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.

2021 Chipping Program Info

  • 2021 county-wide chipping program has reached maximum capacity!
    • Any applications received after April 13th will be added to our waitlist and you will be notified if additional funding becomes available. You will not be receiving chipping services this year unless you receive a secondary acceptance email by your area application due date as shown below.
  • Application link at bottom of page.
  • Application due date (varies by area) from April 12-June 6, 2021
  • Locate your area’s due date in the schedule below.
  • Search your address to find your area using our Online Website
  • No late applications will be accepted in 2021!
  • Due to funding limitations:
    • 2021 applications will be first come, first served, until funding is exhausted.
    • An application does not determine services and a waitlist will be formed.
    • We will NOT be able to haul away any chips.
    • We will NOT be chipping in Santa Cruz County
  • Questions? dschip@sccfiresafe.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the program available this year 2021?

Yes, this program will be available this year from April 12, 2021 to June 6, 2021.

When will I be able to submit an application?

You will be able to submit an application starting on March 15th.

When will my piles be chipped?

Our Staff will first inspect your pile and will coordinate a chipping date for your chipping section.

When do I need to submit my application?

You will need to submit your application by the application schedule date deadline found on our main website. Area due dates range from April 12th- June 6th.

In which area does my property reside?

Please search for your address in our interactive web map to view your chipping section area.

What if I don't have a computer?

You can call (650) 314-9719 for assistance or you can send a message to dschip@sccfiresafe.org

Will you haul the chips or leave them on my property?

We will leave all chips on your property.

How do I know if you received my application?

You will recieve an email notficication by one of our staff to confirm your application.

What if I missed the deadline to submit the application?

We are very sorry, but we will not be able to accept any late applications this year.

If I live in Los Altos Hills, how can I submit an application?

Please refer to Los Altos Hills Fire District’s website to view their chipping and application details.

Can I mail an application for chipping?

We strongly encourage using our online application. If you need assistance please contact (650) 314-9719

Mailed in applications may not receive first-come-first-served priority due to processing times.

I am being told to remove Junipers and Cypress, will you chip these as part of the program?

Maybe Yes, we may be able to help depending on the amount of Juniper and Cypress you were told to remove.

I unsuccessfully tried to submit the application. Is there any help or suggestions?

You can call (650) 314-9719 or email dschip@sccfiresafe.org for assistance.

Please include your address in your message.

Will the chipping contractors wear masks?

Yes, we are following COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines. Our field staff and contractors will adhere to all county regulations.

How large can my piles be?

Please refer to our chipping program guidelines on our website.

Will you be chipping rotten pieces of wood or lumber?

No, we cannot chip or haul away any rotten pieces of wood or lumber.

Can you chip away acacia trees?

No, we cannot chip acacia trees or other trees with pods that can sprout or be considered invasive.

How should piles be stacked?

Piles need to be stacked in an organized manner where it’s easily accessible for the chipping contractors. If piles are not stacked correctly, they will not be chipped. Check out our “Prepping for Chipping” Shelter-In-Yard (SIY) for valuable info.

Can I request for my piles to be tagged last by the inspectors?

Due to pre-planned optimized routes you cannot request for piles to be tagged last within a area. All piles must be done by the time the inspector arrives to your home.

The area inspector missed my pile(s). What do I do?

Please contact us ASAP, do not wait until the last minute.
408-975-9591
dschip@sccfiresafe.org

Please include your address in your message.

What can I do to help the inspector tag my pile(s)?

If you have multiple piles a digital or hand-drawn map is helpful to be sent to the inspectors after they have confirmed your application.

Do I need to be in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) to be eligible for the program?

We are only accepting applications for residents living in the WUI. Please search your address in our interactive web map to view if you reside in our chipping areas. If your home does not appear in the highlighted area with a number, you are not eligible for the program.

Can I add piles after they have been tagged?

No, you cannot add piles after they have been tagged by our inspectors. They will NOT be chipped.

What if the contractor misses a pile on the schedule chipping date(s)?

Please contact us ASAP, do not wait until the last minute.
408-975-9591
dschip@sccfiresafe.org

Please include your address in your message.

When can I expect my piles to be chipped after they have been tagged?

Typically it’s about a one to two week turn around time from the date your piles have been tagged.

Will you be chipping in Santa Cruz County?

Due to funding limitation we are unable to chip in Santa Cruz County

2021 SCCFSC Chipping Schedule

Area

Area Name

Chipping Pile

Application Deadline

Project Type

Area 1

Summit Rd/Melody Ln/

Mt. Charlie Rd.

Apr 12

At Home

Area 2

Montevina Rd.

Apr 12

At Home

Area 3

Brush Rd/Hillside Dr.

Apr 12

At Home

Area 4

Redwood Estates

Chipping Day

April 17

Redwood Estates Drive-Up

Area 5

Beardsley/Black/Thompson/Gist Rds.

Apr 18

At Home

Area 6

Aldercroft Heights/Lupin Lodge/

Soda Springs

Apr 18

At Home

Area 7

Chemeketa Park

Apr 18

At Home

Area 8

Bear Creek Rd/ Bear Creek Stables

Apr 25

At Home

Area 9

Los Altos Hills- LAHCFD website (Seperate from SCCFSC Annual Chipping Program)

At Home

Area 10

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

Apr 25

At Home

Area 11

Saratoga

Apr 25

At Home

Area 12

Palo Alto

Apr 25

At Home

Area 13

Cupertino

Apr 25

At Home

Area 14

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

May 2

At Home

Area 15

Loma Prieta Rd/ Casa Loma/

Loma Chiquita Rd

May 2

At Home

Area 16

Gilroy

May 2

At Home

Area 17

Gilroy East

May 2

At Home

Area 18

Morgan Hill - Jackson Oaks

May 2

At Home

Area 19

Morgan Hill - Holiday Lake Estates

TBD

At Home

Area 20

Morgan Hill - Llegas Rd/

Watsonville Rd/Oak Glen Rd/

Croy Rd/Uvas Canyon

May 2

At Home

Area 21

Morgan Hill East

May 2

At Home

Area 22

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

May 16

At Home

Area 23

New Almaden Community Club

May 17

At Home

Area 23

New Almaden Community Club

Chipping Day

June 6

New Almaden Comm. Drive-Up

Area 24

Los Gatos Foothills/

South Monte Sereno

Jun 6

At Home

Area 25

Monte Sereno/ Greenwood Ln./

Mountain Way/Bainter Ave/Overlook Rd

Jun 6

At Home

Area
Area Name
Chipping Pile Application Deadline
Project Type

Area 1

Summit Rd./Melody Ln. / Mt. Charlie Rd.
April 12
At Home

Area 2

Montevina Rd.
April 12
At Home

Area 3

Brush Rd/Hillside Dr
April 12
At Home

Area 4

Redwood Estates
Chipping Day April 17
Redwood Estates Drive-Up

Area 5

Beardsley/Black/Thompson/Gist Rds.
Apr 18
At Home

Area 6

Aldercroft Heights/LupinLodge/Soda Springs
Apr 18
At Home

Area 7

Chemeketa Park
Apr 18
At Home

Area 8

Bear Creek Rd/Bear Creek Stables
Apr 25
At Home

Area 9

Los Altos Hills- LAHCFD website

(Seperate from SCCFSC Annual Chipping Program)

Resident Online Request Form for 2021 Defensible Space Brush Chipping & Debris Removal Services


Area 10

Summit Near Loma Prieta School/Rds Between LDS & Catholica Churches
Apr 25
At Home

Area 11

Saratoga
Apr 25
At Home

Area 12

Palo Alto
Apr 25

At Home

Area 13

Cupertino
Apr 25

At Home

Area 14

SJ East Foothills/ Alum Rock/ Felter Rd/ East Foothills
May 2

At Home

Area 15

Loma Prieta Rd/ Casa Loma/ Loma Chiquita Rd
May 2
At Home

Area 16

Gilroy
May 2
At Home

Area 17

Gilroy East
May 2
At Home

Area 18

Morgan Hill - Jackson Oaks
May 2
At Home

Area 19

Morgan Hill - Holiday Lake Estates
TBD
At Home

Area 20

Morgan Hill- Llegas Rd/Watsonville Rd/Oak Glen Rd/Croy Rd/ Uvas Canyon
May 2
At Home

Area 21

Morgan Hill East
May 2
At Home

Area 22

Idylwild/Oakmont/Wright Dr./OSCH- between Holy City and Hwy 17
May 16
At Home

Area 23

New Almaden Community Club

May 17
At Home

Area 23
New Almaden Community Club
Chipping Day - June 6
New Almaden Comm. Drive-Up

Area 24
Los Gatos Foothills/South Monte Sereno
Jun 6
At Home

Area 25

Monte Sereno/Greenwood Ln./Mountain Way/Bainter Ave/Overlook Rd
Jun 6
At Home

Click on Map or Here to check your address

Checklist to prepare your material to be chipped

  • Create defensible space! From your house: 5’ non-combustion zone, 30’ clean & green zone, 100’ reduced fuel zone.*** Clear 10’ around chimneys, remove limbs overhanging your roof. Reduce fuel 30 feet from roads and clear 14’ over & 12’ wide on your driveway.
  • 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 located on the uphill side of the road or driveway.
  • Piles must be within 5 feet of the chipper location and less than 4 feet in height.
  • Piles must be hand stacked. Limbs must be under 8 inches thick.
  • Cut ends must face the same direction and point out toward the chipper location.
  • 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.
  • Check out our Shelter-in-Yard (SIY)
    “Prepping for Chipping” for useful info
***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.
Chipping Program Application