Stafford Township, NJ Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

Chapter 194, the Tree Ordinance, was amended in its entirety on 6-27-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-21. Section 194-2 defines a TREE OF SIGNIFICANCE as any tree recognized by the municipal governing body or local historical organization(s) as being of significance due to its size, unique value, age, rarity, or aesthetic, botanical, ecological and historical value. The chapter prints no separate designation procedure or register, so recognition comes from the Township governing body or a local historical group.

The chapter applies to lands that are the subject of a construction permit for a new residence or addition, a minor or major subdivision, or minor or major site plan approval (§ 194-3). No one can remove or destroy a tree without a permit or an exemption (§ 194-4A). Applications go to the Department of Community Development and Planning for a street tree with a DBH of 2.5 inches or more, or a non-street tree with a DBH of six inches or more. New residential construction pays a $25 filing fee for each building lot.

A tree of significance sits in category 5 of the Tree Replacement Requirements table: replant five trees with minimum DBHs of 1.5 inches for each tree removed, and the Township reserves the right to deny any application to remove it. Replacement trees must come from the Rutgers COOP Native Tree List, be planted within 12 months, and be monitored by the applicant for two years. When replacements cannot fit on the property, the applicant plants them in a separate area the Township approves or pays $300 per tree removed into a fund dedicated to tree planting (§ 194-6F). Nuisance trees are exempt from the fee and replacement requirement (§ 194-7F). The Zoning Officer, Code Enforcement Officer, Township Engineer, Township Planner and Police Department enforce the chapter (§ 194-8). Separate protection for specimen trees appears in § 130-53 of the land development chapter.