Emergency Storm Tree Service in Summit, NJ

Being on top of a ridge means Summit takes the full force of storms that sweep across the Watchungs. The March 2018 nor'easters left thousands of Summit customers without power on JCP&L's lines and enough limbs on the ground that the city scheduled curbside debris pickup, and tropical systems like Isaias in 2020 brought down trees and wires across the region. When a tree lands on your roof or across your driveway, stay back, keep people and pets away, and treat any wire touching it as live. If lines are involved, report it to JCP&L first.

Once the scene is safe, a tree crew can take the weight off the structure, cut and clear what came down, and deal with anything still hanging. A trunk on a roof usually needs careful rigging or a crane so it is lifted off rather than dropped through. 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 needs written notice within five business days, and the stump should stay until the city inspects it.

Photograph everything before it is moved, for your insurer and for the city. Ask for an itemized invoice and keep the tree expert's notes, since both may be needed later. After a large storm, Summit's public works crews have historically asked residents to put limbs in the strip between the sidewalk and street for pickup, so ask the contractor whether they haul the wood or leave it at the curb. Be cautious with door to door crews who want full payment up front and cannot give you a New Jersey tree care license number.

Signs you need emergency storm tree service

• A tree or large limb on the house, garage or car
• A trunk blocking the driveway on a steep or dead end street
• A split trunk or hanging limb over the house after a nor'easter
• An uprooted tree with its root plate lifted out of wet ground
• Limbs tangled in the service wire to the house

Questions about emergency storm tree service

Worth knowing in Summit

1. Summit's Chapter 29 Protection of Trees ordinance (Ord. 24-3321, adopted June 24, 2024) requires a Tree Removal Permit to remove private trees.

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2. Removing 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.

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3. Emergency removal of dead, diseased or hazardous trees is allowed if certified by a Licensed Tree Expert, with the application filed within five business days.

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Typical costs in Summit