WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS • SONOMA COUNTY HOMEOWNER RESOURCE
Now accepting 2026 reservations for unincorporated Sonoma County residents
The Sonoma County Fire Prevention Division, through Permit Sonoma, offers a free chipping service to qualifying residents in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. The program is designed to help homeowners create defensible space around their homes, structures, and access routes as a direct measure against wildfire risk.
Free
For qualifying unincorporated Sonoma County residents
3 ft max
Stacked no more than 3 feet tall
10 ft
Piles must be within 10 feet of your road or driveway
4 in
Diameter limit of 4 inches per limb
Pile Requirements at a Glance
Meet all guidelines before submitting your reservation
- ✓ Freshly cut and stacked limbs from trees or brush
- ✓ Limbs no more than 10 feet long
- ✓ Limbs at least 1 inch thick and no more than 4 inches in diameter
- ✓ Piles stacked with cut ends facing the road or driveway
- ✓ Piles within 10 feet of a road or driveway
- ✓ Piles no more than 3 feet tall, 10 feet wide, and 50 feet long
- ❌ Poison oak, ivy, coyote brush, or other poisonous species
- ❌ Scotch or French broom, gorse, oleander, or bamboo
- ❌ Vines, spiny plants, or trees with thorns
- ❌ Roots, stumps, rocks, dirt, or mud
- ❌ Rakings, leaves, pine needles, or grass clippings
- ❌ Fire debris, burned wood, firewood rounds, or rotten wood older than one year
- ❌ Construction wood such as fence posts or dimensional lumber
- ❌ Nails, wire, or any metal pieces
About your wood chips: All chipped material is blown back onto your property in a location the crew determines is practical and safe. You are responsible for spreading the chips. The program does not remove or haul chips away.
Zone map required: Before submitting your reservation, check the Sonoma County Zones Map to confirm which zone your property is in. You will need this information to complete your reservation request.
Ready to Schedule Your Chipper Visit?
Confirm your piles meet all guidelines, then submit your 2026 reservation through the official Sonoma County program portal.
Questions? Email the Sonoma County Chipper Program team directly at chipper(at)sonomacounty(dotted)gov
Protecting your property from wildfire is one of the most meaningful steps you can take as a homeowner in the North Bay. At Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley, we work with buyers and sellers throughout the Napa and Sonoma regions and are proud to share resources that support the long-term health and value of your investment.
This post was prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley marketing team. Program details, eligibility criteria, and scheduling availability are subject to change. We recommend confirming current requirements directly with the Sonoma County Fire Prevention Division before submitting your reservation.