I came home from a trip 2 weeks ago and broke my ac shroud on a low branch that I just could not avoid. That was a $200 hit. Now 2 weeks later and the trees have filled out and there are a number of low hanging branches in my path out of development. My front ac is at 13foot 5 inches in height.At the moment I feel like I am stuck at home.Anyone have any suggestions?I don't believe the township will do anything about this.thanks Update...I did call the township DPW and finally got a call back. They are more accommodating than they were some years ago. They did a drive by and acknowledged some low hanging branches in the street and said they would get to it this summer.I hope it's sooner rather than later but at least they will take care of it.I think it's now a waiting for this to be done.

They should cut the tree limbs back to meet clearance on the street. Should be 16 foot minimum and should be 19-foot clearance. You should be able to file a TORT claim for damages!

First thing to do is contact your township, explain the problem, and ask if they will trim those limbs. Might be surprised. Might not.

They should trim them and you should file a claim for the damages.

IF, enblethen, New Jersey allows tort claims against a town for low clearance trees and IF the tree is owned by the town.

This is like answering an auto insurance question for someone in Hawaii when you live in Maine. What township governments can and can't do is regulated by the individual state. As an example, here a township can trim a tree on private property but only at the right of way line if it's a township road. The township had to pass and publish a specific ordinance per state code. No ordinance and they open themselves up to a potential lawsuit from the property/tree owner. The township can't do anything if it's a state or county road in the township ordinance or not. How about a midnight walk with a cordless polesaw?

Low tree branches in my development ..Update | Good Sam Community

enblethen
Nomad
Jun 15, 2022
They should cut the tree limbs back to meet clearance on the street. Should be 16 foot minimum and should be 19-foot clearance. You should be able to file a TORT claim for damages!
BB_TX
Nomad
Jun 16, 2022
First thing to do is contact your township, explain the problem, and ask if they will trim those limbs. Might be surprised. Might not.
msmith1_wa
Explorer
Jun 16, 2022
They should trim them and you should file a claim for the damages.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 16, 2022
IF, enblethen, New Jersey allows tort claims against a town for low clearance trees and IF the tree is owned by the town.
PButler96
Explorer
Jun 16, 2022
This is like answering an auto insurance question for someone in Hawaii when you live in Maine. What township governments can and can't do is regulated by the individual state. As an example, here a township can trim a tree on private property but only at the right of way line if it's a township road. The township had to pass and publish a specific ordinance per state code. No ordinance and they open themselves up to a potential lawsuit from the property/tree owner. The township can't do anything if it's a state or county road in the township ordinance or not.

How about a midnight walk with a cordless polesaw?
enblethen
Nomad
Jun 16, 2022
There are federal regulations for clearances.
PButler96
Explorer
Jun 16, 2022
enblethen wrote:
There are federal regulations for clearances.

For a township road in NJ? Perhaps the OP should call Joe Biden and ask him to send someone over with a chainsaw?

We have a railroad bridge a few miles away from home that the clearance is 10'-6", you drive a 1/2 mile on the same road and go under the same railroad line and that clearance is 9'-0". Not sure how the Feds look at that.
snowpeke
Explorer
Jun 16, 2022
I live on a road about 1/2 mile from the main road. With about thirty homes on it. So I got a fiberglass pruning poll and walked the whole road and trimmed them. A little work but now no problems!
QCMan
Nomad III
Jun 16, 2022
Twice a year the wife and I go down our road and trim the branches. We only need 12' but if we needed 14 we would still do it. In nine years we have not had any complaints. At first a pole lopper would work but we are up to a ladder in the pickup bed and a chain saw. We are lucky that there is not a lot of traffic.
nickthehunter
Nomad II
Jun 16, 2022
enblethen wrote:
There are federal regulations for clearances.
maybe you should post a link to them; that would probably be tremendously. Helpful to the OP.