Six Mile Creek CDD Policy

Subject: Policy Regarding Removal or Trimming of Trees and Brush in Preserve Areas Adjacent to Private Property

BACKGROUND:

The Six Mile Creek CDD (the “District”)/ has undeveloped preserves and common areas which are located adjacent to private property, to include lots upon which homes are built. Outlined below is general guidance regarding responsibility for maintenance of trees, brush, and other plantings on these preserve or commons areas that may encroach upon or otherwise impact private property.

POLICY

Property owners should report the following situations to the CDD to ensure timely inspection and appropriate action when a preserve or common area tree poses a threat of falling onto and damaging private property:

Tree is dead.
Tree is significantly diseased or dying.

Brush and limbs/branches of healthy trees located on preserve or common areas may encroach onto private property. In these cases, property owners may trim back brush or tree branches and limbs so they do not encroach onto their private property. In cases of preserve areas, the St. Johns River Water Management District must be consulted for any actions beyond this limited trimming.

PROCESS

Requests for inspection for removal of preserve trees should be forwarded to the District’s operations manager. After preliminary review and if warranted, the operations manager will coordinate appropriate actions to include inspection by arborist to determine health of tree and permission from SJRWMD for tree removal.

The CDD does not need to be consulted in matter of private property owners trimming back tree limbs and branches, and brush which encroach onto their property. However, property owners must be careful not to trim beyond the property line and disturb preserve areas that are intended to remain in their original state.

For property insurance reasons, it is important to report dead or dying trees before they fall and result in property damage. If not reported prior to the occurrence of damage, the cost of repairs for property damage is typically covered by the homeowner’s property insurance policy.