Help! My HOA is Requiring Me to Trim My Trees!

If you live in a neighborhood governed by a Homeowner Association (HOA), sometimes it’s unclear who is responsible for certain tasks related to outdoor maintenance. This is especially true when it comes to trees that straddle property lines or exist in shared areas. Sometimes your HOA will issue a formal request for your to trim or remove trees on or around your property. But do you have to comply?

Trees require regular care and pruning, otherwise they can cause significant injury or property damage. Branches can grow into power lines or nearby homes. Dead branches can fall and damage roofs or worse, strike a neighbor while they’re walking their dog. If your HOA decides you are responsible for maintaining trees near your property, you might not know where to start. The team at CFB Outdoors is here to help you determine exactly what to do.

Can a HOA Require You To Perform Tree Maintenance?

If your HOA asks you to trim your trees, it’s probably for a good reason. A HOA’s objective is to protect home values and help maintain orderly, neat appearance for the entire neighborhood. Tree maintenance is an important part of homeownership. Trees offer many benefits, but they can also be dangerous when they don’t receive proper care.

Whether or not a HOA can legally require you to perform tree maintenance ultimately depends on the terms outlined within your homeowner’s association agreement. The first step is to check the contract to ensure tree maintenance is actually your responsibility. In some instances, the HOA will be responsible for tree care, but this is ultimately contingent on the terms you agreed to when purchasing your home.

If tree care should be covered by the HOA, then you have reasonable grounds to refuse to do the work. If it’s your responsibility, then you should likely start planning to have the work done as soon as possible.

If you disagree with the policy, talk to your neighbors and plan to attend the next HOA meeting to express your concern. If you believe tree maintenance should be covered by the HOA, coordinate with your neighbors to make the change.

What To Do If You Need To Trim Your Trees

If you are responsible for tree care, then the next step is finding a qualified contractor to do the work, but this isn’t always easy. There are many tree care contractors out there who do not have the credentials or experience. Hiring an inexperienced contractor to trim your trees can be risky. If trees aren’t trimmed properly, it can lead to damage or disease that can drastically reduce the plant’s lifespan. When choosing a contractor for tree maintenance, here are five things to consider:

  • Only Hire a Certified Arborist
    An arborist is a professional that specializes in the care and removal of trees. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) standardizes the quality of tree care by offering an arborist certification program. Becoming certified requires extensive education and on-the-job experience. Arborists have the skills necessary to ensure trees are trimmed and maintained in a safe way that promotes their health and longevity.
  • Make Sure Your Contractor is Fully Licensed and Insured
    Tree work can be dangerous and accidents do happen. Make sure you’re doing business with a contractor who is licensed to operate a business and work in Florida. Also ensure your contractor is fully-insured. General liability and workers’ compensation policies are a must.
  • Check Online Reviews or Ask for Referrals
    Word-of-mouth referrals are one of the best ways to find a good tree professional. Ask friends, family, and neighbors for recommendations. Cross-reference any referrals with online reviews to ensure you’re choosing the very best.
  • Make Sure Clean-Up is Included
    Many companies offer tree care and removal, but not all of them provide clean-up services. The last thing you want is to be left with a pile of debris that you need to haul away on your own. Choose a contractor that will remove the branches and debris after the work is done.
  • Price Isn’t Everything
    You should always seek multiple quotes to ensure you’re getting the best deal. However, price isn’t always the most important factor. While it might be tempting to go with the lowest rate, this might not be the best decision. The lowest priced contractors tend to lack experience, credentials, licensed, or insurance. Make sure to balance price with skills, experience, and reputation.

While it might sound like a tempting way to save some cash, it’s important that you never attempt to trim your trees yourself unless you’re qualified to do the work. Trimming trees is very dangerous, and you can also risk damaging the tree if you don’t know what you’re doing. Your HOA may also require your tree maintenance be performed by a certified contractor.

It’s also important to make sure the work is done during the right time of year. For example, pruning trees is not recommended in the fall as freezing temperatures will stunt new growth in the winter. If your HOA is asking you to trim trees in the fall, check to see if they’ll allow you to put off the work until late winter or early spring.

Your HOA May Also Require Tree Removal

Regular tree pruning is a common part of homeownership, but sometimes trees need to be removed from your property. Removal is necessary when a tree is dying or its roots or branches are causing damage to nearby properties.

Tree removal is more expensive than tree trimming, and the process can take anywhere from a day to a week depending on the size of the tree. After the tree is removed, you’ll need to decide what to do with the stump. Not all tree removal companies offer stump removal, and it can also be an extra cost. However, tree stumps can also be hazards or eyesores, and they can attract unwanted pests. It’s important to check your HOA guidelines to see if there are requirements around stump removal.

Finding a qualified contractor is even more important when it comes to tree removal. These jobs are even more dangerous than tree trimming, and one mistake can result in significant damage to nearby properties.

How CFB Outdoors Can Assist With Tree Maintenance

If your Central Florida HOA is requiring you to perform tree maintenance or removal, CFB Outdoors can help. We’re a team of ISA-certified Arborists with decades of experience trimming and removing trees in Volusia County and surrounding areas. We own all the equipment, tools, and vehicles needed to do the job efficiently and on-schedule. 

Choose an outdoor services company that your neighbors know and trust. Give us a call at CFB Outdoors today.