We have 2 large maple trees that are about 27 years old that provide a lot of privacy in our back yard but about half of the trees branches grow over our fence into our previous neighbor property, which they never complained about. A developer plans to build about 20 cookie cutter homes and we are concerned with how much the trees could be cut. First picture is the view looking out our back yard and the following 2 shows how much the branches overhangs into the property. My understanding looking at the lot is the house would be about 5 to 10 feet close to our and neighbors fence line.
by Chilly-Willy808
5 Comments
In most places they can trim back anything that’s on their side of the fence.
Great illustration of why you shouldn’t plant trees right on your property line. So many people still do it though. It’s almost like they don’t think they’ll ever get bigger.
Get a survey and move that fence as close to the line as you are legally allowed. They can cut straight up from it.
Could you maybe try talking to the developers or reaching out to see if your maples won’t be harmed?
In most places in the US, neighbors can trim whatever is hanging over their lot – as long as it doesn’t kill the tree. So it may be a good idea to confirm that’s the case where you are, and then to formally let the developer know that it’s not okay for them to cut so much that they harm the trees.
We live in an area where there is a housing shortage, but lots of land around that’s not zoned for housing. So when land is available, developers are building higher end condos, instead of single family homes. And it’s almost impossible to find an affordable single family home on a quarter acre lot.
So while it’s always hard to see open space developed, it’s not necessarily a bad thing to have more homes for people who need them.