Last updated July 2026
Yes — for almost any tree you’d hire a professional for. Cherry Hill Township requires a Tree Removal Permit before removing any tree with a trunk diameter of 5 inches or more (measured 4.5 feet up the trunk), anywhere in the township. The good news: the residential permit is free. The rules come from Chapter 21 of the township code (“Regulation of Trees,” adopted 2022), administered by the Department of Public Works.
This is worth knowing before you call any tree company, because Cherry Hill’s ordinance is stricter than many homeowners expect — it covers dead trees, counts heavy trimming as removal, and caps how many healthy trees you can take down in a year. Here is the whole system in plain English.
Why does a suburb regulate trees on private land at all? Because the canopy is the town. Cherry Hill’s neighborhoods were planted with their houses in the 1950s and 60s, and those builder-planted oaks and maples — now 60 to 70 years old — are collectively what makes the streets feel like Cherry Hill. The ordinance exists to slow the loss of that mature canopy while still letting homeowners remove trees that are dead, dangerous, or in the way of a legitimate project.
The official resources: the township’s Trees page, the Tree Removal Permit application (PDF), the full text of Ordinance 2022-1, and the codified version at Code Chapter 21 on eCode360.
A practical tip: if you’re hiring a tree service, the permit should be part of the job, not your homework. We prepare and file the application on every Cherry Hill removal we do — you just sign off on which trees are marked.
If you stay within the 3-tree residential allowance, no replanting is required. Beyond that, each removed tree must be replaced one-for-one on your property — or you pay $175 per tree into the Cherry Hill Tree Fund. Dead trees, imminent-threat trees, and invasive species are exempt from replacement entirely.
This matters most on bigger projects — clearing for an addition or pool, for example — where the replacement math can add meaningfully to the budget. Get it calculated up front, in writing, before work starts.
Fines run $100 to $1,250 per tree — each tree is a separate offense — plus a required replacement plan or a $300-per-tree payment into the Tree Fund. On a five-tree job, that math gets ugly fast. And because the fee for doing it right is zero for residents, there is no rational reason to skip it. Any legitimate tree service pulls the permit as part of the job; we do.
If a contractor quotes you a removal and waves off the permit question — “don’t worry about it, nobody checks” — treat that as a red flag about everything else they cut corners on.
A tree that’s an imminent threat (about to fail, hanging over the house after a storm) is the one exception to getting the permit first — but the township directs residents to contact DPW before removal so they can confirm or inspect. Same for invasive species. Practical rule: photograph everything, call DPW (856-424-4422), then cut.
For storm emergencies, request an estimate through our form and flag it as urgent — we document the hazard with photos and handle the township contact as part of the job, so the emergency removal doesn’t become a code problem afterward.
Cherry Hill puts more on homeowners than most towns here: you’re responsible for trees on your property up to and including the curb line. Planting anything in the right-of-way requires a Street Opening Permit from Engineering, and ROW removals must include the stump. If a township or utility tree is the problem, call DPW rather than touching it.
If the tree is in or near freshwater wetlands, the township can’t approve anything until NJDEP issues its own permit — state law protects wetlands vegetation. Backyard borders on a creek or marsh? Ask before you cut.
How much does a tree removal permit cost in Cherry Hill? Nothing for residential properties. Commercial applications are $100.
Do I need a permit for a dead tree in Cherry Hill? Yes — but it’s free, and no replacement tree is required. DPW confirms the tree is dead.
How many trees can I remove per year? Three healthy trees per 12-month period without special justification. Dead and hazardous trees don’t count against the cap.
How long does approval take? About 7 business days, per the township.
Does trimming need a permit? Normal pruning, no. But removing more than 30% of a tree counts as a removal under the ordinance and needs the same free permit.
What about Voorhees, Marlton, or Haddonfield? Every town’s ordinance is different — some are stricter, some looser. Request your free estimate and tell us the address; we’ll tell you exactly what applies there.
Summarizes Cherry Hill Township Code Chapter 21 (Ord. 2022-1) and official township guidance as of July 2026. Not legal advice — confirm with Public Works at 856-424-4422 or trees@chnj.gov.
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