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Board approves work to create Isla Vista proactive rental‑inspection pilot funded by UCSB settlement
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Summary
Following community outreach and UCSB settlement funding, the Board directed staff to begin designing a targeted rental‑inspection pilot for Isla Vista to address unsafe conditions and landlord accountability in the dense student rental market.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized staff on Jan. 14 to begin implementing a proactive rental inspection pilot in Isla Vista using funding from the county’s settlement with UC Santa Barbara. Supervisor Capps introduced the proposal and described outreach to students, community groups and local agencies; the proposed pilot focuses only on Isla Vista and aims to improve health and safety for student renters through proactive inspections, education and landlord accountability.
Supervisor Capps said the settlement includes roughly $3.7 million to fund programs and projects that address Isla Vista’s housing challenges, including the inspection pilot. Planning and development staff said the area presents unique risks: Isla Vista is one of the county’s most densely populated communities with roughly 97% renters and an especially high share of student‑aged tenants, many of whom may not file complaints for fear of retaliation. Common complaints documented by the county include mold, exposed wiring, infestations, unpermitted conversions and unsafe cliffside fences.
Advocates from UCSB’s Blum Center and student groups urged adoption, saying proactive inspections would protect low‑income and first‑time renters. Supervisors noted the program is intended as a geographically limited pilot and emphasized outreach to local landlord groups to minimize unnecessary burdens on compliant owners. The Board approved staff recommendations directing initial program design work, stakeholder outreach and a pilot framework to return to the Board for implementation details.
