My neighbor's tree fell on my property. Who pays?
The Louisiana Department of Insurance says that if your neighbor's healthy tree falls on your home, fence, or other property, your insurance company pays to repair the damage. It says the neighbor's insurer would probably pay only if the tree was dead or weakened and the owner should have known. Ask your own insurer.
Emergency tree removal after a neighbor's tree hits your property is a claim question for your insurer.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance, in its post-disaster guide, says: "If your neighbor's healthy tree falls on your home, fence or other property, it is your insurance company's responsibility to pay for repairing the damage."
It also says: "Your neighbor's insurer would probably only accept liability and pay for the damage if the tree was dead or weakened in such a way that the owner should have known it was dangerous before it fell."
Ask your own insurer.
A tree fell on the house. Here is the order to follow. still starts with the wire, the photos, and your insurer. Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal? is the removal question.
Who pays is separate from a city permit. In Tallahassee, a tree permit can still apply to the cutting. Do I need a permit to remove a tree? lines up the four city rules we could source.
Sources
Where our facts come from
How this page was checked
- Licensed professional
- None. No licensed arborist or tree contractor has checked this page.
Ask a crew about the tree
A partner tree crew can call about the tree on the house. Asking is free, and the call does not hire them. If the tree is on a power line, call 911 or the utility before you ask a crew to come.