Ocean County, NJ Tree Protection: Tree Replacement Requirements (2026)

Tree replacement ordinances across Ocean County municipalities balance canopy preservation with development needs. Toms River Township Code §363-7 establishes replacement at 1:1 for trees 8-24 inches DBH, 2:1 for larger trees, with minimum 2-inch caliper nursery stock. Approved species list includes native oaks (white, red, scarlet), American holly, sugar maple, and pitch pine. Brick Township §245 requires replacement for permitted removals with species diversity requirements to resist monoculture failures. Jackson Township §244 applies 1:1 to 3:1 depending on size and whether the tree was a specimen. Pinelands municipalities must replant with Pinelands-native species under CMP N.J.A.C. 7:50-6.27 — pitch pine, shortleaf pine, black oak, scarlet oak, blackjack oak, Atlantic white cedar (in wetlands). Replacement trees must be planted within 6 months (barring winter dormancy) and maintained for 2 years. Fee-in-lieu: Toms River allows payment to the municipal tree fund ($300 per required tree, varies) when replanting on-site is infeasible. LBI municipalities require salt-tolerant species (Japanese black pine alternatives now recommended due to pine wilt). Certificate of Occupancy may be withheld until tree replacement confirmed.