Neighborhood Chipping Program
The Montecito Fire Department is sponsoring critical fire prevention clean-up projects in your neighborhood.
In preparation for wildfire, the Montecito Fire Department works in collaboration with identified neighborhoods to assist residents in improving community defensible space. You do the cutting and our contractor will chip the vegetation on-site and take it away.
Interactive Neighborhood Chipping Map
The Montecito Fire Department now has an Interactive Neighborhood Chipping Map. Type in your address for your neighborhood's chipping date details.
2026 Chipping Schedule For the weeks beginning:
| February 9 | El Bosque, Bolero, Hodges, Juan Crespi, El Dorado, Live Oaks, Moore, Las Tunas, Fuera Lane, San Ysidro Road/Lane, La Vuelta, San Benito, Santo Tomas, Santa Isabella, Santa Clara, Santa Elena, La Vereda, Greenworth Place |
|---|---|
| February 23 | Lower Romero, Oak Grove, Alisos, Olive, Piedras, Veloz, Lilac, Feather Hill, Camino Del Rosario, Knollwood, Tabor, Orchard, Stonehouse, Macadamia |
| March 9 | Upper Romero, Park Hill, Bella Vista, Park, Park Lane West, Tollis, Winding Creek, Buena Vista, Glen Oaks, Via Manana, East Mountain (1800 block) |
| March 23 | Lower Hot Springs (500-800 blocks), Ashley, Ayala, Para Grande, Riven Rock, Cold Springs, Picacho, Stone Meadow Lane, Green Meadow Road, Santa Angela Lane |
| April 6 | Alston, Woodley, Glenview, School House Lane, Cota Lane, E. Pepper Lane, Pimiento, Camino Viejo, Alcala Lane, Dulzura Drive |
| April 20 | Chelham, Dawlish, Stoddard, Cloydon Circle, Paso Robles |
| May 4 | Sierra Vista, Nicholas, Ridge View, Canyon View, Sycamore Vista, Ranchito Vista, Calle Elegante, Calle Hermosa, Crest View |
| May 18 | Arcady, Knapp, Cowles, Cottage, El Rancho, Sky View, Lanai Road |
| June 1 | East Mountain (100-1600 blocks), Irvine, Brooktree, Upper Hot Springs (900 block), Oak Creek Canyon |
| June 15 | West Mountain Drive, Coyote, Banana Road |
How to participate in the annual program:
- START CUTTING YOUR VEGETATION in advance of your scheduled neighborhood clean-up date. Focus your efforts within 100’ of structures and roadways, in the area known as your “Defensible Space Zone."
- CHIPPING SERVICES FOR SHRUB AND TREE LIMB MATERIAL WILL BE PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRACTOR. This material should be stacked at the edge of a passable road with the cut ends pointing to the center of the road. Leaves, succulents, agave, pine needles, palm fronds and other small trimmings cannot be chipped. It is the property owner’s responsibility to properly dispose of these items or they can be placed in the provided MarBorg roll-off containers.
- ROLL OFF CONTAINERS will be strategically placed in certain neighborhoods. The containers will arrive the Wednesday prior to the scheduled chipping start date and will remain in place for 7 days. The containers are only for the vegetation that cannot be chipped and are not to be used for trash disposal. For exact locations, please reference the table below with Neighborhood Chipping Roll-Off Container Locations or visit the Interactive Neighborhood Chipping Map.
- TAGGING AND TRIMMING Roadside tree branches extending beyond the minimum clearance requirements set in the Montecito Fire Code will be identified by Fire District personnel. These branches will be removed by a professional tree service during the scheduled neighborhood project. This service provides adequate roadside clearance for emergency vehicles and safer evacuation routes for residents.
- CHIPPING SCHEDULE: Crews will start chipping on the Monday of your neighborhood’s scheduled week. To participate in the program, all material needs to be in place by 8:00 am Monday morning. If the vegetation is not easily seen from the street, please call Montecito Fire so they can ensure it is marked for removal. The identified schedule must be followed so all participants can be included in the annual program.
Please follow the above instructions to ensure the continued success of the Neighborhood Chipping Program.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a complimentary property survey, please contact our Wildland Fire Specialists: Maeve Juarez or Nic Elmquist at (805) 969-7762 or email prevention@montecitofire.com.
2025 Neighborhood Chipping Roll-Off Container Locations
| Chipping Neighborhood | Roll-Off Delivery | Chipping Starts | Roll-Off Pick-Up | Roll-Off Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Bosque | February 3 | February 9 | February 12 | 471 Live Oaks, La Vereda Lane, La Vuelta Lane |
| Lower Romero | February 17 | February 23 | February 26 | 2110 Alisos Drive, 2195 Veloz Drive |
| Upper Romero | March 3 | March 9 | March 12 | 2299 Bella Vista Drive (Fearing Trailhead), 909 Romero Canyon Road (Debris Basin), 936 Park Lane (Buena Vista Trail Head) |
| Lower Hot Springs (500-800 blocks) | March 17 | March 23 | March 26 | 567 Para Grande, 608 Stone Meadow |
| Alston | March 31 | April 6 | April 9 | 1315 Pepper Lane, 1155 Dulzura Drive |
| Chelham | April 14 | April 20 | April 23 | 681 Chelham Way |
| Sierra Vista | April 28 | May 4 | May 7 | 445 Nicholas Lane, 350 Calle Elegante |
| Arcady | May 12 | May 18 | May 21 | 621 Cowles, 651 Cowles |
| East Mountain Drive (100-1600 blocks) | May 26 | June 1 | June 4 | 1090 E. Mountain Drive, West of 485 E. Mountain Drive |
| West Mountain Drive | June 9 | June 15 | June 18 | West of 225 W. Mountain Drive (two roll-offs) |