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

Section 108-12.30, Street trees, in Chapter 108 Land Development, applies to any person erecting or constructing new buildings or residences in the Township that require site plan or subdivision approval. In each subdivision the developer plants shade or decorative trees between the sidewalk and the right-of-way line, of a type approved by the municipal agency in consultation with the Shade Tree Commission, and planting sites are shown on the preliminary plat. Street trees go on the property owner's side of the sidewalk, not closer than five feet to existing or future sidewalks, within the municipal right-of-way in a place that does not interfere with utilities. Species are pollution-resistant varieties selected by the Shade Tree Commission, and they can include species approved by the Middlesex County Shade Tree Commission.

Spacing is at least one tree in every 50 feet of front yards, taking existing trees into account. Along all private streets, undedicated roads, drives and parking areas, trees go at intervals of not more than 50 feet of curbing or edge of pavement, and no tree is planted less than 25 feet from an existing or proposed streetlight or street intersection. Trees must be nursery grown or of substantially uniform size and shape with straight trunks, though ornamental trees need not have straight trunks, and all trees must be Grade A nursery stock with a minimum caliper of two to two-and-one-half (2 1/2) inches measured one foot from the butt. The municipal agency in consultation with the Shade Tree Commission can reduce or waive plantings where approved varieties already grow along the right-of-way or on the abutting property, and the developer then donates to the Shade Tree Fund in lieu of the required plantings.

Chapter 96 governs trees once they stand in public ground. Section 96-1 gives the Shade Tree Commission full and exclusive control over planting and care of shade and ornamental trees in any public highway, park, parkway or public right-of-way, excluding state or county highways unless the proper authority gives assent. Section 96-2 bars planting or removing a living tree or shrub on Township land, or excavating within six feet of a tree or shrub in a public highway or place, unless the Shade Tree Commission first gives permission.