Monroe Township (Gloucester County), NJ Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Article II of Chapter 31 of the Monroe Township Code (Gloucester County) governs planting in the strip between property lines. Section 31-6 defines street trees broadly as trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation on land lying between property lines on either side of all streets, avenues, or ways within the township, so the rules reach shrubs as well as trees.

Section 31-12 adopts an official street tree species list, printed at the end of the chapter, and bars any other species unless the Township Tree Commission gives written permission. The list sorts species into small, medium and large size classes, and those classes drive every distance rule that follows.

Spacing under § 31-13 is 30 feet for small trees, 40 feet for medium trees and 50 feet for large trees, with an exception for special plantings designed or approved by a landscape architect. Section 31-14 sets the minimum distance from any curb, curbline or sidewalk at two feet for small trees, three feet for medium trees and four feet for large trees. Section 31-15 keeps street trees at least 35 feet from any street corner, measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curblines, and at least 10 feet from any fireplug.

Section 31-16 adds a utility rule: only species listed as small trees may be planted under or within 10 lateral feet of an overhead utility wire, or over or within five lateral feet of an underground waterline, sewer line, transmission line or other utility.

Residents are not shut out of the process. Section 31-17(B) states that adjacent property owners may plant street trees, provided the selection and location follow §§ 31-12 through 31-16. The Township keeps the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees within street lines and public grounds, and § 31-21 requires stumps of street and park trees to be removed below the surface of the ground.

New subdivisions run on a different yardstick. Section 175-132(B) of the Land Management chapter has the developer plant shade or decorative trees along both sides of each street at a maximum of 50 feet and a minimum of 40 feet between trees, and at least 15 feet from the curbline.