Landscaping Rules in Jersey City, NJ

If you live in Jersey City or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Jersey City has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Jersey City's Chapter 321 bars anyone from damaging, girdling, or cutting a City tree's canopy, requires a Division of Forestry permit for most work near a tree, and backs it with fines of $100 to $2,000 per violation, deposited to a tree replacement fund.

Key details: Governing chapter: Ch. 321, Trees, Ord. 17-169 & 25-033. Enforcing agency: Division of Parks and Forestry. Fine range: $100 to $2,000 per violation. Permit acts: Removal, pruning, planting, root-zone work. Restitution venue: Hudson County Superior Court.

Damaging a tree's roots, trunk, canopy, or branches, or doing any Section 321-4 permit-required act without a Division of Forestry permit, is punishable under Section 321-9 by a Municipal Court fine of $100 to $2,000 per violation, plus the City may seek civil restitution in Hudson County Superior Court for tree removal or damage.

This is one of the stricter rules in Jersey City's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Tree Trimming

Cutting, trimming, pruning, breaking, or sawing any part of a Jersey City tree requires a Division of Forestry permit first -- the chapter does not set a fixed street or sidewalk clearance height, but it does require pruning to follow the ANSI-A300 Tree Care Standards.

Key details: Governing section: § 321-4.A(5) & (13), Trees. Permit issuer: Division of Forestry. Pruning standard: ANSI-A300 Tree Care Standards 2023. Per-tree rule: Separate permit for each tree, § 321-4.B. Penalty: $100–$2,000 per violation, § 321-9.

Pruning, cutting, trimming, breaking, or sawing any part of a City tree without a Division of Forestry permit violates Section 321-4.A, punishable under Section 321-9 by a Municipal Court fine of $100 to $2,000 per violation; improper pruning that damages roots, trunk, or branches also violates the Section 321-3 prohibition on damaging a tree.

Water Restrictions

When the Mayor declares a water emergency, Jersey City can ban all outside watering of lawns and plants or limit it to odd/even house-number days. The order runs up to 90 days and covers every resident, tenant and non-exempt business citywide.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 337-14. Max order duration: 90 days per executive order. Restriction options: Complete ban or odd/even day watering. Enforcing official: Business Administrator or designee. First offense: Written warning only.

The Business Administrator or a designee enforces the restrictions. A first violation draws a written warning explaining the penalties for a second and third offense. Any violation after that first warning is punishable under Chapter 1's general penalty, § 1-25: a fine of up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment or community service of up to 90 days, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.

This is one of the stricter rules in Jersey City's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Weed Ordinances

Jersey City declares ragweed, poison ivy, high weeds and overgrown brush and grass a public nuisance on any lot, building or right-of-way, public or private. Code § 182-30 bars owners, tenants and occupants from letting them grow or exist, and § 182-31 lets the Division of Health order abatement on as little as five days' notice.

Key details: Governing sections: §§ 182-30, 182-31. Standard: Qualitative: no numeric height set. Covers: Ragweed, poison ivy, high weeds, overgrown brush/grass. Applies to: Any lot, building, or right-of-way, public or private. Notice period: Minimum 5 days before City abates.

Beyond the City's right to abate overgrown weeds and grass itself and bill the owner under § 182-32, § 182-34 makes any refusal or neglect to comply with the article punishable under the Code's general penalty, § 1-25: up to a $2,000 fine, 90 days' imprisonment and/or community service, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Jersey City is tougher than many cities when it comes to landscaping rules. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Jersey City, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Jersey City'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.