City building permits · May 2026
Santa Barbara Building Permits
Monthly residential building permits for Santa Barbara, California — 3 units in May 2026, 72 over the last 12 months — latest month -57.1% vs. a year earlier.
3
Units (latest month)
3
Single-family units
0
Multifamily (5+) units
$4,306,237
Reported value
Trailing 12 months: 72 units permitted · latest month -57.1% vs. a year earlier.
| Structure type | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family (1-unit) | 3 | 100.0% |
| 2-unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| 3–4 unit structures | 0 | 0.0% |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 0 | 0.0% |
| All units | 3 | 100% |
Santa Barbara building permits — FAQ
How many building permits were issued in Santa Barbara, California?+
3 new residential units were authorized in Santa Barbara in May 2026, and 72 over the trailing 12 months, per the Census Building Permits Survey.
What types of housing is Santa Barbara permitting?+
In May 2026, 3 single-family and 0 units in 5+ unit buildings were permitted — 0.0% of the total was multifamily.
Why might Santa Barbara's numbers be zero some months?+
Permit activity is lumpy at the city level, and small jurisdictions may report to the Census with a lag. Zero in a month means no permits were reported, not necessarily no construction interest.