The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors is set to deliberate on the initiation of a Rental Housing Inspection Pilot Program targeted at the Isla Vista community. The proposed ordinance, earmarked for discussion during Tuesday’s meeting, seeks to amend Chapter 10, Building Regulations, effectively establishing a 12-month proactive inspection regime tailored for Isla Vista’s rental properties.
This pilot program aims to address long-standing concerns over unsafe and substandard housing conditions prevalent within the densely populated community, notably among its predominantly college-aged and renter population. With 87% of Isla Vista’s residents being renters, and a staggering 72% living below the poverty line according to the latest US Census data, the initiative underscores a critical step towards ensuring that all rental units adhere to essential health and safety standards.
The inception of the pilot program follows a comprehensive report received by the Board on January 14, 2025, which painted a grim picture of the living conditions faced by many tenants in Isla Vista.
Issues ranging from rodent infestations, lack of heating, unsafe structural features, to the absence of smoke detectors and illegal space conversions were highlighted as common grievances. The report’s unsettling revelations prompted the Board’s directive for an ordinance that would pave the way for a systematic inspection and enforcement mechanism within the area…