Code Enforcement

The Sustainability & Resilience Department's Community Engagement Division is responsible for enforcement of City of Santa Barbara Municipal Codes related to solid waste, public safety, and creek and ocean water pollution.

Common Violation Types:

Illegal dumping (sidewalk, street, or creek)
Pollution in the street, storm drain, or creek
Litter (sidewalk, street, or creek)
Homeless encampments
Accumulation of trash or debris on private property
Abandoned shopping carts (sidewalk or street)
Single use plastic bans (plastic bags, straws, stirrers, cutlery, and Styrofoam)

How to Submit a Report:

Submit a request via SBConnect online, or download the app
Call the CleanSB Hotline at (805) 564-5558
Call the Water Pollution Hotline at (805) 448-0117
Please include a detailed description of the issue, the location, and the responsible party (if available)

Please Note: Emergency situations should be reported by calling 911. If a concern is posing a fire or safety issue, please call the Police Department's non-emergency number at (805) 882-8900.

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How long does it take Code Enforcement to respond?

Can I make an anonymous report?

How does the Code Enforcement process work?

The Sustainability & Resilience Department's Code Enforcement program is intended to be educational, not punitive. Staff aim to help community members resolve issues quickly in order to protect our environment and help prevent future violations.

Complaint Received: Reports are received via phone, email, or the City's app SBConnect.
Investigation: Code Enforcement staff inspect location to confirm complaint.
Notification Process: Staff make contact with property or business owner/management to inform them of the code violation, how to correct the violation, and best management practices (BMPs) to prevent future violations. A reasonable timeline is set to abate the violation. If compliance isn’t achieved, an enforcement case is opened and a Notice of Violation is mailed to responsible party.
Case Closed: Once the violation is corrected, the code enforcement case will be closed. A repeat violation within one year may be subject to fines.
City Attorney Referral: If there is no response or goodwill effort to correct the code violation, repeat offenses, or an egregious violation, the case may be referred to the City Attorney’s Office (this rarely occurs).