How to read this
Almost every rule keys on trunk diameter at breast height (DBH), measured 4.5 feet up. Six inches is the state model's threshold and the most common one; Wyckoff, Ridgewood and Englewood use 8 inches, Franklin Lakes 7, Saddle Brook 8 for replacement. "Hazard tree" (dead, dying, diseased, infested, damaging a structure or declared dangerous by a Licensed Tree Expert) is exempt from fees and replanting almost everywhere, but in most towns it still has to go through the application so the exemption is on record. Street trees between the sidewalk and the curb belong to the town in every municipality listed; nobody prunes or removes one privately.
Read your own town's page for the detail and the source. Rules were still being amended in 2025 (River Edge twice, Elmwood Park and Franklin Lakes newly adopted), so a phone call to the number in the table before the crew arrives is the cheapest insurance there is.
| Municipality | Permit? | What triggers it | Fee and where to ask | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergenfield | Not in the published code | Ch. 291 covers Borough street trees only (Shade Tree Committee permission; 14'6" sidewalk clearance). No private-tree permit or replacement rule found; confirm with the Building Dept. | None found. Building 201-387-4055 | Ch. 291 |
| Cliffside Park | Yes | Any tree ≥6" DBH (street trees ≥2.5"): application to the Zoning Official; replacement 1–4 trees or up to $500/tree in lieu. Hazard trees exempt. | $200 per tree. Borough Hall 201-945-3456 | Code Art. XIII |
| Dumont | Yes | Any tree, public or private, since Sept 2013: permit from the Building Dept with survey and contractor insurance; Shade Tree Commission inspects. | $25. Borough Hall 201-387-5022 | Ch. 344 / Shade Tree notice |
| Elmwood Park | Yes (July 2025) | Any tree ≥6" DBH: application to the Building Dept; replacement 1–4 trees unless under 4 trees/acre in 5 years. Hazard trees exempt. | $100. Building 201-796-1457 | Ch. 21, Ord. 25-16 |
| Englewood | Depends on count | Regulated tree = ≥30 ft tall or ≥8" diameter. 3+ in 5 years: project permit from the City Engineer with replacement plan and bond. Fewer: waiver letter from the tree company. Emergencies exempt. | Fund in lieu ≥$300/tree. Engineering 201-567-0001 | Ch. 425 Art. II |
| Fair Lawn | Yes | Tree Removal Permit through the Shade Tree Division for regulated trees; survey and ribbon marking; fees and replacement by diameter. Tree services register with the Clerk. | Fee by size. DPW Shade Tree 201-794-5304 | Borough tree ordinance |
| Fort Lee | Yes | Permit under Ch. 156; approved for dead, diseased, dangerous or utility-conflict trees. Owners of 1–2 family homes may remove one tree every three years without meeting the criteria. | Building Dept 201-592-3500 | Ch. 156 |
| Franklin Lakes | Yes | Any tree ≥7" diameter (22" around) at 4.5 ft, dead or alive; online application (≤10 trees), tag trees, post permit. Fines $250–$1,500/tree. | $100 first 5 trees, $25 each after. Code Enforcement 201-891-4000 | Ch. 300 Art. XX (Aug 2025) |
| Garfield | Yes | Any tree ≥6" DBH: permit from the Building Dept. Homeowner replacement only above 3 trees/acre in 5 years or any tree ≥33". Nuisance trees exempt. | $5/tree, max $100/lot (single-family). Building 973-340-2000 x4040 | Ch. 315, Ord. 3030 |
| Glen Rock | Yes (Oct 2024) | Any tree ≥6" diameter at 4.5 ft on private property: permit from the Building Dept; replacement trees or $750 per tree to the Tree Trust. | Building 201-670-3956 | § 208-10 |
| Hackensack | Notice | Street trees ≥2.5" and other trees ≥6": advance notice to the DPW Tree Division (notification form); replacement 1–4 trees or $350/tree. | DPW Tree Division 201-646-3950 | Ch. 162 Art. II |
| Hasbrouck Heights | Yes (June 2024) | Any tree ≥6" DBH: application to the DPW Superintendent; replacement 1–4 trees unless under 4 trees/acre in 5 years. Hazard trees exempt. Older Borough FAQ saying no permit predates this. | Fee per Borough fee chapter. DPW 201-288-1072 | § 236-35, Ord. 2555 |
| Hillsdale | Yes | Any tree >6" diameter at ground level: letter application to the Zoning Officer; max 3 trees per 12 months outside development; replacement or $250/tree to Tree Bank (doubled in floodplain). | $0 for 1–2 trees/yr; $150 (3–6); $250 (7–10); $500 (10+). Zoning 201-722-2612 | Ch. 286 |
| Lodi | Yes (June 2024) | Any tree ≥6" DBH: application to the Zoning Officer; replacement 1–4 trees or $500/tree unless under 4 trees/acre in 5 years. Hazard trees exempt. | $40. Zoning 973-859-7465 | Ch. 8.70, Ord. 2024-14C |
| Lyndhurst | Yes (Nov 2024) | Any tree ≥6" DBH: application to the DPW Superintendent; replacement 1–4 trees or $250/tree; residents exempt for ONE tree per property per 5 years. Hazard trees exempt. | $0. Code Enforcement 201-804-2480 | § 26-14, Ord. 3215-24 |
| Mahwah | Yes (July 2024) | Any tree ≥6" DBH: application to the Dept of Land Use and a pre-removal inspection, even for exempt trees. Single-family lots: 2 trees per calendar year and hazard trees exempt from replanting. | $50 + $100 escrow (exempt); $100–$200 for more trees. Land Use 201-529-5757 opt 5 | Ch. 14, Ord. 2033 |
| Montvale | Not at an existing home | Ch. 369 applies to site plan, subdivision and addition applications; residential lots with an existing dwelling not under such an application are exempt, as are trees <6" and hazard trees. $750/tree fine for violations. | Building 201-391-5732 | Ch. 369 |
| Oakland | Yes | Any tree ≥6" DBH, any ornamental or landmark tree: permit via Construction/Code Enforcement; dead, diseased, hazard and footprint trees exempt from mitigation but not from the permit. Contractor must hold an LTCO license. | Construction 201-337-8111 | Ch. 19, Ord. 22-Code-883 |
| Oradell | Only with development | Private-tree permit required only as part of a Building Dept or land-use application, or within 2 years before a teardown; replacement 1–3 trees plus $500–$2,000 in those cases. | No fee. Construction Official 201-261-8005 | Ch. 270 / permit form |
| Paramus | Street trees only | Shade Tree & Parks Commission controls every street tree; private yard trees after development generally unregulated except buffers, wetlands and new construction. | Commission 201-265-2100 x4120 | Ord. ST-1 |
| Park Ridge | Yes | Any tree ≥6" DBH: application to the Zoning Office; replacement 1–4 trees or $500/tree unless under 4 trees/acre in 5 years. Hazard trees exempt. $250 fine per tree. | $50 / $75 / $100 by tree size. Zoning 201-391-5673 | Ch. 80, § 80-38 ff. |
| Ramsey | Only for 7+ trees | Borough permit when removing more than 6 trees >4" diameter in 12 months (Ord. 30-2000). First 10 ft from the curb are Borough trees. | $25. Shade Tree 201-825-3400 x264 | Shade Tree Dept page |
| Ridgewood | Yes | Any non-invasive tree ≥8" DBH: permit from the Engineering Division; replacement trees; dead, dying and hazard trees exempt (verified by the Village Arborist); invasives exempt. | Engineering 201-670-5500 | Ch. 260 |
| River Edge | Yes | Any tree ≥6" DBH: permit from the DPW Superintendent; replacement 1–4 trees or $1,500–$3,000/tree in lieu. Hazard trees: no fee, but stump grinding required. Trimming needs no permit. | $100. DPW, 500 Riverside Way; 201-599-6300 | Ch. 384 Art. II (2024–25) |
| Rutherford | Not in the published code | Ch. 95 and Ch. 120 regulate public street and park trees (no resident may cut, prune or disturb one); no private-tree permit or replacement rule found. Confirm with the Borough. | None found. DPW/Shade Tree 201-460-3000 x4008 | Ch. 95, Ch. 120 |
| Saddle Brook | Only for clear-cutting | Clear-cutting permit from the Zoning Office when removing more than 4 trees or 25% of a lot's trees in a calendar year; replacement 1–4 trees applies to trees ≥8" DBH. Hazard trees exempt. $250 fine per tree. | $50. Zoning/Building 201-843-7111 | Ch. 192, Ord. 1749-24 |
| Teaneck | Yes (May 2024) | Any tree ≥6" DBH (street trees ≥2.5"): application to the Zoning Officer; fees and replacement by diameter; $500/tree in lieu. Hazard trees treated separately. | $50 / $100 / $200 by size. Zoning 201-837-1600 | Ch. 37 Art. IV |
| Tenafly | In certain cases | Removals tied to a home improvement or development: DPW permit; trees ≥6" caliper counted over 24 months; landmark trees need Council approval. Call DPW first. | $100 (1–5 trees), $150 (6–10), $250 (11–20). DPW 201-568-4134 | Ch. XXVI / permit form |
| Westwood | Application | Building Dept takes an application for removal of all privately owned trees; code permit for vacant land ($10) and development approvals; diseased/damaged trees no fee. | Building 201-664-7100; DPW 201-664-2349 | Ch. 195 / STAC page |
| Wyckoff | Yes (Aug 2024) | Any deciduous tree ≥8" DBH or conifer ≥20 ft: permit from the Building Dept; replacement 1-for-1 or $500/tree; hazard trees no fee; invasives exempt. Contractors register with the Township ($250). | $50 per tree. Town Hall 201-891-7000 | Ch. 176, Ord. 2016 |
Every row was read on the municipality's code (ecode360) or its own website between October 15 and October 19, 2026. "Not in the published code" means we looked and found no private-property rule, not that none exists; towns can adopt or post ordinances after our reading. Confirm with the municipality before work starts.
The state rules that apply everywhere
Who may do the work. Under the New Jersey Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act (N.J.S.A. 45:15C), any business paid to remove, prune or grind trees must be registered with the NJ Board of Tree Experts and employ a Licensed Tree Expert or Licensed Tree Care Operator. Registered businesses carry the number on their vehicles and the Board publishes a searchable directory. Several towns in the table write that requirement into the permit itself.
Why the 2024 wave happened. The state DEP's municipal stormwater (MS4) permit required Tier A municipalities to adopt a tree removal and replacement ordinance by May 1, 2024, and published a model. Towns that adopted the model more or less verbatim (Lodi, Garfield, Hasbrouck Heights, Lyndhurst, Elmwood Park, Park Ridge, Cliffside Park, Teaneck, Hackensack) share the same shape: an application for any tree 6 inches and up, a replacement table of one to four trees by size, an in-lieu fee, a homeowner allowance of fewer than four trees per acre in five years, and a hazard-tree exemption. Towns with older ordinances (Englewood, Oakland, Hillsdale, Oradell, Fort Lee, Ridgewood) kept their own shapes.
Neighbors' trees. New Jersey follows the common-law rule: you may trim branches and roots that cross onto your property back to the line, at your own cost, without harming the tree, and Elmwood Park's ordinance says so in writing. Removing the tree is the owner's decision; a dangerous tree next door is a matter for a written notice and, if needed, the town's property maintenance officer.
What a permit does to the price
Usually little: most fees are $0 to $100. The exceptions are Cliffside Park ($200 a tree), Mahwah ($150 even for an exempt tree once the escrow is counted) and the in-lieu replacement payments where a healthy tree cannot be replaced on the lot (River Edge $1,500 to $3,000, Glen Rock $750, Oradell up to $2,000 in development cases). The Bergen County cost guide covers the rest of the bill.
Permit questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree on my own property in New Jersey?
It depends on the town; there is no statewide permit. In Bergen County most municipalities now require an application for any tree 6 inches or more in diameter, several require one only for construction or clear-cutting, and a few (Bergenfield, Rutherford, Paramus for yard trees) have no private-tree permit in their published code. Check the table and call the number listed.
Are dead trees exempt from Bergen County tree permits?
Almost everywhere a dead, dying or dangerous tree is exempt from the fee and the replacement requirement, but in most towns it still goes through the application so the exemption is confirmed; Franklin Lakes and Dumont require the permit for dead trees too. Have a Licensed Tree Expert document the condition.
Who owns the tree between the sidewalk and the street?
The municipality, in every Bergen County town. Residents and private contractors may not prune or remove street trees; requests go to the shade tree commission, DPW or engineering department.
What happens if I remove a tree without a permit?
Fines range from $250 per tree (Garfield, Park Ridge, Saddle Brook) to $750 (Montvale) and up to $1,000 or $2,000 per tree (Hasbrouck Heights, Oakland, Westwood, Cliffside Park), often plus the cost of the replacement trees. Several towns can also suspend a contractor's local registration.
How it works
- Describe the tree. Your town, what is wrong or what you want done, and a photo from the street if you can get one. A minute on the form.
- We hand it to one company that works your town. An independent Bergen County tree business registered with the NJ Board of Tree Experts and insured, picked because it actually covers your municipality and knows its permit.
- They come out and price it in writing. The company calls or texts you, looks at the tree, and gives you a written quote with no obligation. From there you deal with them directly.