Port St. Lucie HOA tells residents to replace dead trees, homeowners push back

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — Some residents in Port St. Lucie and their homeowners’ association are at odds over dead trees.

People who live in Cadence at Tradition received a letter dated Sept. 1 from Campbell Property Management on behalf of Cadence at Tradition Homeowners Association Inc., saying the dead tree or dead trees on their property need to be replaced.

The letter says: “Your assistance and cooperation are requested regarding the following: Landscaping-Dead Tree- The deceased tree(s) on your property is in need of attention.”

Residents say the trees are on the easement, the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street, and the trees were killed during a cold snap.

Because the dead trees are on the easement, some residents say it should be the HOA‘s job to replace them at the HOA’s expense, not the homeowners.

The letter goes on to say: “We kindly request you address this matter by 9/30/26 to avoid escalation.”

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The letter does not say what action will be taken if a homeowner does not replace the dead trees.

Some residents say now is not the best time to replace the dead trees. They say if new trees need to be planted, it should be done in April, at the start of the growing season. Some say if new trees are planted now, they could be wiped out by a freeze in the months ahead.