Perth Amboy, NJ Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Section 430-85 of the Perth Amboy City Code, in Chapter 430, Zoning and Land Development, governs street trees. Subsection A reaches any person erecting or constructing new buildings or residences in the city that require site plan or subdivision approval. That person must plant pollution-resistant shade trees on the property owner's side of the sidewalk adjacent to the property. In each subdivision the developer plants proper shade or decorative trees, of a type approved by the municipal agency, between the sidewalk and the front setback line, and the planting sites must be shown on the preliminary plat.

Subsection B fixes the location: trees go on the property owner's side of the sidewalk and cannot lie closer than 5 feet to existing or future sidewalks. Subsection C sets the count. The subdivider or developer must plant enough trees, after taking existing trees into account, to provide at least one tree in every 25 feet of front yards. Along private streets, undedicated roads, drives and parking areas, pollution-resistant shade trees go in at intervals of not more than 30 feet of curbing or edge of pavement. No tree can be planted less than 25 feet from an existing or proposed streetlight or street intersection.

The municipal agency, in consultation with the Shade Tree Commission, can reduce or waive the plantings where approved varieties already grow along the right-of-way or on the abutting property. In that case the developer donates the reduced number of planting areas to the city for planting within the city limits. Under subsection D the city selects the acceptable species, and the list can include species approved by the Middlesex County Shade Tree Commission, chosen for specific site conditions. Subsection E requires nursery-grown trees or trees of substantially uniform size and shape with straight trunks, though ornamental trees need not have straight trunks. All trees must be Grade A nursery stock with a minimum caliper of 2 to 2 1/2 inches diameter at breast height.