Trees on LBI live a hard life. Salt spray, constant wind, sand for soil, and every so often a storm surge that pushes bay or ocean water right over the yard. The trees that make it here are tough, but they don't last forever, and when one fails on an island lot, it's usually landing on a house, a deck, or the neighbor's place, because there's not much room for anything else.
LBI is also several different towns, each with its own rules: Long Beach Township (which covers most of the island in sections, including Loveladies, North Beach, Brant Beach, Haven Beach, Holgate and more), plus Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Surf City, Ship Bottom and Beach Haven. Which one you're in matters for permits.
The Big LBI Tree Issue: Japanese Black Pines
If you've driven the Boulevard in the last few years, you've probably noticed brown, dead pines. A lot of LBI's landscape pines are Japanese black pines, planted for decades because they handle salt and wind. They're now declining across the island, mainly from pine wilt (caused by the pinewood nematode, spread by pine sawyer beetles), along with black turpentine beetles and blue-stain fungus. Signs include branch dieback, needles going yellow then brown, and pitch tubes on the lower trunk. Once a black pine is badly hit, it usually goes fast.
Dead pines get brittle, and on a small lot they're close to everything. Getting them down sooner is usually safer and easier.
Storms, Surge and Saltwater
Sandy's saltwater flooding was hard on trees all along the Jersey Shore. Roots that sit in saltwater lose oxygen and take on salt, and some trees decline slowly for a year or two afterward instead of dying right away. Every nor'easter since has added more wind stress. If you have a tree that's been "hanging on" since a flood, it's worth a professional look before the next storm season.
Permits on LBI
Each island town has its own rules, so check with your borough or township before work starts. One example: Long Beach Township's tree removal and replacement chapter, as published, requires an application to the Zoning Officer for street trees 2.5" or more in diameter and other trees 6" or more. It lists a $40 fee, generally requires replacement trees, and exempts hazard trees from the fee and replacement. The other island boroughs may handle it differently, so call yours.
Tree Services on Long Beach Island
- Tree removal: dead black pines, storm-damaged trees, tight lots between houses
- Storm cleanup: post-storm make-safe and debris removal
- Trimming & pruning: deadwood out, clearance from roofs, decks and outdoor showers
- Stump grinding: clean finish for landscaping or replanting
Get a Free LBI Tree Quote
Whether you're here year-round or you rent the place out all summer, Barron can help. Fill out the short form and we'll pass it to a licensed, insured tree company that works on the island. They'll reach out about a free estimate.
Barron's tip: If you're a second-home owner, get tree work done in the off-season. Crews have more availability, parking is easier, and you're not cutting trees over a renter's beach towels in July.
Long Beach Island Tree FAQ
Can my black pine be saved? Sometimes, if it's caught early and it's a different problem than pine wilt. Once pine wilt has really set in, removal is usually the answer. A licensed tree expert can tell you.
I'm not on the island right now. Can I still get a quote? Yes. Put that on the form, along with photos if you can. Many tree companies can look at the tree without you there and send a price.
What should I plant instead? Ask your tree pro or Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County about salt- and wind-tolerant choices for the island.
Can tree work be done in the summer? Generally the tree company can tell you, but island towns can have their own rules on work hours, noise, parking and equipment during the busy season. Ask your town before you book a July job.