The Resource Conservation District chipping program opens July 25 for Firewise recognized communities and Aug. 1 for other Santa Cruz County residents.
Neighborhoods must have at least five participating households who clear defensible space around their homes to be eligible for reimbursement of chipping costs up to $250 per property and $80 per 500 linear feet of private road. Reimbursements will not be accepted for public roads.
Applications close Oct. 31 and all chipping and reimbursement forms MUST be completed and submitted by Nov. 30. Coordinate with your neighborhood and schedule a California licensed contractor to come and chip your material before signing up to ensure you do not miss the 30-day window.
Reimbursements do not include the cost of clearing work or participants’ time. Any contractors hired to chip must be California licensed contractors. There is a $10,000 reimbursement maximum per neighborhood.
Reimbursements for chipping services are available to Santa Cruz County residential neighborhoods , which includes Soquel Hills, Aptos Hills, Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley but not Seacliff or Capitola.
Residents in areas of the Bonny Doon Fire Safe Council or South Skyline Fire Safe Council should sign up for chipping through their Fire Safe Council.
Reimbursement may only be applied to the chipping of materials that originated within 100 feet of an occupied structure or within 10 feet on either side of a private road. The costs of fueling a rented chipper and of renting a vehicle to tow a rented chipper are eligible for reimbursement.
At least 5 properties must participate. One neighborhood representative is to complete the online application to reserve the funds and receive the reimbursement payment for the group.
Include all participants’ names and contact information in the application, then wait for confirmation.
Once confirmed, you can hire a California licensed contractor or rent a chipper. Once confirmation of your application is made, chipping must be completed, and the reimbursement forms submitted within 30 days. Receipt must include dates of service and an itemized list of type of work and associated cost completed with chipping listed as a service. At least one photo must be included.
All work MUST be completed, and reimbursement forms and receipts submitted, no later than Nov. 30. Late reimbursement forms will not be accepted.
Grant funds for this program are dependent on in-kind contributions from landowners spending time clearing vegetation for defensible space, preparing piles and organizing chipping. Neighborhoods should keep track of their time and submit it with their reimbursement form.
Proof of payment can be an invoice with a cleared check, a non itemized receipt or a bank statement with the charge highlighted (and the other information redacted).
Applications are first-come first-serve, and spots are limited. One the reimbursement arrives, person who applied distributes the funds.
If your neighborhood is unable to complete the chipping or fails to submit the Reimbursement Packet before Nov. 30 you will NOT be eligible for reimbursement and your spot will be available to the next neighborhood applicant.
•••
To sign up, visit www.bdfsc.org or www.southskylinefiresafe.org
For more info, visit www.rcdsantacruz.org/forest-health-and-wildfire-resiliency