Bloomfield, NJ Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Bloomfield Township regulates tree removal on private property under Article II of Chapter 535, titled the Tree Removal and Protection Ordinance of the Township of Bloomfield. Section 535-16 bars anyone from cutting down or removing a tree with a caliper of six inches or greater, measured at a height of 4 1/2 feet above the ground, or engaging in any site clearing, without a tree removal permit.

The application carries an original and two copies of the Township form, listing the applicant, street address, tax lot and block, and number of trees. Removal of six or more trees adds a scaled tree removal plan, and more than 10 trees requires a plan sealed by a licensed professional engineer or land surveyor. The applicant ties a one-inch-wide red, yellow or blue ribbon around each trunk at 4 1/2 feet. A property owner can apply no more than two times in a calendar year. Fees under § 535-18 are $50 for 1 to 5 trees, $100 for 6 to 10, $200 for 11 to 20, $300 for 21 to 50, and $400 for 51 and over plus $100 for each additional 50 trees or part thereof. Township residents age 65 and over pay $5, and all application fees are nonrefundable.

Section 535-19A allows removal only for listed reasons, among them a tree that is dead or poses a safety hazard, a tree within 20 feet of any building, or a tree in the area of a proposed driveway, walkway, utility line or accessory building. A tree in the Bloomfield Historic District goes to the Historic Preservation Commission for review. Under § 535-19D, no mitigation is required for five or fewer trees, and for each tree of a caliper of six inches or more that requires mitigation the applicant plants a major tree. Removal must be done by a qualified tree care contractor carrying a certificate of insurance for not less than $1,000,000, and the person overseeing the work must be a New Jersey Certified Tree Expert. Where mitigation applies, § 535-20 requires a cash bond, returned on completion. During construction, § 535-21 requires protective barriers at least 10 feet from the trunk.

The Township Administrator or a designee administers the article under § 535-22. An aggrieved person has 10 days to appeal to the Township Council under § 535-23, and a hardship hearing before the governing body carries a $300 fee under § 535-19C.