Special Events & Permits 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
Block Party Permits
Santa Barbara County requires a public right-of-way special event permit from the Public Works Department before any block party closes a county road to traffic. County Code Sec. 28A-2 defines a block party as a celebration on a county road requiring roadway closure, and Sec. 28A-3 makes a permit mandatory for any event organizer using the unincorporated public right-of-way.
Block Party & Street Closure Permits
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Secs. 28A-2, 28A-3
"Block party" means a celebration on a county road requiring closure of the roadway to vehicular traffic and the use of the street for the gathering. Block parties are designated Category B on the fee schedule. ... A public right-of-way special event permit shall be required by any person intending to conduct or sponsor an event (see definition) in the unincorporated public right-of-way.
Park Event Permits
Groups that want exclusive use of a picnic area, pavilion, or other portion of a Santa Barbara County park in the unincorporated area need a special use permit from the community services director under Sec. 26-9. Where the county has set a use fee, Sec. 26-5 makes it unlawful to enter without paying it first, and the director can revoke a permit under Sec. 26-4.
Santa Barbara County Park Facility Reservation Permits
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Secs. 26-9, 26-5
Sec. 26-9. - Reserved or special use areas. The director of community services is authorized to provide for reservations of special permits for portions of county recreation areas as the director may specify. No person shall obstruct or interfere with the use of those specified areas by the person or persons to which a reservation or special permit has been issued. ... Sec. 26-5. - Public use f...
Parade Permits
Anyone conducting or sponsoring a parade, demonstration, or other event in the unincorporated county's public right-of-way needs a public right-of-way special event permit from public works, unless it's a funeral procession or a parade of forty or fewer participants that follows traffic rules.
Santa Barbara County Parade & Assembly Permits
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 28A-3, 28A-4
A public right-of-way special event permit shall be required by any person intending to conduct or sponsor an event (see definition) in the unincorporated public right-of-way...A public right-of-way special event permit is not required for the following: (a)Funeral processions;(b)Governmental agencies acting within the scope of their authorized functions;(c)Parades involving forty or fewer part...
Street Fair Rules
Any music, dance, or 'rock' festival open to 500 or more people in unincorporated Santa Barbara County needs an outdoor festival license before it happens: a $100 base fee plus $250 per day, filed at least 60 days ahead, with security deposits, insurance, and board of supervisors sign-off for larger events.
Santa Barbara County Outdoor Festival Permits
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Secs. 6-70, 6-72
"Outdoor festival" means any music festival, dance festival, "rock" festival or similar musical activity, at which music is provided by paid or professional, or amateur performers or by prerecorded means, which is held at any place other than in a permanent building or permanent installation which permanent installation has been constructed for the purpose of conducting such activities, to whic...
Parklets
A business that wants to build a parklet in the county road right-of-way needs an annual business roadway encroachment permit and must meet eight standards, including a forty-eight-inch wall cap, a removable structure, and a thirty-mile-per-hour speed limit ceiling.
Santa Barbara County Parklet Permit Standards
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 28-127
An annual business roadway encroachment permit shall be required for any outdoor business within a parklet, including, but not limited to, the placement of curb extension structures, barriers, chairs, tables, and umbrellas. A removable parklet structure providing a separation between parklet users and street traffic shall be required...Parklets must be located on a public street with a posted s...
Sidewalk Dining & Cafés
A restaurant that wants to serve food or drinks on the sidewalk or right-of-way in unincorporated Santa Barbara County needs an annual business roadway encroachment permit from the public works director before setting a single table outside.
Santa Barbara County Outdoor Dining Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 28-125
An annual business roadway encroachment permit is required for any shared mobility business or outdoor business operating in the public road right-of-way. The public works director may issue an annual business roadway encroachment permit pursuant to the director's administrative regulations, including any community-specific guidelines, subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Special Events & Permits by City in Santa Barbara County
1 cities in Santa Barbara County have their own special events & permits rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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