Statement on City of Santa Barbara Red Tags at 601 E. Montecito Street
The City of Santa Barbara remains committed to the safety of the community and is taking immediate steps to address dangerous building conditions identified at 601 E. Montecito Street, Santa Barbara, California, 93103. This location is most well-known as the historic home of the nonprofit Casa de la Raza, which the City has been informed no longer owns the building and has not operated activities there since 2021. While the City is aware of several organizations and community groups currently using the facility, the full extent of entities operating within the various areas of the building remains unclear.
On May 7, 2025, a site inspection was performed to determine if any building and fire code violations existed to inform potential buyers of the property at a bankruptcy auction. However, the inspection revealed code violations that pose significant and immediate safety concerns for occupants of the building. Those violations include, but are not limited to, insufficient and unmaintained means of egress components, including lack of proper exit signage/illumination, lack of proper exit door hardware, and blocked egress access to the public way from required exits, unsafe/exposed and unpermitted electrical wiring, and unsafe and unpermitted gas piping. The combination of these aforementioned violations poses a significant risk to life in the event of a fire.
Due to the extent and nature of the violations, the Fire Marshall and Chief Building Official have determined that the entire building in its current condition is unsafe for occupancy and will be posting red tags on the exterior building notifying the public in English and Spanish that no one may occupy or use the building. These measures must be taken for public safety.
In response, the City is taking immediate action to minimize disruption to the community and is offering support to community groups and tenants located at 601 E. Montecito Street who may be affected by this closure. To ensure uninterrupted services and a smooth transition, the City’s Fire Department Bilingual Outreach Coordinator, Liliana Encinas, LiEncinas@SantaBarbaraCA.gov, is available to provide further assistance and answer community questions.
To make sure Mother’s Day events planned for this weekend can continue without interruption, the City has offered the event organizer an opportunity for relocation and will cover associated facility fees to assist with a seamless transition.
The City understands that this facility is used as a resource center for undocumented families and acknowledges the heightened concern among our immigrant and Latino communities related to official enforcement actions. The red tag action is being taken purely to protect lives and prevent a potential tragedy. In the spirit of transparency and support, we refer back to the January 2025 statement from City Administrator Kelly McAdoo regarding ICE activity, City Administrator’s Statement on ICE.
We echo that message today: The City of Santa Barbara and its public safety personnel remain committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and safe environment for all residents, regardless of immigration status. We do not support any action that causes fear, distrust, or displacement in our community.
The City thanks the community for its continued partnership and understanding as we take urgent action to protect public safety while honoring and supporting the important work that occurs in our neighborhoods every day.