Malibu Wants To Cut Down Your Hazardous Trees For Free

MALIBU, CA — In an effort to protect properties from wildfire risk, the city is once again accepting applications for its free Hazard Tree Removal Program.

The city was awarded $326,000 last month to continue the program for a third round, bringing the total grant funding for the program to $1 million since it launched in 2021, city officials said.

The popular program had residents on the waiting list when the previous round of grant funds were exhausted. Those people will be given priority during this phase, officials said.

The goal is to remove dead trees, or tress that are at risk of falling, in order to improve safety. Dead trees are fuel to wildfires — the program is meant to help create defensible space around homes so they're more likely to survive a wildfire, officials said.

Once residents are registered for the program, their property will be visited by a city fire safety liaison and a licensed arborist to ensure the property meets the grant criteria.

Properties must be within the city limits, trees must be dead and not in an environmentally sensitive area, and there must be adequate room for equipment to access the tree.

For more information about the program and to register visit the city's website.