Tree touching power lines in Manitoba, Canada: who is responsible

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It describes the utility's own pages. Other Canadian provinces have their own utilities and rules, and none is covered here.

Who is responsible

The Manitoba Hydro page Trees and power lines says owners of private and public property are responsible for keeping the trees, shrubs and other plants on their land a safe distance from overhead lines and hydro poles, and that owners should contact a qualified utility arborist for the work. For private property, it gives the example of a tree grown into overhead lines running from a hydro pole to a house and says trimming it is the property owner's responsibility. For trees on public property such as boulevards or parks, it says the city, town or municipality is responsible, and that a tree or branch on public land growing too close to lines is a matter for the local civic authority.

What the utility says it does

The same page says Manitoba Hydro trims or removes trees when they affect electrical safety or the reliability of power. It says that in emergencies or outages its crews will cut or remove any tree, whether privately or publicly owned, and that in those cases branches and debris are not cleaned up. It says provincial regulations bar trimming or removing some trees, elms for example, at certain times of year, and that it holds a special exemption for electrical hazards. The Manitoba Hydro page Vegetation management says planned work includes mechanical brush clearing, selective herbicides applied to specific trees at least one year after clearing, and tree trimming and removal, and that its crews clean up debris after planned trimming or removal. It lists location, species and growth habits, and tree health after trimming as factors in deciding whether a tree is removed, and names elms, maples and willows as fast-suckering species.

Distances

The Trees and power lines page says that, for safety, trimming or removal within 3 m (10 feet) of a power line should be left to a qualified utility arborist, and that once vegetation is within 3 m it is unsafe for homeowners to manage. It says to stay at least 10 m (30 feet) from lines that are sparking or burning and to call 911. Under the heading Immediate danger it lists a tree resting on a line, sparking, burning or damaged lines, and vegetation near electrical equipment that may be a hazard.

Asking for a tree to be assessed

The Manitoba Hydro tree safety assessment request page says the form is not for emergencies. It asks whether the tree is on private or public property, which customer service centre is closest, and which situation fits: a tree leaning close to overhead lines or a pole, a tree leaning over or on lines, lines running through branches, or vegetation growing on lines or a pole. It asks for two photos, one showing the line or pole in the tree and one showing the whole tree with the ground, poles, wires and nearby buildings. The Trees and power lines page says that if the issue is the owner's responsibility, the owner or a qualified arborist can then request a temporary electricity disconnect.

Other publications

The Trees and power lines page links two guides, one on choosing the right tree for a location and one on planting and maintaining trees. The guide on working near power lines lists what regulators say about distances for tree workers.

Who to call

911: lines that are sparking or burning: the utility page says to stay at least 10 m (30 feet) away and call 911
Manitoba Hydro, trees and power lines: who is responsible, the 3 m distance and how to report a hazard
Manitoba Hydro, tree safety assessment request: the form for trees near its overhead lines or poles
Your city, town or municipality: trees on public land such as boulevards and parks near overhead lines