Trenton, NJ Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Section 287-5, Tree trimming at City's direction, applies whenever limbs, branches or other parts of trees extend over or into any public thoroughfare so as to interfere with its free and uninterrupted use. The Department may give the property owner or person in control written notice to trim within a time specified in the notice, which cannot be less than 10 days. If the owner fails to comply within that time, the Department itself trims or detaches the offending limbs, then bills the owner for the money spent.

If the owner does not reimburse the City within 30 days of billing, the City can sue in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect, with proceeds returned to the municipal appropriation that funded the work. Separately, § 287-5(C) makes clear that if limbs must be cut for a reason other than ordinary travel on the thoroughfare, the person whose use of the thoroughfare required the trimming must pay the expense of the work, which is still done under Department direction. This sits inside Chapter 287, Trees, adopted in its entirety by Ordinance 24-38 on May 9, 2024, and administered by the Department of Recreation, Natural Resources and Culture (§ 287-1), which also enforces the related permit and removal-for-hazard provisions elsewhere in the same chapter.