Who do I call for a broken street light?

Contact the City Public Works Streets Division using the street lighting service request on the City website; include the pole number or nearest address.

How do I report illegal dumping into a storm drain?

Use the Stormwater Program report procedures on the City stormwater page and provide location, description, and photos if safe to do so.

Can I dig or modify a storm drain on my property?

Work affecting City storm drain infrastructure typically requires permits and coordination with Public Works; contact the Stormwater Program or Planning/Building for permit requirements.

Santa Barbara Street Light & Storm Drain Rules

Utilities and Infrastructure California 4 Minutes Read · published March 01, 2026

Santa Barbara, California maintains rules and operational practices for public street lighting and storm drain systems to protect public safety and water quality. This guide explains who enforces those rules, how to report outages or illicit discharges, typical compliance steps, and where to find official forms and contacts. It is aimed at residents, property managers, contractors, and environmental stewards who need practical steps to request repairs, report dumping, or comply with construction best management practices in Santa Barbara.

Overview: Street Lights

The City of Santa Barbara maintains most public street lights and accepts service requests for outages, damaged poles, or unsafe lighting. Routine maintenance and repair pathways are managed by the City Public Works Department; private lights (on private property or in HOA areas) are generally the owner’s responsibility. For City-maintained lights, submit a service request or report a problem online via the Public Works street lighting page City Street Lighting^[1].

Overview: Storm Drains and Illicit Discharges

Santa Barbara’s storm drain and stormwater program focuses on preventing pollutants entering the municipal storm drain system, protecting coastal water quality, and complying with regional and state water board permits. The Public Works/Engineering Stormwater Program administers illicit discharge reporting, construction site controls, and public education. To report spills, prohibited discharges, or view stormwater compliance resources, use the City stormwater program page Stormwater Program^[2].

Who Enforces These Rules

Public Works - Streets Division: street light maintenance and safety complaints.
Public Works - Engineering/Stormwater Program: storm drain pollution prevention and illicit discharge response.
City Code Enforcement or Environmental Services may assist on cross-cutting violations or property-related issues.

Report outages and spills promptly to reduce hazard and environmental harm.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement authority for storm drain violations and related water-quality rules is exercised by the City Public Works/Stormwater Program, often working under the City Municipal Code and applicable stormwater permits. Specific monetary penalties, escalation procedures, and time limits for appeals are not consistently stated in the public program pages; when amounts or schedules are not shown on the cited City pages they are noted below as "not specified on the cited page." For primary code language, consult the City municipal code repository Santa Barbara Municipal Code^[3].

Fine amounts: not specified on the cited City stormwater and street lighting program pages.
Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing offence procedures are not specified on the cited City program pages.
Non-monetary sanctions: the City may issue orders to cease activity, require cleanup, or seek injunctive relief; specific remedies and processes are not specified on the cited program pages.
Enforcer and complaint pathway: Public Works/Engineering - Stormwater Program handles illicit discharge reports; street lighting issues handled by Public Works Streets Division. See official program pages for submission links and contacts Stormwater Program^[2] and City Street Lighting^[1].
Appeals/review: specific appeal routes and time limits are not specified on the cited City program pages; refer to the Municipal Code and contact the City Clerk or the listed enforcement office for process and deadlines Municipal Code^[3].
Defences and discretion: permitting, emergency response, or authorized discharges may be allowed where shown by permit or emergency exception; policy details are not specified on the cited program pages.

Common violations and typical outcomes (see cited pages for city contact info):

Illicit dumping or discharge to storm drains — investigation and cleanup orders; monetary fines not specified on the cited page.
Damaged or knocked-down street light poles causing safety hazards — repair orders or service requests processed by Streets Division; fees for private repairs are owner-responsibility when not City-owned.
Failure to implement construction BMPs (silt fences, erosion controls) — stop-work or corrective notices; fines or permit withholding not specified on the cited pages.

Applications & Forms

Where published, the City provides online reporting and request forms for both topics. For street light issues, use the Public Works street lighting repair or service request links on the City page City Street Lighting^[1]. For stormwater, use the Stormwater Program contact, illicit discharge reporting instructions, and construction stormwater resources on the City stormwater page Stormwater Program^[2]. Fees, form numbers, or filing deadlines are not specified on those program pages, or are handled case-by-case; if a specific permit or fee is required the municipal code entry or department contact will direct you Municipal Code^[3].

Action Steps: Report, Comply, and Repair

Report street light outages: submit a service request via the City Street Lighting page or call Public Works.
Provide the pole number or nearest address when reporting a street light problem.
Report spills or illicit discharges: contact the Stormwater Program immediately via the City stormwater page and follow any on-scene containment guidance.
If doing construction, follow the City construction stormwater BMP guidance and retain documentation of inspections.
Pay fines or fees as directed by an enforcement notice; if amounts are not stated in the notice, contact the listed enforcement office for invoice details.

FAQ

Who do I call for a broken street light?: Contact the City Public Works Streets Division using the street lighting service request on the City website; include the pole number or nearest address.
How do I report illegal dumping into a storm drain?: Use the Stormwater Program report procedures on the City stormwater page and provide location, description, and photos if safe to do so.
Can I dig or modify a storm drain on my property?: Work affecting City storm drain infrastructure typically requires permits and coordination with Public Works; contact the Stormwater Program or Planning/Building for permit requirements.

How-To

Identify the issue: note location, nearest address, pole number, or visible signs of discharge.
Gather evidence: take date-stamped photos or video from a safe distance.
Submit an online report: use the City street lighting service request for lights or the Stormwater Program reporting page for discharges.
Preserve records: keep copies of your report confirmation, photos, and any City correspondence.
Follow up: if there is no response within the expected timeframe, contact the listed Public Works contact or file an appeal through City processes noted in enforcement notices.

Key Takeaways

Report street light faults and storm drain discharges promptly to Public Works.
Construction sites must follow stormwater BMPs; check City guidance before starting work.
Contact the Municipal Code or City Clerk for formal appeal routes and definitive penalty language.