Santa Barbara County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Santa Barbara County?

Public records in Santa Barbara County encompass all information created, received, owned, used, or retained by government agencies in the course of official business. According to the California Public Records Act (CPRA), specifically Government Code § 6252(e), public records include "any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics."

Santa Barbara County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

Court Records: Civil, criminal, family law, probate, and small claims cases maintained by the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara
Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments, and property tax information maintained by the County Assessor and Recorder
Vital Records: Birth, death, and marriage certificates maintained by the County Clerk-Recorder
Business Records: Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name statements
Tax Records: Property tax assessments and payment records
Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data and election results maintained by the County Elections Office
Meeting Minutes and Agendas: Records of County Board of Supervisors and commission meetings
Budget and Financial Documents: County expenditures, contracts, and financial reports
Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports, and crime statistics (with statutory limitations)
Land Use and Zoning Records: Planning documents, permits, and environmental impact reports

The Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder's Office serves as the primary custodian for many of these records, while specialized departments maintain others according to their functions.

Is Santa Barbara County an Open Records County?

Santa Barbara County fully adheres to California's open records laws, primarily the California Public Records Act (CPRA), codified in Government Code § 6250-6276.48. This comprehensive statute establishes the fundamental principle that "access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state."

The County's commitment to transparency is further reinforced by Article I, Section 3(b) of the California Constitution, which states: "The people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business, and, therefore, the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies shall be open to public scrutiny."

Santa Barbara County has implemented specific procedures to facilitate public access to records in compliance with these laws. The Santa Barbara County government maintains an online portal for submitting public records requests and provides guidance on accessing various record types.

Additionally, the County complies with the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950-54963), California's "sunshine law" governing open meetings of local government agencies, ensuring that government decision-making processes remain transparent and accessible to the public.

How to Find Public Records in Santa Barbara County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Santa Barbara County may utilize several methods to locate and obtain the information they need:

Online Access: Many records are available through the Santa Barbara County official website. The County provides digital access to:
- Property assessment records
- Board of Supervisors meeting agendas and minutes
- County codes and ordinances
- Budget documents
- Election results
Submit a Public Records Request: For records not readily available online, individuals may submit a formal request:
- Complete the County's Public Records Request form available on the County website
- Submit requests via email, mail, or in person to the appropriate department
- Clearly describe the records sought with sufficient detail
- Provide contact information for response
Visit County Offices: Many records may be inspected in person during regular business hours:
- County Clerk-Recorder's Office for vital records, property records, and business filings
- Assessor's Office for property assessment information
- Planning and Development for land use and zoning records
- Superior Court for case files and court records
Court Records: The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara maintains a separate system for court records:
- Use the online case search portal for basic case information
- Visit the courthouse to review complete case files
- Request copies of specific documents from the court clerk
Law Enforcement Records: Contact the Santa Barbara Police Department Records Bureau or Sheriff's Office for:
- Incident reports
- Accident reports
- Crime statistics
- Arrest records (with statutory limitations)

Pursuant to Government Code § 6253(b), agencies must respond to requests within 10 calendar days, though this period may be extended by an additional 14 days under unusual circumstances.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Santa Barbara County?

Santa Barbara County charges reasonable fees for public records in accordance with Government Code § 6253(b), which permits agencies to charge "fees covering direct costs of duplication" or a statutory fee, if applicable.

Current standard fees for common record types include:

General Photocopies: $0.10-$0.25 per page for standard documents
Certified Copies of Vital Records:
- Birth Certificates: $28 per copy
- Death Certificates: $21 per copy
- Marriage Certificates: $15 per copy
Property Records:
- Recorded Documents: $2 for the first page, $0.50 for each additional page
- Certified Copies: Additional $2 per document
Court Records:
- Case Search: Free for public terminal use
- Copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified Copies: $25 plus copy fees
Maps and Large Format Documents: $5-$10 per sheet depending on size

Payment methods accepted by most County offices include:

Cash (in-person requests only)
Personal checks
Money orders
Credit cards (in-person and some online services)

The County may waive fees when:

The request is made by an indigent individual
The records will be used for a public interest purpose that benefits the general public
The request is for a minimal number of copies

For electronic records that do not require printing, the County may only charge for the cost of the digital storage medium if the records are provided on physical media. When records are transmitted electronically, no duplication fee is typically charged.

Does Santa Barbara County Have Free Public Records?

Santa Barbara County provides free access to numerous public records in compliance with California law. Under Government Code § 6253(a), public records are open to inspection during regular office hours at no charge.

Free public records services include:

In-Person Inspection: Members of the public may examine non-exempt records at the appropriate County office during regular business hours without charge
Online Resources: The Santa Barbara County website offers free access to:
- Board of Supervisors meeting agendas, minutes, and videos
- County budget documents
- County codes and ordinances
- Planning documents and maps
- Election results and campaign finance reports
Court Case Information: Basic case information is available through the Superior Court's online portal at no cost
Property Information: Basic property ownership and assessment information is available through the Assessor's online database
Public Terminals: Computer terminals at County offices and libraries provide free access to various public records databases

While inspection is free, the County charges reasonable fees for copies of records as permitted by law. Additionally, certain specialized records may carry statutory fees regardless of format.

Who Can Request Public Records in Santa Barbara County?

Under California law, public records in Santa Barbara County are available to all persons, regardless of citizenship or residency status. The California Public Records Act establishes a presumptive right of access to any person.

Key eligibility considerations include:

No Residency Requirement: Requestors need not be California residents or U.S. citizens
No Purpose Requirement: For most records, requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request or justify their need for the records
Identification: While basic contact information may be required for processing requests, formal identification is generally not required except for:
- Certified vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates)
- Criminal history information
- Records where identity verification is required by law
Authorized Representatives: Attorneys, researchers, and other agents may request records on behalf of clients
Business Entities: Corporations, organizations, and media outlets may request records through authorized representatives

Certain records have specific eligibility restrictions:

Vital Records: Certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates are available only to individuals with a "direct and tangible interest" as defined in Health and Safety Code § 103526
Criminal History: Access to complete criminal history information is restricted to authorized agencies and the subject of the records
Juvenile Records: Generally confidential with limited exceptions for specific parties

Government agencies may not inquire about a requestor's motivation or intended use of records except when such information is necessary to determine if the records are exempt from disclosure or if the requestor qualifies for fee waivers.

What Records Are Confidential in Santa Barbara County?

While Santa Barbara County maintains a presumption of openness for public records, certain categories of information are exempt from disclosure under California law. Pursuant to Government Code § 6254, the following records are generally confidential:

Personal Privacy Information:
- Social Security numbers
- Driver's license numbers
- Financial account information
- Medical and health information protected by HIPAA
- Personnel records containing private information
Law Enforcement Records:
- Active investigation records
- Confidential informant information
- Juvenile arrest and criminal history information
- Victim information in certain cases
- Records that would endanger individuals or investigations
Legal and Court Records:
- Records sealed by court order
- Juvenile court records
- Grand jury transcripts (unless ordered disclosed)
- Attorney-client privileged communications
- Records pertaining to pending litigation
Government Operations:
- Preliminary drafts and notes not retained in ordinary course
- Records related to pending litigation involving the County
- Critical infrastructure information and security measures
- Deliberative process materials
- Examination materials and test questions
Other Protected Records:
- Adoption records
- Child welfare and protective services records
- Library patron records
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information
- Records protected by federal law

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the County must release the non-exempt portions if they can be reasonably segregated. Additionally, the County must justify any denial of access by identifying the specific exemption that applies.

California law requires agencies to apply a "public interest balancing test" under Government Code § 6255, which permits withholding records when "the public interest served by not disclosing the record clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure."

Santa Barbara County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor
Hall of Records Building
1100 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 568-2250
Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays

North County Office
511 East Lakeside Parkway, Suite 115
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 568-2250
Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and county holidays

Services Provided: