Water restrictions in Santa Barbara, CA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
The City of Santa Barbara's Water Regulations (SBMC Chapter 14.20) keep certain rules in force at all times, even outside a drought, prohibiting wasteful runoff, requiring leaks to be fixed within 72 hours of notice, and barring irrigation during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall.
Santa Barbara runs its own water utility and sets its own conservation rules under the City Municipal Code Water Regulations (Chapter 14.20), which differ from statewide State Water Resources Control Board emergency rules. After above-average rainfall in 2023 and 2024, the City Council repealed its Stage Two Water Shortage Alert in June 2023, and the City reports enough supply to meet demand for at least three years. Even with no active drought stage, several baseline regulations apply permanently: any water use that causes significant runoff beyond the property boundary is prohibited; all leaks must be repaired within 72 hours after notice by the City; and irrigation during, and within 48 hours after, measurable rainfall is prohibited, with measurable rainfall defined as 0.25 inch or more in a 24-hour period. The City does not currently impose fixed watering-day restrictions on its customers, so residents may water on any day as long as they avoid runoff and rain-period irrigation. Wasting water through the City distribution system is itself a violation of the chapter. During declared shortage stages the City can layer on tighter rules, such as assigned watering days and limits on filling pools or washing pavement, but those apply only when a stage is active. Suspected water waste can be reported to the City.
Wasting water or violating the always-in-effect regulations is a violation of SBMC Chapter 14.20. Enforcement is largely complaint-driven, beginning with notices; unrepaired leaks (after 72-hour notice) and ongoing runoff can lead to escalating City enforcement, and stricter penalties apply when a drought stage is in effect.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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The Fence Guidelines set height and location but defer the exact material, color, width and style to design-review boards. Front-yard fences, walls and gates...
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No fence, screen, wall or hedge over 3.5 feet may stand in a driveway visibility triangle: 10 ft along the driveway and 10 ft back from the front lot line wh...
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Residential retaining walls not over 4 feet (footing to top) are permit-exempt unless they support a surcharge or impound flammable liquids. Where a fence si...
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The City of Santa Barbara addresses animal hoarding through its care-and-keeping and nuisance provisions plus California's anti-cruelty law. Keeping animals ...
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The City of Santa Barbara does not publish a dedicated wildlife-feeding ban in its general animal regulations, but feeding wild animals can create a public n...
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The City of Santa Barbara requires a license for each unaltered cat over four months old, obtained from the City. There is no leash requirement for cats. Red...
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