Tree work in Garfield: what to expect
Garfield is the biggest city in south Bergen, on the bluff above the Passaic River with the Saddle River running down its east side. The housing is mostly two-family and small single-family on narrow lots laid out around the mills a century ago, with newer townhouses filling in old industrial land along River Drive. Trees are modest in number: Norway and silver maples, pin oaks and the occasional big sycamore, plus the cottonwoods and willows of the two riverbanks.
Both rivers flood, and Ida in 2021 put water into blocks that had not seen it before. River-edge trees that have been through that are weaker than they look. On the residential grid the work is close-quarters rigging; the chipper sits in the street and the climber works between houses.
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Garfield?
Yes, for any tree 6 inches or more, and it is inexpensive. Ordinance 3030, adopted March 12, 2024 (City Code Chapter 315), requires a tree removal permit from the Building Department before removing any non-street tree 6 inches or more in diameter at breast height (a street tree at 2.5 inches). The application fee for a single-family residential lot is $5 per tree with a maximum of $100 per lot; other properties pay $150 for up to five trees plus $25 for each tree beyond. For homeowners, replacement planting applies only if you remove more than three trees per acre in the three smaller size categories within five years, or any tree 33 inches and up or a designated tree of significance; then the city's table (one to five replacement trees) or a fee applies. Nuisance trees (diseased, infested, dead or dying, blocking signs or sidewalks, damaging foundations or sidewalks, or a safety threat) are exempt from fee and replacement. Violations are $250, and a permit lapses if the work is not done within a reasonable time.
Where to ask: Building Department, Garfield City Hall, 111 Outwater Lane, 973-340-2000 ext. 4040. Source: City Code Chapter 315, Trees (ecode360) and garfieldnj.org Building Department page, read October 2026. Confirm the current rule with the municipality before work starts; ordinances change and towns were still amending these in 2025.
What goes wrong with trees in Garfield
- Riverbank trees after Ida. Cottonwoods and willows along the Passaic and Saddle rivers that stood in fast water in 2021 have exposed, weakened roots; leaners over yards and garages are the city's main emergency removals.
- Silver maples over two-family roofs. Big, weak-wooded, and over three or four roofs at once on a narrow lot; a rigging job every time and the most common Garfield quote.
- Norway maple decay. The default planted tree of the 1950s is hollow at the base by now; fungal conks at the trunk mean a removal.
- Tree of heaven and spotted lanternfly. Along River Drive, the tracks and vacant lots; cheap to remove and worth it.
What it costs in Garfield (2026)
| Job | Typical NJ price |
|---|---|
| Small tree, under 30 ft | $200 – $600 |
| Medium tree, 30 – 60 ft | $500 – $1,500 |
| Large tree, 60 – 80 ft | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| Crane removal over a house | $2,500 – $3,500+ |
| Tree trimming, mature tree | $450 – $700 |
| Stump grinding | $100 – $500 per stump |
Ranges are published 2026 New Jersey figures (T&D Tree's NJ cost guide and treecostremovalcalculator.com's NJ pages), not quotes from this site; some North Jersey companies publish higher 2026 ranges, which we compare in the Bergen County cost guide. Your number depends on the tree, the access and your town's permit.
With a $5-per-tree permit and the homeowner replacement allowance, Garfield is one of the cheapest places in Bergen to take down a tree on paper. In practice narrow two-family lots mean climb-and-rig pricing in the middle to upper range for anything over a roof. Ask for a nuisance-tree determination on anything dead or damaged.
What we can line up in Garfield
Tree removal
Oaks over the roof, storm-split maples, dying ash: climbing, rigging and crane jobs.
Storm and emergency work
A tree on the house, the car or across the driveway, with the insurance paperwork you will need.
Is this tree dangerous?
A licensed look at a leaner, a cracked fork or a thinning crown before you decide.
Pruning and trimming
Deadwood out, clearance off the roof and the service line, weight off long limbs.
Stump grinding
Old stumps ground out so the spot can be lawn, patio or a replacement tree.
Lot and brush clearing
Overgrown back lots, pool and addition footprints, saplings and vines taken back to soil.
Streets and neighborhoods we cover around Garfield
We match homeowners across the city: Passaic Street and Midland Avenue, Lanza Avenue, Outwater Lane, River Drive and the Passaic bluff, the Saddle River side toward Lodi and Saddle Brook, and the Elmwood Park border along Market Street. Nearby we also cover Lodi, Elmwood Park, Saddle Brook, Wallington and, across the river, Clifton and Passaic.
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.
Garfield tree questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Garfield, NJ?
Yes, for any tree 6 inches or more in diameter: a tree removal permit from the Building Department (973-340-2000 ext. 4040). For a single-family house the fee is $5 per tree, capped at $100 per lot.
Will Garfield make me plant a new tree?
Only if, as a homeowner, you remove more than three trees per acre in the smaller size categories within five years, or any tree 33 inches and up or a designated tree of significance. Nuisance trees (dead, diseased, damaging structures) are exempt.
How much does tree removal cost in Garfield?
Published 2026 New Jersey ranges: about $200 to $600 for a small tree, $500 to $1,500 for a medium tree, $1,000 to $2,500 for a large one and $2,500 and up for crane work over a house, plus $100 to $500 per stump and a $5-per-tree permit.
Who do I call about a tree on the wires in Garfield?
PSE&G for the lines along the street and the main drop; once the utility has cleared or de-energized the line, a licensed tree company can take down the rest of the tree.