Bergen County does not maintain a formal heritage tree registry, but historic and specimen trees on county park land are protected under the Parks System Rules. Many municipalities, including Bergenfield and Woodcliff Lake, designate landmark trees with stricter removal rules and replacement formulas.
While Bergen County itself does not operate a heritage tree program, the Parks System Rules and Regulations protect every tree and shrub on county park properties from damage or removal without written authorization, which functionally protects historic and specimen trees in parks like Van Saun, Tenafly Nature Center adjacent lands, and the New Bridge Landing area. At the municipal level, several Bergen County boroughs designate specific landmark or heritage trees; Bergenfield Chapter 291 and Woodcliff Lake Chapter 355 set diameter thresholds (often 24 inches DBH) for specimen status and require enhanced replacement, sometimes 3:1 or by appraised value. New Jersey also operates a state Big Tree program through the Forest Service.
Damaging a designated heritage tree typically results in restitution at appraised value, plus fines of $1,000 to $2,500 per tree under municipal ordinances.
Bergenfield, NJ
Bergenfield Chapter 291 requires a written Shade Tree Committee permit before cutting, trimming, climbing, or removing any tree on a public right-of-way or p...
Bergenfield, NJ
Bergenfield Chapter 291 requires property owners and contractors to replace shade trees that fail to thrive within one year of completing construction or imp...
See how other cities in Bergen County handle heritage & protected trees.
See how Bergenfield's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
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