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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Tree removal permit rules in Paterson, NJ, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.

Key Facts

2.5"-12.99" DBH removed
Replant 1 tree, 1.5" caliper min.
33"+ DBH removed
Replant 4 trees, 1.5" caliper min.
In-lieu fee
$500 per tree to city fund
Planting deadline
Within 12 months of removal
Survival monitoring
2 years, applicant's responsibility

Summary

Removing a Paterson street tree of 2.5 inches DBH or larger, or a private tree above the threshold, triggers a sliding-scale replacement duty or a $500-per-tree fee to the city's tree fund.

Any person who removes one or more street tree(s) with a DBH of 2.5 inches or more, unless exempt under § 433-22, shall be subject to the requirements of the Tree Replacement Requirements Table below. ... Replacement tree(s) shall: (1) Be replaced in kind with a tree that has an equal or greater DBH than tree removed or meet the tree replacement criteria in the table below; (2) Be planted within 12 months of the date of removal of the original tree(s) or at an alternative date specified by the City.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4713536; v19 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).

Full Breakdown

Chapter 433's tree article ties replacement to the size of the tree removed: 1 replacement tree (minimum 1.5-inch caliper) for a tree of 2.5 to 12.99 inches DBH, scaling up to 4 replacement trees for anything 33 inches DBH or larger. Replacements must equal or exceed the removed tree's DBH or meet the table minimums, be planted within 12 months, and be monitored for two years. If the City finds the property can't fit the required trees, the applicant plants elsewhere with City approval or pays $500 per tree into a dedicated tree-planting fund (§ 433-21D).

Violations & Fines

Failing to meet the replacement requirement or pay the in-lieu fee is a violation of the article, fined $500 (§ 433-24).

Frequently Asked Questions

If I remove a large tree in Paterson, how many trees must I replant?
It's on a sliding scale by trunk diameter: from 1 replacement tree up to 4 for the largest trees removed, per the § 433-21 Tree Replacement Requirements Table.
Can I pay a fee instead of replanting?
Yes, if the City determines the replacement trees don't fit on the property, $500 per tree removed goes into the city's tree-planting fund, § 433-21D.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Paterson

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All Paterson rules

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