Santa Barbara County · checked 2026-09-13
Can you BnB it in Santa Barbara?
RestrictedSanta Barbara has no short-term rental permit program; the city classifies any rental of 30 days or less as a hotel use, legal only in certain commercial and multi-unit zones with planning approvals and banned in single-family neighborhoods. A licensing ordinance for STRs and homeshares is before the City Council in October 2026, so the rules may change soon.
Proposed, not in effect: STROD short-term rental and homeshare licensing ordinances (Title 30 inland and Title 28 coastal): licensing process and operational standards for non-hosted STRs and hosted homeshares in hotel, commercial and multi-residential areas. Planning Commission heard it March 5, 2026; Ordinance Committee April 14 and June 9, 2026; council introduction was set for September 15, 2026 and moved to October 2026; coastal zone piece needs Coastal Commission certification (est. summer 2026 to summer 2027). (council date 2026-10-01)
source. This page states adopted law only; a pending change is never written as current law.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L1city STR handout (not code text) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1SBMC 30.295.040(P) Hotels and Similar Uses (Ord. 5815, 2017; Ord. 5947, 2020; Ord. 6171, 2/25/2025); definitions also at 30.300.200 / 28.04.020 per city handout · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L1SBMC 30.295.040(P) Hotels and Similar Uses (Ord. 5815, 2017; Ord. 5947, 2020; Ord. 6171, 2/25/2025); definitions also at 30.300.200 / 28.04.020 per city handout · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Transfer when the home sellsCode silent on transfer. There is no dedicated STR permit program today; operating legally means qualifying as a hotel use with planning approvals, a business tax certificate and TOT registration. Land use entitlements generally attach to the property, but the code has no STR transfer clause. The pending STROD licensing ordinance is expected to create licenses; transfer rules will need re-verification after adoption.L1SBMC 30.295.040(P) Hotels and Similar Uses (Ord. 5815, 2017; Ord. 5947, 2020; Ord. 6171, 2/25/2025); definitions also at 30.300.200 / 28.04.020 per city handout · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
30.295.040(P)“Establishments providing overnight accommodations to transient patrons for payment. This classification includes establishments that offer accommodations for periods of 30 consecutive calendar days or less.” source
city STR handout (not code text)“STRs in single-unit zones are strictly prohibited.” source
Citation: SBMC 30.295.040(P) Hotels and Similar Uses (Ord. 5815, 2017; Ord. 5947, 2020; Ord. 6171, 2/25/2025); definitions also at 30.300.200 / 28.04.020 per city handout
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How this page was verified
Verified from the municipal code (level 1), checked on 2026-09-13 by the CanIBnB research desk. Research is AI assisted and human reviewed; the method, the level system, and the re-check schedule are on the How we verify page. If anything here is wrong, report it and it goes in the public corrections log.