Most of us know you can't just walk onto someone's property, pluck a ripe fig, and walk away with a sweet treat. But what if a branch hangs onto a public sidewalk? Or better yet, your property line? Turns out, the answer isn't so simple when it comes to taking fruit from a neighbor's tree. Ahead, our experts break down what's legal, what's murky, and how best to initiate a conversation with your neighbor to avoid confrontations down the road.
Meet Our Expert James R. Snell , Jr., founder of the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC
Seann Malloy , founder and managing partner at Malloy Law Offices
Gayle Glazer , a mediator with Mediation Center of Los Angeles
Meesha Moulton , attorney and founder of Meesha Moulton Law
Alan Heimlich , president of Heimlich Law, PC .
Related: Can You Trim a Neighbor's Hedge That Crosses Your Property Line?
Is It Legal to Pick Fruit from a Neighbor's Tree? Even though it may seem far-fetched, taking a single piece of fruit could result in a criminal arrest or court case if your neighbor wanted to pursue it, says attorney James R. Snell, Jr. "It does not matter if the fruit is in a planted, maintained garden or if it is just naturally growing on the pr...