Trees are valuable for a variety of reasons. Homeowners in Georgia may have an emotional investment in a tree if they planted it. Beyond that, the tree can add value to the property as a source of future revenue. It can also reduce cooling costs during the summer and add to the overall attractiveness of the property.
Typically, trees on real property belong to whoever owns that land. The property owner can decide what to do with trees, including cutting them down or trimming them back. Power companies often trim trees by claiming they present a danger to electrical supply lines. Companies engaged in billboard advertising can also trim trees if their growth affects the visibility of billboard advertisements. Unfortunately, trimming trees on residential parcels can cause several different financial losses for a property owner. The following are the most common.
Trimming can kill or devalue trees
The most obvious issue with tree trimming is that it could ultimately kill a tree. Sometimes, removing a limb could be enough to introduce a fungus or pest to the tree that might ultimately kill it. Other times, repeated trimming efforts may diminish the foliage of a tree to a point where it can no longer survive. Not only does the homeowner need to address the removal of the tree, but their property value may drop because the tree died or now looks unattractive and lopsided.
Trimming can damage to the surrounding terrain
Tree trimming often involves specialized equipment, including heavy trucks. When the companies hired to trim tree branches are not cautious in how they approach the process, they could dig up the grass nearby or cause damage to other valuable plant life. Homeowners may then have unsightly tire tracks marking up their front yards that they have to pay to fill in with new topsoil. They may also need to invest in replacement grass, which can be quite costly depending on what currently grows in their yard and the time of year when the incident occurs.
The owner may need to dispose of branches
Companies that come through and trim trees often simply cut branches and limbs and then leave them in the yard. Homeowners may need to pay to have them hauled away or rent equipment to convert the downed branches and limbs into wood chips. Failing to do so in a timely manner could potentially lead to fines depending on where someone lives and local community standards.
Property owners do have rights even when outside parties may theoretically have the option of trimming tree branches. They could challenge the allegation that certain branches pose a threat to power lines or affect the visibility of a billboard. They could also ask to be present when trimming occurs or seek reimbursement for damages caused by the trimming.
Learning about the laws that apply to tree trimming near power lines in Georgia can help people assert their basic property rights. The decision to take legal action could be a reasonable response to improper tree trimming that generates costs or damages property values.
