Damage from electrical wires. Any person, firm or corporation having control over any wire for transmission of electrical current along a public highway shall at all times guard all trees through which or near which such wires pass against any injury from wires or from electrical current carried by them.

Protection from injurious chemicals. Except in matters involving the maintenance and enhancement of public safety, including but not limited to deicing of roads and walks, no person, firm or corporation shall permit any injurious chemical to come into contact with the aboveground or below-ground portions of any tree or shrub upon a public highway, street or road or upon Township property.

Permission required for certain acts. No person shall do or cause to be done upon trees in any Township right-of-way, Township open space, public street, road or highway within the Township, without first obtaining written permission from the Director of Public Works or Township Engineer, any of the following acts:

Trees in public highways. No trees are permitted to be planted in a Township, county, or state right-of-way unless approved by the Toms River Township Planning Board or Board of Adjustment in connection with a land development application. Where a person desires to control the growth of existing trees on a public highway, street or road or right-of-way by removing them or pruning the trees, then the person shall contact the Township Director of Public Works and request the work to be performed.

Destruction of trees. Unless exempted by the provisions of this article, no person shall cut, remove or destroy, or cause to destroy, any tree growing in the Township without having first obtained a permit as provided in § 348-12.8, or be subject to penalties as provided in § 348-12.16.

Tree preservation standards. Because disturbance of tree root zones often leads to direct and indirect damage to residual trees, the purpose of this section is to establish the rationale and criteria for protection of existing trees during site disturbance events including, but not limited to, construction activities.

Right-of-way utility vegetation management, pruning, installation and removal. Within utility rights-of-way, planting, pruning and other arboricultural and forestry techniques shall adhere to all relevant industry standards and best practices including, but not limited to, ANSI Z133 et seq., ANSI A300 et seq. and other standards as developed by professional societies such as the Ocean County Shade Tree Commission, the New Jersey Society of Tree Experts, the Tree Care Industry Association and the International Society of Arboriculture.

Shade and park trees. It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to engage in the business or occupation of pruning, treating or removing shade or park trees within the Township without receiving the written permission of the Division Manager of Parks, Buildings, Grounds, or Division Manager of Code Enforcement, or designee. Before any permission is given, each applicant shall first file evidence of possession of liability insurance in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage, indemnifying the Township or any person injured or damaged resulting from the pursuit of such endeavors as herein described.