Community Chipping Program

This program is no longer accepting applications. Our website will be up to date with information in February 2025. Thank you for your interest!

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 Community Chipping Program for residents living in high fire risk properties in San Diego County. Once you’ve done the hard work of preparing defensible space, bring your material to a chipping event to be disposed. 

    How to prepare for Community Chipping:

    • Brush that has been cleared or stacked with heavy equipment will not be chipped.
    • Debris MUST originate from your defensible space zone. 
    • Material including, but not limited to, palm, succulents, and poison oak will not be chipped.
    • Old, matted stickers and/or lumber are not eligible for chipping.
    • Brush must be free of mud, rocks, and other debris.
    • Maximum six-inch diameter on cut limbs.
    • Material must be brought to a central location for chipping services.

    Please Note:

    • The Community Chipping Program for fuel reduction is offered in targeted communities and are subject to availability of funding. Communities may be added or removed without notice.
    • This program is funding dependent, and we are currently NOT accepting new applicants. 
    • The Community Chipping Program is administered by the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County in partnership with the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County. Funding is provided by Regional Resilience Grant Program.
    • In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.