Chipping Program Information and Application
Important Update Regarding Chipper Program 2024
Dear Residents,
We hope this message finds you well. We regret to inform you of a difficult decision regarding our chipper program.
After careful consideration and evaluation of our resources, we regret to inform you that we are currently unable to offer the chipper program to the community this year. We understand the value this program brings to our community in terms of wildfire prevention and maintaining safety in our neighborhoods.
However, due to various constraints we are unable to provide the program at this time. Please know that this decision was not made lightly, and we share in your disappointment.
The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County provides no-cost Chipper Program to Santa Cruz County residents, and you can apply on their website.
Chipping Programs | RCD Programs (rcdsantacruz.org)
We hope to reinstate the chipper program in the future. In the meantime, we encourage all residents to remain vigilant in maintaining defensible space around their properties and to follow recommended wildfire prevention guidelines.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and continued support. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Sean Murray
Battalion Chief, Pajaro Valley FPD
No-Cost Chipping Program
Maintaining the legally required 100 feet of defensible space around your property can be a challenge for homeowners. Once you’ve taken the necessary steps to protect your property by thinning and trimming hazardous brush, you are often left with large piles of dry vegetation, which can themselves become a fire hazard.
That is why we created our No-Cost Chipping program for residents in high-fire risk properties in Pajaro Valley Fire District. Once you’ve done the hard work of preparing the space, our crews will come out and chip the cleared vegetation for you, free of charge. The chips are left with you and can be used as a weed suppressing mulch on your property.
Chipping Program Requirements:
Piles must be ready two weeks prior to chipping schedule.
- Chipping crew is not responsible for moving brush beyond a 5’ distance from the chipper.
- No palm, cactus, poison oak, or ice plant will be chipped.
- Brush must be free of mud, rocks, and other debris.
- Maximum six-inch diameter on cut limbs.
- Piles must be fully accessible for chipping equipment and crew.
- Chipped material to be left on-site in the area, not hauled away.
- Brush or limbs that have been mechanically removed (by tractor or bulldozer) will not be chipped.
- Piles should be stacked with tree limbs all facing the same direction for ease of feeding the chipper.
- Residents will not be allowed to feed material into the chipper.
We are look forward to providing this service to our residents. If you have questions or need any additional information. Please email us at PVFDChippingProgram@gmail.com.
