Defensible Space Brush Chipping and Removal Program

Click here to register!
Provide relevant information (i.e., gates must be unlocked; driveway is difficult to find/maneuver; pile locations; etc.) in the notes section. We will try to accommodate requests and will reach out to you directly to coordinate. All contact information must be provided during registration to ensure we can contact you with questions or additional information.

Brush Chipping Dates & Deadlines

A two-week service window is required due to the logistics required for planning chipping routes and the high volume of properties served. We cannot provide you with a specific date for service. Please have piles ready by the deadline listed below. View the 2026 Brush Chipping Schedule for each month's tentative dates.

Actual Chipping Date Range, if conditions permit	Online Registration Window
June 8-19, 2026	May 4-25, 2026
July 13-24, 2026	June 8-29, 2026

How to Prepare for Chipping Services:

• All cut brush must be stacked within 10 feet of public or private roadways on a level area
• Piles should be stacked with the cut ends facing the driveway or roadway
• Use the “Notes” section of the registration page to indicate special instructions, such as locked gates
• Be respectful to all personnel acting on behalf of LAHCFD
• If contacted by an FSC representative, please return calls or emails
• If gates are locked, please have gates unlocked or a person available to allow the contractor access to the brush pile for chipping on the day of service
• If you must be on-site to provide access to contractors, please indicate this in the notes section of the registration process so that a representative can coordinate with you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please note the following restrictions:

• No wood larger than 8 inches in diameter
• No treated wood or lumber
• No lawn trimmings, construction debris, sod, yucca, ice plant, bamboo,
  stumps, pampas grass, palm fronds, cactus, rock, dirt, or leaves without branches
• NO POISON OAK

 

 

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS

Defensible Space Brush Chipping and Debris Removal (DSBC) Program Services: to participate in the DSBC Program Services, all cut brush must be stacked within 10 feet of your driveway entrance to the roadway or 10 feet from public or private roadways on a level area so that crews can inspect, measure and chip the piles for chipping and debris removal services.

Please also provide cooperative, respectful and appropriate interactions with all personnel who are conducting services on behalf of the District and FireSafe Council. We appreciate personnel receiving thanks and courteous treatment from residents. If you have any questions or comments about the services provided, please contact us at www.lahcfd.org or call the Los Altos Hills County Fire District at 650-949-1044.

We look forward to providing you with these no-cost DSBC Program Services to make your home and property more defensible against a wildland fire by removing hazardous brush and small tree limbs.

Residents Can Register Anytime

District residents can sign up for the program any time of the year. View the 2026 Brush Chipping Schedule for each month’s tentative dates.

About the Program

In the interest of fire prevention, life safety, and property protection, the Los Altos Hills County Fire District (“Fire District”) encourages residents to create defensible space around structures on their property and reduce fire fuels by utilizing property hygiene, and property and structure hardening.

In cooperation with Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, the Fire District is pleased to offer the Brush Chipping and Removal Program to chip and remove debris associated with residents’ fire fuel reduction activities. Residents may use the Program for chipping and removing the branches, limbs, and brush associated with property hygiene activities from their property. The Program services (“Services”) are provided to District residents at no cost.

Residents with brush piles larger than what will fit in two (2) green bins may register to have their brush chipped any time of the year (see the 2026 Brush Chipping Schedule for each month’s scheduled two-week chipping window). Brush piles must be cut and stacked within 10-feet of residents’ driveways’ entrance to the roadway on a level area by the date specified during registration.

Due to higher participation rates in the Defensible Space Brush Chipping Program, we are unable to provide residents with an exact time the contractor will arrive within the two-week chipping window. We ask that all residents have their brush piles ready by the deadline specified. Piles will be measured and photographed on the same day as the chipping. Name, phone number, and email must be provided at the time of registration to ensure that the FSC can contact the resident with questions or to provide additional information about the program.

All service dates provided during registration are dependent on weather, red flag warnings, and other safety conditions. The Fire District, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, and DSBC Program service providers will make every effort to adhere to the dates provided during registration; however, they must comply with all required safety measures, thus services may be delayed from time to time.

Fire Science Guidelines – Residents are encouraged to make their homes more defensible against a wildland fire by removing hazardous brush, tree limbs, and vegetation.  Fire science guidelines recommend clearing or pruning flammable vegetation to create defensible space from 0-100 feet from structures and to create a zero brush, tree limb, or vegetation zone from 0-5 feet from the structure. Use non-combustible materials such as rock, stone pavers, cement, bare earth, gravel, or sand within the 0-5 feet zone. Use of mulch or chips within the 0-5 feet zone is not recommended. Tree limbs should be cut that are within 10 feet of chimneys and trees that are 18 feet or taller should be limbed a minimum of 6 feet above the ground. Learn more with the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council Guideline for Creating Defensible Space.

We look forward to assisting you with your property hardening and property hygiene efforts. If you have any questions, please contact the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council at 408-975-9591 or the Los Altos Hills County Fire District at 650-949-1044.

Thank you for supporting fire safety efforts,

Los Altos Hills County Fire District