Local code · Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara — Tenant Displacement Assistance

The Santa Barbara Tenant Displacement Assistance, explained in plain English with the controlling citations.

Quick answer

In Santa Barbara, a covered City application that displaces an eligible rental household requires a joint per-unit lump-sum payment of at least 4× the applicable median advertised rent or $5,000; qualifying special-needs households receive at least 5× median rent or $6,000. Owners must give affected households 60 days’ pre-filing notice and certify payment or a valid written modification before displacement or permit issuance. §§ 28.89.020, 28.89.030, 28.89.040

Last reviewed: September 20, 2026 · AI-generated analysis · General information, not legal advice · details

Compiled from Santa Barbara's adopted code with AI research tools and grounded in the sources cited below. Verify with Santa Barbara planning staff before relying on it.

Overview

Santa Barbara Municipal Code Chapter 28.89 requires tenant displacement assistance when a City land-use application will displace a qualifying rental household. It applies citywide based on the effect of the application, not a property’s zoning district. § 28.89.010

Before a qualifying application can proceed to displacement or permit issuance, the owner must document that required assistance was paid or that a valid post-notice written waiver or modification was signed. § 28.89.040

The chapter is most relevant to applications involving demolition, certain permitted alterations that reduce rental-unit count, a single-unit condominium conversion, or a permitted residential-to-nonresidential change of use. For the separate rules governing Santa Barbara Condominium Conversion, see that topic page.

When Chapter 28.89 Applies

An application is any discretionary or ministerial City application for a land-use change or real-property improvement that will result in displacement. A covered displacement occurs when an owner’s notice causes a resident household to vacate a rental unit in order to enable one of these outcomes:

Triggering project outcome	Chapter 28.89 treatment	Code Reference
Demolition of a rental unit on the lot	Covered displacement	§ 28.89.010
Permitted structural alteration that reduces the number of rental units	Covered displacement	§ 28.89.010
Conversion of one residential unit to a condominium unit	Covered displacement, unless processed under Chapter 28.88	§ 28.89.010
Permitted change from residential to nonresidential use	Covered displacement	§ 28.89.010
Condominium conversion processed under Chapter 28.88	Excluded from Chapter 28.89	§ 28.89.010
Mobilehome or permanent RV park conversion processed under Chapter 28.78	Excluded from Chapter 28.89	§ 28.89.010
Vacation caused by a natural disaster	Excluded from Chapter 28.89	§ 28.89.010

A project may require separate review under Santa Barbara Land Use procedures, but Chapter 28.89 adds tenant-protection obligations only when its displacement definition is met. A project’s Santa Barbara Development Standards, Santa Barbara Design Review, or California Building Standards Code obligations do not replace these tenant-assistance requirements.

District Applicability

Chapter 28.89 does not identify or distinguish R-1, C-N, commercial, industrial, or overlay districts. It establishes a citywide, project-triggered tenant-protection rule; district-specific permitted uses, setbacks, density, and dimensional standards are not found in source materials for this chapter.

Accordingly, there is no Chapter 28.89 district-by-district list of permitted uses or development standards. Verify a parcel’s zoning and overlay constraints through Santa Barbara Zoning and Santa Barbara Overlay Districts.

Eligible Households and Assistance Amounts

An eligible resident household occupies the rental unit when the City application is filed. A household that received a Civil Code § 1946 notice to quit within the preceding 6 months is presumed eligible, unless the owner proves the tenancy ended on expiration of a non-extended term lease or a qualifying unlawful-detainer judgment exists. § 28.89.010

A special needs resident household is an eligible household with at least one member who is 62 years or older, qualifies as disabled under Vehicle Code § 295.5, or qualifies as low income under the City’s Affordable Housing Policies and Procedures. § 28.89.010

Household type	Required lump-sum assistance per rental unit	Code Reference
Eligible resident household	4× applicable median advertised rental rate, or $5,000, whichever is greater	§ 28.89.030
Eligible special needs resident household	5× applicable median advertised rental rate, or $6,000, whichever is greater	§ 28.89.030

The payment is calculated per rental unit, not per person, and paid jointly in one lump sum to all eligible household members occupying that unit. The applicable median is based on the unit being vacated—studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, or 3+ bedrooms—using the City’s annually published median advertised rental rate. §§ 28.89.010, 28.89.030

Notice and Application Submittal

At least 60 days before filing, the owner or agent must give each resident household on the property a notice of intent to file. Delivery must be personal or by certified mail with return receipt requested, and evidence of compliance is necessary for the application to be complete. § 28.89.020

The City-approved notice must address the owner and applicant, anticipated filing date, potential purchase rights, vacancy notice, lease-termination rights, rent-increase limitations, displacement assistance, relocation counseling, Rental Housing Mediation Task Force contact information, special-needs qualifications, and hearing-participation rights where applicable. § 28.89.020

At filing, the owner or agent must identify for each affected rental unit:

Every household member on a written lease, or every person the owner regards as a resident under an oral lease.
Members of households given a notice to vacate during the preceding 6 months. § 28.89.020

Resident Protections

Eligible households receive an exclusive right of first refusal to contract for a resulting residential unit on the same terms initially offered to the public, or better terms. The right lasts at least 90 days after the later of issuance of the Subdivision Public Report or commencement of sales. § 28.89.050

That purchase right does not apply to applications converting rental units into hotels or similar commercial uses. § 28.89.050 A household may also terminate its lease without future-rent liability after receiving the Chapter 28.89 notice and before withdrawal of the application or displacement; doing so does not waive monetary assistance. § 28.89.050

Prospective residents applying after the application is filed must receive written notice of the pending application and potential displacement before occupancy. Failure to provide that notice is not itself grounds to deny the land-use action. § 28.89.050

Payment, Waivers, and Certification

Payment assistance or the right of first refusal may be waived or altered only through a mutual written agreement between the owner and all members of the eligible resident household. The agreement must be executed after the household receives the Chapter 28.89 application notice and chapter notice. §§ 28.89.020, 28.89.030

Before the earlier of displacement or permit issuance, the owner must give the Community Development Director either:

A cancelled check showing payment to the eligible household; or
A written waiver or modification signed by the owner and all household members after the required notice. § 28.89.040

Checklist

Confirm that the proposed City application will cause a Chapter 28.89 displacement. § 28.89.010
Identify every affected rental unit and resident household, including households served with a vacancy notice in the prior 6 months. §§ 28.89.010, 28.89.020
Provide the City-approved intent notice at least 60 days before filing by personal delivery or certified mail. § 28.89.020
Submit proof of notice so the application can be deemed complete. § 28.89.020
Determine whether each eligible household is a special needs resident household. § 28.89.010
Use the City’s current bedroom-category median advertised rental rate to calculate the payment. §§ 28.89.010, 28.89.030
Pay the required joint lump sum per rental unit, or obtain a valid post-notice written waiver or modification. § 28.89.030
Provide payment proof or the executed agreement before displacement or permit issuance, whichever occurs first. § 28.89.040
Provide eligible households the applicable lease-termination and resulting-unit purchase protections. § 28.89.050
Notify post-filing prospective residents in writing about the pending application and potential displacement before occupancy. § 28.89.050

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Whether a project is a covered displacement	Assistance hinges on the specific demolition, unit-reduction alteration, condominium-conversion, or residential-to-nonresidential trigger.	Verify the project scope and required permits with the jurisdiction. § 28.89.010
Current median advertised rental rate	The payment may exceed the fixed $5,000 or $6,000 minimum.	Verify the current City-published median for the unit’s bedroom category. §§ 28.89.010, 28.89.030
Household eligibility	Filing-date occupancy and the 6-month notice-to-quit presumption can affect payment obligations.	Verify lease, occupancy, notice, and court-record facts with the jurisdiction. § 28.89.010
Special-needs status	A qualifying household receives the higher 5× / $6,000 minimum.	Verify age, disability, or low-income qualification under the City procedures. §§ 28.89.010, 28.89.030
Condominium or mobilehome/RV conversion	Some conversions are expressly excluded because separate chapters govern them.	Verify the governing process and any separate tenant protections. § 28.89.010
Terms for new residents after application filing	The source establishes a written-notice duty but the provided text does not fully state the consequence for noncompliance.	Verify the complete current text and City-approved notice form with the jurisdiction. § 28.89.050

Plain-English Summary

If a Santa Barbara permit application will force tenants out for a covered redevelopment or use-change project, the owner generally must give notice early, pay qualifying tenants a substantial per-unit lump sum, and prove payment before permits issue or tenants are displaced. The rule follows the project’s impact on occupied rental housing, not the parcel’s zoning label. §§ 28.89.010–.050

Source References

Santa Barbara Municipal Code § 28.89.010 — definitions, covered displacement, eligibility, special-needs households, and median advertised rental rate.
Santa Barbara Municipal Code § 28.89.020 — 60-day notice and application submittal requirements.
Santa Barbara Municipal Code § 28.89.030 — monetary assistance and written waiver/modification rules.
Santa Barbara Municipal Code § 28.89.040 — certification before displacement or permit issuance.
Santa Barbara Municipal Code § 28.89.050 — purchase, lease-termination, and prospective-resident protections.
Santa Barbara Condominium Conversion
Santa Barbara Mobilehome & RV Parks
California housing laws

Sources

Source passages

Santa Barbara Zoning Code § 28.89.030 Medium relevance
Santa Barbara Zoning Code § 28.89.010 Medium relevance
Santa Barbara Zoning Code § 28.89.040 Medium relevance
Santa Barbara Zoning Code § 28.89.020 Medium relevance
Santa Barbara Zoning Code § 28.89.050 Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Santa Barbara code library

Frequently asked questions

What is tenant displacement assistance in Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara requires monetary assistance when a City application will displace an eligible resident household through a covered demolition, unit-reduction alteration, single-unit condominium conversion, or permitted residential-to-nonresidential conversion. The ordinary minimum is 4 times the applicable median advertised rent or $5,000, whichever is greater. §§ 28.89.010, 28.89.030

How much relocation money do tenants receive in Santa Barbara?

An eligible resident household receives 4× the applicable median advertised rental rate or $5,000, whichever is greater. An eligible special needs resident household receives 5× the applicable median advertised rental rate or $6,000, whichever is greater, paid jointly as one lump sum per rental unit. § 28.89.030

How much notice must a Santa Barbara landlord give before filing a displacement application?

The owner or agent must notify every resident household at least 60 days before filing the City application. Notice must be personally delivered or sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested, and proof is needed for a complete application. § 28.89.020

Who qualifies as a special needs household for Santa Barbara displacement assistance?

A qualifying eligible household is special needs if at least one member is 62 or older, qualifies as disabled under Vehicle Code § 295.5, or meets the City’s low-income criteria. That status triggers the higher assistance formula. §§ 28.89.010, 28.89.030

Can a tenant waive Santa Barbara displacement assistance?

Yes, but only through a mutual written agreement between the owner and every member of the eligible resident household. The agreement must be signed after the household has received the required application and Chapter 28.89 notice. §§ 28.89.020, 28.89.030

Can tenants break their lease after receiving a Santa Barbara displacement notice?

Yes. After receiving the required notice, a resident household may terminate its lease or rental agreement without liability for future rent accruing after it vacates, until the application is withdrawn or the household is displaced. An eligible household does not lose its monetary-assistance right by exercising that option. § 28.89.050

Do displaced Santa Barbara tenants get first chance to buy a replacement unit?

Eligible households generally receive an exclusive right to contract for a resulting residential unit on the same terms first offered to the public, or better terms. The right lasts at least 90 days from the later of the Subdivision Public Report or commencement of sales, but does not apply to rental-to-hotel or similar commercial-use conversions. § 28.89.050

Does Santa Barbara Chapter 28.89 apply to condominium conversions?

It can cover conversion of a single residential unit to a condominium unit, but it excludes condominium conversions regulated and processed under Chapter 28.88. Verify which process applies to the project with the jurisdiction. § 28.89.010

General information, not legal advice.

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