Santa Barbara County · Central Coast · California

Housing blocked in Santa Barbara

2 documented cases, 323 units proposed. 5 decision records, 2 denials, 0 overrode a staff recommendation to approve. Housing element in compliance, per HCD.

documented cases

323

units proposed

cases denied

36.5

avg. months of delay

Decisions coming up

505 East Los Olivos Street (The Mission LLC)

Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara County · 270 units · 54 affordable

Motion for judgment on the pleadings · Santa Barbara Superior Court, Dept. 3

November 4, 2026 (in 14 days)

Builder's remedy applicationCEQA suit filed

Eight-story builder's remedy project behind the Old Mission. The writ claims were denied April 22, 2026; the city's motion on the remaining declaratory relief claim was continued to Nov 4. The city says full CEQA review is required before any hearing. A federal suit over SB 158 was dismissed with leave to amend in June 2026.

Source 1 Source 2 Documented case Santa Barbara profile

All decisions coming up

Documented cases

505 East Los Olivos Street (Behind the Old Mission)

270 units · 2024

Litigated

1609 Grand Avenue Apartments (Lower Riviera)

53 units

In review

Mechanisms used

Builder's Remedy2 uses

California Environmental Quality Act2 uses

Discretionary Review1 use

Height and Density Limits1 use

Decision records

5 decision records, 2 denials, 0 overrode a staff recommendation to approve. Decision records are kept per case; open a case above to read them with their sources.

Recurring organizations

Organizations and developers that appear in two or more documented cases here. Individual officials and residents are not listed.

Ben Eilenberg · Woodside Community Housing · Developer2 cases

Stephanie Smith · The Mission LLC · Developer2 cases

SAGE · Neighborhood Association2 cases

Housing element and permit activity

Housing element in compliance, per HCD.

6 HCD permit leads imported from Annual Progress Report data.