What is a Hazard Tree?
A “hazard tree” is a tree with structural defects likely to cause failure of all or part of the tree, which could strike a “target.” A target can be a vehicle, building, or a place where people gather such as a park bench, picnic table, street, or backyard. Because of the natural variability of trees, the severity of their defects, and the different sites upon which they grow, evaluating trees for hazardous defects can be a complex process. Inspecting trees for potential hazard liability is one of the most important components of any tree management system. Find out more information about hazard trees, hazard tree rating, and risk tree management from the USDA Forest Service Northeast Center for urban and community forestry. Urban Tree Risk Management: A Community Guide to Program Design and Implementation is now on-line at www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/uf/utrmm/.
A hazard tree is a tree with a defect, plus a target. An example is a rotten tree a hazard) by a picnic table (the target). How can I identify a hazard tree? Examples of obvious defects include a dead tree limb, the unseasonable lack of leaves, visible decay, a hole or crack in the trunk, or a tree leaning dangerously to one side.1 Trees with obvious defects can become problems, because they can fail and cause property damage or human injury. Who is responsible for damage caused by a hazard tree? A tree owner is generally responsible for damage caused by a hazard tree. A tree owner is not expected to be a tree expert, but s/he is expected to recognize obvious symptoms of a problem. The reason for concern is that pre-existing defects can predispose a tree to failure. However, some defects are not obvious to the non-expert. If the defect is not obvious, the tree owner probably will not be held responsible if the tree fails. If your neighbor’s tree falls and injures you or your property,
