Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention to close Chipper Program applications for 2022

Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention Division announced that it will be closing seasonal applications for its Curbside Chipper Program on Oct. 1, 2022. The service supports residents of unincorporated Sonoma County in creating defensible space around their homes, neighboring roadsides and reduces vegetation along access routes.

The Curbside Chipper Program operates from May through November, weather-dependent, and is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents in unincorporated areas of the county can still submit a complete application, and Permit Sonoma will provide up to two hours of complimentary chipping which, on average, is enough time to process a pile of vegetation that is approximately 50-feet long, three-feet tall and 10-feet wide. In 2021, Permit Sonoma completed a total of 465 jobs assisting property owners as they reinforced defensible space around their homes. 

“We close another successful season of helping property owners all over the county take initiative to protect their homes,” Fire Marshal Steve Mosiurchak said. “We look forward to getting the chipper out and helping homeowners again next year.”

Property owners are encouraged to work with their local fire district, fire safe council or the county’s Fire Prevention Division to set up community day chipping events where the chipper and staff can be available to continue through the winter season in a planned and coordinated fashion, maximizing the number of properties in a specific area.

In the event of a wildfire, having 100 feet or more of defensible space can help save homes. Thinning vegetation on access roads can make travel and access safer for residents and first responders. The free chipper program can help property owners in unincorporated Sonoma County dispose of woody debris and assist in creating healthy and fire-resilient landscapes around homes and on roadsides. 

To learn more about the program, visit Permit Sonoma’s Curbside Chipper Program webpage. 

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Media Contact: 
Bradley Dunn, Permit Sonoma Policy Manager  
Bradley.Dunn@sonoma-county.org 
(707) 321-0502 
2550 Ventura Ave. 
Santa Rosa, CA 95403