Passaic, NJ Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Section 289-2A bars any person from doing or causing to be done several listed acts affecting trees, shrubbery, or ornamental material growing within highways or public places under the city's jurisdiction 'except with a written permit first obtained from the Department of Parks and Public Property,' and subsection A(2) lists 'plant or set out any tree in any street or park' as one of those permitted acts. The chapter defines the ground a street tree occupies in Section 289-1: a PLANTING STRIP is 'the part of a street right-of-way between the public right-of-way and the portion of the street reserved for vehicular traffic or between the abutting property line and the curb or traveled portion of the street, exclusive of any sidewalk,' and a STREET TREE is one planted 'in the sidewalk, planting strip, and/or in the public right-of-way adjacent to the portion of the street reserved for vehicular traffic,' including trees in medians, islands, and pedestrian refuges.

The April 18, 2024 amendment (Ord. No. 2445-24) attached Appendix A, an approved list of tree species and planting standards, to control what species may be planted and how. The Department of Parks and Public Property, defined to include its Director and any person the Director assigns, administers the permit and may adopt further rules under Section 289-10. Anyone planting without the required permit is subject to the chapter-wide fine set at Section 289-2D.