Yard with neatly piled branches and twigs along the ground next to a house with grey siding, leaning against the house, near a window, on a dirt and grass pathway in a wooded area.
Logo for Clear Lake Environmental Research Center featuring mountains, a lake, reeds, and a bird, with the acronym C.L.E.R.C in the center and a circular text around the edge reading 'Clear Lake Environmental Research Center'.

CHIPPING GUIDELINES

Everything you need to know to get your piles ready for pickup day.

DOWNLOAD GUIDELINES
READ FAQs

Follow these simple steps to make sure you are ready for your chipping day.

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR PILES

Number one in white

Cut branches and limbs to 6 inches or less in diameter, 2–6 feet long. Stack them neatly with cut ends facing the road.

CUT & STACK

White circle with a white number 2

Piles must be within 5 feet of the roadway, or in a location easily accessible to our chipper trucks and crews. Don’t block driveways or mailboxes.

PLACE ROADSIDE

Number 3 inside a white circle on a white background.

Maximum pile row: 5 ft high × 6 ft deep × 15 ft long. Leave 3 feet of space between multiple rows so crews can safely maneuver.

PILE SIZE & LAYOUT

Number four displayed on a white circle

Make sure your street address is visible from the road. Crews may skip unmarked or hard-to-locate properties.

SHOW YOUR ADDRESS

SIGN UP FOR A CHIPPING DAY

✅ Pro tip: Make piles before your community’s scheduled chipping week so you’re ready when the crews arrive.

BEFORE YOUR CHIPPING DAY

✓ Mark piles with flags if your property is hard to see.

✓ Keep pets and vehicles clear of the work area.

✓ Do not add new material after the crews begin to work.

✓ Make sure your street address is visible.

✓ Ensure piles are within 5 feet of the road/driveway

✓ Ensure all chipping guidelines have been met.

what we can NOT chip

Icon of a cut log of wood on a dark orange circular background.

Logs over 6”

Illustration of a sprig of Oleander, Poison Oak and spiny leaves on an orange circular background.

thorny vines

White geometric rock illustration inside an orange circular background.

Rocks & dirt

Icon of a trash can with a lid, white outline on a brown circular background.

trash or debris

Illustration of a sprig of Oleander, Poison Oak and spiny leaves on an orange circular background.

scotch broom

A graphic logo featuring a white tree with numerous roots set against an orange circular background.

root balls

Illustration of a sprig of Oleander, Poison Oak and spiny leaves on an orange circular background.

oleander or poison oak

Icon of a mini excavator with a digging arm on an orange circular background.

machine piles

Need a copy of our guidelines to share with neighbors?

Download our one-page bilingual guidelines:

ENGLISh PDF
SPANISH PDF

READY TO SCHEDULE YOUR CHIPPING DAY?

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