PERU – You may own the trees on your property if you live in Peru, but the branches hanging over into your neighbor’s yard? Those aren’t yours anymore.
Peru City Council last week approved an ordinance amendment that gives neighbors the right to cut off branches and limbs hanging over their property line.
The amendment adds in total four new rules to the original tree and shrub ordinance, which hasn’t been updated in 70 years, said Dennis See, the city’s zoning and code enforcement officer.
The ordinance now also stipulates owners of fruit trees own the fruit if it’s on the branches, but it belongs to the neighbor if it falls onto their property.
Neighbors still have the option to cut the fruit-tree branches off, though, if they extend across their property line.
Residents can’t do much when it comes to leaves. If a tree owner has leaves that blow over into a neighbor’s yard, the leaves are the responsibility of the neighbor and not the tree owner.
“Leaves that blow into your yard, that’s like an act of God,” See said. “They’re your leaves if they’re there.”
The final amendment to the ordinance says if a tree trunk is divided by the property lines of two or more residents, all the property owners own the tree and share responsibility for it.
See said all the additions to city’s tree and shrub ordinance address concerns he’s had to deal with in the last 18 months.
People who violate the ordinance could face a fine up to $50.