Homeowner decision guideU.S. national guidance

evaluate options

Reviewed and updated September 22, 2026

Who should I contact when branches are near power lines?

Safety boundaryStay away from branches, fences, tools and other objects that may contact a line. Do not use a ladder, pole, rope, saw or hose to investigate the clearance.

Contact the serving electric utility before arranging work on a tree that touches, could fall into, or would need to be worked near its lines. Do not try to identify a safe wire by its appearance or clear a branch yourself. A tree can create an electrical hazard without a broken wire lying visibly on the ground. Report the tree and the line together, rather than requesting an ordinary pruning visit.

If there is immediate danger, such as a fallen line, active sparking, a tree striking an occupied building or someone injured, keep clear and contact emergency responders as well. For a non-emergency clearance concern, ask the utility who must assess it and what work, if any, its program covers. Utility involvement does not establish who owns the tree, who pays or who removes the wood.

Separate immediate hazards, tree condition and property constraints

Which situation best matches the property?

A branch is touching a wire or a line is down

Treat this as a utility hazard rather than a vegetation-maintenance disagreement. Explain what can be seen from a protected location: a branch resting on a line, a wire down, sparks or a blocked route. You do not need to decide which component failed first. A tree crew cannot substitute for the utility’s control of its electrical system.

Notice next: Keep people out of the affected area without entering it. Use the utility’s verified hazard-reporting channel and emergency services when people face immediate danger.

The tree is close to lines, but nothing has fallen

A planned pruning or removal job still needs an electrical-clearance discussion. Give the utility the property location and describe the work being considered. Ask whether it needs to inspect, coordinate with a qualified line-clearance contractor or provide other instructions. Do not treat a lack of visible sparking as permission for an ordinary crew or homeowner to start.

Notice next: Request a reference number or written response. Share that direction with the tree contractor before accepting a work date.

The question is whether the utility will pay or do the work

A serving utility’s vegetation program is the place to establish its actual scope. Ask separately about the particular line, the tree’s location, the clearance objective and debris handling. A neighboring utility’s website is not an agreement for your property. If the utility says the work is outside its program, ask what coordination is still required before you hire someone.

Notice next: Keep the utility response with the tree estimate. Resolve any remaining ownership or permission question with the relevant property or public authority, not by assuming that line clearance grants removal permission.

Safe observation

What to record before contacting a professional

Use only safe, non-destructive observations and existing records. Do not create access or disturb a hazard to complete this list.

These observations organize a conversation; they do not diagnose the property or prove service availability.

What to record

Record the address and a description of the tree’s location that can be understood without entering the hazard area.
Describe whether the tree is beside a pole, crossing a yard or near a building; do not guess the voltage or wire ownership.
Save any utility report number, inspection notice or previous vegetation-management correspondence.
Photograph only from an already safe location, and note whether the situation is changing, stable-looking or of unknown duration.

Stop and get appropriate help

Stop any planned tree work when the work area could involve electric lines; obtain utility direction before resuming.
Do not approach a fallen or contacting wire to take a better picture or find an identifying label.

Move from information to action

Who is the useful next contact?

Serving electric utility

Use the utility for electric-line hazards and for direction before tree work near its system. Ask it to identify the relevant program rather than relying on a tree contractor’s assumption.

Which line or equipment is involved, and who controls the work around it?
Does the utility need to inspect before a contractor is scheduled?
Which work and debris handling are included, and what remains the owner’s responsibility?

Emergency responders

Contact emergency responders for immediate danger to people, injury, fire or a struck occupied building. A routine tree-service estimate is not the first step in those circumstances.

Which line or equipment is involved, and who controls the work around it?
Does the utility need to inspect before a contractor is scheduled?
Which work and debris handling are included, and what remains the owner’s responsibility?

Arborist or appropriately qualified tree contractor

After utility coordination, a tree professional can assess tree condition and the remaining work. Confirm who handles any specialized line-clearance portion.

Which line or equipment is involved, and who controls the work around it?
Does the utility need to inspect before a contractor is scheduled?
Which work and debris handling are included, and what remains the owner’s responsibility?

Contact guidance explains who may help and what to prepare. It does not verify a provider, price, license, arrival time or acceptance of this request.

Professional help

Use this guide to prepare for a qualified local professional.

Call Home Help does not currently have a verified phone connection for this service. We will not ask for a ZIP code or show a number until the campaign fields, endpoint and current routing conditions have been checked.

Phone connection not currently available

Check licensing, service area, schedule, scope and written estimate directly with professionals you consider.

Short answers

Questions people ask before the call

Can I trim only the small branch?

Not when doing so would bring you or a tool near a line. Branch size does not eliminate the electrical issue. Obtain utility direction instead of using a pole tool from the ground.

Does the utility automatically own a tree under its wires?

Do not infer ownership from the wires. Establish the utility’s work scope with it and establish tree ownership or permission separately with the appropriate records and authority.

Can a regular arborist handle the entire job?

That depends on the electrical work boundary and the contractor’s qualifications. Ask how utility coordination and line-clearance work will be handled before ordinary tree work begins.

Where this guidance applies

The explanation, safe observations and comparison questions apply as general U.S. homeowner guidance.

Permits, adopted codes, licensing, property responsibility and provider availability must be confirmed for the actual location and scope.

A ZIP code can help screen service availability; it does not establish a local fact, price, permit rule or provider commitment.

Sources and boundaries

What supports this guide?

Pacific Gas and Electric Company — Trees and Powerlines | PG&EServing utilities have specific vegetation-management programs; the relevant utility must identify its equipment and applicable scope. Boundary: No PG&E ownership rule, work frequency, clearance, cost or service obligation is exported nationally. Used only to frame questions for the actual serving utility. Scope: national. Source checked 2026-09-22.
International Society of Arboriculture — Recognizing Tree RiskDead or hanging branches, cracks, cavities, mushrooms and site changes are relevant observations for professional risk assessment. Boundary: The brochure does not establish legal responsibility or certify the safety of any tree. Its checklist is not a numeric risk calculator. Scope: national. Source checked 2026-09-22.
International Society of Arboriculture — Storm-Related Tree DamageHanging, uprooted and tensioned trees may move unexpectedly; trees may contact electrical wires; avoid cleanup exposure and route to emergency services, utility or arborist. Boundary: Not a building-entry clearance, rescue procedure, electrical clearance standard or insurance policy. Scope: national. Source checked 2026-09-22.
International Society of Arboriculture — Why Hire an Arborist?Verify named credentials, insurance, local licenses/permits, references and written specifications; certification is voluntary and nongovernmental. Boundary: ISA certification is voluntary and individual; it is not a trade license, company insurance or a guarantee. Local requirements remain unknown. Scope: national. Source checked 2026-09-22.

The line type, owner and electrical condition cannot be identified here.

Utility work scope, charges and debris policies remain unverified for this property.

No clearance distance, response time or permission to trim is established by this answer.