Landscaping Services in Montecito

Paso Robles Landscaping designs and builds gardens, patios, hardscape and outdoor living spaces for homes in Montecito. Montecito gardens sit between the Santa Ynez foothills and the ocean, with mature trees, sloped lots and real wildfire risk. A good plan here balances a garden-like setting with defensible space, takes advantage of Montecito Water District rebates, and is ready for County design approval when the project needs it. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Defensible Space and Fire-Wise Design

State law (Public Resources Code 4291) requires 100 feet of defensible space around a home, or to the property line. Montecito Fire breaks it into three zones:

• Zone 0, the first five feet: ember-resistant hardscape such as gravel, pavers or concrete, no combustible bark or mulch, and no branches within 10 feet of a chimney
• Zone 1, within 30 feet: lean, clean and green, with tree branches kept at least 10 feet from other trees and space between plants and furniture or woodpiles
• Zone 2, to 100 feet: reduced fuel, annual grass mowed to four inches, and 10 feet of clearance around woodpiles, outbuildings and propane tanks

We design to those zones: flagstone, pavers and gravel at the house, patios and seat walls that double as fuel breaks, noncombustible pads under fire pits, and planting chosen from fire-resistant palettes with space between groups.

Montecito Water District Rebates

The District's conservation rebates, administered by its partner CalWEP, list these single-family amounts as of October 2026:

• Landscape conversion: $3 per square foot to replace lawn with native or drought-tolerant planting and permeable hardscape such as gravel, after a District site visit; one per property
• Smart irrigation controller: up to $300 for an eligible weather-based model
• Drip irrigation: up to $450 to convert spray irrigation to drip
• Mulch rebate: up to $500 per property per year toward mulch delivery

The program is not retroactive, rebates can't exceed project cost, and funds are limited, so we get you enrolled before any lawn comes out.

County Permits and MBAR Landscape Plans

Montecito is unincorporated, so permits come from the County of Santa Barbara. Projects that go to the Montecito Board of Architectural Review may need a landscape plan: the preliminary plan shows existing and proposed trees, shrubs and groundcover, and the final plan lists species, sizes, quantities, locations and irrigation type (MBAR plan checklist). We prepare those plans and coordinate with your architect when there's one on the project.

Outdoor Living in Montecito

Shade structures, outdoor kitchens, fire features, spa enclosures and lighting turn a Montecito garden into a place you use every day. Lighting is low-glare and aimed down, and every structure is planned with the defensible space zones in mind.

Planning a pool? The pool itself is built by a licensed pool partner. We design and build the poolside landscaping, decks, concrete, lighting and planting around it and coordinate the schedule with the pool builder.

What We Build in Montecito

We can help you with everything from design to the finished build:

• Landscape design and installation, with drought-tolerant planting and drip irrigation
• Hardscape: patios, pavers, walkways, concrete and driveways
• Retaining walls, steps and drainage
• Pergolas, patio covers and decks
• Outdoor kitchens, fire pits and lighting
• Artificial turf, rock, gravel and decomposed granite, and lawn replacement

Nearby Areas We Serve

From Montecito we also work in Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria. See our Santa Barbara County landscaping page, or our home base on the San Luis Obispo County service area page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much defensible space does Montecito require?

State law requires 100 feet, or to the property line. Montecito Fire asks for an ember-resistant Zone 0 in the first five feet, with hardscape and no combustible bark or mulch.

What rebates does Montecito Water District offer?

As of October 2026 the District lists $3 per square foot for landscape conversion after a site visit, up to $300 for a smart controller, up to $450 for drip conversion, and up to $500 per year for mulch delivery for single-family homes. The program is not retroactive.

Do I need a landscape plan for MBAR?

Projects that go to the Montecito Board of Architectural Review may need one. The final plan lists plant species, sizes, quantities, locations and irrigation type. We prepare it.

Who issues permits in Montecito?

Montecito is unincorporated, so permits come from the County of Santa Barbara.

Do you build pools?

No. A licensed pool partner builds the pool; we build the poolside landscaping, decks, concrete and lighting.