Cutting down and removing a tree may at times be necessary for safety reasons.
When this happens, homeowners in Ottawa may question whether or not trees on the boundaries of their property lines are their responsibility or if they are the responsibility of the City of Ottawa.
Since tree removal can involve a lot of effort and incur a large expense, it’s important to have clarity on situations where the city can be responsible for providing the tree services.
Where is the tree located?
Trees fully located on private property are the responsibility of the property owner.
However, when a tree is located on the boundary of a property or if parts of it are overhanging onto city property, it is possible to make a request to determine ownership. This can be the case for trees that are close to city streets or trees that are the border of city parks.
Use the following link to place the request with the City of Ottawa:
Link: Submit a Request to have a Forestry Inspector determine ownership of a tree
Complete the form in full and you will receive a response with more clarity around the ownership of the tree.
What happens if the city of Ottawa is responsible for the tree?
If the tree is determined to be on city property, the Forestry Services in the City is the department with responsibility for maintaining trees in parks, near roads, and in municipal woodlots.
If a tree or branches are reported dead or hazardous, the Forestry Services will come on-site to examine and potentially remove the tree.
Got any more questions?
If so, ask us here directly at VS Tree, Ottawa’s tree services company any questions you may have. Or if you simply want to get started with a project, reach out to us today!
