Tree Removal & Stump Grinding in Deal, NJ

Deal is the small, wealthy oceanfront borough between Allenhurst to the south and the Elberon section of Long Branch to the north, with Ocean Township on its west side. Big estate homes on Ocean Avenue, Monmouth Road and Norwood Avenue sit on deep lots with tall privet and arborvitae hedges, specimen beeches, oaks and maples, and rows of shore pines and hollies screening the street, and there is steady teardown-and-rebuild construction. Tree work here leans toward careful pruning and hedge work, clearing for new houses, and storm cleanup on oceanfront blocks that take the full wind and salt. Tell us about your job and we'll pass it to one local, independent tree company that serves Deal.

Tree services you can request in Deal

Tree permits in Deal

Deal's rules are in Deal Borough Code § 30-66.1 (Tree Removal-Replacement, Ord. 1293), adopted October 7, 2024 and enforced by the Borough's Conservation Officer and Police. As posted when we checked on November 3, 2026:

Permits cover private property too: you need the Conservation Officer's approval before removing a street tree 2.5 inches or more across, or any other tree 6 inches or more on your lot. No tree comes down until the removal is approved.
Application fee: the code ties the fee to tree size: $155 for trunks up to 22.99 inches and $275 for 23 inches and up. Ask Borough Hall how it's counted for several trees. The Borough's form (updated September 2026) asks for your block and lot, a survey or plot plan and photos, and the tree company's NJ Tree Care license number, since contractors must be registered with the state.
Replacement: 1 to 4 new trees (1.5-inch caliper) per tree removed by size, or $240, $660, $2,440 or $3,680 per tree if not replanted. Replacements go in within 12 months and must be kept alive for 2 years.
Exemptions from replacement: residents who remove fewer than 4 trees per acre (trunks under 33 inches) in a rolling five-year window are exempt from replacement. Hazard trees (dead, dying, diseased or infested, damaging foundations or sidewalks, or blocking signs) can come down with no fee or replacement. Either way, you must justify it in writing with photos or a licensed tree expert's statement.
Street trees: under Ordinance 1220 (Ch. XI, § 11-4.2), pruning or removing a tree in the public right-of-way also needs approval from the Borough Administrator.

Download the Borough's Tree Removal Application and call Borough Hall (732-531-1454) to confirm what the Conservation Officer needs. If you're building, the tree inventory goes with your site plan. Apply before anyone cuts, even when you think you're exempt.

Local notes for Deal

Big specimen trees: large beeches, oaks and maples on estate lots are often over roofs, pools and hardscape, so removals here frequently need rigging or a crane, and a permit regardless of the tree's health (crane tree removal, crane removal cost).
Teardowns and new builds: clearing for a new house means a tree inventory, a Conservation Officer review and likely replacement trees or fees, so put trees in the project budget early (lot clearing, NJ tree permit guide).
Oceanfront wind and salt: Ocean Avenue properties take nor'easters head-on, and pines, hollies and hedges show salt burn after a winter storm. Thinning and checking big limbs before winter cuts storm damage (nor'easter tree damage, ice and snow load prep).
Licensed crews only: Deal's form asks for the contractor's NJ Tree Care number, so check that any company you hire is registered with the state (tree trimming, trimming cost).
Neighbors: Asbury Park (just past Allenhurst and Loch Arbour), plus Allenhurst, Ocean Township (Monmouth) and Long Branch.

Before you hire

New Jersey requires tree care businesses to be licensed through the NJ Board of Tree Experts. Ask for the company's Licensed Tree Care Operator number and certificate of insurance. For stump grinding, the free 811 utility markout is required before digging (NJ One Call).

Storm damage or a tree on a wire?

If there is immediate danger, call 911. Stay away from downed lines and report them to your electric utility (JCP&L, 1-888-544-4877, also serves this part of Monmouth County). Then see what to do after a storm and what insurance usually covers.