The Santa Barbara City Council voted this week to begin developing a work plan for a potential rent stabilization ordinance, signaling growing momentum toward addressing housing affordability, but without committing to rent caps just yet.
The council directed staff to outline how such a program could be structured and administered, including a timeline and opportunities for public input. Staff is expected to return before the end of the year with a roadmap. A formal ordinance is unlikely to reach the council for debate until 2026.
The proposed program would not immediately regulate rents. Instead, it would establish a framework for future discussions about limits on rent increases and tenant protections…