Summit County Chipping Program

You can protect your home from wildfire with help from the Summit County Chipping Program. Summit County government helps residents and property owners create defensible space by providing free chipping and disposal for branches, logs and small trees. 
 
When it comes to wildfire, it takes everyone to protect everyone.    

The 2023 Chipping Program has concluded. Check this space in Spring 2024 for information on the 2024 Chipping Program.

MATERIALS GUIDELINES

Accepted materials include trees, logs and branches up to 12 inches in diameter, free of nails and wire. The following restrictions apply:

  • No willows: Willows have high moisture content, so they help to slow the spread of fire. They also clog our chipping equipment because they are very fibrous.
  • No construction or building materials, treated lumber, fence posts or signs.
  • No rotten wood, root wads, stumps, dirt, rocks, or shrubs: These items clog and damage our chipping equipment.
  • No grass clippings, trash, weeds or bags of leaves.

PILE GUIDELINES

Piles must be stacked by 8 a.m. on the Monday of your neighborhood’s designated chipping week so that our chipping crews can record all pile locations and plan their routes for that week. Chipping and collection will take place throughout your designated week.

  • Stack piles neatly (no bags); place trunks and branches perpendicular to the road, large ends facing the road, small ends facing your property.
  • Place piles within 5 feet of the roadway, but not touching the road or in drainage ditches.
  • Viewed from the road, maximum pile size is 5 feet high, 5 feet wide; maximum length of individual trunks and branches is 10 feet.
  • Maximum number of piles for each property is 10 piles.
  • Do not combine piles with neighbors or place piles in other neighborhoods.
  • After crews have removed your pile, clear away any remaining branches, needles and debris.

Example of a "Good Pile"

Example of a good slash pile for chipping program

Example of a "Bad Pile"

Example of a bad slash pile for chipping program

2023 Chipping Program Results

A total of 1,442 local households participated in the 2023 Chipping Program. 3,870 cubic yards of chips were hauled to Summit County Resource Allocation Park for reclamation efforts.

Chipping Frequency Participation Map - interactive map showing parcels that participated and years that they participated

Chipping Participation Time Lapse Map - interactive map showing participation over time

Contact

For more information on the Summit County Chipping Program, call or email Dan Schroder, (970) 389-5756.

Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Summit County cooperating. Extension programs available to all without discrimination.

Take the Pledge

Take the Pledge

Protect what you love. Take the Pledge to be Wildfire READY. More information on our pledge page.