The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council Chipping Program is designed to assist residents and communities in their efforts to create and maintain adequate and safe defensible space by processing or disposing vegetative material such as brush and tree branches. Required defensible space clearing is 0-100 feet from permanent structures. Due to the varying natures of hillside neighborhoods, different types of chipping services may be necessary.

We Offer the Following Types of Scheduled Chipping Services

At Home Chipping – Residents submit an application for chipping services to be performed at their home. Brush must be prepared in advance of the chipping appointment and must meet all specified guidelines

Community Chipping Piles – Residents drop off piles of brush at a specific location and chipping is performed on a scheduled date

Drive Up Chipping Event – A date the community has previously selected, at a location within the community, residents drive the brush up in their own vehicle and it is chipped on the spot.

Chipping Program Registration

ONLY enter house number, street address, and ZIP Code.  The system already knows your city/state based on your zip code and WILL NOT show events if entered incorrectly.

2022 Chipping Program Info

Registration is open!

  • Check out “Prepping for Chipping” for useful info
  • Check out “Uses for Chips after Chipping” for useful info
  • Questions? dschip@sccfiresafe.org
  • We are following all COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines. Our field staff and contractors will adhere to all county regulations.
  • The Chipping Program is available every year from April to June. Check back every March for updated info.
  • You will be able to submit an application starting March 19th.
  • You will need to submit your application by the application deadline date found on the table below. Area due dates range from April – May.
  • You will receive an automated email notification once your application is submitted.
  • We will not be able to accept any late applications.
  • We cannot accept mailed in applications.
  • Due to funding, once we reach our max limit you will be put on a waitlist and notified on what is to be expected.
  • Piles will be chipped according to the schedule below.
  • All service areas are considered “At-Home Chipping” unless noted in the chipping area name in the table below.
  • We will leave all chips on your property. We do NOT haul away.
  • For pile size & how to stack them, please refer to our chipping program checklist below.
  • We cannot chip or haul away any rotten pieces of wood or lumber.
  • We cannot chip acacia trees or other trees with pods that can sprout or be considered invasive.
  • We are only accepting applications for residential parcels for residents living in the WUI. Please search your address in our interactive web map to view if you reside in our chipping areas.
  • Los Altos Hills has their own chipping removal program.
  • FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County has their own chipping removal program.
Chipping Program Registration

ONLY enter house number, street address, and ZIP Code.  The system already knows your city/state based on your zip code and WILL NOT show events if entered incorrectly.

2022 SCCFSC Chipping Schedule

Area

Area Name

Application Deadline

Planned Chipping Timeframe

Area 1

Summit Rd/Melody Ln/

Mt. Charlie Rd.

Apr 24

5/9-5/13

Area 2

Montevina Rd.

Apr 24

5/9-5/13

Area 3

Brush Rd/Hillside Dr/Bear Creek Rd/Stables

Apr 24

5/9-5/13

Area 4

Redwood Estates Community
Drive-Up Event

Drive-up @ pool area

May 7
8am-1pm

Area 5

Beardsley/Black/Thompson/Gist Rds.

Apr 10

4/25-4/29

Area 6

Aldercroft Heights/Lupin Lodge/

Soda Springs

Apr 10

4/25-4/29

Area 7

Chemeketa Park/ Bear Creek Rd/Stables

Apr 10

4/25-4/29

Area 8

Summit Near Loma Prieta School/ Rds. Between LDS & Catholic Churches/Villa del monte

Apr 24

5/9-5/13

Area 9

Saratoga

May 8

5/23-5/27

Area 11

Cupertino

May 8

5/23-5/27

Area 12

SJ East Foothills/ Alum Rock/ Felter Rd/ East Foothills/Mt Hamilton

May 8

5/23-5/27

Area 13

Loma Prieta Rd/ Casa Loma/

Loma Chiquita Rd

May 1

5/16-5/20

Area 14

Gilroy West

May 1

5/16-5/20

Area 16

Morgan Hill - Jackson Oaks & 
Holiday Lake Estates

May 1

5/16-5/20

Area 17

Morgan Hill - Llegas Rd/

Watsonville Rd/Oak Glen Rd/

Croy Rd/Uvas Canyon

May 1

5/16-5/20

Area 18

Morgan Hill East

May 1

5/16-5/20

Area 19

Idylwild/Oakmont/Wright Dr./ OSCH-between Holy City & Hwy 17

May 22

6/6-6/10

Area 20

New Almaden

May 22

6/6-6/10

Area 21

Los Gatos Foothills/

South Monte Sereno

May 22

6/6-6/10

Area 22

Monte Sereno/ Greenwood Ln./

Mountain Way/Bainter Ave/Overlook Rd

May 22

6/6-6/10

Area
Area Name
Application Deadline
Planned Chipping Timeframe

Area 1

Summit Rd./Melody Ln. / Mt. Charlie Rd.
Apr 24
5/9-5/13

Area 2

Montevina Rd.
Apr 24
5/9-5/13

Area 3

Brush Rd/Hillside Dr/Bear Creek Rd/Stables
Apr 24
5/9-5/13

Area 4

Redwood Estates Community Drive-Up Event
Drive-up @ pool area
May 7 - 8am-1pm

Area 5

Beardsley/Black/Thompson/Gist Rds.
Apr 10
4/25-4/29

Area 6

Aldercroft Heights/LupinLodge/Soda Springs
Apr 10
4/25-4/29

Area 7

Chemeketa Park/Bear Creek Rd/Stables
Apr 10
4/25-4/29

Area 8

Summit Near Loma Prieta School/ Rds. Between LDS & Catholic Churches/Villa del monte
Apr 24
5/9-5/13

Area 9

Saratoga
May 8
5/23-5/27

Area 11

Cupertino
May 8
5/23-5/27

Area 12

SJ East Foothills/ Alum Rock/ Felter Rd/ East Foothills/Mt Hamilton
May 8
5/23-5/27

Area 13

Loma Prieta Rd/ Casa Loma/

Loma Chiquita Rd

May 1
5/16-5/20

Area 14

Gilroy West
May 1

5/16-5/20

Area 16

Morgan Hill - Jackson Oaks & 
Holiday Lake Estates
May 1
5/16-5/20

Area 17

Morgan Hill - Llegas Rd/Watsonville Rd/
Oak Glen Rd/Croy Rd/Uvas Canyon

May 1
5/16-5/20

Area 18

Morgan Hill East
May 1
5/16-5/20

Area 19

Idylwild/Oakmont/Wright Dr./ OSCH-between Holy City & Hwy 17
May 22
6/6-6/10

Area 20

New Almaden
May 22
6/6-6/10

Area 21

Los Gatos Foothills/

South Monte Sereno

May 22
6/6-6/10

Area 22

Monte Sereno/ Greenwood Ln./

Mountain Way/Bainter Ave/Overlook Rd

May 22
6/6-6/10

Checklist to prepare your material to be chipped

  • Pile location must be within 10 feet of the residential street or driveway entrance.
  • Pile location must be safely accessible to a large box truck and chipper trailer.
  • Extremely narrow or steep driveways may not be serviceable.
  • Piles must be not be larger than 4 feet in height, 4 feet in width and 12 feet in length.
  • No more than 10 piles will be chipped at one parcel.
  • Limbs must be under 4 inches thick.
  • Cut ends must face the same direction and point towards the street or driveway.
  • No timber harvest debris, vineyard or orchard waste.
  • No poison oak, ivy, or blackberry vines. No broom or acacia with seed pods, or other invasive plant materials.
  • No piles of leaves, pine needles or yard clippings. Only woody brush/branches.
  • No non-compostable materials (painted or preserved lumber, trash, metal, wire, etc).
  • No palm fronds, roots, stumps, rocks or mud.
  • Chips will be blown back onto your property.
  • Make sure your street address is posted on the road.
  • Loose dogs may prevent chipping. Inform us if you have dogs.
***100’ reduced fuel zone required by law in State Responsibility Areas, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas. See website for details about 30′ zones.