Santa Barbara Announces Winter Holiday Closures; Here’s What’s Open and Closed

The City of Santa Barbara has announced its winter holiday closures ahead of the festive season. 

Most non-emergency city offices will be closed from December 22, 2025, through January 2, 2026, to observe Christmas and New Year’s holidays, the City said in a statement. 

Normal operations will resume from January 5, 2026. 

The City Hall building will undergo fumigation from December 22, 2025, through December 24, 2025. A perimeter fence will be installed around the building during this period. 

Repair requests will be monitored and resolved based on priority during office closure, the City said.

Here’s the holiday schedule for city services

What Will Remain Open

Emergency services: Police, fire, and harbor patrol emergency services will remain fully staffed during the holiday closure period. The 9-1-1 emergency service will continue to dispatch calls 24×7. 

Airport: Airport and terminal operations will remain open. 

City Attorney: Service of Process will be accepted at the office located at 740 State Street, Suite 201, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The office will be closed from noon to 1 p.m.

Fire Prevention: Staff will be available, except on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. For more assistance, please contact (805) 564-5702. For any urgent requirement, contact the Combined Communications Center at (805) 882-8900.

Parks and Recreation: Only Cabrillo Pavilion will operate on a modified schedule. Facilities reserved for private events will be open. Essential Parks Division services will continue to ensure restrooms are opened and cleaned, and basic operations are addressed.

Parks, playgrounds, beaches, community gardens, lawn bowling clubs, tennis and pickleball courts, and the municipal golf course will stay open. 

Public Works Permits: Public Works Inspection will be open all weekdays, except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. 

Waterfront Administration: The Public Counter will be open with limitations, but will be closed on Christmas Day. 

What Will Remain Closed

Airport: The Airport Badging Office will be closed on December 25-26, 2025, and January 1-2, 2026. All other services inside the Airport Administration Building at 601 Firestone Road will be closed.

Building and Safety: Safety Building and Safety Division counter staff will not accept or review building plans during the holiday closure. Inspections will be scheduled for December 22-24, 26, and 29-31, 2025. Regular inspections will resume from January 5, 2026.

City Clerk: Public Records Requests submitted during the closure period will be processed after January 5, 2026. 

Human Resources: Human Resources will be closed. For any immediate issues, residents can leave a message at (805) 564-5316 or email HR@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.

Libraries: All library locations and outdoor book returns will be closed from December 22 to 26, 2025, and January 1, 2026. Limited hours will be observed on December 31, 2025.

All Library on the Go stops will be canceled during the closure period. Regular library hours will resume from January 2, 2026. 

Office of Emergency Services: The City Office of Emergency Services will be closed from December 22, 2025, to January 4, 2026. For any immediate concerns, residents can leave a message at (805) 331-5637 or email SRosenberger@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.

Parks and Recreation: All recreation centers and Parks and Recreation administration offices will be closed during the holiday season. Los Baños del Mar will close from December 24, 2025, through January 1, 2026, though the dates may change in response to maintenance requests. 

Permit Applications: Community Development and Public Works applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on December 17, 2025. After this, the online permit system and the payment portal will stay offline until 8:30 a.m. on January 5, 2026. 

Police: The Police Department Lobby will be closed on December 25, 2025, and will reopen the following day. There will be no vehicle releases on Christmas Day. Call 9-1-1 to report an emergency or call (805) 882-8900 to report a non-emergency.

Public Works Permits: Most offices and operations of the Land Development Team will be closed from December 19, 2025, through January 5, 2026. 

Street Sweeping: Street sweeping and related parking enforcement will be suspended on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Regularly scheduled street sweeping and related parking enforcement will resume on the Friday following each holiday. There will be no make-up days or schedule changes.

Trash and Recycling: Residential and curbside collections will be delayed by a day following Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. 

Utility Billing/City Hall Cashier: The office will be closed from December 19, 2025, through January 5, 2026. Utility Billing staff can be contacted on December 22-23 and 29-31, 2025, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. by phone at (805) 564-5343 or via email at UtilityBilling@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.