Property taxes in Santa Barbara

Property tax in Santa Barbara follows the California rules below. The county sets and collects the tax.

Each block below is marked county or state data, Santa Barbara code or CA state law, and links to its source (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

The state rules underneath

CA state law California law sets this statewide. 1% property tax limit (Prop 13): The general property tax on real property may not exceed 1% of its full cash value; voter-approved bond debt is levied on top (Cal. Const. art. XIII A, § 1(a), (b)). 2% annual cap on assessed value: The base year value rises each year by the California CPI change, but never more than 2% (Rev. & Tax. Code § 51(a)(1)(D)). California property tax rules — the full state rule →

Mills Act contracts for historic homes

Santa Barbara code What Santa Barbara's code adds
Mills Act tax incentive	Available; owners of Qualified Historic Properties may enter into Mills Act contracts with the City Applies: Qualified Historic Properties, such as designated City Landmarks, Structures of Merit, or properties contributing to designated Landmarks or Historic Districts § 30.157.145 · code text Preservation incentives may be made available by the City to owners of properties that are Qualified Historic Properties

Utility users tax

Santa Barbara code What Santa Barbara's code adds
Tax on water, phone or cable	5.75% of telecommunication charges, collected by the service supplier. Applies: Telecommunication services. § 4.26.040 · code text The tax imposed by this section shall be at the rate of five and three/quarters percent (5.75%) of the charges made for such services and shall be collected from the service user by the telecommunication services supplier or its billing agent. 5.75% of video service charges, collected by the service supplier. Applies: Video services, including cable. § 4.26.050 · code text The tax imposed by this section shall be at the rate of five and three/quarters percent (5.75 %) of the charges made for such services and shall be collected from the service user by the video service supplier or its billing agent.

Who this affects

HomeownersBuyersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

Does Santa Barbara offer Mills Act property tax contracts?

Santa Barbara's code: Available; owners of Qualified Historic Properties may enter into Mills Act contracts with the City (Qualified Historic Properties, such as designated City Landmarks, Structures of Merit, or properties contributing to designated Landmarks or Historic Districts) (§ 30.157.145).

Does Santa Barbara charge a utility users tax?

Santa Barbara's code: 5.75% of telecommunication charges, collected by the service supplier. (Telecommunication services.) (§ 4.26.040); 5.75% of video service charges, collected by the service supplier. (Video services, including cable.) (§ 4.26.050).

General information, not legal advice.