What should I do with the branches and slash after clearing?

Chipping programs

The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District and the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District both list curbside chipping on their defensible space pages, and Tahoe Douglas also lists a request form for chipping services. Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue has run a curbside chipping program in Washoe County, but its recent rounds were limited to elderly, disabled or low-income residents, with the chips staying on the property. Programs and dates change each year, so check with the district before you cut.

See free evaluations and chipping programs by fire district for the list.

Green waste and burn permits

Tahoe Douglas also lists a residential green waste burn permit. Carson City has issued seasonal open-burn permits that cover only small piles of weeds and yard debris, with a daily call-in line, and burn barrels are not allowed. Burn rules are strict, change with the season and fire danger, and are set by the fire department, so ask first and never assume.

Washoe County has held green waste drop-off events at Nevada Division of Forestry stations. Those events took woody material but not stumps over a set size, so read the notice for the year.

What our crews do

We own a chipper, dump trucks and a skid steer, and our list of services includes debris collection and disposal. For clearing work the estimate should say whether brush is chipped, hauled or left, and where the chips go. Wood chips left in a heap against a fence or house are a hazard, so decide the chips plan with the arborist.

Tell the office how much material you expect and where it sits. We do not publish disposal terms, so ask at the visit. Call 775.232.8243 or send photos with the free estimate form.