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Trimming Trees in Massachusetts

By Doug Cornelius

After this latest snowstorm in Boston, I had to drag some fallen limbs into my compost pit. I thought this would be a good time to post on Massachusetts law on trimming your neighbor's trees.A neighbor may remove branches extending over a shared property line onto his or her own property. See, e.g., Levine v. Black, 312 Mass. 242 (1942); Michalson v. Nutting, 275 Mass. 232 at 233-234 (1931). Also, the neighbor has no liability for roots growing into your yard and causing damage. The ability to cut back limbs and roots is limited by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 87, § 11 that provides: "Whoever wilfully, maliciously or wantonly cuts, destroys or injures a tree, shrub or growth which is not his own, standing for any useful purpose, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars...continue to full post

Full post as published by Real Estate Space on January 11, 2008 (boomark / email).