The County of Santa Barbara released a Draft 2023 – 2031 Housing Element Update for public review and comments on January 30, 2023, with comments due on March 1, 2023. The County received over 400 comments! The County revised the draft, incorporating many of the public’s ideas, including new programs and 19 new potential housing sites. On March 31, 2023, we submitted our revised draft to the State for a 90-day review. The State provided comments and corrections. In response, the County prepared and released a second revised draft on June 22, 2023.
The State provided additional comments and corrections. On September 14, 2023, the County published a third revised Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element.
To view the revised Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element Update, please go to:
https://www.countyofsb.org/3177/Housing-Element-Update
While there, check out our updated interactive map and our expanded FAQs.
The Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element Update must accommodate 5,664 new housing units within the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County between 2023 and 2031. It describes countywide policies and programs and identifies a range of sites that the Board of Supervisors will consider for rezones to meet the required number of housing units.
The next opportunities for public participation will be:
The Balancing Act© interactive tool. Look for our email in the next few weeks.
The public comment period on the Draft Program EIR (date TBA).
Questions? Send us an email at housingelement@countyofsb.org or by mail to:
Santa Barbara County Planning and Development
Long Range Planning Division
Attn: Jessi Steele
123 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
