How to Check an NJ Tree Company License (LTCO)

Published October 19, 2026 · Ocean County Tree Service

What New Jersey requires

Under the state's Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators Licensing Act, any business that does tree care for hire in New Jersey must be registered with the NJ Board of Tree Experts and employ at least one full-time Licensed Tree Expert (LTE) or Licensed Tree Care Operator (LTCO), depending on the services offered. The Board also says the law requires tree companies to carry minimum liability insurance and follow workers' compensation rules. An LTE is the higher credential (it covers assessments and reports); an LTCO covers the hands-on work of removals and pruning.

The two-minute lookup

Ask for the numbers: the company's NJ business registration and the name and license number of its LTE or LTCO. Legitimate companies have them ready and often print them on estimates and trucks.
Look up the license in the Board's online License Directory by name, license number, town or ZIP.
Look up the business in the Board's Business Directory, which shows the business's registration status and the licenses tied to it.
Can't find them? The Board of Tree Experts site lists a phone number and email for verification and also publishes a list of non-registered tree businesses.

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Insurance: get the certificate

Ask for a certificate of insurance (COI) showing general liability and workers' compensation, and check the dates.
Better: ask the company's insurance agent to send the certificate to you directly, so you know it's current.
Why it matters: the Board warns that many homeowner policies won't cover injuries or damage caused by an under-insured tree contractor, which can leave the bill with you. Tree work is one of the most dangerous trades, so this is not a formality.

Other red flags

Door-to-door "storm crews" from out of state right after a nor'easter, asking for cash up front.
No written estimate, or an estimate that doesn't say whether stump grinding, wood removal and cleanup are included.
Recommending "topping" a healthy tree. It weakens trees and is a sign of poor practice.
Offering to skip your town's tree permit. In Toms River, Jackson, Long Beach Township, Seaside Park and many other towns, a permit is required for many removals (see the permit guide), and the property owner can be on the hook.

How we handle it

We're a free referral service, not a tree company. Before we pass any request to a company, we ask it for its NJ LTCO number and proof of insurance, and we still recommend you check both yourself before work starts. Compare prices with our tree removal cost guide, and for storm work see emergency tree service.

Do tree companies need a license in New Jersey?

Yes. A business doing tree care for hire in NJ must be registered with the NJ Board of Tree Experts and employ at least one full-time Licensed Tree Expert or Licensed Tree Care Operator, depending on its services.

How do I look up an LTCO in New Jersey?

Use the NJ Board of Tree Experts' online License Directory (search by name, license number, city or ZIP) and its Business Directory for the company's registration.

What insurance should a tree company have?

At minimum, general liability and workers' compensation. Ask for a current certificate of insurance, ideally sent directly by the company's insurance agent.

Cost and permit guides

Sources are linked in the text and can change. This is general information, not legal, insurance or professional advice. Free referral service, not a tree company. Your request goes to one independent local tree company, which may pay us for the referral.