Santa Barbara County Approves Onshore Oil Ban and Phase-Out Plan

The county Planning Commission votes 3-2 to effectively end onshore oil and gas production.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:57pm

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting a lone oil pump jack standing in a field, with warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a nostalgic, contemplative mood that reflects the county's transition away from onshore oil production.As Santa Barbara County moves to phase out its onshore oil and gas industry, a solitary pump jack stands as a symbol of the region's complex relationship with fossil fuels.Goleta Today

The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission voted 3-2 to approve ordinances that will ban new onshore oil and gas wells and gradually phase out existing wells. The move is part of the county's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to clean energy.

Why it matters

This decision marks a significant milestone in Santa Barbara's long history with the oil and gas industry. The county is taking a legislative stand to protect public health and the environment by moving away from fossil fuel production, despite concerns from some about the economic impacts on industry workers.

The details

The ordinances will prohibit new onshore oil and gas wells and prevent the reactivation of previously abandoned wells. A study will be conducted over the next three years to determine how to gradually phase out existing wells and cease operations entirely. While the current amendments do not apply to existing wells or production plans, the goal is to effectively end onshore oil and gas production in the county.

  • In October 2025, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead for the Planning Commission to consider the ordinances.
  • On Wednesday, April 9, 2026, the Planning Commission voted 3-2 to approve the amendments to local land-use ordinances.

The players

Paasha Mahdavi

A professor and researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who conducted a 10-month study that found 65% of Santa Barbara County residents support a ban on new oil and gas drilling.

John Parke

A Planning Commissioner who believes the only way to stop the oil industry and oil production is through legislation.

C. Michael Cooney

A Planning Commissioner who voted in favor of the ordinances, describing the issue as important and long-awaited.

Kate Ford

A Planning Commissioner who voted in favor of the ordinances, recounting the 1969 oil spill off the Santa Barbara coast and stating that climate change is a big and scary reason to take legislative action.

Roy Reed

The Planning Commission Chair who voted against the ordinances, worrying about the impacts on families and workers in the oil industry.

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What they’re saying

“The public overwhelmingly supports this ordinance, whether in North or South County, and the economic costs pale in comparison to the gains from committing to a real clean energy transition.”

— Paasha Mahdavi, Professor and Researcher, UC Santa Barbara

“This is about taking a legislative stand to protect public health and safeguard our environment. Climate change is real, and greenhouse gas emissions are a big and scary reason why.”

— Kate Ford, Planning Commissioner

“I don't want to do that to other families; I don't want to do that to other little kids. I think those human effects really need to be considered.”

— Roy Reed, Planning Commission Chair

What’s next

The next step is a three-year study to determine how to gradually phase out existing oil and gas wells and cease operations entirely in Santa Barbara County.

The takeaway

This decision highlights Santa Barbara's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean energy, despite concerns from some about the potential economic impacts on the local oil and gas industry. The county is taking a bold legislative stance to protect public health and the environment, even as it grapples with the complex social and economic implications of this shift.