Santa Barbara County Votes to Ban New Oil and Gas Wells
Board of Supervisors prohibits new drilling and moves the County's fossil fuel transition forward
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Sept. 15, 2026) — In a Santa Maria hearing today, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to ban new onshore oil and gas wells in the County. The landmark decision is a major step in the County’s transition away from fossil fuels and is expected to reduce climate pollution, improve air quality, and protect public health.
Santa Barbara County's vote comes as local governments across California are advancing new protections to limit oil and gas development following the implementation of Assembly Bill 3233, which clarified local governments’ authority to regulate oil and gas operations. Earlier this summer, the Los Angeles City Council advanced an ordinance to prohibit new oil and gas extraction and phase out existing drilling, underscoring growing momentum for local climate action across the state.
“Today, Santa Barbara County chose healthy communities, clean air and water, and a sustainable future over pollution, profits, and climate chaos,” said Haley Ehlers, Executive Director at Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG). “Hundreds of community members from across the county spoke up throughout this process in support of a managed transition away from harmful oil and gas extraction to a regional economy that prioritizes affordable energy, safe jobs, and a healthy environment. We’re thankful local leaders have gotten started on this important endeavor.”
The approved amendments to the Land Use and Development Code and Coastal Zoning Ordinance will deliver climate benefits to the County and beyond. According to one UC Santa Barbara study, an oil and gas phase-out in Santa Barbara County could prevent the release of more than 344,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 while avoiding millions of dollars in climate damages and public health costs. And a new study by UC Santa Barbara found broad support for a drilling ban, with detailed results available to view in this web tool. “A phaseout is popular across the county, whether in Santa Maria, Lompoc, the Santa Ynez Valley, or the South Coast,” said Paasha Mahdavi, a UCSB professor and co-lead investigator of the report. “Nearly two out of every three county residents expressed support for banning new oil drilling.”
The amendments also tackle longstanding public health concerns related to local oil extraction. According to the California Air Resources Board, oil production is the largest facility source of PM2.5, benzene, formaldehyde, and several harmful air pollutants in Santa Barbara County. These pollutants are linked to asthma, heart disease, cancer, and other serious health conditions, and are especially harmful to vulnerable community members like older adults and infants. By banning new oil drilling, this decision makes strides to improve air quality and protect the community’s health.
Today’s vote followed years of advocacy by a coalition of more than 50 environmental organizations, public health advocates, and community groups that urged the County to address the climate and health impacts of oil extraction.
"For decades, people across Santa Barbara County have worked toward a future beyond fossil fuels. Today's vote brings that vision closer to reality," said Community Environmental Council CEO Sigrid Wright. "Santa Barbara County is proving that we can protect public health, reduce climate pollution, and responsibly transition away from oil extraction. This is a major step forward, but it's not the finish line.”
Next Steps
The ordinance amendments have now passed their first reading and will return to the board of supervisors for a second reading. The amendments to the Coastal Zoning Ordinance will then be submitted to the California Coastal Commission for approval.
Moving Toward a Full Phase-Out of Existing Oil Operations
Today’s vote builds on years of community advocacy and a series of County actions to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In 2025, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to develop policies that phase out existing oil extraction and prohibit new drilling. In April 2026, the Planning Commission recommended ordinance amendments banning new oil and gas wells, setting the stage for today’s vote.
While today’s action prohibits new oil and gas wells, County staff are continuing work on a broader transition away from existing oil production. At the Board’s direction, staff are conducting an amortization study to determine the timeframe oil companies need to recoup investments and establish a timeline for ending existing oil production. The study will help inform future Board decisions on a phaseout of existing operations.
Coalition Statements
Los Padres ForestWatch
“Today’s vote is an important step toward protecting the places that define our region—from public lands and parks to the air we breathe and the communities that call this place home. By preventing new oil development, Santa Barbara County is helping safeguard wildlife habitat, reduce climate pollution, and move toward a healthier, more resilient future.”
Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples
“This vote honors our responsibility to protect the lands, waters, air and all life that have sustained Indigenous peoples who have stewarded this earth since time immemorial. We welcome this decision as an important milestone and look forward to continued progress toward a full phase-out of fossil fuel production.”
Environmental Defense Center, Tara Rengifo, Senior Attorney
“This ordinance is a victory for everyone who has spent years fighting to protect Santa Barbara County’s air, water, climate, and communities from new oil drilling. For too long, we’ve been forced to fight one project after another. We are grateful for the County’s leadership to deliver the lasting, countywide protections that residents have been demanding for decades.”
Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter, Katie Davis, Energy Chair
“This action will not only help us meet our climate goals, but also protect public health at a time when we’re facing egregious weakening of air and water pollution safeguards and an assault on environmental protections under the Trump administration.”
Marell Brooks, President, CPA
“Since 1960, Citizens Planning Association has advocated for sustainable communities and environmental protection. We have waited all these years for such meaningful action.”
Leah Stokes, Anton Vonk Associate Professor of Environmental Politics, UCSB
“Santa Barbara County is showing what real climate leadership looks like at the local level. Rejecting new oil development is an important first step towards a healthier, safer, and more resilient Santa Barbara.”
About the Coalition
The campaign to phase out oil and gas production in Santa Barbara County is supported by a coalition of environmental organizations, public health advocates, community groups, and residents working to protect public health, safeguard natural resources, and advance climate solutions across the Central Coast.
Participating organizations include Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG), Community Environmental Council, Environmental Defense Center, Los Padres ForestWatch, Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter, Center for Biological Diversity, 805 Action and dozens of additional community partners.
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