Santa Barbara, CA local landlord rules
State law also applies. See California landlord-tenant law and the California landlord FAQ. State rules: Security deposit limit · Deposit return deadline · Notice to enter · Late fees · Eviction notice (nonpayment) · Rent increase notice.
Quick facts
| Topic | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Just-cause eviction | Yes. An owner may not terminate a qualified tenant's tenancy without just cause, and the cause must be stated in full in the termination notice. For no-fault just cause evictions, the owner must pay each qualified tenant relocation assistance of the amount set by City Council resolution or one month's rent plus one dollar, whichever is greater. |
| Rent control / stabilization | Yes, starting January 1, 2027. The City Council adopted a rent stabilization ordinance on October 6, 2026 (Mun. Code ch. 26.90). It covers rental units whose certificate of occupancy (or final building inspection) came before February 1, 1995, except units that can be sold separately from any other dwelling (such as most condos and houses) and mobilehome or RV park spaces. From January 1, 2027, rent increases on covered units are limited to the annual general adjustment: 60% of the yearly change in CPI or 3%, whichever is less. The city has posted 2.1% for January 1 to December 31, 2027. Only one increase is allowed per 12 months, with at least 30 days' advance written notice. A landlord may set the starting rent for a new tenancy after a lawful vacancy, and any increase made after December 16, 2025 counts against the allowed increases. |
| Rental licensing / registration | Yes, starting in 2027. Under the rental registry ordinance adopted October 6, 2026 (Mun. Code ch. 26.100), every residential rental unit in the city must be registered, except units inside an owner-occupied home where the owner and tenants share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. Rent-stabilized (covered) units must be registered by the later of April 1, 2027 or 30 days after the city makes the form available; other rental units by the later of October 1, 2027 or 30 days after the form is available. Registration must be amended within 30 days of a change in ownership. |
Details & sources
Just-cause eviction
Yes. An owner may not terminate a qualified tenant's tenancy without just cause, and the cause must be stated in full in the termination notice. For no-fault just cause evictions, the owner must pay each qualified tenant relocation assistance of the amount set by City Council resolution or one month's rent plus one dollar, whichever is greater.
Verified Source: Santa Barbara Mun. Code §§ 26.50.010, 26.50.020 (Browser transcription) · last checked 2026-10-15
Back to quick facts ↑Rent control / stabilization
Yes, starting January 1, 2027. The City Council adopted a rent stabilization ordinance on October 6, 2026 (Mun. Code ch. 26.90). It covers rental units whose certificate of occupancy (or final building inspection) came before February 1, 1995, except units that can be sold separately from any other dwelling (such as most condos and houses) and mobilehome or RV park spaces. From January 1, 2027, rent increases on covered units are limited to the annual general adjustment: 60% of the yearly change in CPI or 3%, whichever is less. The city has posted 2.1% for January 1 to December 31, 2027. Only one increase is allowed per 12 months, with at least 30 days' advance written notice. A landlord may set the starting rent for a new tenancy after a lawful vacancy, and any increase made after December 16, 2025 counts against the allowed increases.
Verified Source: Santa Barbara Mun. Code §§ 26.90.010, 26.90.030, 26.90.040 (ordinance adopted Oct 6, 2026); 2027 adjustment per City of Santa Barbara Rent Stabilization page · last checked 2026-10-17
Back to quick facts ↑Rental licensing / registration
Yes, starting in 2027. Under the rental registry ordinance adopted October 6, 2026 (Mun. Code ch. 26.100), every residential rental unit in the city must be registered, except units inside an owner-occupied home where the owner and tenants share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. Rent-stabilized (covered) units must be registered by the later of April 1, 2027 or 30 days after the city makes the form available; other rental units by the later of October 1, 2027 or 30 days after the form is available. Registration must be amended within 30 days of a change in ownership.
Verified Source: Santa Barbara Mun. Code § 26.100.010 (ordinance adopted Oct 6, 2026) · last checked 2026-10-17
Back to quick facts ↑Research coverage
1 of 13 topics checked at the local level (state law is covered on the state page). A topic counts as checked only when every subtopic in it is checked or no additional requirement was found after a recorded full read. How coverage works.
| Topic | Status | Subtopics done |
|---|---|---|
| Deposits | Not researched | 0 of 2 |
| Deposit return deadlines | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Rent increases and rent control | Checked: requirement found | 1 of 1 |
| Late fees | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Landlord entry | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Repairs and habitability | Not researched | 0 of 1 |
| Screening and application fees | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Fair housing and assistance animals | Not researched | 0 of 1 |
| Disclosures | Not researched | 0 of 2 |
| Renewal and termination | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Eviction | Partially researched | 1 of 3 |
| Registration and licensing | Partially researched | 1 of 3 |
| Short-term rentals | Not researched | 0 of 2 |
Also applies statewide
California rules that also apply in Santa Barbara:
- Security deposit limit
- The landlord may not collect a security deposit of more than one month's rent in addition to the first month's rent. Some small landlords and service-member tenants fall under exceptions. Verified Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full California security deposit limit page
- Deposit return deadline
- No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant vacates, the landlord must send an itemized statement of deductions and return any remaining deposit (by personal delivery, first-class mail, or electronically where rent or deposit was paid that way). Since April 1, 2025, the landlord must photograph the unit after it is returned and before repairs or cleaning that will be deducted, and again after those are done. Verified Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(g)(2), (h) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full California deposit return deadline page
- Notice to enter
- Written notice of the date, approximate time, and purpose of entry, and entry only during normal business hours (except in emergencies). 24 hours is presumed reasonable notice; if mailed, at least 6 days before. Verified Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1954(d) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full California notice to enter page
- Late fees
- Under § 1671(c)(2) and (d), a liquidated-damages clause in a residential lease is void unless the parties agree to an amount presumed to be the damage, and only where actual damages would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix. Courts apply this to late fees (Harbor Island Holdings v. Kim, 2003). No statute caps residential late fees. Verified Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(b)–(d); Harbor Island Holdings, LLC v. Kim (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 79 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full California late fees page
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