Sarah Bond

The day that Sarah Bond finally became a homeowner, she had almost given up.

It was 2021.

The housing market was red hot.

She and her husband, Joel, kept getting outbid.

They were starting to think maybe their family would never have a place they could make their own.

A place where she and Joel could plant blueberry bushes.

A place where their daughter, JoJo, could raise baby ducks and chickens.

Then she got a call from her realtor.

Sarah's favorite part about their new home was the huge yard.

She used to work at a garden center, and she loved how many plants and trees were grown around their home.

It was like this tree of Damocles just looming over them.

Sarah kept picturing it falling.

And Sarah's like, well, clearly this tree is dangerous, so let's just get this permit.

They go online, fill out the forms.

Pretty soon, a city inspector comes to look at the trees.

And a couple weeks later, Sarah and Joel get the letter.

Sarah was like, wait, this is not a city tree.

This is our tree in our own backyard.

And these laws are redrawing the line between what belongs to the property owner and what belongs to the community.

But can a city actually stop you from cutting down a tree in your own backyard?