Mahwah vs Ridgewood
How do tree replacement requirements rules compare between Mahwah, NJ and Ridgewood, NJ?
Mahwah has fewer restrictions than Ridgewood.
Mahwah, NJ
Bergen County
Mahwah requires replacement trees of equal or greater DBH for every protected tree removed, planted within 12 months, or compensatory payment into the Mahwah Tree Bank escrow account.
View full Mahwah rules →Ridgewood, NJ
Bergen County
Ridgewood requires every healthy qualified tree removed under permit to be replaced on site, or the property owner must pay $500 per missing replacement tree into the Village Tree Fund Escrow.
View full Ridgewood rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Mahwah | Ridgewood |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement DBH | Equal or greater than removed | - |
| Planting deadline | Within 12 months | - |
| Approved species | Native northern NJ hardwoods | - |
| Fee-in-lieu fund | Mahwah Tree Bank escrow | - |
| Replacement Fee | - | $500 per missing tree |
| Code Chapter | - | Chapter 260 |
| Formula | - | $500 x (removed minus replanted) |
| Tree Fund | - | Escrow held by Village |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Mahwah FAQ
Can I pay a fee instead of planting replacement trees in Mahwah?
Yes. Funds collected in lieu of replanting are deposited into the Mahwah Tree Bank, an escrow account used for township-wide tree planting projects.
How quickly must replacement trees be planted after removal?
Replacement trees must be planted within 12 months of the original tree's removal date, using species approved under Chapter 14 standards.
Do replacements need to match the size of the removed tree?
Replacements must have equal or greater DBH than the removed tree, or meet the alternative Tree Replacement Criteria detailed in Chapter 14.
Ridgewood FAQ
How much is Ridgewood's fee in lieu of tree replacement?
The Tree Fund Escrow Fee is $500 multiplied by the number of qualified trees removed minus the number of replacement trees planted, payable when on-site replacement is not feasible.
Are all removed trees subject to replacement?
No. Trees removed because they are dead, dying, diseased, damaged, hazardous, on public lands, or encroaching on utilities are exempt from the replacement requirement under Chapter 260.
Compare other topics
See how Mahwah and Ridgewood compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool