Clean SB

The Clean Community Division manages the City’s centralized reporting system for unauthorized encampments within the City of Santa Barbara. Our response team consists of representatives from City Net (contracted to provide outreach services) and staff from throughout the City organization, including the Sustainability & Resilience Department's Clean Community Division, Community Engagement Division, and Creeks Division, the Parks and Recreation Department's Parks Division, the Public Works Department's Streets Division and Downtown Parking, and the Santa Barbara Police Department. The team works to connect the unsheltered with services, clean up encampments, and take enforcement action when necessary. 

Once a report of an encampment is received, Code Enforcement staff assess the encampment to determine whether it's on City, private, or another agency's (e.g. Caltrans or Union Pacific) property, whether it is inhabited or abandoned, any safety concerns, and whether there are potential environmental impacts. Prior to clean-up, staff offer outreach/support services and provide required advance notice (typically 72 hours). All encampment reports are tracked, and staff can provide an update to the reporting party upon request.

City of Santa Barbara Encampment Response Protocol (January 2026)

Learn more about City of Santa Barbara Homelessness Initiatives

If you are not sure which jurisdiction the encampment location is in, please review the City of Santa Barbara Boundary Map. If the reporting location is outside of the City of Santa Barbara, please contact the appropriate agency below:

• California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
  Freeway and Freeway on and off Ramps
  Caltrans Customer Service Request Form
  (805) 441-5712
• Union Pacific
  Railroad Property
  (888) 877-7267 (24 hours)
• City of Goleta
  (805) 961-7500
  CityOfGoleta.org
• County of Santa Barbara
  (805) 681-4200
  CountyOfSB.org

To retrieve personal belongings impounded during an encampment clean-up, please call (805) 564-5558.

Illegal dumping is the placement of unwanted items in locations other than the owner’s trash or recycling containers. Commonly dumped items include mattresses, couches, dressers, televisions, bags of trash, etc. These items are frequently left on the curb, sidewalk, or parkway (between curb and sidewalk), in the street, or in our creeks.

The City provides many convenient and free options for disposal of unwanted items. All residents, including renters, are eligible for four FREE annual bulky item pickups (call MarBorg at (805) 963-1852 to schedule), and there are several drop-off locations throughout the community for unwanted items. 

If you're not sure how to properly dispose of something, please contact us at Sustainability@SantaBarbaraCA.gov or (805) 564-5631.

Report Illegal Dumping

If you witness illegal dumping, please contact our Code Enforcement Hotline at (805) 564-5558 or report online via SBConnect. Please include detailed information on the location, item(s) dumped, and responsible party (if available).

The City actively prosecutes individuals for illegal dumping.

Discourage Illegal Dumping

• Nicely landscaping the parkway in front of your property with plants or rocks will often cause an illegal dumper to look elsewhere. 

• Placing a visible sign near your carts/cans or trash enclosure may repel an illegal dumper. Effective signs include "Security," “This area video monitored," or "No Dumping Allowed!" 

• Lighting is important! Motion detector lights are recommended for your property and trash enclosure area, and street lamps may help deter illegal activity. Report street light outages via SBConnect.

• Talk with your neighbors! Collaborate to watch for unusual activity in your neighborhood.

• Explore these links for additional resources:

  • Keep California Beautiful

  • Keep America Beautiful

  • Graffiti Hurts