Santa Barbara County Supervisors Adopt Temporary Moratorium on New Gun Retailers

Santa Barbara County residents will see no new gun retailers open in unincorporated areas for at least the next 45 days, after the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to adopt a temporary moratorium while county staff draft stricter zoning rules for firearm sellers.

The board's action, first reported by Noozhawk, launches a broader effort to establish a 1,000-foot buffer between gun retailers and places where children and families gather — including schools, preschools, licensed childcare centers, parks, playgrounds, youth centers, child-serving facilities and houses of worship. Fourth District Supervisor Bob Nelson cast the lone opposing vote.

The moratorium applies only to the county's unincorporated areas and pauses new business licenses, relocations and expansions of gun stores. It does not close or penalize any existing lawfully operating retailer, county officials stressed.

A Goleta Gun Store Sparked the Action

The push began weeks ago, when Goodland Guns relocated from its former spot at 5731 Hollister Ave. into the former 7-Eleven building at 7443 Hollister Ave. — directly next door to Here We Grow Early Learning Center, a Goleta preschool and daycare facility. The City of Goleta issued the business a license on June 4, and the store planned a grand opening event for Saturday.

Parents and community members protested the move, citing safety concerns and pressing the Goleta City Council for action. Goodland Guns sits in the county's Third District, represented by Supervisor Joan Hartmann. She and Second District Supervisor Laura Capps brought the proposed countywide buffer zone to the board, and the city of Goleta is separately considering zoning changes in response to the backlash.

Notably, the county ordinance under development would not apply to the Goleta store itself, which sits within city limits. County officials described the proposal as proactive — as of this week, the county is not processing any applications for new gun stores.

What the Proposed Ordinance Would Do

Under the draft framework, gun retailers in unincorporated areas would face several new requirements:

• A 1,000-foot buffer from schools, parks, playgrounds, childcare centers, youth facilities and houses of worship.
• A conditional-use permit process requiring public notice and community input.
• Security standards, including surveillance systems and safeguards to protect inventory, customers and staff.
• Safeguards to help law enforcement investigate thefts and recover stolen weapons.

The proposal would also prohibit residential homes from being used as gun retailers. Nine residential operators currently exist in unincorporated areas, but they would be permitted to continue under the ban, according to Capps' office.

The security provisions carry local resonance. In 2021, Goodland Guns was robbed of "numerous guns" after a suspect broke into the business's previous location through a hole in the side of the building.

County staff are also tasked with developing a clear definition of what counts as a firearm retailer, a consistent method for measuring buffer zones around protected areas, and a map of existing gun stores in unincorporated Santa Barbara County.

"These locations serve different purposes, but they share an important feature," Chris Henson, chief of staff for Supervisor Capps, told the board. "They are places where children, family and community members gather."

Gina Fischer, Hartmann's chief of staff, emphasized the ordinance's limits: "It is not a prohibition on lawful firearm commerce, and it would not close or penalize any existing lawfully operating retailers."

Residents Voice Support at Public Comment

Speakers during public comment largely backed the proposal. Ivette Peralta, senior leadership director for Future Leaders of America, said children need safe environments to learn and grow, and urged supervisors to listen to teachers and parents with firsthand knowledge of the affected areas.

"We were particularly concerned to learn about the potential firearm retailer being located next to a daycare and preschool with a playground sharing a fence line," Peralta said.

Emily Lorenzana, who grew up near the Goodland Guns site and used to walk past the location on her way home from school, described the neighborhood as more than a spot on a map — a community where people live, work and raise children. She framed the proposal as a balanced measure.

"I respectfully ask the board to consider the people who live here, the families who rely on these spaces, and the children who deserve to grow up in the community where their safety and well-being are prioritized," Lorenzana said.

Eleanor Gartner, deputy chief of staff for Capps, noted that one recurring complaint from Goleta residents was the lack of advance notice before the gun store opened near the preschool — a gap the conditional-use permit requirement is designed to close.

What Comes Next

The moratorium lasts 45 days but will return to the board in October, when supervisors can extend it while the permanent ordinance is finalized. Supervisors debated several open questions Tuesday, including whether 1,000 feet is the right distance and how to define a childcare center. County staff will study those issues and return with a draft ordinance at a later date.

For Santa Barbara County residents, the practical effects are limited for now: no new gun stores will be licensed in unincorporated areas during the pause, and existing retailers — including the nine home-based operators — may continue operating. The real test will come this fall, when the board takes up both a possible extension and the draft buffer-zone ordinance that could shape where gun retailers operate for years to come.

Meanwhile, the situation in Goleta remains a separate track. The city is weighing its own zoning changes in response to community pressure, meaning residents near Here We Grow Early Learning Center may see parallel action at the municipal level regardless of what the county ultimately adopts.