[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]Be forwarned: what I'm about to say will not help anyone.
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When several hurricanes passed through Florida, they became tropical storms that passed through Atlanta. Result: tree-removal companies had a "windfall" profit.
Anyway, a very tall tree behind my house snapped at the base and was threatening my roof. It was on someone else's property. After getting no response from the land-owner, I called Dekalb County Code Enforcement (Police.)
Friday (as I started a "vacation-at-home") I found a note on my door from Dekalb County. They had been out to check out my problem. Result: I got cited. If I didn't remove the tree
myself within 10 days, I'd have to pay a $1000 fine.
I called Code Enforcement. The citing officer said,
"It doesn't matter that the tree is not on your property. It's your problem." Thanks...a lot.
Let me get this straight: a neighbor's tree is about to fall on my house. If I don't save my own house from my neighbor's tree, I have to pay $1000. Ok, I think I got it, now.
We pay for these folks groceries. Shouldn't they be protecting us?
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What the city makes you do is one thing, but if you DO pay to take the tree down, or even do it yourself, take the landowner to small claims court and see if you can recoup the expense. Find out how much it would cost to have someone take it down, and claim that, if you do it yourself.