About
A short list of who to call, built by a homeowner.
I am a New Jersey homeowner. When I needed tree work I wanted a short list of businesses worth considering, not a long list to screen one at a time.
The state publishes the names of businesses it has found working without registration. That list only has the ones the Board knows about, and checking every candidate against it is slow. Starting from the businesses that are registered is faster, and it puts the state's own records in front of you first.
Everything here comes from public records: the NJ Board of Tree Experts directory for businesses and license holders, and each town's published code for its tree rules. Read the steps on the How we check page.
How the list is kept honest
- No tree business runs this site or pays for it.
- No business can buy a place on the list or a better spot.
- There are no ratings or reviews. Businesses are ordered by distance from your town and nothing else.
- Editor: to be announced.
- Spotted a mistake? See Corrections.
Questions
Where can I check a tree business myself?
Use the Board's own pages:
- Business directory — search by business name or NJTC number.
- Licensee directory — look up a Licensed Tree Expert or Licensed Tree Care Operator by name.
- Non-registered businesses — names the Board has found operating without registration.
Each business page here links to the Board's record for it.
What is the difference between registered and licensed?
A business is registered. A person is licensed.
The Board registers businesses and gives each an NJTC number. It licenses people, as a Licensed Tree Expert or a Licensed Tree Care Operator. A registered business must have at least one licensed person on staff full time. The license holders shown on a business page here are the ones the state lists for that business.
Does registered mean insured?
No. Registration requires insurance when the business registers. Nothing here confirms a policy is in force today.
Before work starts, ask for a current certificate of insurance showing liability cover and workers' compensation, and check that the business name on it matches the one you hired. If a business will not show you one, pick another.
Why hire from the registered list?
A business that is not registered is working outside the state's rules for tree care. Registration means the Board has the business on record, with a named license holder and the insurance the state requires. It also gives you a place to take a complaint: the Board's complaint process.
Do I need a permit to take down a tree?
There is no statewide tree permit. Most towns have their own tree ordinance, and many require a permit or replacement planting before a tree comes down. Pick your town on the home page for its rule and the office to call, then confirm with the town before any work.
What does this list not tell you?
Price, quality, reviews, whether insurance is current, and whether a license holder will be on your job. Ask the business.
What if a listing is wrong?
Business owners and town officials can ask for a correction or removal. See Corrections.