A homeowner in San Francisco who trimmed five trees in an attempt to secure property insurance has been ordered to pay $50,000 in fines by city officials.
Paul Dennes, whose family has owned the house in the city’s Panhandle neighborhood since 1988, said he carried out the work to satisfy a requirement from his insurance broker. He sought to clear branches that were touching the building and interfering with overhead power lines.
“I got an email from my broker saying in order for you to qualify for insurance you need to trim the trees so many feet from the property,” Dennes told ABC News. “I’ve never seen the city trim these trees, never!”…