Phase I Oil and Gas Prohibition Ordinance Amendments

Case No. 26ORD-00001 amends Article 35.5, Oil and Gas, Wind Energy and Cogeneration Facilities; of Section 35-1, the County Land Use and Development Code (LUDC), of Chapter 35, Zoning, of the Santa Barbara County Code, to prohibit the drilling of new and abandoned oil and gas wells in an effort to ensure enhancement and protection of the environment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the County's 2030 Climate Action Plan and as authorized by Assembly Bill 3233. Case No. 26ORD-00002 amends Division 9, Oil and Gas Facilities; of Article II, the Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO), of Chapter 35, Zoning, of the Santa Barbara County Code, to prohibit the drilling of new and abandoned oil and gas wells in an effort to ensure enhancement and protection the environment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the County's 2030 Climate Action Plan and as authorized by Assembly Bill 3233. Case No. 26GPA-00007 amends the Coastal Land Use Plan (CLUP) and updates outdated references to Public Resources Code § 30260, 30262, and 30263 to align with recently amended legislation (Senate Bills 704 (2023) and 237 (2025)) that revised the statute and modify existing language to clarify that new onshore exploratory oil and gas wells are prohibited .