Tree Preservation

The preservation of trees and other vegetation and the related protection and maintenance of conservation easements have necessitated, and will continue to be given a good deal of attention.  Beginning with the latter, many properties in the Village are subject to conservation easements which allow only the removal of dead trees, and which do not allow depositing any materials or construction within same.  These easements were created for environmental and aesthetic reasons to protect the subject properties, neighboring properties, the environment, generally, and flora and fauna.  Various means of enforcement include injunctive relief (i.e., cease and desist), monetary damages for tree and plant removal plus the cost to cure by replanting, and removal of dumped materials or structures.  Unfortunately, either due to misinformation or indifference, the village has had to become more involved in enforcement activities.  At the same time, a nine person Conservation Easement Committee has begun the work of cataloging all the conservation easements, ascertaining their present condition, and making recommendations with respect to enforcement and any possible changes. 

The Village's "Tree Law" relates to trees which are 4" or bigger in diameter measured across their widest point, 4' above the ground. No tree this size or larger may be removed without first obtaining a permit. The one exception is in an emergency, in which case an application must be made within 5 days of removal, or within 20 days if removal occured due to damage caused by a major weather event, such as a hurricane.

There is no limit on the number of trees which may be removed if they are dead or likely to be dead within a year.  However, sufficient proof will be required in order to obtain the necessary permit. In addition, landowners may remove, as of right after obtaining a permit, one tree per each 10,000 square foot of lot size per each two-year period, but not exceeding 8 trees in any two-year period or 12 trees in any six-year period.

All other cases of tree removal require application to the Planning Board which will determine on a one-to-one basis whether a Compensatory Planting (replacement trees) or Compensatory Payment (to the tree fund) will be required.

Please take particular notice of §176-7, Penalties for Offenses. A contractor who violates the Law can be fined up to $5000, and have his license revoked, and can also be fined for operating without a license. Landowners can be fined up to a total of $10,000 in addition to being required to replace trees removed unlawfully. 

* BE SURE TO READ AND ABIDE BY §176 IN ITS ENTIRETY*

Tree Removal Applications

You can download a pdf of the Tree Preservation Law here.

If you are a lisenced contractor, you can download and application. Contractor Tree Removal Application

Residents can download and application here. Resident Tree Removal Application

List of tree removal contractors licensed to do business in Montebello

Bob Wilson
Bob Wilson Tree and Lawn Experts, Inc.
P.O. 1818, Spring Valley, NY 10977
845-354-5506

Bill Reda
Bill Reda Property Management, Inc.
8 Wilbur Road, Montebello, NY 10901
845-369-1530

Roderick W. Gilmour, Jr.
Suffern Tree Service, Inc.
P.O. Box 347, Valley Cottage, NY 10989
845-353-4505

Carolyn Kavich
O'Sullivan Tree Care
P.O. Box 113/201 Western Highway
West Nyack, NY 10994
845-359-8733

Rockland Tree Experts
d/b/a Ira Wickes/Arborists
11 McNamara Road
Spring Valley, NY 10977
845-354-3400

Joann Hamilton
Trees Plus Tree Service, Inc.
7208 Overhill Road, Pomona, NY 10970
845-357-9165

John Knapp
Knapp Landscaping, Inc.
103 Sterling Mine Road
Sloatsburg, NY 10974
845-354-7558

Steve DiRocco
Timberline Tree & Landscape, Inc.
172 W. Nyack Road
W. Nyack, NY 10994

CWTBC Inc.
John Frontino, Jr.
1581 Rt. 202-329
Pomona, NY 10970

Steve Slackman
Steve's Lawns
P.O. Box 692
Monsey, NY 10952
845-426-1224

L&S Landscaping, LLC
Lawrence D. Scott
P.O. Box 689
Nyack, NY 10960
845-268-7982

Majestic Lawn Care & Landscaping
424 Buena Vista Road
New City, NY 10956
845-708-2988

Downes Tree Service Co., Inc
65 Royal Avenue
Hawthorne, NJ 07506
973-238-9800

Rockland Tree Service
26 N. Myrtle Avenue
Spring Valley, NY 10977
845-357-7199

Dave Mackenzie Landscaping
109 Sterling Mine Road
Sloatsburg, NY 10974
845-753-2805