Neighborhood Chipper Program

The Neighborhood Chipper Program assists residents in maintaining defensible space by providing no-cost chipping to select neighborhoods vulnerable to wildfire. The program is based on a “you cut, we chip” model. After clearing brush and small trees from around homes, residents can participate in neighborhood events by piling branches, limbs, and other woody vegetation on the curbside or designated drop-off locations when available. On the day of your community’s event, a mobile woodchipper and crew come to you!

Sign up here to participate. For questions, email fire@sanmateoRCD.org.

Upcoming Events:

May 10-11

La Honda
- Drop off location between Highway 84 and Playbowl Dr on Entrada Way (Coordinates: 37.318821, -122.272238)

May 17-18

La Honda
- Drop off location between Highway 84 and Playbowl Dr on Entrada Way (Coordinates: 37.318821, -122.272238)

May 27, 2025

El Granada (click here to view eligible streets)
Dehoff Canyon Rd
Butano Canyon
Moss Beach (click here to view eligible streets)
Montara (click here to view eligible streets)

June 16, 2025

Alpine Rd

June 23, 2025

Dearbon Park
Loma Mar

June 18, 2025

Ranch Rd

Previous Event Dates

2024

Alpine Rd (Lower West)
- June 10th
Bear Gulch East
- July 22nd
Butano Canyon
- May 28th and September 9th
El Granada
- May 20th selected streets:
  - El Granada Blvd, 207-270 and 310-700
  - Kathryn Ave
  - Lewis Ave
  - Highland Ave
  - Dolphine Ave
  - Ave Balboa, between Almeria and Palma
  - San Juan Ave, 315 – 1107
  - Del Monte Rd, 214 – 270
  - Colombus Ace, 707 – 885
  - San Clemente Rd, 223 – 262
  - San Pedro Rd
  - Ave Portola, 515 – 586
Emerald Hills
- August 5th
Kings Mountain
- July 14th
Loma Mar & Dearborn Park
- June 3rd
La Honda
- May 11-12th, 18-19th
- July 6-7th, 13-14th
Midcoast Chipper Event – El Granada, Montara, Moss Beach
- July 29th
Montara
- May 22nd on selected streets:
  - Date St, between George St and Franklin St
  - Pedro Mtn Rd
  - 6th Street (turns into Harte St) between Le Conte Ave
  - Date St
  - Sunshine Valley Rd
  - Linda Vista Rd (Between Drake St and Cedar St)
  - Alta Vista Rd
  - Alamo St
  - East Buena Vista Rd
  - Las Flores Rd
  - Valverde Rd
  - Christine Rd
  - E Montara Blvd
  - Monte Vista Rd
  - Corona St
  - Riviera St
  - Irving St
  - Howells St
  - Cypress St
  - Avery St
  - Hunt St
  - Park St
  - Christine Rd
  - Grant St
Moss Beach
- May 22nd, on selected streets:
  - Tierra Alta St
  - Loma Vista St
  - Linda Vista St
  - Vermont Ave (East side of Hwy 1)
  - Lancaster Blvd (East side of Hwy 1)
  - Wave Ave
  - Vue de Mer Ave
  - Sunshine Valley Rd
Palomar Park
- June 11th and September 24th
Portola Valley Ranch
- May 13th
Ranch Road and Native Sons Road (South)
- June 12th
San Mateo Highlands
- July 14-15th
South Skyline
- April 29th

2023

Butano Canyon
- May 30th
El Granada
- May 1st, June 2nd
Emerald Hills
- June 12th select streets:
  - Ferndale
  - Glenloch
  - Partial Sylvan
  - Partial Lakeview
  - Springdale
Hillsborough
- June 5th – 6th
- June 13rd select streets:
  - Drayton
  - La Canada
  - La Cumbre
  - Shady Ln
  - Southdown
  - Woodbridge
  - Woodcrest
  - Viewhaven
Kings Mountain
- July 11th
Loma Mar & Dearborn Park
- May 22nd
Lower west Alpine Rd
- June 12th
La Honda
- May 13-14th and 20-21st, July 8-9th, July 15-16th, and July 29-30th
Montara
- May 8th and June 2nd
Moss Beach
- May 8th and June 2nd
Palomar Park
- June 5th
Ranch Road and Native Sons Road (South)
- June 7th
San Mateo Highlands
- August 1st

2022

Butano Canyon
- June 1, 2022
Crestmoor (San Bruno)
- September 12, 2022
El Granada
- May 10-12, 2022
  - Ave Balboa, between Almeria and Palma
  - San Juan Ave, 315-385
  - El Granada Blvd, 310-700
  - Lewis Ave
  - Highland Ave
  - Dolphine Ave
Emerald Hills
- October 4, 2022
  - Springdale Way
  - Glenoch Way
  - Partial Sylvan Way
  - Ferndale Way
  - Partial Lakeview Way
Hillsborough
- June 13, 2022
  - Shady Ln
  - Southdown Rd
  - Woodridge Rd
  - Woodcrest Ct
  - View Haven Rd
  - Drayton Rd
  - La Canada Rd
  - La Cumbre Rd
- October 4, 2022
Kings Mountain West
- July 12, 2022
La Honda
- July 2-3, 2022
- July 9-10, 2022
- July 16-17, 2022
- July 23-24, 2022
Loma Mar/Dearborn Park
- June 15, 2022
Lower West Alpine Road
- June 15, 2022
Montara
- May 9-10, 2022
  - Date St, at the intersection of George St, going Northeast towards Franklin St
  - San Pedro Mountain Rd
  - 6th St (turns into Harte St) between Le Conte Ave & Date St
Moss Beach
- May 9-10, 2022
  - Tierra Alta St
  - Loma Vista St
  - Linda Vista St
  - Vermont Ave (East side of Hwy 1)
  - Lancaster Blvd (East side of Hwy 1)
  - Wave Ave
Palomar Park
- June 7, 2022
- September 20, 2022
San Mateo Highlands
- August 15-16, 2022
South Skyline
- April 25-29, 2022
- October 24-28, 2022

2021

Butano Canyon
- June 1-3, 2021
Crestmoor (San Bruno)
- July 12, 2021
Devonshire
- August 16, 2021
El Granada
- May 18-20, 2021
  - 400-700 El Granada Blvd
  - Lewis Ave
  - Dolphine Ave
  - Highland Ave
  - Del Monte Ave
  - 600-620 Ave Portola
  - Dolores St
  - 555-315 San Juan
Highlands
- August 3-4, 2021
Hillsborough
- June 7, 2021
Kings Mountain West
- July 13, 2021
La Honda
- July 10-11, 2021
- July 17-18, 2021
- July 24-25, 2021
- July 31-August 1, 2021
Loma Mar/Dearborn Park
- June 14-16, 2021
  - 1064-20 Wur Rd
  - Dearborn Park
Montara
- May 17, 2021
  - Drake St
  - Date St
  - Elm St
  - Hawthorne St
  - Howells St
  - Crescent St
Moss Beach
- May 17, 2021
  - 601-775 Lancaster Blvd
  - Vue de Mar Ave
  - 600-874 Vermont Ave
  - Buena Vista St
Palomar Park
- June 8, 2021
- September 21, 2021
San Juan Canyon (Belmont)
- April 27-28, 2021
South Skyline
- April 26, 2021
- October 15, 2021
Weekend Acres (Menlo Park)
- June 15, 2021

2020

El Granada
- October 26-27, 2020
La Honda
- November 7-8, 2020
- November 14-15, 2020
- November 21-22, 2020
Loma Mar and Dearborn Park
- November 7-8, 2020
- November 14-15, 2020
Moss Beach and Montara
- November 6, 2020

Neighborhoods are chosen based on a risk-asset model for communities in unincorporated areas. New neighborhoods may be added as funding becomes available.

Be prepared, learn more about defensible space on the FIRESAFE San Mateo County website.

How to participate:

Chipper Program Dos and Don’ts

To keep the program running smoothly and safely, there are a few easy tips for homeowners participating in this program. Not following directions can cause issues and may result in your pile not being chipped.

Removing Vegetation: Give yourself a few weekends to do vegetation maintenance around your yard.

Piling Vegetation: Your pile must be accessible to the chipper (within 8 feet of the road). When building your pile, face the cut ends toward the street. Material must be less than 8 inches in diameter for it to fit through the chipper. Piles must not exceed 10 ft wide, 10 ft long and 5 ft tall.

Chipping Schedule: Chipping is scheduled for communities for spring, summer, and fall. See above for details on when the chipper visits your neighborhood and any specific instructions you may need to know. Make sure to give yourself enough time to cut and pile your vegetation.

Eligibility: To be eligible to participate for the neighborhood chipping program, your must have a residential home in San Mateo County. Your home must be within one of the chipping areas listed above. Unfortunately, commercial properties/business are unable to participate.

Partners:

Funders:

San Mateo County Measure K
CA Fire Safe Council

RCD contact:
Eddie Sanchez
(650) 712-7765 x 126
fire@sanmateoRCD.org