Trenton, NJ Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Street tree permit trigger
- DBH 2.5 inches or more
- Non-street tree trigger
- DBH 6 inches or more
- Replacement scale
- 1-4 trees by size removed
- Fee range
- $25 to $100 by category
- In-lieu fee
- $300 per tree
- Small-removal exemption
- Under 4 trees/acre in 5 years
Summary
Trenton requires a Tree Permit before removing any street tree with a trunk 2.5 inches or more in diameter, or any other tree six inches or more in diameter, under City Code § 287-3, with replacement trees or a per-tree fee required based on the size removed.
A. Application process: (1) Any person planning to remove a street tree, as defined as Tree removal, with DBH of 2.5 inches or more or any non-street tree with DBH of 6 inches or more on their property shall submit a Tree Permit to the City of Trenton. No tree shall be removed until City officials have reviewed and approved the removal.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4853025; v21 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 287 protects trees citywide, not just on development sites reviewed under the zoning ordinance. 5 inches or more, or any non-street tree with a DBH of six inches or more, to submit a Tree Permit to the City and get approval from the Department of Recreation, Natural Resources and Culture before removal. 99 inches requires three trees and a $75 fee; and 33 inches or more requires four trees and a $100 fee. Replacement trees must go in within 12 months, be monitored for two years, and cannot be planted in temporary pots.
If replacement can't happen on the property, the City may direct planting elsewhere or accept a $300-per-tree fee into a dedicated tree-planting fund. Section 287-14 exempts residents removing fewer than four trees per acre in the lowest three categories within a rolling five-year period, tree farms, nurseries, and orchards, active forest-stewardship properties, trees removed under a state or federal environmental cleanup or habitat plan, and hazard trees, which need no fee or replacement at all once verified.
Violations & Fines
Removing a covered tree without a permit is enforced by the Superintendent of Trees and the Superintendent of Parks, who may issue summonses under § 287-15 in Trenton Municipal Court. Under § 287-16, a violation is punished under the citywide general penalty (up to a $2,000 fine per § 1-17), but the fine cannot be set lower than the cost of the required replacement tree and its planting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my Trenton yard?
What does it cost to remove a large tree in Trenton?
Can a Trenton resident remove a dead or hazardous tree without a permit fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Trenton
Compare Trenton to another location·View the New Jersey tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.