Goleta Passes Major Tenant Protection Updates — What Landlords Need to Know
In September 2025, the City of Goleta adopted new updates to its Tenant Protection Ordinance, expanding rules around lease terms, evictions, substantial remodels, relocation payments, and tenant protections.
These changes go into effect at the start of October, and they directly impact how landlords and property managers must operate. Whether you own a duplex or manage a portfolio of rentals, understanding these updates is critical to staying compliant and avoiding costly missteps.
Here’s what you need to know.
Key Changes to Goleta’s Tenant Protection Law
Withdrawal Restrictions (Ellis Act):
Units withdrawn from the market under the Ellis Act must now remain off-market for at least 5 years. This reduces flexibility for owners who may want to re-enter the rental market in the near future.
Relocation Assistance Increased:
Landlords must now pay the greater of $8,000 or two months' rent for any no-fault termination. There’s also an option to split the payment, but only if you provide an additional 60-day Early Tenant Alert, making the total notice period 120 days.
Mandatory One-Year Lease Offers:
All new tenants must be offered a 1-year lease term. Even if the tenant prefers a shorter agreement, that preference must be in writing.
Substantial Remodel Protections:
If you displace a tenant for a substantial remodel, they now retain the right of first refusal to return at a capped rent. Landlords can petition the city for a higher return rent to offset improvement costs, but approval isn’t guaranteed — and documentation is key.
Stronger Anti-Harassment Rules:
The ordinance now formally prohibits harassment tactics like utility shutoffs, false notices, or intimidation. Even subtle pressure can trigger liability.
Termination Notices Now Require Housing Info:
All termination notices must include a Housing Displacement handout or resource link. Notices missing this information could be considered invalid.
What About the Original Ordinance?
These updates build on Goleta’s existing Tenant Protections Urgency Ordinance (Ordinance No. 23-18U), which introduced just-cause requirements, initial relocation assistance, and return rights for displaced tenants.
If you haven’t reviewed that document recently, now is the time.
👉 View the full ordinance here (PDF)
Feeling Overwhelmed? We Do Too — And This Is Our Specialty
These changes are a lot — layered on top of state laws and Santa Barbara County rules. Even experienced landlords are struggling to keep up with what applies, what needs to be documented, and what’s enforceable.
At Mission City, we’ve made it our mission to help landlords like you navigate this shifting legal landscape — without losing sleep or getting buried in paperwork.
We stay on top of:
Lease compliance
Relocation notice procedures
Remodel petitions
Legal updates
And the day-to-day realities of working with tenants in Goleta
So you can stay focused on your investment — and trust that you're protected.
