property, you are responsible for handling the removal process. Depending on how large the tree is or how severe the damage is, you may need to contact an arborist or a local tree removal company to take care of it. They’ll have the necessary equipment and tools to remove large limbs and cut down any remaining branches that may be a hazard to you or your home. They’ll also have the required licensing and insurance to make sure the process is handled safely and that all employees are covered in the event of an injury or accident.
In some cases, it doesn’t matter where the tree falls if it hasn’t been cared for or maintained by the owner. If there’s any documentation by a neighbor or someone else that shows your tree has been neglected and posed a risk to others, the onus could be on you to have the tree removed and pay for any damages.
The best route you can take to keep trees or heavy limbs from falling is to have your trees trimmed at least once a year by a professional tree trimming company so that they stay strong and healthy. The cost of tree trimming ranges from as low as $75 all the way up to $1,800 depending on how many trees you have, the size of each, and how complex the job is. Tree trimming helps get rid of unruly branches and prevents overgrowth, two aspects that can lead to debris falling due to the impact of a storm.
