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! 

 

Upcoming Events

2022 Chipping Dates

This list is alphabetical.

Butano Canyon: June 1
Contact: George Collyer at ghcollyer@mac.com
Sign up is required by May 1.

Crestmoor (San Bruno): September 12
Contact: Denise Enea at DEnea@woodsidefire.org
Select streets: TBD

El Granada: May 10 – 12
Contact: fire@sanmateoRCD.org
Select streets
Map (PDF)

  • 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
Contact: Denise Enea at DEnea@woodsidefire.org
Select streets:

  • Springdale
  • Glenloch
  • Partial Sylvan
  • Ferndale
  • Partial Lakeview

Hillsborough: June 13 & October 4
Contact: Denise Enea at DEnea@woodsidefire.org

June 13 Select streets:

  • Shady Ln
  • Southdown
  • Woodbridge
  • Woodcrest
  • Viewhaven
  • Drayton
  • La Canada
  • La Cumbre

October 4 Select streets TBD

Kings Mountain: July 12
Contact: Denise Enea at DEnea@woodsidefire.org
All streets

La Honda: Weekends – July 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 2022
Contact: Ari Delay @ chief@lahondafire.org
Drop off location on Entrada Way

Loma Mar & Dearborn Park: June 15
Sign up required by May 15 (Now Closed)
Contact: fire@sanmateoRCD.org
All streets

Lower west Alpine Rd: June 15
Sign up required by May 15 (Now Closed)
Contact: fire@sanmateoRCD.org

Montara: May 9-10
Contact: fire@sanmateoRCD.org
Select streets: Map (PDF)

  • 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
Contact: fire@sanmateoRCD.org
Select streets: Map (PDF)

  • 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 & September 20
Contact: Denise Enea at DEnea@woodsidefire.org
All streets

San Mateo Highlands: August 15 – 16
Contact: Denise Enea at DEnea@woodsidefire.org
All streets

South Skyline: Last week of April & last week of October
Sign up required –  South Skyline FireSafe Council Free Chipping Program
Spring sign up between March 1 & April 15
Fall sign up between September 1 & October 15 
Select streets:

  • Middleton Tract
  • Upper Alpine Rd
  • Hwy 35 (south)

 

Past chipping events
  • Crestmoor (San Bruno) – July 12, 2021
  • Butano Canyon – June 1-3, 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, 17-18, 24-25, and 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 and September 21, 2021
  • San Juan Canyon (Belmont) – April 27-28, 2021
  • South Skyline – April 26 and October 15, 2021
  • Weekend Acres (Menlo Park) – June 15, 2021
  • La Honda – November 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22, 2020
  • Loma Mar and Dearborn Park – November 7-8 and November 14-15, 2020
  • Moss Beach and Montara – November 6, 2020
  • El Granada – October 26-27, 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.

 

Partners:

Funders:

  • San Mateo County Measure K
  • CA Fire Safe Council
  • Coastal Conservancy

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