Southern Marin Fire District Offers Year-Round Chipper Service to Reduce Wildfire Risk

As wildfire season extends and intensifies across California, the Southern Marin Fire District (SMFD) encourages residents to take proactive steps to protect their homes and neighborhoods through responsible vegetation management. One of the most effective—and free—resources available to the community is SMFD’s year-round chipper program.

Free, Year-Round Chipper Service from SMFD
The SMFD chipper program provides residents with an easy, no-cost way to dispose of fire-prone vegetation and supports the creation of defensible space by removing hazardous materials such as brush, limbs, and stacked firewood.

Our chipper program continues to be a valuable service to residents of Sausalito, Mill Valley, and the communities of Tam Valley, Homestead Valley, Strawberry, Alto Sutton, Almonte, and Tiburon—all of whom face increasing wildfire risk and benefit from proactive fuel reduction efforts.

To maximize efficiency, SMFD encourages neighbors to coordinate their vegetation cleanups and schedule pickups together. While we strongly recommend multiple households within a neighborhood participate, we will accommodate individual service requests as needed.

Get Started Today
Residents can request service by completing the SMFD Chipper Request Form. Participating in this program is a simple but powerful way to contribute to a fire-adapted, more resilient Southern Marin.

What’s Accepted for Chipping

• Tree limbs (up to 8 inches in diameter)

• Brush, shrubs, and woody branches

• Broom, juniper, cypress, and firewood

Please note: Grass clippings, leaves, and bagged materials are not accepted.

Every pile chipped is a step toward greater community safety. For questions or assistance, call SMFD’s Prevention Department at 415-388-8182.

Complete the SMFD Chipper Request Form

Have excess grass clippings, leaves and bagged vegetation?

Contact Bay Cities Refuse Service to schedule a pickup on your garbage day.