Hoboken, NJ Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected tree threshold
- dbh of 4 inches or greater
- Specimen tree threshold
- dbh of 16 inches or greater
- Construction protection
- Wooden tree guards required at every retained tree
- Excavation buffer
- 8 feet or dripline, whichever is greater
- Grade change limit
- No more than 6 inches near dripline
- Penalty per violation
- $250 to $2,500 per tree
- Enforcing bodies
- Shade Tree Commission and Administrative Officer
Summary
In the City of Hoboken, Chapter 169 of the City Code protects any tree with a trunk diameter of four inches or more, measured at breast height, and gives extra status to a SPECIMEN TREE, defined as any tree with a dbh of 16 inches or greater. The Shade Tree Commission and Administrative Officer enforce wooden tree guard protections during construction, with penalties up to $2,500 per tree for violations.
SPECIMEN TREE Any tree with a dbh of 16 inches or greater. ... TREE Any deciduous or coniferous species which reaches a typical mature height of 10 feet or more. An individual tree for the purpose of this chapter has a dbh of four inches or greater. A specimen with multiple trunks will be considered an individual tree with a dbh of 1/2 of the sum of the diameters of the trunks. ... Tree ... preservation during construction. (1) Any tree which is to remain on-site and/or within the public right-of-way shall be protected with wooden tree guards in compliance with the Shade Tree Commission Standard Detail for Tree Protection During Construction.
Full Breakdown
Hoboken City Code Chapter 169, Trees, defines the trees it protects by trunk size rather than species. Under § 169-3, TREE means any deciduous or coniferous species reaching a typical mature height of 10 feet or more, with an individual tree counted once it has a diameter at breast height (dbh) of four inches or greater; a multi-trunked tree is measured as half the sum of its trunk diameters. Any tree meeting or exceeding a dbh of 16 inches is classified as a SPECIMEN TREE, a threshold that triggers heightened review by the Hoboken Shade Tree Commission (HSTC) on development applications.
Section 169-4 sets protection duties for all covered trees in the City of Hoboken: utilities must guard wires against contact with trees (169-4A), no person may let brine, gas, or waste contact a tree's stem or roots (169-4B), no one may hitch animals to a tree or attach locks, signs, or permanent lighting to one (169-4D, E), and garbage may not be placed within one foot of a tree pit (169-4F). During construction, § 169-4G requires wooden tree guards at every tree to remain on-site or in the right-of-way, built to the Shade Tree Commission's Standard Detail for Tree Protection During Construction, and bars excavation, soil deposit, or grade changes greater than six inches within a tree's dripline or eight feet, whichever is larger. Projects before the Zoning or Planning Board must submit a tree protection plan under 169-4G(3) for Commission review before construction begins.
Violations & Fines
Under § 169-15A, each tree cut, damaged, or destroyed in violation of Chapter 169 is a separate offense, punishable by a penalty of not less than $250 nor more than $2,500 per violation. The City may also sue in chancery for injunctive relief and can require the responsible party to replace illegally removed or damaged trees, or make an equivalent contribution to the Shade Tree Trust Fund. A Code Enforcement Officer may revoke a related tree permit for noncompliance under § 169-15C.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tree does Hoboken protect?
What makes a tree a specimen tree in Hoboken?
Can I attach a sign or lighting to a street tree in Hoboken?
What happens if a protected tree is damaged during construction in Hoboken?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hoboken
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