Trenton, NJ Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

9 sets the curb-lawn and on-site planting standard for all new construction citywide: every district must provide one shade tree per 40 linear feet of lot frontage along the curb lawn, regardless of use. On-site tree counts vary by district and use; single-family, two-family, and attached single-family lots of 6,000 square feet or more need one on-site tree, multi-family developments need two, and nonresidential sites of two acres or more need two trees per acre. In the C-MX, MU-T, I-L, I-G, and I-MU Districts, larger sites owe two on-site trees per acre but the requirement caps at 10 trees total.

Curb-lawn trees must be shade trees suited to the location so their roots and canopy don't damage the sidewalk, street, or utilities; the developer plants them, but the City takes over maintenance once they're in the ground. On-site trees may be either shade trees or evergreens, planted by the developer and then maintained by the property owner after individual lots sell. The curb-lawn requirement can be waived during site plan review or by the Zoning Officer if the tree would risk damaging nearby structures, its roots would harm pavement or sewer and plumbing lines, or the curb lawn and sidewalk are too narrow or otherwise unsuitable to plant safely. Existing trees already standing on-site or in the curb lawn count toward meeting the Table 11-2 totals.