Local governments
County Government
The County Board of Supervisors has jurisdiction over all of Santa Barbara County. Its five supervisors control the county budget revenues and appropriations, and control zoning and planning in all county land outside of the eight incorporated cities. Each Supervisor appoints a commissioner to the county planning commission that makes recommendations to the Board on planning projects.
Click here for information about other County Boards, Commissions, and Committees
City Governments
There are eight incorporated cities in Santa Barbara County: Buellton, Carpinteria, Goleta, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Solvang. Each of these cities has a city council that controls the city budget and controls zoning and planning within the city boundaries. Each city also has a planning commission that makes recommendations about development projects. Information about each city, its council and commissions can be found on the website links below.
Association of Governments
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments is a regional planning agency comprised of Santa Barbara County and all eight incorporated cities within the county. SBCAG distributes local, state, and federal transportation funds and acts as a forum for addressing regional and multi-jurisdictional issues.
Local Agency Formation Commission
SBLAFCO is another countywide government. Created to help create rational city boundaries as California’s population grew in the 1960s, SBLAFCO has the authority to rule over whether an incorporated city can annex parcels of county land. By statute, SBLAFCO is supposed to preserve agricutural lands and discourage urban sprawl.
Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission (SBLAFCO)
Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission (SBLAFCO)
Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District
SBAPCD is another countywide government. It is responsible for protecting the people and environment of this county from the harmful effects of air pollution and is responsible for controlling air pollution in the county from all sources except motor vehicles.