Santa Barbara County’s housing docket was unusually quiet during the week of June 18, with the only relevant notice from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors — the five elected officials who oversee county government, including land-use decisions outside city limits — confirming that residents can continue to participate in meetings both in person and remotely “until further notice.” Members of the public can attend at the County Administration Building’s Board Hearing Room at 105 East Anapamu Street in downtown Santa Barbara, or join virtually through the county’s online meeting system.
For residents tracking housing policy, the practical takeaway is straightforward: the hybrid format that became standard during the pandemic is sticking around for now. That matters because many of the county’s most consequential housing decisions — short-term rental rules, zoning changes in unincorporated areas like Goleta Valley and Montecito, and updates to the county’s Housing Element (the state-required plan showing how the county will accommodate its share of new homes) — are debated and voted on at these meetings. Keeping a remote option means homeowners, renters, and would-be buyers who can’t take a weekday afternoon off work can still weigh in by phone or video before supervisors cast a vote.
No zoning amendments, parcel map waivers (permission to skip the normal subdivision process for a small lot split), project approvals, or affordability measures were on the county’s agenda during the week. The single item flagged in this cycle was procedural rather than substantive — it does not change any rule, fee, or development standard, and it does not approve or deny any specific project. For prospective buyers watching for movement on housing supply or new ownership programs, this was a week without action.
The City of Santa Barbara’s council and Planning Commission likewise did not advance any major housing ordinances, project entitlements, or development agreements (the binding contracts between a city and a developer that lock in fees and project terms) during the week covered. Routine administrative business continued, but nothing rose to the level of a policy change that would affect what residents can build on their lots or what new housing might come to market.
Looking ahead, the Board of Supervisors and the Santa Barbara City Council are both expected to return to more substantive housing matters in the coming weeks, including ongoing work on state-mandated zoning updates tied to the regional housing allocation — the state’s formula for how many new homes each city and county must plan for through 2031. Residents who want to track or comment on those items can do so either in person at 105 East Anapamu Street or through the remote participation links posted with each meeting agenda on the county and city websites.