I have some massive trees in my yard. I realized there are numerous over reaching limbs over my neighbors house, fence and property. I decide I better get them cut before a big storm comes and they get broken off and cause them damage. So I call to get an estimate. The guys were good, Treepeckers, but what they had to tell me was a bit surprising. Since all my concerns were of my trees needing trimming and causing potential damage to my neighbors, he said the neighbors are responsible for anything on/over their property line, even if the trees were mine and in my yard. It just seems wrong. He said they can't do it anyway without the neighbors being ok with them to be all over their roof and property to cut, collect and chip all the debris and wood.

It's seems weird that I'm not responsible to maintain my own trees and keep them out of others yards. According to other info i read, iits mainly bc if there is a damage issue their insurance covers it UNLESS the trees were diseased or unhealthy, or there was an attempt to trim and they refused to allow trimming.

Who knew?? 

All about property lines. 

Did you read anything about first needing permission to trim a neighbor's trees? My neighbor has 3 sweetgum trees, with those poky balls, and the branches come out over my driveway. I'm tired of stepping on them. I'm sure it's considered common courtesy to knock on the door and ask if they'd be ok with me hiring a tree service to trim back the branches some, but wondering if it's required. 

It's neighborly to inform them you will be trimming their tree but if it's on your property, it's yours now, not theirs. You don't have to tell them.

The tree guy told me the fair thing is to
Share the cost but people don't. It's a lot like the fence issue. But with tree trimming I can't hire someone to trim my tree if the cutting is going on in their yard unless they agree and give permission bc you're cutting their part of the tree.

Now if they say do it, fine, I can with their ok but if they aren't willing to also help pay, I'm not going to. 

I wouldn't worry about it ... maybe they appreciate the shade from the limbs of your tree that over-hangs their property. If they don't like it, then the tree dudes were right, it's up to them to have anything over-hanging their property cut back or trimmed. 

^ Yes, however, if the neighbors decide to clear the trees of their roof, they are only allowed to cut back those branches to the property line which leaves your branch sticking out And the sad part is you can't cut your half until they cut (or pay for) their half. That is why the price of cutting the entire limb off the tree is shared. Half is on your side on the tree, the other half (or so) is on the neighbor's side. It's a good thing and neighborly thing to do to ask them to share the cost. But they may be unaware of this odd Tree Law and not agree to it. It is the same as sharing the cost of the fence. If your neighbor won't go in on it with you, the only recourse you have is to pay for it fully yourself if you want a new fence. It's a touchy thing between neighbors. But not a problem when neighbors are neighborly with each other.