I live in Fairfax County Virginia - with a large oak tree whose
branches extend into my neighbors yard (the branches block sunlight and he
wants to grow grass.  I understand that my neighbor has a right to cut
the branches down - but who is responsible for paying for the cost of
cutting down the branches?

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Request for Question Clarification by landog-ga on 02 Aug 2005 13:27 PDT

Please look at the following answer:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=404228

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Clarification of Question by treequest-ga on 03 Aug 2005 07:21 PDT

Hello Landog, I'm new to google answers and can't determine what
exactly needs clarification.  However, based on the historical answers
to this general subject I can say that I am looking for an answer
specific to Fairfax County, Virginia or Virginia if applicable.  Also,
we are talking about 4 branches here. Thanks.

Hi from your question the most obvious conclusion for this problem
which i can draw is that it is your responsibility to pay for the cost
of cutting down the branches as the tree is  on your land.but the
other solution to this would be that both of u share the cost of
cutting down the branches.Please note i'm not a legal expert what i
have expressed here is my own view of the solution to the problem.

Treequest,
I think you understand correctly, that your neighbor may, and if he
wants to, you have to let him  - if he stays on his side of the fence
-  and he has to pay for what he does.
On the linked question, I didn't understand which text was verbatim
from New Zealand law, but it doesn't seem to matter.  In Germany, the
law is very similar.

The easiest way to get the absolute answer in Fairfax County is to
call the county office.
Myoarin

The neighbor can cut that part of the branch which is over his
property.  The caveat here is that in doing so he can't harm the tree
to the extent that it would die.  Anything you can workout with your
neighbor, e.g. splitting the cost to have it done professionaly, would
be useful.