On October 9th, the Santa Barbara City Council will learn that on October 14th (or soon after), Councilmembers Kristen Sneddon and Wendy Santamaria plan to introduce a proposal capping annual rent increases at 60% of CPI (Consumer Price Index). With Santa Barbara’s CPI currently at 2.7%, that would limit rent increases this year to just 1.62%.
In years when CPI is negative, no increases would be allowed at all—unless property owners go before the Rental Housing Mediation Board, forcing disclosure of financials and adding new administrative costs for the city.
In short, you would need government approval just to manage your own private property.
Why You Need to Speak Up Now
If this new rent control proposal moves forward, the consequences will be real for both property owners and renters in Santa Barbara:
Fewer Rentals Available – Many owners will shift their properties to short-term rentals or other uses if they can.
New Housing Will Stall – Developers will stop building, choking off future supply.
Investment Will Dry Up – Investors will skip Santa Barbara entirely, reducing options for renters.
Forced Sales & Higher Rents – Some owners will sell, and new buyers will raise rents to the maximum allowed.
Falling Property Values – Both rental providers and homeowners will see their values decline.
Less Revenue for the City – Lower values mean less property tax money for city services.
Rents Will Still Go Up – With fewer units and less investment, scarcity will continue driving rents higher.
More Government-Owned Housing – The Housing Authority, exempt from paying taxes, will grow its holdings, further reducing city revenue.
Loss of Local Control – Builder’s Remedy projects may move forward with little say from Council or neighborhoods.
What’s Next? – Mandates on renting out spare bedrooms? A vacancy tax on second homes, commercial spaces, and rentals?
The bottom line: More rent control will not solve our housing challenges—it will make them worse. The only way to stop this is for Council to hear directly from you!
Mayor Randy Rowse rrowse@santabarbaraca.gov
Kristen Sneddon KSneddon@santabarbaraca.gov
Wendy Santamaria WSantamaria@santabarbaraca.gov
Eric Friedman EFriedman@santabarbaraca.gov
Meagan Harmon mharmon@santabarbaraca.gov
Mike Jordan mjordan@santabarbaraca.gov
Oscar Gutierrez ogutierrez@santabarbaraca.gov
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The thing I never understand about Santa Barbara (and I've had family here since 1961j is why anyone thinks it should be affordable now. When I got out of UCSB I wanted to stay here but there were no jobs and it was too expensive. So I went where I could get a small apartment and start my life. I always hoped/planned to come back. But I didn't insist that SB cater to my needs. All the kids I grew up with had to do likewise except my friends from ranching families who stayed to work on the family biz. That was 1974. Paradisiacal resort towns aren't supposed to be affordable for everyone. When you go to Lake Como or St. Bart's for a week do you rant against the expensive housing? Of course not. This is a resort town the elected idiots are intent on turning into an ugly place where they can rig votes but no tourist wants to spend money because it looks like the dumpville they already live in. In a few more years of this, stars like Selena Gomez won't be choosing Santa Barbara to spend millions on to get a photo shoot wedding.
‘Affordable’ housing needs a MAJOR REFOCUS toward current homeowners and landlords. Financial loads at every turn are UNAFFORDABLE: insurance; taxes + eye-popping add ons of bonds/fees; maintenance; repairs; code compliance. Total loss from earthquake or fire is a major risk that haunts every property owner in this town.