Don't let the City find you taking down a healthy tree. They may fine you.

As for the root problem, the City will shave the roots for no charge. The catch is that you have to remove & then replace the concrete.

I suspect a shady tree lined street raises property values far more than the cost of maintaining the sidewalk. I've heard half the problem is poorly chosen shallow rooted species. Did anyone notice the randomness of the trees planted on at the corner of Monmouth & 12th? Fruiting dwarf cherries & pears, ginkos, and a variety of maples. It's like whatever the contractor had sitting around.

The City feels it has the right to plant trees on sidewalks. The City contends that homeowners own their sidewalks, and are responsible not only for clearing snow, but also for accidents outside homeowners sidewalks. A casual walk around DT JC, would show that there are a huge number of broken sidewalk paving stones, down to tree roots.

Some countries have laws against planting trees closer than 20-30 feet from buildings. Jersey City seems happy to rip up sidewalks, plant trees, without any consideration to the folks that actually own adjacent properties.

Bummer.

By similar logic. If the City plants a tree on my section of sidewalk that I have to keep clear of snow, can I chainsaw it, if I think the roots will destroy my sidewalk and house foundation?

Hate to tell you this but they weren't lying to you. Whatever hangs over your side of the fence is yours.

It's your responsibility. Usually you hear complaints going the other way, meaning people cutting trees that hang over their property when the roots are in another yard. You'll have to hire somebody to cut them if you don't want to do it yourself. Both of my neighbors have awful mulberry trees that drop hundreds of berries into my yard that wind up staining everything as they rot away. This year I got a 20 foot ladder and hacked away every single branch that was hanging over my yard regardless of how it might affect the trees' health.

My yard borders a group of Section 8 houses. Today, they trimmed their backyard trees with a cherry picker -- all the long branches facing their houses -- and left all the stuff hanging over my yard and every other yard not part of their property. The trees are really really tall. My neighbor asked what gives? The response - 'we're not allowed to touch what's not on our property.'

Really? They can't trim their own trees? I certainly can't reach them. Does anyone know the owners' responsibilities in this sort of circumstance?