Tree Removal in West New York, NJ

Tree removal in West New York can involve a town form even when the tree stands in your own yard. Chapter 379 of the town code, rewritten by Ordinance 25/15 at the end of 2015, separates trees tied to streets and other town land from trees on private residential lots, and each path has its own steps, fees and follow-up.

Private lots and the certificate of no interest

Section 379-3 generally exempts trees on residentially zoned lots from the main permit sections, as long as the tree does not stand on or extend over a right-of-way in which the town holds an interest. Even so, the code calls for a certificate of no interest from the town, listed at $15 per tree. Section 379-2 calls for a soil disturbance permit from the Construction Department when more than one tree is removed from a single lot within six months, but Section 379-3 lists residential lots as exempt from 379-2, so ask the Building Department which applies to your lot before work begins.

Shade trees along the street

For shade trees on public streets and places, Section 379-1 requires a Building Department permit, at $25 per tree, before removal. Section 379-7 then calls for a replacement planted at or near the original spot within six months, chosen from the department's approved species list, with a $250-per-month fine if it is not planted. Cutting limbs on trees within street lines takes a $5 permit for anyone other than the property owner, and Section 379-4 lets an owner take off dead, diseased, broken or decayed limbs that endanger the public without one.

When roots lift the sidewalk

Section 379-6 deals with a problem easy to spot on older blocks: roots heaving a sidewalk slab. Once you receive a town notice about sidewalk damage, the code says to contact the Building Department for an inspection. It prefers root trimming, ideally during dormancy, and allows removal only if absolutely necessary. That order of preference shapes how we plan:

• Expose and cut back the offending roots in the dormant season, if the inspector agrees
• Thin or reduce the crown when root loss could leave the tree top-heavy
• Remove the tree and grind the stump only when trimming is not enough

Wind on the cliff side

West New York sits atop the Palisades, with high-rise apartments lining Boulevard East and the highest point in Hudson County inside town limits. Trees near the eastern edge, around building grounds and terraces, can catch wind coming across the Hudson with little shelter. For those, our pruning aims at lowering sail area and clearing dead wood that could drop onto walkways or parking areas.

Quotes and cleanup

There is no charge for the on-site estimate, and the quote arrives in writing. Logs, branches and chips are hauled off at the end, and sweeping the sidewalk is part of cleanup. Call (201) 957-7596 to book a visit.