Community Chipping Program
Boulder County Wildfire Partners Chipping Program is a wildfire mitigation initiative that helps residents maintain defensible space around homes and other structures. The program supports the removal of slash generated through wildfire mitigation activities, including pruning, thinning, and defensible space maintenance. It is not intended for general yard waste disposal, landscaping cleanup, tree removal projects, storm debris recovery, or the disposal of mountain pine beetle-infested wood, which requires separate management and disposal practices.
Download our Community Chipping information handout in English and Spanish:
Who Can Participate?
All residents within incorporated and unincorporated Boulder County can join the program, including those from the City of Boulder, Erie (Boulder County portions), Jamestown, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland, Superior and Ward.
Wildfire Partners does not assign participants to Hosts or create participant groups. Residents become participants by registering for an approved Community Chipping event organized by a local volunteer Host.
What is a Chipping Event?
A community Chipping Event is a neighborhood-based wildfire mitigation effort that helps residents dispose of slash generated by defensible space maintenance and other wildfire risk-reduction activities around homes and structures.
Each event is organized by a volunteer Host who lives within the participating neighborhood. The Host serves as the primary coordinator for the event, helping recruit neighboring participants, communicate program requirements, coordinate scheduling with the contractor, and act as the primary liaison between participants, Wildfire Partners, and the county-approved contractor.
During a chipping event, participating residents prepare slash piles on their own properties according to current program guidelines. On the scheduled event date, a Boulder County-approved contractor arrives with specialized equipment to chip the piles. The resulting wood chips are then transported to approved donation sites, farms, and community partners for beneficial use.
Community Chipping events require participation from at least five neighboring households and are designed to help residents maintain defensible space and support safer, more wildfire-resilient communities throughout Boulder County.
Participants should communicate event-specific questions, changes, cancellations, or logistical concerns directly to their Host whenever possible, as Hosts coordinate closely with both Wildfire Partners and the contractor throughout the planning process.
Program Requirements
To participate in Community Chipping:
- Slash should originate from wildfire mitigation activities conducted around the home and other structures.
- Each property may have up to two slash piles.
- Slash piles must be at least 5 ft x 5 ft x 5 ft.
- The combined total length of all slash piles may not exceed 80 feet.
- Piles must be placed in safe and accessible locations.
- Participants must register before established deadlines.
- Participants must provide accurate registration and contact information.
- Materials must comply with all accepted and prohibited material guidelines.
- Participants must follow instructions provided by Hosts, contractors, and Wildfire Partners.
Piles that are unsafe, inaccessible, contaminated, improperly prepared, or otherwise non-compliant may be rejected and left unchipped.
Participants who repeatedly fail to follow program requirements may become ineligible for future participation.
Preparing Your Slash Pile
Proper pile preparation improves contractor safety, increases efficiency, and helps ensure piles are accepted for service.
Before participating, please watch the slash pile preparation video and review all pile preparation instructions provided during registration. Improperly prepared piles may be rejected and left unchipped.
How the Program Works
Community Chipping is open from April 1st to November 30th
- Organize a Group: One person (the Host) gathers at least four other neighbors to join the chipping event.
- Apply: The Host completes an application for the group.
- Approval: Wildfire Partners reviews the application and notifies the Host of approval within 1-2 weeks.
- Schedule: Upon approval, the Host receives a list of approved contractors and instructions for scheduling the event.
- Coordinate: The Host schedules the event with a contractor and informs the community and Wildfire Partners of the date.
- Educate: The Host educates neighbors on how to prepare their slash piles using the provided guidelines.
- Chipping Day: The contractor chips the slash piles and transports the woodchips to approved sites.
- Payment: Wildfire Partners pays the contractor directly once the work is complete.
Application Information
Before applying, gather the names, addresses, and emails of the participating neighbors. At least five neighbors (including the Host) are needed for approval.
Chip Donation Site Application
The Wildfire Partners Chipping Program accepts chip donation site applications from farms, private property owners, municipal agencies, and similar land managers seeking to receive clean wood chips generated through community wildfire mitigation efforts. We especially welcome applications from working farms interested in using wood chips for animal bedding, winter road stabilization, or similar operational needs.
To ensure safe, efficient, and appropriate use of program resources, the Wildfire Partners Chipping Program does not provide wood chips for composting projects. Approved sites must be capable of receiving large-volume deliveries, with a minimum request of 10 cubic yards (approximately 270 cubic feet) per drop. Prior to approval, an onsite meeting with the Chipping Program Coordinator is required to confirm access, safety requirements, and site suitability before scheduling contractor chip deliveries.
For More Information Contact:
Zack Bertges
zbertges@bouldercounty.gov
303-678-6168