Tree Removal & Stump Grinding in Neptune Township, NJ

Neptune Township is the big Monmouth County shore township that wraps around Neptune City, from Ocean Grove on the ocean to Shark River Hills on the bluffs above the Shark River and west past Jersey Shore University Medical Center, the Route 66 corridor and Shark River Park. Housing runs from older Cape Cods and two-family homes on tight lots to wooded split-levels on the west side, so tree work ranges from big oaks and maples over roofs and wires to sandy-soil oaks and pines that tip in nor'easters. Tell us about your job and we'll pass it to one local, independent tree company that serves Neptune Township.

Tree services you can request in Neptune Township

Tree permits in Neptune Township

Neptune's rules are in Neptune Township Code, Ch. 12, § 12-4 (Tree Removal and Tree Cutting), enforced by the Township's Conservation Officer, with permits issued by the Zoning Officer. As posted when we checked on November 2, 2026:

The general rule: no one may remove a tree 4 inches or more across without a Tree Removal Permit, issued after the Conservation Officer inspects.
The big homeowner exemption: an existing single-family home is exempt from the permit section as long as the owner is clearing one acre or less. For most house lots in Neptune, taking down a backyard tree doesn't need a Township tree permit.
Who still files: HOAs and condo associations, multifamily and commercial properties, and anyone building or subdividing. An HOA needs its board's approval first, and can remove up to 10 trees a year on a property with no replacement trees. Commercial sites replace every tree.
Fees and replacement when a permit applies: $15 per tree (capped at $300 per new building lot or $600 per acre). Replacement runs 1 to 8 trees per tree removed by size, or $240, $660, $2,440 or $3,680 per tree into the Tree Escrow Fund. Dead and diseased trees don't count, trees over 20 inches need the Conservation Officer's written OK, and permits last one year.
Clearance rules for everyone: under § 12-2.3A, trees and shrubs must keep 12 feet of clearance over the street at the curb, and plants within 25 feet of an intersection must be kept to 30 inches.

A street tree between the sidewalk and curb is a different matter from a backyard tree. Ask the Zoning Office (732-988-5200 ext. 278) before anyone cuts one. If you're an HOA, condo or business, download the Township's Tree Removal Permit application. If you're in Ocean Grove, there are extra steps; see our Ocean Grove page.

Local notes for Neptune Township

Shark River Hills: houses on the slopes above the Shark River have big oaks on steep, windy lots, so removals often need rigging or a crane rather than a straight drop (crane tree removal, crane removal cost).
West side woods: wooded lots toward Shark River Park and Tinton Falls have sandy ground where oaks and pines uproot in a soaked nor'easter; watch for leaning trunks and lifted soil (pine and oak warning signs, spongy moth and oaks).
Invasives count: Neptune requires owners to keep invasive plants such as running bamboo and vines from spreading past their lot line, with fines from $100; clearing vines out of a tree is also a good storm-prep step (lot clearing, ice and snow load prep).
Neighbors: Ocean Grove, Neptune City, Bradley Beach and Wall Township.

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.