Renting in Santa Barbara County: the rules that apply

Each rule below is marked Santa Barbara County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Santa Barbara County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Santa Barbara County have their own codes and their own pages.

Santa Barbara County code County rent control covers only mobilehome park spaces; state law caps increases on covered units at 8.6% from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.

All 13 Santa Barbara County rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Santa Barbara County code County rule: in covered units, after 12 months of continuous, lawful occupancy, eviction needs a listed at-fault or no-fault just cause.

All 18 Santa Barbara County rules on eviction and just cause, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Santa Barbara County code County rule: a no-fault eviction of qualified tenants pays 3 months of fair market rent or $7,000, whichever is greater, split among them.

All 8 Santa Barbara County rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Santa Barbara County code County rule: a termination notice must state the full facts of the cause; a no-fault notice must also state the relocation right and amount.

All 4 Santa Barbara County rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →

CA state law Santa Barbara County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Security deposit cap: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)). Deposit return deadline: 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of any deductions (Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)). California security deposit law — the full state rule →

CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. Retaliation protection period: For 180 days after a tenant complains about habitability (to the landlord or an agency), the landlord may not evict, raise rent or cut services in retaliation (Civ. Code § 1942.5(a), (b)). Retaliatory eviction in California — the full state rule →

CA state law Santa Barbara County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Lockouts and self-help eviction banned: A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, or remove the tenant's belongings to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(b)). Utility shutoffs banned: A landlord may not cut off water, heat, electricity, gas or other utilities to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(a)). Tenant harassment and lockouts in California — the full state rule →

CA state law Santa Barbara County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Duty to keep the unit habitable: The landlord must deliver a unit fit to live in and repair conditions that make it untenantable (Civ. Code § 1941). Repair and deduct: A tenant may make a repair the landlord neglects and deduct the cost from rent, up to one month's rent, no more than twice in any 12 months (Civ. Code § 1942(a)). Habitability and repair-and-deduct — the full state rule →

CA state law Santa Barbara County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Landlord entry notice: Reasonable written notice, presumed to be 24 hours, and entry only during normal business hours (Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1), (e)). Landlord entry notice in California — the full state rule →

Santa Barbara County code During a sublease or assignment, management may raise the maximum rent schedule up to 10% more, outside the once-a-year limit. Tenancies used primarily for commercial purposes are exempt.

All 19 Santa Barbara County rules on mobilehome park rent, with the code text →

Santa Barbara County code Newly constructed buildings are exempt from routine inspection but remain subject to registration. Government-regulated or subsidized rental units and units with government-sponsored financing are exempt from routine inspection but remain subject to registration.

All 7 Santa Barbara County rules on rental registration and inspections, with the code text →

Santa Barbara County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

• Mobilehome Rent Control (Ch. 11A) — mobilehome park spaces only
• Just Cause for Residential Evictions (Ch. 44, Art. IV)