Residential Permit Parking Program

ELIGIBILITY: Residential and Visitor Parking Permits are ONLY issued to natural persons whose primary place of residence is located within a designated Permit Parking Area. Permits will NOT be issued to: 
•    Property owners or landlords who do not reside full-time at an eligible address.
•    Property managers.
•    Owners or occupants of vacation or short-term rental properties.
•    Any one person at more than one address.
•    Business entities.
•    Business addresses or addresses used primarily for commercial purposes.
•    Any vehicle larger than 25 feet long OR 82 inches high OR 80 inches wide.

ELIGIBLE VEHICLES: Parking permits may only be used on passenger vehicles, motorcycles, pick-up trucks, and vans of ¾ ton capacity or less. The permits are NOT VALID on trucks over ¾ ton capacity, buses, detached trailers, recreational motor homes, vehicles not licensed to travel on highways, vehicles longer than 25 feet or higher than 82 inches or wider than 80 inches, and vehicles with expired registration. Parking permits will not be issued to vehicles used primarily for commercial purposes, such as taxis, limousines, and delivery vans, nor will they be issued to vehicles with out-of-state registration. 

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If a resident moves WITHIN a permit area, the resident must notify the Downtown Parking Office of the change of address, and supply documentation for verification. A resident who moves to ANOTHER permit area may exchange permits from one area to the other. This exchange can be done free of charge only if the previous permits are returned. If a resident moves OUTSIDE of a permit parking area, his or her parking permits are considered null and void. These permits should be returned to the Downtown Parking Office so that the new tenant may obtain parking permits without exceeding the annual permit allocation for the address. 

TO OBTAIN A RESIDENTIAL OR VISITOR PARKING PERMIT: 

• Complete the City of Santa Barbara Residential Parking Permit Application.
• Attach copies of ALL of the following documents:
  1. Current California Vehicle Registration for each vehicle. The vehicle MUST be registered to the applicant.
  2. A signed residential lease or rental agreement showing each applicant’s name and address OR a Resident Verification Form OR a recent property tax bill, mortgage documents, homeowners insurance bill, or similar proving home ownership.
  3. A current (dated within the past three months) piece of official mail, such as a utility bill, bank statement, phone bill, cable bill, or similar, or a postal mail re-routing label. The piece of mail must display the applicant’s name and the mailing address must match the address on the application. You may black out any other personal or financial information. The following will NOT be accepted as proof of residence:
     • Mail that shows only a PO Box.
     • Mail that shows only a service address.
     • Mail that shows a service address that does not match the mailing address on the account.
     • Handwritten or personal mail.

There is a $45.00 non-refundable processing fee for EACH permit. These fees are not pro-rated.  Each legal dwelling unit is allowed no more than THREE annual residential permits and ONE visitor permit. Permits are non transferable (SBMC § 10.46.062).
We strongly encourage renewing or applying online, but if you are unable to, we have more options:
•    Apply in person during walk-in hours, Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:00pm.
•    Submit your application and supporting documentation by mail, along with payment ($45 per permit), to:

Downtown Parking
1221 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Temporary Residential Parking Permits are issued over the counter. If the temporary permit expires before receiving the permanent permit, you must call the Parking Office or come by and pick up a new one. We are not responsible for parking citations issued for expired permits.

If applying for a permit on a vehicle not registered to the applicant, please fill out a Vehicle User Verification Form.

For applicants who do not have a lease agreement, a Residence Verification Form may completed and signed by landlord or manager in place of a lease/rental agreement for the purpose of establishing, in part, eligibility for a Resident Parking Permit.

Update an exiting application (upload requested documentation or change vehicles)

Area: A
Annual Expiration Date: January 31st
Location: North of Cabrillo near Harbor
Enforcement: Restricted parking only on Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays between 10:00 AM and 5:00 P.M.

Area: B
Annual Expiration Date: February 28th
Location: Downtown Core off State Street
Enforcement: Restricted parking Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Area: C
Annual Expiration Date: March 31st
Location: Downtown Core off State Street
Enforcement: Restricted parking Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Area D
Annual Expiration Date: April 30th
Location: Downtown Core off State Street
Enforcement: Restricted parking Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Area E
Annual Expiration Date: May 31st
Location: Downtown Core off State Street
Enforcement: Restricted parking Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Area F
Annual Expiration Date: June 30th
Location: Downtown Core off State Street
Enforcement: Restricted parking Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Area G
Annual Expiration Date: July 31st
Location: Downtown Core off State Street
Enforcement: Restricted parking Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Area L
Annual Expiration Date: September 30th
Location: Modoc Street near La Cumbre Junior High
Enforcement: High Restricted to residents only - 24 hours a day.

Area M
Annual Expiration Date: August 31st
Location: The Mesa in the neighborhoods surrounding Santa Barbara City College
Enforcement: Restricted parking on School Days from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.  Enforced only School Days during Fall, Winter, and Spring Semesters.  

Parking Enforcement patrols Parking Permit Areas and cites vehicles for overtime parking or not displaying a permit (in addition to all other parking violations).  For questions on enforcement of Residential Permit Parking, please contact Parking Enforcement.