HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 694        FILED ON: 1/27/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1653

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bradford Hill

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to tree damage.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 694        FILED ON: 1/27/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1653

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to tree damage.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 242 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after Section 7B the following new section:-

Section 7C. Any tree located on a homeowners property, with said tree’s base or height located within falling distance of the immediate abutter’s property line, the abutting neighbor may require that the tree’s owner remove said tree or abutting branches of said tree.

Such trees may only be removed provided that the request comes from the abutting neighbor whose property or personal wellbeing are in immediate or future danger from the fall of the tree after the examination and determination of a licensed arborist that the tree is likely to be in danger of falling. The objecting abutter must notify the tree owner of the their request to remove said tree and the owner must comply after the determination of the licensed arborist and shall be held responsible for 100 per cent of the tree removal costs.