Public Comment Opens For Santa Barbara Ordinance on Rent Limits, Housing Registry

Public Comment Opens on Rent Ordinance

Santa Barbara residents now have 30 days to weigh in on the city's proposed rent stabilization ordinance before the City Council votes on July 28. The Noozhawk reported that the comment period runs from June 10 through July 10.

The proposed ordinance would limit rent increases to 60% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) with a maximum of 3%, whichever is lower, and allow increases only once per 12-month period. The measure would affect approximately 13,000 rental units built before February 1, 1995, exempting single-family homes, condos, owner-occupied duplexes, and government-subsidized housing.

The City Council approved the public comment period in a 4-3 vote on Tuesday, with Councilmembers Wendy Santamaria, Meagan Harmon, Kristen Sneddon, and Oscar Gutierrez supporting the measure. Mayor Randy Rowse voted against it, while Eric Friedman and Mike Jordan abstained.

Rent Board Composition Sparks Debate

One of the most contentious aspects of the proposed ordinance centers on the seven-member rent stabilization board that would oversee the program. As currently drafted, the board would include two rental tenants, two landlords or property managers, and three members with no financial interest in rental housing.

Councilmember Santamaria pushed for greater tenant representation, arguing the board should reflect the city's demographics. "The city's population is roughly 60% of tenants, that should be reflected in the board," she said during Tuesday's meeting, according to the Independent.

Tenant advocates echoed these concerns during public comment. Faith Ellington-Baker told the council, "We need a rent board with the absolute most enforcement power," emphasizing that without proper enforcement, "the laws effectively mean nothing."

Registry Requirements and Ellis Act Protections

The ordinance includes a comprehensive rental registry requiring landlords to register qualified units by January 1, 2027. Registration must include unit addresses, bedroom and bathroom counts, landlord contact information, current rent amounts, and tenant move-in dates.

Landlords who fail to register face significant penalties—they cannot collect rent, evict tenants, advertise units, or petition for rent increases. The registry is considered the "backbone" of the program and would help track compliance across the city's rental market.

In a last-minute decision, the council also agreed to simultaneously consider amendments to just-cause eviction rules related to the Ellis Act, which allows property owners to exit the rental market. These amendments would require owners to withdraw all units from a property at once and prohibit re-rental for five years.

Financial Impact and Next Steps

The program is expected to cost Santa Barbara $2 million annually to administer, covering staffing, enforcement, registry development, and appeals processes. City staff still needs to conduct a fee study to determine how costs will be split between property owners and tenants.

Landlord Rob Hunter expressed concerns about the financial burden, telling the council that "the 60% cap on the CPI and the registration fee" are "adding to a point where you can't even keep up with the cost of living."

The ordinance comes as Santa Barbara maintains a temporary rent freeze through December 31, 2026, enacted in January while the permanent program was being developed. The Santa Barbara Rental Property Association has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the temporary freeze, with that case still ongoing.

If approved on July 28, the permanent rent stabilization program would take effect January 1, 2027. The draft ordinance and Ellis Act amendments are available on the city's website for public review and comment through July 10.