When you purchased your home, it already had a number of beautiful trees on the property. They are over 100 years old and have been there since long before you were involved – and you expect them to be there long after you’re gone. They are a fundamental part of the property and one of the reasons that you purchased it.
However, your neighbor does not see them in the same positive light. Maybe they get frustrated about leaves falling into their yard or branches overhanging their property and causing shade or even hazards. If those branches were to break off and fall on a home or a garage, they could cause significant damage. Is your neighbor allowed to trim your trees?
Up to the property line
This is a very common type of boundary dispute between neighbors. One person will want to trim the tree, and the other will tell them to stay away from their property.
In Texas, the general rule is that a person can trim trees that are on someone else’s property, but they can only do so up to the property line. If there are branches overhanging your neighbor’s garage, for instance, they can cut them back to the property line or the fence.
However, even when doing so, it is important that they do not inherently damage the tree. They must be careful to simply trim back the offending branches, but they could be liable for damage if they harm the tree so that it dies, or if they trim branches far beyond the property line, crossing onto your property to do so.
Navigating a dispute
This is just one example of a potential boundary dispute. It can be complicated to address these kinds of conflicts with neighbors, so it is important to understand your legal rights as a property owner.
