Chipper Program

Residents living in the Carmel Highlands FPD are invited to participate in the 2025 Residential Chipper Program. The Chipper Program is funded by the Carmel Highlands FPD to assist with the disposal of hazardous fuels. Property owners who remove vegetative material from their property to reduce the wildland fire hazard can have the material chipped and disposed of at no cost. The chipped material will be removed from the site. Alternately, the chips may be left on site at the request of the property owner. The chipping will begin on the North end of the fire district and progress to the South. Due to the drought and the popularity of the program, the chipping contractor is processing large volumes of material and it may take several days to reach each neighborhood. No sign up necessary. No appointments will be made and no deviation from the planned route will occur. Your cooperation and patience is appreciated.

Requirements to participate in the program:

• Start placing limbs by the road no earlier than one week prior to chipping dates.
• The chipper will only come around once during the two week period.
• All cut limbs must be stacked no higher than 4 feet high, no wider than 5 feet wide, and a 3 foot separation between piles (maximum of 10 piles) along the roadside no later than 8:00 am on the 1st Monday of each 2 week chipping period.
• Stacked neatly with the butt end perpendicular to the road.
• All limbs and branches must be no more than 6 inches in diameter and may be any length.
• All material to be chipped must be clear of metal objects (no nails or other objects in the wood).
• No genista.
• No poison oak.
• No bamboo.
• No vines.
• No brush.
• No New Zealand Flax.

Residential Chipping Program Dates 2025

** Please refrain from placing your piles in font of your property until it is within one (1) week of the start of the chipping dates below. The chipper will only come around once during the two (2) week period. Thank you. ** 

February 03 - 14, 2025

April 07 – 18, 2025

June 02 – 13, 2025

August 04 - 15, 2025

November 03 – 14, 2025

If you need more information contact the Fire Captain Shayon Ascarie (831) 594-1427.