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What Is the Santa Barbara Rent Control Referendum?

On October 6th, the Santa Barbara City Council adopted a new rent control ordinance that limits annual rent increases to 60% of inflation, capped at 3%. The ordinance also establishes a citywide rental registry, registration fees, and a Rent Stabilization Board.

A referendum gives registered City of Santa Barbara voters an opportunity to decide whether the ordinance should remain in effect. If enough valid signatures are collected within the required 30-day period, the ordinance is suspended while the referendum process moves forward. The City Council can then repeal the ordinance or place it before voters.

The Help Save Santa Barbara Housing Committee is leading the referendum effort to give City voters an opportunity to weigh in on the new regulations.

Want to learn more or get involved?

• Read the City's rent control ordinance and related documents: City of Santa Barbara Rent Stabilization
• Learn about the referendum effort and how to participate: www.savesantabarbara.com

Referendum petitions are available for pickup at the SBAOR office, located at 1415 Chapala Street. Volunteers must sign out their petitions, pick up the instruction sheet, and carefully follow the required procedures when collecting signatures. The volunteer petition return deadline is October 30th.

Our statistics and market review are kindly compiled by other parties, and will be uploaded at the end of the following month. Please note the Market Review is now a quarterly update.

The Santa Barbara Association of Realtors selects one non-profit organization each year to benefit from our fundraising initiatives. The deadline for applications is Friday November 6, 2026.

Our statistics and market review are kindly compiled by other parties, and will be uploaded at the end of the following month. Please note the Market Review is now a quarterly update.

Our statistics and market review are kindly compiled by other parties, and will be uploaded at the end of the following month. Please note the Market Review is now a quarterly update.

Our statistics and market review are kindly compiled by other parties, and will be uploaded at the end of the following month. Please note the Market Review is now a quarterly update.

Housing affordability is not a new conversation in Santa Barbara. We talk about it constantly. We talk about the need for housing for people who work here, housing for young families, housing for seniors, housing for teachers, housing for public safety workers, and housing for the next generation of Santa Barbara residents.

Our statistics and market review are kindly compiled by other parties, and will be uploaded at the end of the following month. Please note the Market Review is now a quarterly update.

Insurance has become one of the most significant challenges facing homeowners and homebuyers across Santa Barbara County. What was once considered a routine step in the homeownership process is now a critical factor in real estate transactions, particularly in wildfire-prone areas. Rising premiums, changing underwriting standards, carrier withdrawals, and increased reliance on the California FAIR Plan have made it more important than ever for homeowners to understand both wildfire risk and the evolving insurance landscape.

Our statistics and market review are kindly compiled by other parties, and will be uploaded at the end of the following month. Please note the Market Review is now a quarterly update.