Spring No-Cost Chipping [CLOSED]

The goal of the chipping program is to assist residents in creating defensible space around their homes and private roads. It is essential for improving your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire and your ability to get out safely.

Defensible space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland areas that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it helps protect your home from catching fire—either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. It is also important for protecting the firefighters and first responders who are performing rescues and saving homes.

This tutorial will walk you through the steps to participate in the program.

Safety. When creating defensible space, be aware that new hazards can arise if measures are not taken to protect bare soil and slopes from erosion. Be conscious of high voltage power lines on or near your property. Be fire safe when using motorized equipment to clear defensible space. Work early during the day with lower temperatures and higher humidity. All motorized equipment should have spark arrestors.

Nesting Birds. Visually inspect the tree, branch or shrub for signs of nests or nesting activity before cutting. If you find a nest, do not do any cutting within at least 50’ of the nest until the chick has fledged. Do not attempt to move or disturb the nest.

It is unlawful to needlessly destroy the nest of any nesting bird – CDFW Code 3503.

This Program can only chip materials that originated within 100 feet of occupied structures or within 10 feet on either side of a private road. Visit the Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County for more information on defensible space and home hardening tips.

Please take at least one before and one after photo of the clearing work. Both photos should be taken from the same location. These will be uploaded when you complete the chipping schedule form. Alternately you can take a photo of your piles, but the other is preferred.

Piles CAN include:

• Tree limbs up to 8 inches in diameter and 10 feet long (don't cut into shorter branches because the longer branches are easier to chip).
• Side branches up to 4 feet (trim side branches greater that 4 feet wide)
• Vegetation cleared from within 100 feet of a home or 10 feet on either side of a private road.
• Piles MUST be hand stacked.
• Cut ends should all face the same direction toward the road and on the uphill side of sloped roads.

Piles CAN NOT include:

• Timber harvest debris, or vineyard and orchard waste.
• Poison oak, ivy or blackberry vines.
• Broom or acacia with seed pods, or other invasive materials.
• Non-compostable materials (painted or treated lumber, trash, metal wire, etc.)
• Palm fronds, roots, stumps, rocks or mud.

NO LOOSE DOGS OR LOCKED GATES (unless gate codes or keys are provided).

For Spring 2023 only, each property is allowed up to FOUR* (usually three) piles at 8 x 4 x 10 feet each (depth is dependent on length of branches). Each private road is allowed 1 pile per 500 linear feet of road. Piles must be hand stacked. Cut ends should all face the same direction toward the road and on the uphill side of sloped roads.

*The extra pile for Spring 2023 is due to the excessive volume of wood debris from this year's winter storms.

Pile locations must be accessible to a large box truck and chipper trailer. Extremely narrow or steep driveways may not be serviceable.

Piles must be located within 5 feet of chipper access location.

Chipper access must be along established roads in good condition. Unpaved roads can not be wet at time of chipping service.

NO locked gates or loose dogs.

Chips will be blown back onto your property. Place piles in an area where you want the chips. Check the RCD resources library for the top 10 uses for chips.

Make sure your street address is visible and that piles are clearly marked with your street number. Mark road piles with your road name.

Remember. N0 locked gates or loose dogs.

Once your piles are ready for chipping, you must complete the chipping schedule form to ensure that YOUR address/road name is provided to the chipping contractor. A unique link to this form is provided when you complete your pre-registration application. The deadline for completing this form is April 30th for all applicants.

Chipping will begin May 8. If you do not want your piles sitting for too long, we recommend preparing them as close as possible to the April 30th deadline.

We can ONLY provide a 10 day window for chipping due to the number of properties we are servicing. No indivdual dates can be scheduled.

NO LATE FORMS WILL BE ACCEPTED.