Tree Removal in Lyndhurst, NJ

Tree removal in Lyndhurst means working where people live: the township's homes and yards sit on its western side. The Passaic River forms the western border, and the eastern portion is uninhabited Meadowlands wetland. Lyndhurst sits only about 10 feet above sea level, and that low, flat setting shapes how we plan equipment and access.

Chapter 26 in plain terms

In Lyndhurst the Department of Public Works holds jurisdiction over shade trees (§ 26-1); the Advisory Shade Tree Committee advises but has no regulating power. Since November 12, 2024, Ordinance No. 3215-24 has added removal and replacement rules. Taking down a non-street tree 6 inches or more in diameter at breast height requires a Tree Removal Application to the Superintendent of Public Works, and the code says no tree is to be removed until officials have reviewed and approved it (§ 26-14.3). Check the chapter and call the DPW at 201-438-5478 before you schedule. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.

The one-tree exemption and hazard trees

Two exemptions in § 26-14.4 matter most to homeowners:

• A resident may remove one tree per property in size Categories 1 to 3 (up to 32.99 inches) within five years without replacing it, with written justification
• A hazard tree may be removed with no fee or replacement, with the reason given in writing

Outside those, replacements follow a size-based table requiring between one and four new plantings, and if they cannot go on the lot the code sets a payment of $250 per required replacement tree. The table lists the application fee itself as $0.

Stumps close to the curb

Grinding a stump near the sidewalk can reach into the root zone of a township tree. § 26-6(b) requires written DPW permission to excavate within two feet of a tree or shrub, and § 26-2 covers root disturbance of trees on public streets. When a stump sits beside a street tree, we flag it on the quote so you can clear it with the DPW before the grinder goes in.

Flat lots and soft ground

Level yards make it easier to bring a chipper or a crane close to a tree, but low ground can stay soft after long rains. On wet lawns we lay ground mats to protect the turf and driveway edges, and we may move a job date when the ground is too soft for heavy equipment. If a tree or a large limb has come down, call (201) 957-7596 about emergency service.

Ash trees in Bergen County

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture reported emerald ash borer in Bergen County in 2015, with the county's detection in Hillsdale. The federal emerald ash borer quarantine ended on January 14, 2021, so the beetle is now managed without that federal program. If you have decided to remove an ash, the township's Chapter 26 rules still apply, and the one-tree exemption covers only one tree per property in five years.