Whose tree is it? Right-of-way, easement and neighbor trees in Tallahassee

Short answer: it depends on where the trunk stands. A tree on your lot is yours to deal with. A dead or dangerous tree in the public right-of-way (often the strip by the street) is for the City of Tallahassee or Leon County to inspect and remove, so report it before you pay anyone. A tree in an easement sits on your land but may be handled by the County or a utility. A tree on the neighbor’s lot is the neighbor’s.

Tallahassee Tree Match is a free matching service, not a tree company, an arborist or a government office. This page summarizes public information from the City of Tallahassee, Leon County and a City urban forestry specialist. It is not legal advice, and it can’t tell you where your property line is.

Step 1: find out whose land the tree is on

Look at your survey or plat. It shows your lot lines and any recorded easements. The right-of-way often extends past the curb or road edge into what looks like your front yard, so the edge of the pavement is not the property line.
Check the public map. The City and County run a shared mapping site, Tallahassee-Leon County GIS, with property information and tools to find neighboring parcels and measure distances. Treat the map as a guide; a survey is the reliable answer.
City or County? If you are inside Tallahassee city limits, right-of-way trees on City streets go to the City. If you are in unincorporated Leon County, County roads go to Leon County Public Works.

Mapping tip from a City of Tallahassee urban forestry specialist: Tallahassee Democrat, “So whose tree is it?” (2016). That article is from 2016, so confirm contacts below on the current City and County sites.

Who handles what

Where the tree is	Who usually handles it	How to reach them
Your own lot	You (the owner). A removal may need a permit.	Hire a pro. See our permit guide.
Public right-of-way, inside City limits	City of Tallahassee street-tree crews	DigiTally app or website (business hours only)
Public County right-of-way	Leon County Public Works inspects; may remove if dead, compromised or a hazard	Citizens Connect app or 850-606-1400
County easement on private land	Leon County can inspect	Citizens Connect app or 850-606-1500
Utility easement or near power lines	The utility, mainly when the tree affects its lines	City Utilities 850-891-4968; Talquin or other utility: number on your bill
Neighbor’s lot	The neighbor	Talk to them first

Sources: Leon County Public Works FAQ; City of Tallahassee, DigiTally; City of Tallahassee Utilities, power restoration; Tallahassee Democrat (2016).

Trees in the public right-of-way

The City of Tallahassee looks after a lot of street trees. Its Urban Forest Master Plan (2018) counted about 93,000 street trees cared for by 13 arborists in what was then Community Beautification, with field crews and contractors doing pruning, removal, stump grinding and storm response. The same plan says the City’s tree care is mostly request-based, which means a problem tree often gets looked at because someone reported it. (City of Tallahassee Urban Forest Master Plan)

The City urban forestry specialist’s 2016 guidance: most governments expect owners to maintain the landscape (mowing and the like) in the right-of-way next to their lot, but removing hazardous trees there is the government’s responsibility. (Tallahassee Democrat, 2016)

Leon County says its Public Works crews can inspect a tree in a public County right-of-way and may remove it if it is a safety hazard, dead or structurally compromised. (Leon County Public Works FAQ)

Before you pay a tree company to take down a tree near the street, report it and ask whether it is public. Don’t cut, prune or remove a public tree yourself or hire someone to do it without the government’s say-so.

How to report a right-of-way tree

City of Tallahassee: use DigiTally, the City’s free non-emergency app (iOS, Android or desktop website). Add a photo and the closest address. The City says DigiTally is watched only during normal business hours, so nights, weekends and holidays wait until the next business day.
Leon County: submit a service request in the Citizens Connect app or call Public Works at 850-606-1400.
Emergencies: a tree on a power line, a downed line or anyone in danger is not a DigiTally job. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or at risk, and call City Utilities at 850-891-4968 (or your own utility). Our storm guide has the full list of numbers.

Not sure whether it is dangerous? Our warning-signs guide covers what to look for, such as dead limbs, cracks, cavities and decay.

Trees in an easement

An easement lets someone else, often a utility or the County, use part of your land for things like power lines, sewer pipes or stormwater swales. It does not make them the owner. Who maintains a tree there can be complicated. The City’s 2016 guidance was that a utility will usually act only if the tree affects, or will affect, its service, so call the utility directly. (Tallahassee Democrat, 2016)

For County easements, Leon County says that if you believe a tree in one may be a hazard, it can inspect; request that through Citizens Connect or 850-606-1500. (Leon County Public Works FAQ)

Your own service wire: City of Tallahassee Utilities says it is responsible for the wire from the pole to your house and the meter, while the homeowner is responsible for the equipment attached to the house (the meter box and weatherhead). If a tree pulls the service wire off the house, a licensed electrician repairs your side, it gets inspected, and then the City reconnects. (City of Tallahassee Utilities)

Trees on a neighbor’s lot

Talk to the neighbor first. They may not have noticed the tree is in trouble. If the lot is vacant and you can’t find the owner, the City’s 2016 guidance was to report it to Code Enforcement. (Tallahassee Democrat, 2016)

Questions about trimming overhanging branches, trees on the property line, and who pays when a neighbor’s tree falls are covered in our tree insurance guide.

Get a free tree planted by the street

Inside City limits: the City’s Adopt-A-Tree program plants up to 4 trees, 5 to 8 feet tall, in the front yard within 100 feet of the centerline of the public road, if you agree to water each tree for one year. The City says 2026/2027 applications open November 1, 2026, planting starts in December, and trees go first come, first served. This year’s species are bald cypress, American sycamore and green ash. Questions: adoptatree@talgov.com or 850-891-5450.
Outside City limits in Leon County: the County’s Adopt-A-Tree program takes applications through January 31, 2027, first come, first served. You can pick delivery only or delivery and planting, and the County will plant between your house and a publicly maintained road (or a private road with public access) if you water it three times a week for a year.

The City suggests matching the tree to its spot: think about the mature size, overhead wires, buildings and pavement. (City of Tallahassee Urban Forestry)

Questions

Who is responsible for a tree between the sidewalk and the street in Tallahassee?

That strip is usually public right-of-way. A City of Tallahassee urban forestry specialist wrote (Tallahassee Democrat, 2016) that most governments expect the property owner to maintain the landscape in the right-of-way, but removing hazardous right-of-way trees is the government’s job. Inside City limits, report it to the City (DigiTally app or website); in unincorporated Leon County, report it to Leon County Public Works.

Will Leon County remove a dead tree on the right-of-way that is leaning toward my house?

Leon County Public Works says its crews can inspect a tree in a public County right-of-way and may remove it if it is a safety hazard, dead or structurally compromised. Request an inspection through the Citizens Connect app or by calling 850-606-1400. If the tree is on private property, removal is the owner’s responsibility.

How do I report a tree problem to the City of Tallahassee?

Use DigiTally, the City’s free non-emergency service app (also available as a desktop website). The City says DigiTally is monitored only during normal business hours, so for a tree on a power line or any utility emergency call City Utilities at 850-891-4968, and call 911 if anyone is in danger.

The tree is in an easement on my property. Who handles it?

An easement gives someone else (often a utility or the County) the right to use part of your land, but the land stays yours. Leon County says that if you think a tree in a County easement may be a hazard, it can inspect; request that through Citizens Connect or 850-606-1500. For utility easements, the City’s 2016 guidance was that the utility usually acts only if the tree affects its lines or pipes, so call the utility directly.

My neighbor’s dead tree could fall on my house. What can I do?

Start by talking to the neighbor; they may not have noticed the tree is failing. If the lot is vacant and you can’t find the owner, the City’s 2016 guidance was to report it to Code Enforcement. Who pays if it falls depends on whether the owner knew or should have known it was dangerous; see our insurance guide for the details.

Can I get a free tree planted near the street?

Yes, if you qualify. The City’s Adopt-A-Tree program plants up to 4 trees in the front yard of eligible homeowners inside City limits, within 100 feet of the road centerline, if you water them for a year (2026/2027 applications open November 1, 2026). Leon County’s program serves residents outside City limits, takes applications through January 31, 2027, and asks you to water three times a week for one year.

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