Long Branch, NJ Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Buffer required
- 2 feet of open soil at base
- Permit needed for
- planting in street/park/parkway
- Approving body
- City Council or its designee
- Chapter adopted
- 1971 (Ord. No. 590)
- Reorganized
- 2024 by Ord. No. 16-24
Summary
No one may plant a shade or ornamental tree in a Long Branch street, park, or parkway without approval of the species and exact spot from the City Council or its designee, under Code § 319-2. A protected two-foot buffer of open soil must also be kept around every public tree's base.
No person shall plant or cause to be planted any shade or ornamental tree or shrub in any street or park unless the planting shall have been first approved and the place where it is to be planted designated by the Council of the City of Long Branch or its designee and a permit has been granted. ... No person shall do or cause to be done by others to any tree, shrub or plant on a public street or place either purposely, carelessly or negligently or in any manner without the permission of the Council of the City of Long Branch or its designee any of the following acts: ... Cut, prune, climb with spikes, break, damage or remove.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4904719; v48 updated 2026-06-10; through 06-10-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 319, adopted in 1971 and reorganized into Article I by Ord. No. 16-24 in 2024, defines a 'shade tree' as any shade or ornamental tree or shrub located or planted in a public street, park, or parkway, other than county or state rights-of-way (§ 319-1). Anyone planting a tree or shrub in a city street or park first needs the location approved and a permit granted by the City Council or its designee (§ 319-2A). The same permission requirement covers cutting, pruning, climbing with spikes, breaking, or removing a public tree, disturbing its roots, spraying it with chemicals, fastening ropes, wires, or signs to it, or damaging any protective guard around it (§ 319-2B).
An open space of at least two feet must be kept clear around the base of every public street tree, except where a curb or sidewalk limits it (§ 319-3). Depositing salt, brine, oil, or other plant-harming substances near a public tree, or building a fire or running heat-generating equipment close enough to injure one, is also prohibited (§ 319-4). Sidewalk paving, curbing, and excavation work within two feet of a public tree needs the Council's consent, and contractors doing nearby construction must install guards to protect the tree (§ 319-5).
The Council or its designee can order removal of any public or private tree found dangerous to public safety, giving reasonable notice unless the danger is immediate (§ 319-7).
Violations & Fines
A violation of the street-tree planting and protection rules in Article I is punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I of the City Code (§ 319-9). The City Council or its designee may also independently order removal of a hazardous or unlawfully altered street tree under § 319-7, separate from any court penalty, and may deny a planting permit outright if the proposed species or location was not first approved under § 319-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to plant a tree in front of my house in Long Branch?
How much space has to be kept clear around a Long Branch street tree?
Can a utility company trim a city tree for line clearance without permission?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Branch
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