Santa Barbara County Property Tax Information

Santa Barbara County property tax records are maintained by the Treasurer-Tax Collector office. Property owners use county systems to search tax bills, view assessed values, and make payments online. The County Assessor establishes property values each year on January 1 following Proposition 13 guidelines. Tax bills are issued in two installments annually with payment due dates in November and February. Property tax information is public record available at no cost through county online portals. Search by parcel number, property address, or owner name to access current bills, payment history, and assessment data for properties throughout Santa Barbara County including coastal and inland communities.

Treasurer-Tax Collector Services

The Santa Barbara County Treasurer-Tax Collector manages property tax billing and collection countywide. Secured property tax bills are mailed twice per year. First installment bills go out in October and are due November 1. They become delinquent at 5:00 pm on December 10 with a ten percent penalty. Second installment bills are due February 1 and delinquent at 5:00 pm on April 10 with another ten percent penalty.

The county maintains two office locations to serve residents. The Santa Barbara office is at 105 East Anapamu Street, Room 109. Call 805-568-2920 for assistance. The Santa Maria office is at 511 Lakeside Parkway. Call 805-346-8330 for help. Staff can provide duplicate bills, payment receipts, and information about payment plans or delinquent accounts.

Santa Barbara County provides an online tax payment portal at mytaxes.sbtaxes.org/ for convenient bill lookup and payment processing. ACH electronic check payments have no fee. Credit card payments incur a 2.34 percent service charge. Returned payments result in a $40 fee.

Search Tax Bills Online

The Santa Barbara County tax portal allows 24-hour access to property tax information. Enter your Assessor's Parcel Number for the most accurate search. You can also search by property address if you provide the complete street address with city name or zip code. Owner name searches work if you know the exact name on the tax records.

Once you locate your property, the portal displays your current tax bill with both installments shown. You can see payment status, amounts due, and deadlines for each installment. The system provides access to prior year bills and payment history. Download bills as PDF files to save or print for your records.

The portal shows all charges on your property tax bill including the base tax rate, special assessments, and voter-approved bonds. Each charge has a description and amount. The total represents all applicable charges for your property based on location and district boundaries.

Ways to Pay Property Taxes

Santa Barbara County accepts online payments through the tax portal 24 hours a day. ACH electronic check payments are free with no service charge. Credit card payments cost 2.34 percent of the payment amount. The portal processes payments immediately and provides instant confirmation and receipt.

Mail your check or money order to the appropriate office. Include the payment stub from your tax bill. Write your parcel number on the check. For Santa Barbara office, mail to 105 East Anapamu Street, Room 109, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. For Santa Maria office, mail to 511 Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria, CA 93455. Allow time for mail delivery before the deadline. The postmark date determines timeliness.

Pay in person at either county office during regular business hours. Bring your tax bill. The offices accept cash, checks, money orders, and possibly credit or debit cards. Ask staff about current payment methods and any fees for in-person card payments.

Note: Late payment penalties are mandatory and cannot be removed or waived.

Property Tax Exemptions

Santa Barbara County homeowners qualify for the Homeowners' Exemption if they own and occupy the property as their principal residence. This exemption reduces assessed value by $7,000, saving approximately $70 per year on taxes. File the exemption claim by February 15 to receive it for that tax year. Once approved, the exemption continues automatically each year unless you move or sell the property.

Veterans with service-connected disabilities may qualify for additional exemptions. The exemption amount varies based on disability percentage and household income limits. Disabled persons under age 62 can also apply for exemptions if they meet requirements. Contact the Santa Barbara County Assessor for details about disability exemptions and required documentation.

Senior citizens age 62 and older with limited income may qualify for property tax postponement through the California State Controller's Office. This program allows you to defer current year property taxes if you meet income and home equity requirements. Interest accrues at five percent per year on postponed amounts. Contact the State Controller at 800-952-5661 for program information.

Assessment Appeals Process

Property owners can appeal assessments they believe are incorrect. File appeals with the Santa Barbara County Assessment Appeals Board. Regular assessment appeals must be filed between July 2 and September 15 each year. Some counties extend the deadline to November 30. Contact the Clerk of the Board to verify filing periods and requirements for your situation.

Obtain an appeal application from the County Assessor or the Assessment Appeals Board. Complete the form with property information, your opinion of market value, and reasons for the appeal. Attach supporting documents like recent sales of comparable properties, professional appraisals, or photographs. The county may charge a filing fee to cover administrative costs of processing appeals.

After filing, the Board schedules a hearing and sends you notice at least 45 days in advance. At the hearing, you present your evidence first. The Assessor then presents their valuation. The Board reviews all evidence and makes a decision on the correct value. The Board's decision applies to that tax year only. You must file a new appeal each year if you continue to disagree with your assessment.

Coastal Property Taxes

Santa Barbara County includes valuable coastal properties along the Pacific Ocean. Areas like Montecito, Carpinteria, and Goleta have high-value beachfront and ocean view properties. Property values vary widely based on proximity to the coast, ocean views, and beach access. The Assessor values coastal properties based on sales of comparable coastal properties.

Coastal properties follow the same tax rules as inland properties. Under Proposition 13, your value is set when you purchase and can increase by a maximum of two percent per year. If market values decline, the Assessor may reduce your assessment. This protection applies to all properties regardless of value or location.

Some coastal areas have special assessment districts for beach maintenance, erosion control, or other coastal services. These charges appear as separate line items on property tax bills. Contact the Tax Collector if you have questions about specific charges on coastal property bills.

Wine Country and Agricultural Properties

Santa Barbara County includes extensive wine country areas particularly in the Santa Ynez Valley. Vineyard properties may qualify for reduced assessment under the Williamson Act or California Land Conservation Act. This program values agricultural land based on farming use rather than development potential. Values are significantly lower than market value for development.

To qualify, property must be in agricultural production. Owners sign contracts committing to agricultural use for ten years. The contracts automatically renew unless canceled. Breaking the contract triggers penalty taxes. Contact the County Assessor for information about agricultural preserve enrollment and requirements.

Winery buildings, tasting rooms, and event facilities are assessed separately as commercial property. Only land in actual vineyard production qualifies for agricultural valuation. The Assessor determines the correct assessment for each property component.

About Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County extends from the Pacific coast through valleys to mountains. The county includes diverse property types from beach estates to agricultural land and mountain homes. Property tax rates vary by location due to different special districts and voter-approved bonds in each area.

No cities in Santa Barbara County exceed 100,000 population individually. However, the county has several mid-sized cities including Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. All property taxes are collected by the County Treasurer-Tax Collector regardless of whether properties are in cities or unincorporated areas.

Nearby Counties

Santa Barbara County borders other California counties. Each manages its own property tax system with similar procedures.