Decrepit Chain link Fence and damaged tree ON the property line

[Wineaux]

I'm inside Houston, and have a very weak HOA (the HOA fees are voluntary). I have never heard of a CEO. I know we don't have zones. Where would I look to find this guy?

I am going to do the survey to make sure the fence is on the line. If it's mine, no problem, down it goes. If it's hers, no problem, and my fences goes up, NOT QUITE touching the line. I figure a documented one inch clearance with photos and surveyor's stakes, as well as a permissive use letter to keep that one inch mine should do it.

I'll be calling out an arborist sometime. I don't think I need more than to take some pictures. This tree has dropped at least a half dozen branches over 10 inches in diameter onto my property, already. You can still see the broken stumps sticking out of the trunk. I'm sure insects either have or will invade through these stump-holes. It is only a matter of time.

I really try to get along with my neighbors, but I guess what really bothers me here is that I have offered a new, free fence, AND to take down a very expensive to remove tree... to a blank stare and abject refusal.

[Poltracker]

[quote=Wineaux;6625253]I'm inside Houston, and have a very weak HOA (the HOA fees are voluntary). I have never heard of a CEO. I know we don't have zones. Where would I look to find this guy?[quote]

Call 311. The CEO is a city employee and has little to do with the HOA though they will enforce deed restrictions. I am not as positive about involving a CEO as this issue does not really call for it. Houston does not really have any codes for fences or trees, unless they fall under the nuisance rules and it does not from your description. Never hurts to try though.

Make sure that when the surveyor comes that you have some steel or copper pipes cut to short lengths and drive them in along the property line. This will allow you to keep track of the line when away from the corner pins.

[TFW46]

really bothers me here is that I have offered a new, free fence

That happened to me too and I ended up putting up a wood fence right inside the chain-link fence about 15 years ago. When Ike blew down the wood fence, I still had the chain-link fence to contain my dog. I had a new wood fence put up, again right inside the chain-link fence, shortly thereafter -- but it really made me appreciate the security of having two fences.