The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council Chipping Program is designed to encourage and support homeowners in creating and maintaining the required defensible space around their homes. Required defensible space clearing is 0-100 feet (Zones 0-2) from permanent structures. The program’s goal is to reduce fuel loads and wildfire risk to prevent and mitigate future wildfires. The program is FREE to WUI residents.
Spring 2025 Chipping Program Registration for our Saratoga and County Fire District residents will open on March 10, 2025. Availability will be limited, so registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. A waitlist will be available if the program reaches capacity.
We Offer the Following Types of Scheduled Chipping Services
At Home Chipping – Residents sign up for a scheduled chipping event to be performed at their home. Brush must be prepared in advance of the scheduled chipping event and must meet all specified guidelines.
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 Guidelines
To make our Chipping Program successful we ask that you help to make the process as seamless as possible by following the guidelines below.
Cut ends must face the same direction and point out towards street.
Pile location must be within 10 feet of the residential street on public right of way on level ground.
Limbs must be under 4 inches in diameter (thickness).
Piles must be less than 4 feet in height.
Piles must be less than 100 cubic yards per registered resident.
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 blackberry vines, or poison oak/ivy.
No timber harvest debris, vineyard or orchard waste.
No painted, preserved, or finished lumber, trash.
No palm fronds, roots, stumps, rocks or mud.
Chipping Program Sponsors/Funding
Thank you to our sponsors for securing funding to support our chipping program!
