West New York, NJ Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in West New York, 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
- Public shade tree permit
- $25 per tree, Building Department
- Certificate of no interest, private lot
- $15 per tree
- Multiple trees on one lot, six months
- Soil disturbance permit, Construction Department
- Replacement tree size
- At least six feet tall, three to five inches caliper
- Replacement deadline
- Within six months of permit issuance
- Fine for no replacement
- $250 per month
Summary
In the Town of West New York, NJ, removing or damaging a public shade tree needs a Building Department permit at $25 per tree. Trees on residential lots are exempt unless they sit on or extend over a Town right-of-way, but a $15 certificate of no interest is still required, and every removal must be replaced within six months.
§ 379-1. Permit to remove trees required; fee. A. No person shall remove, break, damage, alter, kill, destroy, mutilate or cut down any shade tree located on any of the public streets or places, including any public right-of-way, without first obtaining a permit from the office of the Building Department of the Town of West New York. B. The fee for obtaining said permit shall be $25 per tree, which must be paid upon the filing of the application for permit. ... § 379-7. Replacement trees. In the event that any property owner removes a tree pursuant to any provision of this chapter, a replacement tree shall be planted at or near the location of the tree which was removed. Said replacement must be made within six months of the issuance of the tree removal permit, and the replacement tree must be of a height of at least six feet and three inches to five inches caliper (width).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 379, Tree Removal (Ord. No. 25/15, adopted 12-16-2015), governs trees in the Town of West New York, Hudson County, New Jersey. Section 379-1 A bars any person from removing, breaking, damaging, altering, killing, destroying, mutilating or cutting down any shade tree on a public street or place, including any public right-of-way, without first obtaining a permit from the office of the Building Department. Subsection B sets the fee at $25 per tree, paid when the application is filed by check or money order payable to the Town of West New York.
Section 379-2 adds a tier for multiple removals. When more than one tree comes off a single lot within a six-month period, whether under § 379-1, § 379-3 or § 379-4, the person must apply for a soil disturbance permit from the Construction Department. That department reviews the environmental impact of the removals and the related soil disturbance and issues the permit if it finds likely no to minimal environmental impact. The per-tree fees still apply.
Section 379-3 covers private property. A tree on a lot designated residential under the Zoning Map needs no permit under §§ 379-1, 379-2 and 379-4, so long as it does not reside on or extend over a right-of-way in which the Town holds an interest. Anyone removing a tree under that section still must obtain a certificate of no interest from the Town before removing it or cutting any limbs, for $15 per tree.
Section 379-7 requires a replacement tree at or near the spot, planted within six months of issuance of the removal permit, at least six feet tall and three to five inches in caliper. The Building Department keeps the list of approved species. A refused applicant can appeal to the Board of Commissioners under § 379-10 on not less than five days' written notice, with a hearing fixed no later than 30 days after the notice is received. Section 379-5 lets an owner remove a tree the Police, Fire or Building Department declares unsafe, then apply for the permit immediately.
Violations & Fines
Failing to plant the replacement tree under § 379-7 A costs the property owner $250 per month that the tree stays unreplaced. Section 379-9 directs any member of the public who observes a violation to forward written notice to the Building Department, whose representative must act as necessary to assist enforcement. Chapter 379 prints no other fine amount, so removal without the required permit is enforced through that notice process and the permit and replacement conditions above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my residential lot in West New York?
How much is a tree removal permit in the Town of West New York?
Must I plant a replacement tree after removal?
What if the Town refuses my tree permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West New York
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle tree removal & heritage trees.