Bergen County Shade Tree Federation coordinates county-level tree work. Each municipality has its own Shade Tree Commission under N.J.S.A. 40:64-1 requiring permits to remove street and public trees.
Bergen County is home to one of NJ's most active networks of municipal Shade Tree Commissions, organized under the NJ Shade Tree Act (N.J.S.A. 40:64-1 et seq.). Nearly every Bergen borough — Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Tenafly, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Englewood, Paramus — has a Shade Tree Commission that regulates removal, trimming, and replacement of public and street trees. Removal of any street tree or tree in a public right-of-way requires Shade Tree Commission approval, typically with a replacement planting requirement. Some municipalities (Ridgewood, Tenafly, Englewood) extend protection to 'significant' private trees (typically 24-inch DBH or larger). Trees on Bergen County Parks property and along county roadways are managed by the Bergen County Parks Department Tree Division. Private property routine trimming follows ISA A300 standards; no permit needed for your own trees unless they're designated specimens.
Unauthorized street tree removal: $500-$5,000 per tree plus replacement. Private significant tree violation (Ridgewood/Tenafly): $1,000-$5,000. Root damage to street tree: repair cost plus fine.
See how Bergen County's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.