Tree removal in Chestnut Ridge: what is different here
Chestnut Ridge is a village in the Town of Ramapo on the New Jersey line, south of Spring Valley and Monsey and east of Airmont. Its streets off Chestnut Ridge Road, Red Schoolhouse Road and Route 45 are mostly 1960s to 1990s colonials, splits and ranches on half-acre to acre lots, with plenty of mature woods left between houses and along the brooks that run south into New Jersey.
Bigger, wooded lots mean bigger trees: 80-foot oaks and tulip poplars at the back of the yard, plus ornamental trees and evergreen screens near the house. The most common calls are dead ash, storm-broken limbs over roofs and driveways, and clearing overgrowth to expand a yard, add a pool or extend a house. That last kind of work is where Chestnut Ridge's own rules come in.
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Chestnut Ridge?
Private yard trees: the Village of Chestnut Ridge does not have a stand-alone tree removal permit in its code. What it regulates is land disturbance: under Chapter 133 (Clearing, Filling and Excavation, amended in 2025), a permit from the Village Engineer is required for any land filling, excavation, regrading, removal, stripping or disturbance of topsoil, earth, sand, gravel or rock, and every residential application for an addition, new house or accessory structure is reviewed by the square footage of land it disturbs. So cutting down a tree at an existing home does not need a village permit, but grinding out stumps across a big area, pulling roots, regrading or clearing for a pool, patio or addition can.
Street trees and sight lines: the Village also requires owners to keep vegetation from blocking sight lines at intersections, and trees in the road right-of-way are not yours to remove.
Where to ask: Village of Chestnut Ridge Building Department, Village Hall, 277 Old Nyack Turnpike, Chestnut Ridge NY 10977, (845) 425-8283.
Source: Village of Chestnut Ridge Code Chapter 133, Article II (§ 133-3 to 133-6, amended by L.L. 1-2025) and the code's table of contents (ecode360.com/CH3561, no tree removal chapter); chestnutridgevillage.org Building Department page; read October 2026. Confirm current rules before work starts; ordinances change.
Common tree problems in Chestnut Ridge
- Dead ash along lot lines. Emerald ash borer has killed most unprotected ash in the area, and Chestnut Ridge's wooded edges are full of it.
- Big oaks over roofs and driveways. Forest-grown oaks and tulip poplars near houses drop large limbs in summer storms and wet snow.
- Wet ground near the brooks. Lots along the streams that run south into New Jersey hold water, and trees there uproot in long rain events. Work near streams and wetlands may also need county or state review.
- Overgrown back lots. Brush, vines and young trees taking over the back of a big lot are a common clearing job; see land and lot clearing.
What it costs in Chestnut Ridge (2026)
| Job | Typical NY price |
|---|---|
| Small tree, under 30 ft | $300 – $600 |
| Medium tree, 30 – 60 ft | $600 – $1,200 |
| Large tree, 60 – 80 ft | $1,200 – $2,200 |
| Crane removal over a house | $2,000 – $3,500+ |
| Tree trimming, mature tree | $300 – $900 |
| Stump grinding | $100 – $400 per stump |
Cost ranges are published 2026 New York industry figures (Environmental Forest Products' 2026 Hudson Valley tree removal cost guide, eforestproducts.com; Angi's 2026 New York tree trimming cost page; HomeGuide and LawnStarter 2026 national guides), not quotes from this site. Your price depends on the tree, access and your town. Full breakdown: Rockland tree removal cost guide.
Larger lots in Chestnut Ridge usually give crews good access, which helps on price. Back-of-lot trees far from the driveway, or jobs that need a crane over a house, cost more.
Services in Chestnut Ridge
Tree removal
Dead, hazardous, storm-damaged or unwanted trees, including crane removals.
Emergency tree service
Trees on houses, cars and driveways after a storm.
Hazardous tree assessment
Find out whether a leaning, cracked or dying tree is actually dangerous.
Tree trimming
Deadwooding, raising limbs off the roof, thinning and cabling.
Stump grinding
Grind old stumps below grade so the lawn can come back.
Land and lot clearing
Brush, overgrowth and small-tree clearing for yards, additions and building lots.
Neighborhoods we cover in and around Chestnut Ridge
We match homeowners across Chestnut Ridge: Chestnut Ridge Road, Red Schoolhouse Road, Route 45, Pascack Road, the streets near the New Jersey line and the neighborhoods bordering Spring Valley, Monsey and Airmont. Nearby we also cover Spring Valley, Monsey, Airmont and Pearl River.
How it works
- Tell us about the job. Your town, what you need, and a photo if you have one. Takes about a minute.
- We match you with a local tree pro. An independent Rockland County tree care company that holds a Rockland County home improvement contractor license and carries liability insurance, and that actually serves your town.
- Get a free on-site quote. The company contacts you directly, looks at the tree and gives you a written price. No obligation, and you deal with them from there.
Chestnut Ridge questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Chestnut Ridge, NY?
No stand-alone tree removal permit appears in the Village of Chestnut Ridge code. A Village Engineer permit is required for land disturbance, meaning filling, excavating, regrading or stripping soil, and for the land-disturbance part of additions, new houses and accessory structures. Call the Building Department at (845) 425-8283 if the job goes beyond cutting trees.
Does stump grinding count as land disturbance?
Grinding a stump or two below grade is normal maintenance. Pulling out many stumps and roots, regrading, or clearing an area to build something is the kind of work Chapter 133 regulates, so ask the Village first.
How much does tree removal cost in Chestnut Ridge?
Published 2026 New York ranges: about $300 to $600 for small trees, $600 to $1,200 for medium, $1,200 to $2,200 for large and $2,000 to $3,500 or more for crane removals, plus $100 to $400 per stump.
Do Chestnut Ridge tree companies need a license?
Yes. Any business paid to remove trees at a home in Rockland County needs a Rockland County home improvement contractor license and insurance.