Ohio Revised Code 901.51 imposes treble damages statewide on anyone who recklessly cuts, injures, or destroys trees, shrubs, or vines on another's property without consent.
ORC 901.51 applies uniformly across Ohio and creates civil liability of three times the value of the tree or vegetation destroyed. The statute also creates a fourth-degree misdemeanor criminal penalty. It applies whether the trespasser is a neighbor, contractor, or utility worker who exceeds authorized scope. Local tree-trimming ordinances cannot reduce these statewide damages. Boundary tree disputes typically apply this statute when one neighbor unilaterally removes a shared tree.
Treble damages plus fourth-degree misdemeanor criminal charges and restitution costs.
See how Heath's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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