The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has proposed an amendment to the County’s Outdoor Festival Ordinance. The change would create a 72-hour ban on amplified music during the annual Deltopia weekend in Isla Vista. Amplified music that can be heard from public property would be prohibited from midnight on Friday to midnight on Sunday. This would apply to all residential, commercial, and private gatherings in the area.
Currently, the ordinance restricts amplified music only between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The proposed change is intended to address public safety concerns. These include medical emergencies, alcohol-related incidents, and overcrowding that have occurred during Deltopia in the past. Lieutenant Joe Schmidt of the Isla Vista Foot Patrol said the goal is to improve safety while allowing community events to continue.
A Town Hall meeting is scheduled for November 12, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Isla Vista Theater. Representatives from the Sheriff’s Office, County staff, and partner agencies will attend to answer questions and gather public input…