Toms River, NJ Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Toms River, 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
- Permit required
- any tree cut/removed
- Landmark tree
- 16-inch DBH or greater
- Governing law
- § 348-12 Woodlands Mgmt
- First-offense fine
- up to $100 (improved lot)
- Other violations
- up to $1,000 first offense
Summary
Toms River Township requires a permit before cutting, removing, or destroying any tree in the township under its Woodlands Management ordinance, with landmark trees of 16 inches DBH or greater given special preservation priority.
Unless exempted by the provisions of this article, no person shall cut, remove or destroy, or cause to destroy, any tree growing in the Township without having first obtained a permit as provided in § 348-12.8, or be subject to penalties as provided in § 348-12.16.
F. Tree preservation standards. Because disturbance of tree root zones often leads to direct and indirect damage to residual trees, the purpose of this section is to establish the rationale and criteria for protection of existing trees during site disturbance events including, but not limited to, construction activities.
(1) The tree protection zone (TPZ) is defined conceptually as a minimum no-disturbance zone immediately beneath and generally centered about the tree trunk where such trunk emerges from the natural, originating grade.
(2) Tree protection zones (TPZs) shall generally be determined via the following formula: For every inch of tree diameter recorded as DBH, one foot of radius about the base of the tree at the soil line, away from the trunk, shall be added to the circular TPZ. Thus, a twelve-inch DBH tree would be at the center of a circular TPZ nominally 24 feet in diameter.
(3) Where required, minimum diameter of a TPZ shall be 16 feet for trees eight inches in DBH and smaller.
(4)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4954830; v33 updated 2026-04-22; through 04-22-2026).
Full Breakdown
Article XII, Woodlands Management (§ 348-12), requires a tree removal permit under § 348-12.8 before any tree in the Township is cut, removed, or destroyed, unless the activity is exempted under § 348-12.4: homeowner removal of dead, dying, or hazardous trees, for example. Landmark trees, defined as any tree with a DBH of 16 inches or greater or of unique historic or ecological value, receive extra weight: a tree management plan must identify every landmark tree in the disturbance zone, and the applicant must make all efforts to preserve them, including relocating infrastructure if necessary.
Violations & Fines
Violating this article on an improved residential lot draws up to $100 first offense, $500 repeat; other violations carry up to $1,000 and 30 days' community service, per § 348-12.16.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Toms River Township?
What counts as a landmark tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Toms River
Compare Toms River to another location·View the New Jersey landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle tree removal & heritage trees.