Landscaping Rules in Englewood, NJ: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Englewood or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Englewood has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Tree Trimming

Englewood's Chapter 425 governs trimming and pruning of regulated trees, with the City Engineer overseeing permits and replacement requirements when work damages protected specimens.

Key details: Code Chapter: Chapter 425. Reviewing Officer: City Engineer. Regulated Tree: 30 ft height or 8 in diameter. Penalty Basis: Appraised replacement value.

Heavy pruning that damages a regulated tree, ignoring permit waiver paperwork, or failing to obtain City Engineer authorization before substantial limb removal.

Grass Height Limits

Englewood Chapter 129 prohibits accumulation of overgrown brush, grass, and weeds on any property within the City, with code enforcement empowered to compel cutting.

Key details: Code Chapter: Chapter 129. Enforcement: Property Maintenance Division. Contact: 201-871-6692. City Hall: 2-10 N Van Brunt Street.

Letting grass, weeds, or brush grow to nuisance levels, or ignoring a notice from Englewood Code Enforcement to cut and remove the growth.

The rules around grass height limits in Englewood lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Englewood Chapter 425 requires a City Engineer permit or waiver before removing any regulated tree, with project permits triggered at three or more removals per five-year window.

Key details: Code Chapter: Chapter 425. Waiver Threshold: Fewer than 3 in 5 years. Project Permit: 3 or more in 5 years. Emergency Filing: Within 7 days.

Cutting a regulated tree without a permit or waiver, skipping the seven-day post-emergency filing, or omitting required species and size information.

Composting

Englewood Chapter 129 Article II governs yard waste handling, while Chapter 364 covers solid waste and recycling, including how leaves and grass clippings must be managed in the City.

Key details: Code Article: Chapter 129, Article II. Related Chapter: Chapter 364 Solid Waste. Stormwater Tie-In: Chapter 370. City Facility: Leaf composting site.

Setting yard waste at the curb outside designated collection windows, blowing leaves into storm drains, or mixing yard waste with regular trash.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Englewood gives residents more flexibility on composting.

Weed Ordinances

Englewood's Article III on Invasive Plants restricts planting, cultivating, and growing designated invasive species, layered atop standard nuisance-weed rules in Chapter 129.

Key details: Code Article: Chapter 129, Article III. Adopting Ordinance: No. 18-16 (2018). Scope: Invasive plant species. Enforcement: Code Enforcement Division.

Planting or cultivating listed invasive species, allowing weeds to overtake a yard, or refusing to remove invasive growth after a City notice.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Englewood gives residents more flexibility on weed ordinances.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Englewood gives residents more room on landscaping rules. 3 of the 5 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

All of the above reflects Englewood's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.