A neighbor’s tree may offer shade in the summer and color in the fall, but those same leaves can bring tension once they start to drop. Many Massachusetts homeowners ask the same question each year: who carries the responsibility to rake, bag, or mulch what the wind delivers?
The answer, surprisingly, has little to do with who planted the tree. Local norms and long-standing legal principles guide how leaf cleanup is viewed — and the rules tend to be straightforward once understood.
1. You Own Your Own Cleanup
Massachusetts law follows a simple principle: property owners are responsible for maintaining their own land, regardless of where debris originates. Leaves that fall from a neighbor’s tree onto your property become your responsibility once they land.
Courts have consistently ruled that natural leaf fall is not considered a nuisance or trespass. Your neighbor isn’t legally required to rake your yard or pay for cleanup services, even if their large oak tree drops thousands of leaves on your lawn each fall.
2. Overhanging Branches Give You Rights
Property owners in Massachusetts have the legal right to trim branches that hang over their property line. This includes branches from a neighbor’s tree that extend into your airspace…