Lakewood, NJ Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Species protected
- Dozens of named species, e.g. red maple, tulip tree
- Trigger diameter
- Ranges 12 in (holly) to 40 in (tulip tree)
- General tree permit
- Required at 10-inch DBH, § 19-3a
- Specimen tree removal
- Needs Code Enforcement Officer approval, § 19-3b
- Replacement ratio
- 1 in new tree per 4 in removed
- Penalty
- Up to $2,000 per tree, § 19-16a
Summary
Lakewood Township names dozens of specific tree species as protected 'specimen trees' once they exceed a listed trunk diameter, from a 12-inch American holly to a 40-inch tulip tree, under UDO § 18-803H2i. A Township permit is required before any specimen tree comes down, and removed ones must be replaced.
SPECIMEN TREE – Any tree from the following list with a diameter exceeding the size specified: Tree species, cultivar or variety Diameter Exceeding A. concolor 18" Acer negundo 18" A. nigrum 25" A. platanoides 29" A. rubrum 30" A. saccharinum 35" A. saccharum 25" ... Ulmus americana 34" ... Where the Board, whichever has jurisdiction, determines that it is impossible to retain specimen trees as defined by this section, due to cutting, filling, or other construction activity, the applicant shall plant one (1") inch of new deciduous tree diameter for every four (4") inches of existing specimen tree diameter removed.
Full Breakdown
Article VIII, § 18-803H of the Unified Development Ordinance and Chapter 19 of the Township Code work together to protect specific tree species by name, not just trees in general. Section 18-803H2i lists "SPECIMEN TREE" species with the trunk diameter that triggers protection: red maple over 30 inches, sugar maple over 25 inches, white ash over 26 inches, tulip tree over 40 inches, American holly over 12 inches, and dozens of others down to black gum at 25 inches and American elm at 34 inches.
Chapter 19's own definitions section, § 19-2, cross-references that same list directly, defining SPECIMEN TREE as those trees listed in Section 18-803H2 of the UDO. Any tree with a diameter at breast height of 10 inches or more, specimen or not, needs a Township tree removal permit before it can come down under § 19-3a, but specimen and historic trees get an extra layer: § 19-3b makes it unlawful to remove a designated specimen or historic tree without the Code Enforcement Officer's approval, evaluated against hazard-tree guides referenced in that subsection.
On a development application, § 18-803H6a requires replacement once a specimen tree cannot be saved: the applicant must plant 1 inch of new deciduous tree diameter for every 4 inches of specimen tree diameter removed, with replacement evergreens measured by height instead, or pay into the Township's tree escrow fund in lieu of planting. A. 40:64-1, oversees the Township's broader Community Forestry Management Plan that this chapter implements.
Violations & Fines
Removing a specimen or historic tree, or any tree with a diameter of 10 inches or more, without a permit is a violation of Chapter 19. Section 19-16a sets the penalty at up to $2,000 per offense, with each illegally removed tree counted as a separate violation and each day of continued violation a distinct offense, and the court can order restitution or replacement on top of the fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a tree a protected 'specimen tree' in Lakewood?
Do I need a permit to remove any tree in Lakewood Township?
What happens if I have to remove a protected specimen tree?
What is the penalty for removing a specimen tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle protected tree species.