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

Chapter 169 of the Hoboken City Code makes tree removal permit-dependent. Section 169-5D bars anyone from cutting, removing, or destroying any tree on a City street, public place, park, or parkway without first obtaining a permit under the chapter, and 169-5B(1) extends written-permission requirements to cutting, trimming, root disturbance, or spraying of any living tree on City-owned land. Where no board approval is needed, § 169-7A(1) routes the application to the Administrative Officer on a form approved by the Shade Tree Commission; the resulting permit is valid for one year, must be displayed on site, and cannot be transferred.

Where a minor or major subdivision or site plan is involved, § 169-7B requires a plot plan at a scale no coarser than one inch to 50 feet, prepared by a New Jersey-licensed professional, showing every tree's species and dbh, proposed removals, slopes over 10%, and a replacement plan under § 169-8, which the Shade Tree Commission certifies before the Planning or Zoning Board conditions approval. Work in the public right-of-way additionally needs a road opening permit under § 168-9. Fees are set at § 169-14: $100 for the Administrative-Officer-only track (waived for planting-only permits), and $500 for the board-review track on top of other land use board fees. Insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence is required under § 169-7C before work begins.