Santa Barbara County Bans New Onshore Oil and Gas Wells; Phase-Out Plan Underway

Santa Barbara County supervisors voted 3-2 to pass an ordinance banning new onshore oil and gas wells and prohibiting the re-entry of previously abandoned wells. The measure was proposed last year as a response to the County 2030 Climate Action Plan. While the ordinance does not immediately discontinue operations of existing facilities, including 1,039 active and 1,221 idle onshore wells, a second phase is currently being developed to ultimately shutter all existing oil and gas facilities and operations.

The ordinance represents the first phase of a broader county program aimed at prohibiting new oil and gas development. This long-term plan signals a fundamental shift in the county's resource management strategy regarding fossil fuels.