[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

I think if you do a quick search on the Internet you will find you have every right to trim back branches UP TO THE property line.

Of course there are some odd rules (IMO) w.r.t. Oaks around here, so best to reach out to the owner of the tree. As a neighbor it is best to reach out anyway I suppose before hacking up the tree...

I wish you were my neighbor, I would have you take down the oak in my postage stamp front yard while I am away

I know that I'm allowed to cut anything that overhangs my property, but I thought I would ask because as you point out these trees are considered sacred around these parts. I don't think that they belong on private property. They are fine in parks etc, but no one should be allowed to have one in their yard front or back.
I actually hesitated in buying this house because of that tree, but it's in a yard diagonally across from my back yard and only about 10% of the canopy is over my property. But it still drops crap on my lawn and lanai and I was almost seriously injured while mowing my lawn. I was also told by a tree expert that I should be prepared to have squirrels under my roof if it's not trimmed back.