Just Cause Ordinance
Upcoming Meeting:
On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, City Council is scheduled to review the updated Just Cause Ordinance with amendments that were incorporated in alignment with Council direction received on July 28, 2026, as a result of a 30-day Public Comment period on both the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and the Just Cause Ordinance. The working draft of the Just Cause Ordinance is available for review in English and Spanish:
The Council Agenda Report and Ordinances will be included in the agenda materials that will be published on City Council Meetings on Thursday, October 22, in advance of the meeting. We encourage written public comment to be submitted to the Mayor and Council at Clerk@SantaBarbaraCA.gov so that it can be published as part of the record for this meeting.
Previous Meetings:
On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, the City Council will receive report summaries on the public comments received during the 30-Day Public Comment period on the June 10, 2026 Public Review Drafts of the Residential Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Just Cause Ellis Act Amendments Ordinance.
Council Meeting Agenda: Item 23 (July 28, 2026)
Council Agenda Report: Item 23 (July 28, 2026)
All public comments received are being published for reference.
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Support_General Public Comment on Rent Stabilization Ordinance -
Opposition_General Public Comment on Rent Stabilization Ordinance -
Proposed Amendments_Public Comment on Rent Stabilization Ordianance and Just Cause -
Support with Proposed Amendments_Public Comment on RSO and Just Cause
The following draft Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Additional Just Cause and “Ellis Act” Amendments are available for public review.
- Anteproyecto de las Ordenanzas de Estabilización de Alquileres – 10 de junio de 2026
- Anteproyecto de las Enmiendas Adicionales de Causa Justa y la Ley Ellis – 10 de junio de 2026
Ordinance on the Moratorium on Rent Increases
- Ordinance on the Moratorium on Rent Increases_January 13, 2026
- Ordinance on Just Cause Evictions_January 13, 2026
- Ordenanza sobre la moratoria de aumentos de alquiler_13 de enero de 2026
- Ordenanza sobre desalojos por causa justa_13 de enero de 2026
On May 19, the City Council received the supplemental research requested in consideration of key policy components of a Rent Stabilization Program to provide final direction to staff for drafting the ordinance.
On January 27, the Council read and adopted the tenant protection ordinance along with amendments to the Just Cause Evictions Ordinance. The ordinances will take effect 30 days after adoption and remain in effect through December 31, 2026, while City officials continue developing a permanent rent stabilization ordinance, expected to be considered later this year
On December 16, 2025, the Santa Barbara City Council received a comprehensive presentation and staff report outlining the proposed policy direction and work plan for developing a Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Program. The Council provided preliminary feedback to guide further research and emphasized the need to balance program effectiveness with administrative feasibility. As part of the discussion, Council voted to return in January 2026 to consider a temporary Rent Increase Moratorium Ordinance and potential amendments to the Residential Just Cause Ordinance addressing Ellis Act no-fault evictions.