You are proud of your trees in the garden, aren’t you? It gave you a lot of work, from a seedling to a majestic beauty, which is now admired not only by passers-by, but also by yourself. Trees add character to the garden and you are sensitive when someone wants to harm them. But watch out for tangles with the authorities or neighbors. Why?
You may have never thought about it, but if your tree and its branches extend onto the neighboring property, it can mean inconvenience and even a hefty fine. According to the law, every tree owner is responsible for ensuring that its branches or roots do not cause problems.
Try to imagine that the branches of your tree start to shade the neighbor’s garden or the roots disturb his flower bed. In such a case, your neighbor has the right to ask you for a remedy. And what if you don’t? The law allows the neighbor to remove the branches himself. However, they must proceed carefully and preferably during the vegetative rest period from November to March.
You should be especially vigilant if trees are growing near power lines. The laws stipulate the so-called protective zones. This is the minimum distance between conductors and vegetation. For example, for low voltage it is one meter, but for very high voltage it is twelve meters. Failure to follow these rules can not only have legal consequences, but also cause dangerous situations such as power outages or even fire.
A foreign element is cutting your branches
When the branches of a tree extend into the buffer zone, the electricity distributors can come to your property and perform the necessary trimming themselves. And believe me, they will do it without having to ask you. Nevertheless, the responsibility for the condition of the trees always lies with the owner. The fine for neglect of care can reach up to 100,000 crowns. That’s not a small amount.
To avoid these problems, it is recommended to plant trees at a sufficient distance from the property line. The ideal spacing is at least three meters for taller trees and a meter and a half for lower ones. Also consider that even if the tree looks harmless today, in a few years it may have much longer branches. Prevention is always easier than resolving disputes later.
What about the fallen fruit? What falls on your property is legally yours, even if it comes from a neighbor’s tree. But beware, if you wanted to brush the fruit directly from the branches, it would be theft. So it is better to ask the neighbor for permission and avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Branches or fruit, try to deal with the situation calmly. Agree with your neighbor how to proceed. Just remember that the solution must be considerate not only to the neighbor, but also to the trees.
Source: drevostavitel.cz, ireceptar.cz, pravniprostor.cz, techsvet.cz
