3 rules for unincorporated Union County, New Jersey.
Verified from official government sources
NJ requires Community Forestry Management Plans under N.J.S.A. 13:1L-14 et seq. Most Union County municipalities require tree removal permits. Elizabeth Shade Tree Commission (Chapter 12.16) permits removal of trees over 6 in DBH. Westfield and Summit require permits for removal of any tree 8+ in DBH on private property. Street trees universally require permit. Cranford, Scotch Plains, and Mountainside enforce replacement. NJ Tree Recovery Campaign tracks losses. Union County Department of Parks manages county-owned trees.
Union County designates Heritage/Specimen trees through municipal Shade Tree Commissions and Union County Parks Department. Watchung Reservation contains multiple NJ Big Tree Registry specimens. Westfield and Summit actively designate Specimen trees (24+ in DBH) with enhanced protection. Elizabeth Chapter 12.16 covers historic landmark trees in parks and rights-of-way. Construction near designated trees requires root protection zones. NJ Big and Heritage Tree Registry (Rutgers/NJ DEP) catalogs state-significant trees. Unauthorized damage triggers appraised-value penalties.
Union County municipalities require tree replacement when permitted removals occur. Westfield Code Chapter 16 requires replacement at 1:1 to 3:1 ratio based on DBH. Elizabeth Chapter 12.16 mandates 2-inch caliper replacements. Summit and Cranford require native or adapted species from approved lists. Fee-in-lieu options fund municipal tree funds. NJ Tree Recovery Campaign provides supplemental funding. Multi-year maintenance period ensures establishment. Emerald Ash Borer replacement prioritizes resilient species.
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