Santa Barbara County Tenant Ordinance
Santa Barbara County (Santa Maria, Santa Barbara) adds these tenant protections on top of California landlord-tenant law — applies Unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County.
Law: Santa Barbara County Code Chapter 44, Article IV - Just Cause for Residential Evictions
| Substantial remodel evictions | Before terminating for a substantial remodel, landlord must obtain all necessary permits, serve the tenant with copies, and give written notice of the reason, the scope of work, and why the tenant must vacate for at least 30 days. |
|---|---|
| One-year lease offer | Landlords must offer a written lease of one year or more (tenant need not accept); for existing tenancies without a lease, offer within 90 days of the ordinance's effective date. |
| Right of first refusal | Tenants evicted for a no-fault reason must be offered first right to re-lease the unit if it returns to the market within two years (rent at landlord's discretion). Source: Ch. 44 amendments (2023) |
Source is a 2023 County newsletter; final adoption of the July 2023 amendments and current code text not verified.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.