City law demands safety of vegetation, the law is written so action can be taken against people who have hazardous trees.
In this case the tree poses a serious threat to pedestrians and the neighbour. A reasonable person would have attended to the tree, but to leave hazards that affect others lives and put them at risk is unreasonable.
There is no law against putting flyers in peoples boxes or talking with them, this isn't Russia 30 years ago.
The home-owner is way out of line, and regardless of local law there is State law of private nuisance and neglegence anyway.
However if your dead tree is in the middle of your 10 acre paddock and not effecting anyone that is entirely different. |