Information for Businesses
NOTE: The Deadline for Business Registrations was September 14, 2017. Please use the Business Registration Application to apply. Please note that the Board may issue civil penalties (click here for list) of up to $1000.00 for the first violation of 7:3A-9.6. for "engaging in the business of providing tree care services for hire in New Jersey without first registering with the Board." A late fee of $25.00 will be charged to a business that files for a registration on or after January 1, 2018.
Download Must Do for Businesses
Every Business engaged in providing tree care services for hire in New Jersey shall register biennially with the Board, as a condition of doing business in New Jersey. This includes businesses that are located outside New Jersey, yet perform tree care services in the state.
This licensing program and Business Registration will allow the Board to identify and communicate directly to all companies doing tree care work within the state and provide opportunities for worker safety information and materials to be disseminated. The training requirement will ensure that employees have regular safety instruction and bring about the reduction of injuries and fatalities to tree care workers.
On April 17, 2017, the Tree Expert and Tree Care Operators Licensing Law's rules were adopted and promulgated.
With the adoption of the rules, every Business providing tree care services within the state will have to register with the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts, and has 60 days or until June 16, 2017 to provide the required documentation.
Businesses either based in New Jersey or providing services within the state will be required to:
- Register with the Board using the Board's Business Registration Application.
- Have at least one licensed individual working full time in the company.
- Maintain a minimum amount of $1,000,000 of general liability insurance or a letter of credit in the amount of $1,000,000 issued by a bank or lending institution to do business in New Jersey
- Secure and maintain worker's compensation insurance coverage for its employees or be approved for self-insurance by the New Jersey Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau. The worker's compensation insurance shall be based on applicable New Jersey Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau code.
- Abide by adopted industry standards: ANSI A300 American National Standard for Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrubs, and Other Woody Plant Management including Part 1 through Part 10, ANSI Z60.1 American Standard for Nursery Stock, ANZI Z133 Safety Standards for Arboriculture Operations, OSHA, Federal Motor Coach Safety and FHA regulation set forth in Z133 and each of the Best Management Practices published by the ISA.
- Abide by the Canons of Professional Ethics and Standards of Conduct for Businesses.
- Provide training to their employees in the safe operation of equipment and the maintenance of a safe work area on a regular basis and submit proof of training to the Board. Within 90 days of registering the Business with the Board, a Business must develop and establish a written comprehensive safety policy.
- A Model Tree Safety Training Checklist Form and the Safety Training Attendance Form are to be submitted by January 31st of each year to the Board, to document the annual employee training requirement.
- A Registered Business shall keep records for at least four years and shall keep safety training for each employee for at least as long as the individual is employed.
- All records and information required to be kept by the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts shall be provided to the Board within 10 days of the Board's written request.
Depending upon the services a business provides, it may be required to have either a Licensed Tree Expert or a Licensed Tree Care Operator as an employee. The Licensed Tree Care Operator (LTCO) is for companies that only provide standard tree care work like pruning, removals and stump grinding. The Licensed Tree Expert (LTE) is permitted to oversee standard tree work and more specialized work such as cabling and bracing, tree risk assessment, tree appraisals and consultations.
Review and Approval and Use of the Business Registration
If the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts determines that the Business meets the requirements of the Registration, the Business will be assigned a NJTC number and issued a registration certificate that specifies the Business's assigned NJTC number. A business is required to display the registration certificate for public view in its principle office, and display a duplicate copy at any branch office.
Vehicle Business Registration Number
The Registered Business shall prominently display the NJTC number assigned to that Business by the Board of Tree Experts on every service vehicle operated by that Business to perform tree care services in New Jersey. The NJTC number has to be three inches high and located on at least two sides of each vehicle. The number color must contrast with the background color of the vehicle.
Consumer Protection
The Law and the adopted rules set industry tree care standards within New Jersey and empower the New Jersey Board of Tree Experts to remedy complaints against both registered and unregistered tree care companies that seek to defraud the public by revoking business registrations or instituting civil penalties.