Maine state law: tree trimming and boundary-line branches

The Maine Revised Statutes contain no statewide tree-trimming permit for private property outside the Shoreland Zone (where 38 MRS § 439-A constrains all cutting within the 75-foot buffer from protected waters). Two limited state-law contexts apply: (1) Utility vegetation management — investor-owned electric utilities (Central Maine Power, Versant Power) and electric cooperatives operate Vegetation Management Plans filed with the Maine Public Utilities Commission under Title 35-A and Chapter 360 (Standards for Electric Service); routine line-clearance pruning is performed under ANSI A300 (Part 1) standards with notice-to-property-owner protocols. (2) Boundary-line trees — Maine common law allows an adjoining property owner to trim back overhanging branches and intruding roots to the property line under the self-help rule, provided the underlying tree is not damaged; intentional damage to a neighbor's tree can trigger treble-damage liability under 14 MRS § 7552 (Trespass / damage to trees). Public street-tree pruning requires a municipal forestry permit in most Maine cities (Portland Public Works Tree Ordinance).

Damaging a neighbor's tree on their side of the line: treble damages plus reasonable attorney's fees under 14 MRS § 7552. Shoreland buffer cutting violation: DEP/CEO enforcement up to $25,000/day under 38 MRS § 439-A. Unpermitted public-tree pruning: municipal forestry citation.