Public Records Act Request

Any person may request to inspect a public record or request a copy of the record. Most Planning and Development department records are subject to disclosure, although some records are exempt from disclosure, including code enforcement, based on limited exceptions. Disclosure of records is the rule, and non-disclosure is the exception. State law recognizes that certain categories of documents may be exempt from disclosure (Section 6254 and 6275 et seq.). Examples of categories of documents that the County may exempt from disclosure include the following:

1. Drafts: memos, notes, preliminary drafts that are not normally kept by the department in the ordinary course of business, provided the public interest in non-disclosure clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
2. Records containing or seeking advice of counsel: These are protected by attorney client and attorney work-product privilege. This includes notations on documents by legal counsel.
3. Litigation: Documents specifically prepared for use in litigation if the Department is a party to the litigation.
4. Investigatory records such as those involving code enforcement files are exempt under the California Public Record Act, i.e. records for which the Planning and Development department can demonstrate that the public interest in non-disclosure clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Copies of Building Plans:
Any member of the public may obtain copies of building plans only if they follow specific procedures required by State law. Under Health and Safety Code Section 19851, an official building plan may not be duplicated in whole or in part except:

1. With written permission, which permission shall not be unreasonably withheld, of the certified, licensed or registered professional or his or her successor, if any, who signed the original documents and the written permission of the original or current owner of the building; OR
2. By court order or upon the request of any state agency.

Building Plans may be also be obtained directly by contacting the Architectural Archives. Their hours of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For additional information, please call (805) 967-3639 or visit their website at http://www.aiasb.com/archives.cfm.

The Planning and Development department has up to ten days in which to comply with the request, though this may be extended an additional two weeks under certain circumstances.

Please complete the items listed below so the department can promptly process your request for information. PRA requests can be submitted to the Planning and Development department using either the online form below or by sending a completed Public Records Request Form to the following email address: pad@co.santa-barbara.ca.us




PRA Request

Requesting Party’s Information
Full Name:
Email Address:
Phone Number:
Request Details
Address or Location:
Parcel Number (APN):
Request Specifics:

Please be specific as possible and state clearly the type of information that you are requesting. To expedite your request, please indicate the application number, document type, file name, time frame of the request, or other helpful information.