Florida Lawmakers Consider Shifting Liability for Fallen Trees
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida legislature is considering a bill that would significantly alter property owners’ responsibilities when trees fall and cause damage. Under current law, Florida operates under a “no-fault” system, meaning that if a tree from your neighbor’s property falls onto yours and causes damage, the responsibility for repairs typically falls on you.
The “Fallen Tree Act”
The proposed “Fallen Tree Act” seeks to change this. If passed, the bill would make the owner of the property from which a tree originates liable for damages caused by that tree. The law would not apply to those with more than five acres of land.