Business Licensing & Operations in Santa Barbara County, CA (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Santa Barbara County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Sexually oriented businesses in unincorporated Santa Barbara County may locate only in C-3, C-S, or M-1 zones, and must sit at least 500 feet from any school, park, church, residential zone, or another SOB under County Code Sec. 35-805. Both a land use permit and a sheriff-issued business license are required before opening.
Santa Barbara County Adult Business Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 35-805
(a)Permitted Zones. No sexually oriented business, as defined in Section 4 of this article, shall be established in any zone of the County of Santa Barbara, except C-3 (general commercial), C-S (service commercial) and M-1 (light industry). No land use permit or other entitlement for use shall be issued to any SOB proposed to be established, located or operated in any zone other than C-3, C-S o...
Massage Establishments
Massage establishments in unincorporated Santa Barbara County pay a $50 annual license fee and massage technicians pay $25 a year under the county's business license fee schedule. Unlike carnivals, night clubs and junk dealers, massage businesses are not on the list requiring a separate sheriff's permit before licensing.
Santa Barbara County Massage Establishment License
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 22-74; Sec. 22-75(a)
Sec. 22-74. - Fee schedule. The following fees shall be charged: ... Massage establishment ..... $ 50.00 per year Massage technician ..... 25.00 per year ... Sec. 22-75. - Approval by sheriff for certain businesses; stickers. (a)The following businesses shall have a permit from the sheriff prior to the issuance of an occupational license: Carnival. Dine and dance establishment. Ferris wheel. H...
Tobacco Retail License
Anyone selling tobacco, tobacco paraphernalia, or vape products in unincorporated Santa Barbara County must first get a tobacco retailer license from the county Treasurer-Tax Collector, one for each location, under County Code Sec. 37A-3. Licenses run for one year and must be renewed before they expire.
Santa Barbara County Tobacco Retailer License
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 37A-3
It is unlawful for any person to act as a tobacco retailer without first obtaining and maintaining a valid tobacco retailer license pursuant to this chapter for each location at which tobacco retailing is to occur. Tobacco retailer licenses are valid for one year. An application to renew a tobacco retailer license should be submitted prior to the expiration of the license.
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers in unincorporated Santa Barbara County, defined as anyone whose principal business is buying, selling, trading or consigning used personal property, must hold a county permit under Business and Professions Code Section 21641 and follow the daily reporting, ID-check and recordkeeping rules in Chapter 26A.
Santa Barbara County Secondhand Dealer Permits
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Secs. 26A-3(d), 26A-4(g)
'Secondhand dealer' means any 'person' whose principal business is primarily that of engaging in buying, selling, trading, taking in pawn, accepting for sale on consignment, accepting for auctioning or auctioning secondhand tangible personal property; any person who engages in the business of buying or selling secondhand tangible personal property in excess of twenty percent of the gross sales ...
Pawnbrokers
Pawnbrokers operating under a county secondhand dealer permit must verify every customer's photo ID, take a fingerprint on pawn transactions, and report each pledged item to the sheriff's department within 24 hours under Sec. 26A-2 through Sec. 26A-4 of the county's secondhand dealer regulations.
Santa Barbara County Pawnbroker Licensing Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Secs. 26A-2, 26A-3(b), 26A-4(c)
Sec. 26A-2. - Applicability. The regulations contained in this chapter shall apply to all persons who hold a secondhand dealer permit in the County of Santa Barbara issued pursuant to California Business and Professions Code section 21641 ... Secondhand dealers shall include, but not be limited to, pawnbrokers. ... 'Pawnbroker' means every person engaged in the business of receiving goods in pl...
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Automotive repair or service cannot be run as a home occupation anywhere in unincorporated Santa Barbara County. LUDC Section 35.42.190.F.1.a lists it, alongside painting vehicles, trailers, boats, or machinery, as an occupation that can never satisfy the county's home-occupation development standards and is therefore always prohibited, with no permit available.
Santa Barbara County Bans Home Auto Repair
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Barbara County LUDC § 35.42.190.F.1.a
F.Prohibited home occupations. 1.Occupations that cannot comply with all of the development standards listed in Subsection D (Development Standards), above, shall not be permitted as home occupations. Examples of prohibited occupations include:a.Automotive repair or service.b.Painting of vehicles, trailers, boats or machinery.
Business Licensing & Operations by City in Santa Barbara County
1 cities in Santa Barbara County have their own business licensing & operations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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