Tree removal permit rules in Bergen County, NJ — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Bergen County requires permits for tree removal within county parks and county road rights-of-way. Removals on private property are governed by each municipality's tree ordinance and by NJDEP's statewide no-net-loss rules for development projects.
Bergen County's Department of Parks regulates tree removal in the county park system under park regulations adopted by the Board of Commissioners. The Department of Public Works approves removals within county road rights-of-way. For private residential property, tree removal permits are set by your borough or township ordinance. New Jersey's statewide tree replacement rule under NJDEP's no-net-loss reforestation regulations (NJAC 7:50 and NJAC 7:7A) applies to development applications and major site plans. Bergen County's Soil Conservation District also reviews land disturbance over 5,000 square feet that may involve tree clearing.
Unauthorized removal of regulated trees can trigger replacement costs at appraised value, NJDEP penalties under NJSA 13:1L-14.3, and municipal fines often $500 to $2,000 per tree.
Bergen County, NJ
Industrial and commercial noise in Bergen County is enforced under New Jersey's statewide Noise Control Code, N.J.A.C. 7:29, which sets dBA limits at receivi...
Bergen County, NJ
Aircraft noise in Bergen County, including operations at Teterboro Airport (TEB), is regulated exclusively by the Federal Aviation Administration. Neither th...
Bergen County, NJ
Amplified music and sound is prohibited in Bergen County parks except for official county use or with a written permit issued by the Department of Parks. Out...
Bergen County, NJ
Bergen County does not regulate leaf blower use countywide. Each municipality independently restricts seasonal use, decibel limits, and gas-powered equipment...
Bergen County, NJ
Bergen County does not set countywide residential quiet hours; those rules are set by each municipality under New Jersey's Noise Control Act. The county dire...
Bergen County, NJ
Construction hours are not set at the Bergen County level. Each of the county's 70 municipalities adopts its own permissible construction time window under N...
See how Bergen County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.