Phase I Safety Corrections Completed at 601 E. Montecito Street

On July 17, 2025, staff from the City of Santa Barbara’s Building & Safety Division and Fire Department conducted a follow-up inspection at 601 E. Montecito Street to review safety improvements completed as part of the first phase of building corrections. The inspection followed a May 7, 2025, site visit that identified serious building and fire code violations, resulting in the posting of red tags and closure of the facility. Since then, the City has worked collaboratively with representatives of the building’s owners to address the violations.

City Chief Building Official Christina Dye shared, “We’re pleased to announce that the required Phase I work has been completed and passed inspection. As a result, the red ‘Unsafe’ notices previously posted on the outside of the building have been removed, allowing most areas inside to once again be safely occupied.”

However, to ensure the continued safety of all building users, two specific areas remain under restricted use:

• A red “Unsafe for Human Occupancy” placard has been placed outside of the doors leading into a room located in the back of the building, historically named as The Family Service Center. This is due to an insufficient number of emergency exits, which must be addressed before the space can safely host people.
• A yellow placard has been posted in the kitchen, temporarily restricting the use of cooking equipment. The area must receive final approval from the County Health Department and meet fire and life safety requirements before cooking can resume.

These items, along with other remaining concerns, will be addressed in Phase II of the ongoing improvement process.

City Administrator Kelly McAdoo commented that “The City recognizes that community partners rely on this building for important services and our shared goal is to make sure all spaces are safe for everyone who uses them. We remain committed to open communication, transparency, and support throughout this process.”

For questions about Phase II corrective items, please contact Code Compliance Supervisor Nori Sanchez at NSanchez@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.