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:

Alpine Road
  • October 28th
  • Apply here
  • Contact: eddie@sanmateoRCD.org
Highway 35 (South Skyline FSC)
  • October 28-29th
  • Apply here
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