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Downtown Parking Office
1221 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 564-5656 Tel.
Email: ParkingOps@SantaBarbaraCA.gov
Phone: (805) 564-5656, Option 2

Mailing Address
City of Santa Barbara
P.O. Box 1990
Santa Barbara, CA 93102-1990

Downtown Parking Counter Walk-in Hours
Monday through Thursday, Alternate Fridays
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (PT)
Calendar of Closed Fridays

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Residential Permit Parking Program

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Our new and improved online Residential Parking Permit application system is now live. A couple of important things to note:

  • We will no longer accept paper applications. All Residential Parking Permit Applications must be submitted online. If you don’t have access to a computer or need help, our staff is happy to help in person at our office.

  • We will be phasing out the physical sticker and placard permits and moving to a virtual permit system. All residential permits, including visitor and daily guest permits, will be license plate based. 

Apply for a Residential Parking Permit How to Apply


The Residential Permit Parking Program is an on-street parking tool used to manage parking in mixed use areas.  Parking restrictions encourage the turnover of non-resident vehicles to encourage the best use of a limited parking supply.  Residents in the designated Permit Parking Areas may be eligible for permits exempting them from the restrictions. (SBMC § 10.46.062) 

Area A Map

  • 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 Map

  • 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 Map

  • 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 Map

  • 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 Map

  • 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 Map

  • 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 Map

  • 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 Map

  • 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 Map

  • Annual Expiration Date: August 31st
  • Location: The Mesa near Santa Barbara City College
  • Enforcement: Restricted parking on School Days from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Not enforced during school holidays.

Permit Fees

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 (3) annual residential permits and one (1) visitor permit. Permits are non-transferable (SBMC § 10.46.062).

Residential Permit Types

Annual Vehicle Permit

This permit is a virtual permit issued to a specific vehicle license plate. Annual vehicle permits are valid for vehicles registered in California only. 

Annual Visitor Permit

Each eligible address are allowed to purchase one (1) annual visitor permit. Permits are virtual, the license plate must be updated in the residents parking portal before parking in a Residential Parking Permit area to avoid receiving a parking citation. Once purchased, residents can have up to 10 license plates listed in their account for their annual visitor permit. Only one license plate can be assigned the permit at a time. 

Daily Guest Permit

Each eligible address is allowed up to 365 daily guest permits at $5 each. The date and license plate will be assigned at the time of purchase. Purchase of a daily guest permit must be made in the residents parking portal before parking in a Residential Parking Permit area to avoid receiving a parking citation.

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. If a resident moves OUTSIDE of a permit parking area, their parking permits are considered null and void. Residents should alert the Downtown Parking Office of any move so that their account can be updated, allowing the new residents to apply for permits. 

How to Apply for a Permit

All Residential Parking Permit applications must be submitted online. The City will no longer accept printed applications. If you don’t have access to a computer or need help, our staff is happy to help you submit your online application on the public-facing computer in our office at 1221 Anacapa Street during business hours. 

Online Permit Application

You will need the following documents in order to submit your online application: 

  • Current California Vehicle Registration for each vehicle. 
  • A signed residential lease or rental agreement showing each applicant’s name, the residential address, and is signed by both the applicant and the landlord OR a recent property tax bill, mortgage documents, homeowners’ insurance bill, or similar proving home ownership. 
  • A current (date within the last 90 days) piece of official mail. The piece of mail must display the applicant’s name, mailing address, and a date within the last 90 days. You may black out any other personal or financial information. As long as all required information is shown, the piece of mail may be a picture of a mailing slip on a package, or electronic utility bills, bank statements, etc. 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

Parking Enforcement and Citations

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

Parking Enforcement

Requesting New Residential Parking Permit Restrictions

For more information on requesting a new Residential Parking Permit Restrictions in your neighborhood: Expanding Residential Permit Zones

Sections

Downtown Parking Office Holiday & Friday Closures

Apr 24, 2026All day
CLOSED - City Administrative Offices
In an effort to decrease traffic congestion during peak commuter hours and to…
May 8, 2026All day
CLOSED - City Administrative Offices
In an effort to decrease traffic congestion during peak commuter hours and to…
May 22, 2026All day
CLOSED - City Administrative Offices
In an effort to decrease traffic congestion during peak commuter hours and to…