Big old trees on Summit's ridgetop streets come with a city permit process, so tell us about the tree and we will connect you with an independent local crew that knows how Summit removals, pruning and storm jobs get done.
Summit sits on top of the Second Watchung Mountain, and from Hobart Avenue to the streets around Brantwood Park and Tall Oaks the city is shaded by trees that were planted when these neighborhoods first filled in. Many of them are now taller than the houses they stand beside. That is a big part of why people move here, and it is also why so many tree calls in Summit involve a mature oak, maple or tulip tree growing a few feet from a roof, a detached garage or the neighbor's driveway.
Tree work here starts differently than in many towns. Summit regulates private trees under Chapter 29 of the city code, which was rewritten in 2024, and the city's permit page says a permit is needed before removing a private tree 12 inches or more in diameter. Healthy trees of that size that come down generally have to be replaced, either with a new tree on the property or a replacement fee. A contractor who works in Summit regularly will expect this and can tell you what the application needs before the crew is booked.
This site is a referral service. You describe the tree, where it stands and what you want done, and we pass the request to an independent tree service company that covers Summit. The contractor comes out, looks at the tree and the access, and gives you a price and a scope before anything happens. You decide whether to go ahead and you pay the contractor directly. Ask for their New Jersey tree care license number and proof of insurance, since the city's own permit form asks for those details too.
Pick the job that fits and read what's involved, what it usually costs and what to ask.
Removal of dead, failing or unwanted trees on Summit lots, planned around the city's permit and replacement rules.
Pruning that keeps Summit's big shade trees off the roof and the wires and strong enough for ridgetop wind.
Grinding out stumps on Summit lots so you can plant the replacement tree, reseed or finish a project.
Help when wind, ice or heavy snow brings a tree or limb down on a Summit house, car, fence or driveway.
Assessments, cabling and bracing to help Summit homeowners keep valuable mature trees standing safely.
Summit is a hilltop city, and the wind behaves that way. Storms that cross the Watchung ridge hit exposed crowns hard, and the March 2018 nor'easters knocked out power to thousands of Summit homes on JCP&L's lines and left so many limbs down that the city ran a special curbside debris pickup. Housing adds to it: Victorian and early 1900s homes near the train station and downtown, larger estate era properties on the hills, and postwar houses on tree lined streets, many with trees older than the house. Add Summit's permit and replacement rules, the city and Union County trees along the street edge, and homes that back onto Hidden Valley Park, the Watchung Reservation or the Passaic River woods, and a Summit tree job takes real planning.
Summit's Chapter 29 Protection of Trees ordinance (Ord. 24-3321, adopted June 24, 2024) requires a Tree Removal Permit to remove private trees.
ecode360.comRemoving a living private tree of 12 inches DBH or more triggers a replacement tree of 2 to 2.5 inch caliper, planted within 12 months, or a replacement fee; fees are $50 per application plus $25 per approved tree.
ecode360.comEmergency removal of dead, diseased or hazardous trees is allowed if certified by a Licensed Tree Expert, with the application filed within five business days.
ecode360.comAfter Tropical Storm Isaias (Aug 4, 2020) left fallen trees and wires across the area, Summit opened an outdoor charging station in the Broad Street east lot.
patch.comThe dates on the town calendar that everyone here plans around. Exact days shift year to year, so check the town's own calendar before you go.
Parade from Deforest Avenue to the Village Green, followed by a ceremony
All-day celebration at Soldiers Memorial Field with rides, kids' bike parade, concerts and fireworks
Free city holiday event with ice skating, bonfires and the tree lighting on the Elm Street lot and Village Green
Summit's tree removal application asks for the tree company's New Jersey tree care business registration and its Licensed Tree Expert or Licensed Tree Care Operator number. A contractor who works here often already has those details ready for the form.
On older Summit streets near downtown and along the avenues, houses, garages and wires often leave no room to drop a tree whole. The contractor sees the actual drop zone, the driveway width and the overhead lines before giving you a number.
Summit's rules favor preserving healthy mature trees, and a removal can mean paying for a replacement. An on site look can tell you whether pruning or cabling is a sensible way to keep a valuable tree instead of taking it down.
Asking for a quote does not commit you to anything. If the plan, the price or the permit timeline does not suit you, you are free to get a second opinion from another Summit area crew.
Call or fill out the short form. Mention the type of work, roughly how big the tree is, and anything nearby like a house, fence, wires or a septic field.
We pass your request to an independent tree service company that covers your area. They contact you to set up a time to look at the job.
The contractor walks the property, checks access and hazards, and gives you a price and scope. Ask what cleanup, wood removal and stump work are included.
If you approve the quote, the crew schedules the job, does the cutting and cleanup, and you pay the contractor directly for the work.
In many cases, yes. The City of Summit's permit page says a permit is required before removing a private tree 12 inches or more in diameter. The application goes to the Department of Community Services at City Hall on Springfield Avenue, and the city says to allow up to 10 days for processing. Confirm current details with the department before scheduling.
The form asks you to mark the trees to be removed with ribbon or tape and show them on a sketch of the property. If you use a tree company, it asks for the company's New Jersey tree care registration number and its LTE or LTCO license number. There is an application fee, and a replacement plan is required if the removal is approved.
Often. Summit's ordinance generally requires removed healthy trees of permit size to be replaced, either by planting on your property or by paying a replacement fee based on what the city pays for its own plantings. The city keeps a list of recommended and prohibited species, so check it before you pick a replacement.
Summit's ordinance has an emergency process for trees that threaten life or property. A Licensed Tree Expert has to document the emergency, the City Forester must be notified within five business days, and the stump should stay in place until the city inspects it. Ask your contractor to keep photos and paperwork.
Trees in the public right of way may belong to the City of Summit, or to Union County along county roads. Do not hire a crew to cut or prune them without checking first. Call the Department of Community Services at 908-273-6404 and they can tell you who is responsible.
JCP&L provides electric service in Summit. If a tree or limb is on a line, stay well back, assume the wire is live and report it to JCP&L. A private tree crew should only start once the utility has made the line safe.
api.censusreporter.org, cityofsummit.org, ecode360.com, en.wikipedia.org, nj21st.com, patch.com, summitcommunityprograms.com