Housing Notebook: Rent stabilization, vacation rental ordinances to go into effect Jan 2027, and more housing news

Housing held the focus this week on Santa Barbara City Council, with a ban on short term vacation rentals and the rent stabilization ordinance both making progress. Continued support on banning STRs Short term rentals (STRs) like Airbnbs dominate neighborhoods like the Mesa by the hundreds, isolating locals who are pushing for stronger regulation of disruptive vacationers in their neighborhoods. For the city, money is lost through unregulated vacation rentals without the collection of transient occupancy taxes. Against the broader backdrop of Santa Barbara’s housing crisis, many argue that any available units should be offered to local residents instead of tourists. “I don’t think these situations are borrowing from neighborhoods, they’re stealing from neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Mike Jordan. His colleagues on the council unanimously approve of regulating STRs. Santa Barbara’s housing element also requires the city to create a game plan for regulating vacation renta