Many homeowners across the Twin Cities metro are looking at branches, trees or other storm debris from the last two nights.
MINNEAPOLIS — After two days of intense storms, plenty of Minnesotans are looking at a downed tree.
While it’s a disappointment for your landscape, it can also be a disappointment to your wallet.
And what if your neighbor’s tree falls on your house? Who’s responsible?
Your responsibility
If a healthy tree falls during a storm, it becomes the responsibility of the property owner where it lands. So if your neighbor’s healthy tree falls on your yard, it’s your responsibility to clean it up and pay for the damages.
Homeowners insurance will typically cover storm damage like fallen trees or wind damage, but you have to check your policy to see what types of damage and how much of the cost could be covered.
If you have branches or other debris in your yard in Minneapolis, the city will pick it up for free between April 7 and Nov. 29. You must put yard waste in reusable containers, compostable bags or in bundles secured with string or twine for the city to pick it up.
Minneapolis garbage collectors will pick up the waste on your usual trash pickup day. Click here for more information about yard waste rules in the city.
The city’s responsibility
The city is responsible for trees and debris on public lands, like boulevards, roads and parks. If you have storm debris blocking roads near you, you can call 311 or the forestry line at 612-313-7710 to report it.
Your neighbor’s responsibility
If a tree is diseased, unhealthy or dying, it is the tree owner’s responsibility to pay for it if it falls in another person’s yard.
On SuperLawyers.com, attorney Judy Malmon advises that you get any trees checked out by a professional service if you think it might be diseased or dying. Malmon said it can be difficult to prove in court whether someone knew about a diseased tree before it fell, so it is best to take preventative measures and address any diseased trees before disaster strikes.