Santa Barbara council hears enforcement update, directs staff to draft short-term rental ordinance

The Santa Barbara City Council on Aug. 5 heard a progress report on the city's short-term rental (STR) enforcement program and directed staff to draft an ordinance to regulate STRs citywide.

City Attorney Investigator William Elva said the enforcement program, made permanent in July 2024, investigated 230 properties in fiscal year 2025 and won voluntary compliance at 182 of them. Since the program began in 2023, Elva said, investigators have identified roughly 1,298 suspected illegal STR listings; 324 properties have been fully investigated and about 974 remain to be verified. "So far this fiscal year the program was able to collect approximately $1,800,000 in back taxes, penalties, fees and interest," Elva told the council. He said the program's costs for the year were about $230,000 and that total recoveries since inception are approximately $2.6 million.

Why it matters

Council and staff framed the item as part of the city's housing-preservation strategy and downtown/ coastal management obligations. City planning staff and the city attorney's office said unchecked STR growth reduces long-term housing stock, increases neighborhood nuisance complaints and can sidestep the permitting and tax obligations that hotels and other visitor-serving uses follow.

What staff recommended

Laura Bridal, senior planner in the Community Development Department, outlined options and a proposed program framework. Key points in staff presentations and discussion:

- Enforcement record: Elva described the current enforcement approach, including use…