Tree removal permit rules in Edison, NJ — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Tree removal in Edison Township is governed by the New Jersey statewide stormwater rules (N.J.A.C. 7:8) requiring municipalities to adopt tree-protection ordinances, plus local Chapter 37 (Zoning) provisions on lot coverage and street-tree protection. Removal of street trees requires Edison Public Works approval. Major site-disturbance projects must comply with Township soil-erosion permits coordinated with the Middlesex County Soil Conservation District.
Tree removal in Edison Township is regulated at multiple levels. Street trees in the public right-of-way are owned by Edison Township, and removal requires Public Works approval (732-985-7800) plus replacement under Township policy. On private property, removal of mature trees in connection with development triggers Chapter 37 (Zoning) review and may require soil-erosion permits from the Middlesex County Soil Conservation District under N.J.S.A. 4:24-39. In 2020 the New Jersey Legislature amended the Stormwater Management Act (P.L.2019, c.487) to require every municipality to adopt a tree-protection ordinance regulating tree removal and replacement on major development projects in connection with the statewide Stormwater Management Rules (N.J.A.C. 7:8). Edison Township's implementation places replacement obligations on developers and limits clear-cutting on parcels in connection with site-plan approval. Routine removal of dead, diseased, or hazardous trees on residential property is generally exempt from permitting. Heritage and specimen trees that have been formally designated may require additional review before removal. Removal of trees on the Middlesex County park system (Roosevelt Park, Thomas A. Edison Park) is controlled by the Middlesex County Parks Department.
Removing a Township-owned street tree without authorization is a Chapter 1 §1-5 violation ($100–$2,000) plus restitution for the value of the tree (commonly calculated using ISA appraisal methodology, often several thousand dollars per mature specimen). Tree-removal violations on development sites can trigger stop-work orders, soil-erosion permit revocation under N.J.S.A. 4:24-39, and replacement-tree planting requirements. Damage to county park trees is enforced by Middlesex County under separate park regulations.
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