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.
2024 Chipping Schedule For the weeks beginning:
| March 4 | El Bosque, Bolero, Hodges, Juan Crespi, El Dorado, Live Oaks, Moore, Las Tunas, Fuera Lane, San Ysidro Road/Lane |
|---|---|
| March 18 | Lower Romero, Oak Grove, Alisos, Olive, Piedras, Veloz, Lilac, Feather Hill, Camino Del Rosario, Knollwood, Tabor, Orchard, Stonehouse, Macadamia |
| April 1 | Upper Romero, Park Hill, Bella Vista, Park, Park Lane West, Tollis, Winding Creek, Buena Vista, Glen Oaks, Via Manana, East Mountain (1800 block) |
| April 15 | 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 29 | Alston, Woodley, Glenview, School House Lane, Cota Lane, E. Pepper Lane, Pimiento, Camino Viejo, Alcala Lane, Dulzura Drive |
| May 13 | Chelham, Dawlish, Stoddard, Cloydon Circle, Paso Robles |
| May 28 | Arcady, Knapp, Cowles, Cottage, El Rancho, Sky View, Lanai Road |
| June 10 | Sierra Vista, Nicholas, Ridge View, Canyon View, Sycamore Vista, Ranchito Vista, Calle Elegante, Calle Hermosa, Crest View |
| June 24 | East Mountain (100-1600 blocks), Irvine, Brooktree, Upper Hot Springs (900 block), Oak Creek Canyon |
| July 8 | 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”. Visit MontecitoFire.com/fire-prevention for more information.
- 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 preventionmail@montecitofire.com.
2024 Neighborhood Chipping Roll-Off Container Locations
| Chipping Neighborhood | Roll-Off Delivery | Chipping Starts | Roll-Off Pick-Up | Roll-Off Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Bosque | February 27 | March 4 | March 7 | 471 Live Oaks |
| Lower Romero | March 12 | March 18 | March 21 | 2110 Alisos Drive, 2195 Veloz Drive |
| Upper Romero | March 26 | April 1 | April 4 | 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) | April 9 | April 15 | April 18 | 567 Para Grande, 608 Stone Meadow |
| Alston | April 23 | April 29 | April 18 | 1315 Pepper Lane, 1155 Dulzura Drive |
| Chelham | May 7 | May 13 | May 16 | 681 Chelham Way |
| Arcady | May 21 | May 28 | May 30 | 621 Cowles, 651 Cowles |
| Sierra Vista | June 4 | June 10 | June 13 | 445 Nicholas Lane, 350 Calle Elegante |
| East Mountain Drive (100-1600 blocks) | June 18 | June 24 | June 27 | 1090 E. Mountain Drive, West of 485 E. Mountain Drive |
| West Mountain Drive | July 2 | July 8 | July 11 | West of 225 W. Mountain Drive (two roll-offs) |
Click here to view an overview of map locations.