FAQs

No. Campus housing is not subject to property taxes and therefore residents are not eligible for the renter's credit.

Yes, gender inclusive housing options are available for students that identify as trans* or non-binary. Gender inclusive housing options include San Nicolas Residence Hall, San Rafael Residence Hall, Manzanita Village, Santa Catalina Residence Hall, and all UCSB apartments. For more information, please visit our LGBTQ+ & Gender Inclusive page. To inquire about gender-inclusive housing options available for students that identify as trans* or non-binary, please contact University & Community Housing Services at housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu.

Pets and other animals are not permitted in the residence halls and apartments, including visitor's pets. An exception is fish in a 10-gallon aquarium or smaller.

Yes, there are bike fix it stations located throughout our communities: De La Guerra Dining Commons, Anacapa Residence Hall, Manzanita Village, San Clemente Villages, San Rafael Residence Hall, Santa Catalina Residence Hall & San Joaquin Villages (3), Santa Ynez Apartments, Sierra Madre Villages, Storke Apartments, and West Campus Apartments. You can see the locations on the campus interactive map by searching for "Self-Service Bike Tools & Pump". A bike fix it station is a stand that holds nearly any bike and includes an air pump and basic tools. 

We have hydration stations* in the following locations:

• Anacapa Hall Lobby
• Manzanita Village
  • DeAnza Resource Center Lobby
  • Montecito House Lobby
  • Madulce House Lobby
  • Tecolote House Lobby
• San Clemente Villages
  • Arrowhead Village common room
• San Miguel Hall Lobby
• San Nicolas Hall Lobby
• San Rafael Hall
  • First Floor Tower Lobby (across from elevator)
  • First Floor Ocean Cluster
  • Third Floor Mountain Cluster
• Santa Catalina Hall
  • North Tower
    • First Floor Lobby
    • Fifth Floor
  • South Tower
    • First Floor Lobby
    • Fifth Floor
• Santa Cruz Hall Lobby
• Santa Rosa Hall Lobby
• Santa Ynez Apartments Laundry Room
• Sierra Madre Villages Miramar Center
• West Campus Community Center
• Storke Family Student Housing Laundry Room

*A hydration station is an upgraded drinking fountain that provides students a convenient way to fill up their reusable water bottles with filtered water for free. Instead of having to tilt their water bottle to fill it 75% at a water fountain, students now have the luxury of being able to fill their bottle to the top. There are also many hydration stations located throughout campus. In addition to providing students a way of staying healthy and hydrated throughout the school year, hydration stations promote environmental stewardship by encouraging students to use and re-fill their reusable water bottles rather than purchasing single-use plastic bottles that end up polluting our oceans, beaches, and communities.

Yes, there are outdoor showers near Santa Cruz Residence Hall and Manzanita Village. There are also restrooms with outdoor showers at Campus Point. 

The Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises network (ResNet) provides laser printing services to all current residents of UCSB Housing. This service allows residents to print from anywhere on ResNet (wired or wireless) to any laser printer located at residence hall front desks or apartment common areas. There is more information on the ResNet Remote Printing web page. Specific locations of printers are on the Gaucho Print rates web page. 

Meeting Space availability for student groups varies during the academic year and summer months. As part of our mission, we exist to enhance the learning and living activities of our residents and use of these areas should reflect and reinforce this. Please see below for contact information related to specific areas.

• Main Lounges, Classrooms, Pools and Recreation Rooms: Due to limited community spaces available to our residents, we will not be accepting room reservations from campus student organizations in university-owned residence halls and apartments. Please refer to the Campus Space Reservations process for options on campus.
• Loma Pelona Center
• West Conference Center
• Lawn Request / San Miguel Stage Request: Contact the Residential Housing Association (805-893-4877) during the academic year by filling out the Grounds Department Lawn Use Request Form. For questions about the form, contact the Residential Operations Services Center (805-893-3312 or email osc@housing.ucsb.edu).   
• Tabling outside of a Dining Commons: Contact the Residential Housing Association (805-893-4877) by filling out the Dining Commons Tabling Request Form. After the RHA President signs it, the form then needs to be taken to the Dining Commons for the General Manager to approve. Groups are not allowed to table inside the Dining Commons. See our Contact Us page for Dining Commons contact information.
• If you're interested in making flyers available for your event in our communities, please contact the respective Resident Director or Complex Coordinator for each area. You may find their contact information on our Contact Us page under Residential & Community Living.  

• Limited parking spaces are available for an additional fee for UCSB students residing in university housing. Generally, parking spaces are not in the immediate vicinity of university housing, but in remote campus locations.
• For students living in the UCSB Residence Halls, parking is very limited and we recommend that you plan on not having a vehicle and use other means of transportation to travel to off-campus destinations.
• You may apply for a permit after you get your building and room assignment in late summer.
• For more information, please visit our Parking page.
• We encourage students to use the MTD bus service. This service is free for UCSB students and serves the entire area of Santa Barbara. Most students either bicycle or walk to and from their residence hall or apartment to classes.

No. For your safety as well as your hallmates' safety, and by order of the UCSB Fire Marshal, no cooking equipment, including microwave or toaster ovens, grills, hot plates, coffee makers, toasters, panini makers, rice cookers, slow cookers, induction cookware, etc. are permitted in any student room. We provide microwave ovens in hall kitchenettes for students’ use. Each residence hall front desk has pots, pans, etc., for check out using your Access ID card.

Yes. Refrigerators must not be larger than 4.5 cubic feet. We recommend you coordinate buying or renting a refrigerator with your new roommates. The UCSB Campus Store (formerly The UCSB Bookstore) has an agreement with Collegiate Concepts for refrigerator rentals that will be delivered directly to student rooms.

As a student living in University Housing, you are required to be enrolled as a full-time student during the academic year. To be considered a full-time student, undergraduates must take a minimum of 12 units per quarter and graduate students must take a minimum of 8 units per quarter. Each student is allowed to carry a deficit load (fewer units than full-time status) once per academic year and no action is required. If an additional quarter is needed, students must submit a petition to request an exception to the policy through University & Community Housing Services by contacting their office at housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu or 805-893-4371.

Please do not ship any baggage to arrive earlier than the opening of the residence halls each quarter. Neither the University nor UCSB Housing have space to store and hold items pending your arrival. If it is necessary for you to ship items, please address these articles to yourself, your hall, and room number. Ask the shipper to hold these articles pending your arrival at UCSB. It may be necessary for you to personally pick up your belongings from the shipper.

Storage Scholars, one of our partners for move-out shipping/storage services has a move-in program called Ship to School. This service allows families to ship a student's items to Storage Scholars in advance of move-in, then have it delivered on the student's move-in day (after the check-in stations have closed). 

• Storage Scholars: If you have questions please contact them directly at (336) 815-0100 or info@storagescholars.com, Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST.

• Residents in any residence hall may opt to stay over the Thanksgiving break without an additional fee.
• If you leave for the break, you may leave your belongings in your room.

• Residence Halls will close by 10:00am on the Saturday prior to each break period, requiring students to vacate university housing by this time if they have not registered for break housing. Students are permitted to return when halls reopen again at 10:00am the Sunday prior to the start of instruction for the subsequent quarter. 
• Students may leave their belongings in their rooms during Winter and Spring Break, as long as they have a housing contract for the subsequent quarter and plan to return to university housing. 
• You may only stay in the residence halls during winter and/or spring break if you have registered for break housing with UCHS and pay the associated fee for staying. Emails will be sent to your student account prior to the break both by UCHS and Residence Hall Lead Staff providing notice to give students plenty of time to complete the necessary contract in order to stay. 
• Please note that minimal services are provided during break periods (e.g., dining commons are closed and only limited staffing remains in the buildings).
• Information about preparing for winter and spring breaks will be posted in all residence halls prior to each break period.
• Students approved for break housing will need to secure a temporary electronic key at their front desks prior to the break to gain access to their residence hall, as general student keys will be deactivated when halls close at 10:00am on Saturday. 

Our residence halls, except Santa Catalina, come furnished with a mirror in each closet. If you will be living in Santa Catalina, the mirror is above your room’s sink and is smaller in size. There are also full length mirrors in the Santa Catalina hallways.

Residents of these communities are free to use our pianos:

UCSB has agreements with Campus Storage and Storage Scholars to provide moving and storage services for UCSB students. If you are making plans to move and are interested in their services, please see below...

• Campus Storage: If you have questions please contact them directly at 1-877-99-CAMPUS or 1-877-992-2678 or info@CampusStorage.com.
• Storage Scholars: If you have questions please contact them directly at (336) 815-0100 or info@storagescholars.com, Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST.

Many of our student jobs are posted on Handshake, UCSB Career Services’ platform for Gauchos to find jobs. 

Information about the hiring process for Resident Assistant (RA) positions for the upcoming year is released towards the end of fall quarter, with the application and interview process taking place during the winter quarter. Specific timetables and deadlines are posted closer to the end of the fall quarter so that students can prepare accordingly.

During the application process students are encouraged to attend Information Sessions hosted by Residential & Community Living (R&CL). These sessions give everyone the chance to learn more about the position, listen to current RAs share their experiences, and ask any questions about what the role entails. Although optional, these are very helpful and highly encouraged. Information Sessions generally take place towards the end of fall quarter and at the beginning of winter quarter.

Check out the information on the Become a Resident Assistant webpage and look for RA Selection advertisements in the residence halls, apartments, DigiKnow, Instagram, and around campus towards the end of fall quarter.

Please visit our Billing page. It will help you navigate through the payment process.

• Each of our Residence Halls and Apartment complexes is equipped with a laundry facility available for residents to use. It's important to note that our laundry service is now provided free of charge to the residents. To check machine status, download the Speed Queen App and follow SpeedQueen instructions posted in your Resident Hall or Apartment Laundry Rooms.

Is something broken, damaged, or not working properly in your room, apartment, bathroom, common area, etc? Visit our Get It Fixed page, create a work order, and someone from our Operations staff will fix your problem, usually by the next business day. Access is restricted to campus network addresses only (campus workstations, wireless and VPN.)  

We ask lifestyle questions during the personal preferences process that is accessed via the Applications page.

If students are self-assigning their space, you'll be able to see responses to others' Personal Preferences/Lifestyle Questionnaire during self-assign to make good choices for yourself. If you have specific people with whom you want to live, requests must be mutual. Please review instructions on booking roommate groups. 

If students aren't self-assigning their own space, housing staff will match students without a preferred roommate using the lifestyle questions survey. 

Roommate's names and e-mail addresses are included in the room assignment notices that will be emailed in early September.

Please visit our Billing page. It will help you navigate through the payment process.

You can find rate information for all of our communities on our Rates page. Keep in mind that rates are for an all inclusive 9-month contract that includes dining, high-speed wired and wireless internet access, regular housekeeping, laundry rooms, community events, 24-hour on-call maintenance and emergency staff, and more.

The housekeeping staff clean residents’ rooms every other week. The community spaces (hallways, bathrooms and lounges) are cleaned daily.

For residents living in suites with a bathroom (Santa Catalina and San Rafael), the housekeeping staff clean the suites and public spaces once a week.

Residents may also check out vacuums at the residence hall front desk.

Please do not visit the Dining Commons if you are ill. Students who are ill or medically unable to eat a meal in the Dining Commons may have a friend or roommate pick up a sick meal. The friend/roommate must present the sick student's access card to the lobby checker, who will notify the student supervisor for assistance.

Yes, DirecTV service is available in the following common areas:

If you are interested in a community for students recovering from substance use issues, please consider The Haven, a non-profit residence in nearby Isla Vista.

Residents receive three free lockouts per quarter. After three lockouts, residents' BARC accounts will be charged $5.00 for each subsequent lockout.

The ResNet staff can help you! There are service centers in San Nicolas, Manzanita Village, and Santa Catalina where you can talk to and receive help from a member of the ResNet staff. You can also email resnet@housing.ucsb.edu with specific questions and concerns! More contact information as well as the ResNet information and policies can be found online on the ResNet website.

UC Santa Barbara requires renters insurance for all residents of campus housing. Renters insurance provides valuable protection if your personal belongings are stolen or damaged, including laptop computers, smartphones, bicycles, game consoles, textbooks, clothing, and other personal items. If your laptop or other valuables are stolen or damaged, you are responsible for replacing them - not the school. Renter’s insurance may also protect you financially for unintentional damage to the apartment and/ or bodily injury for which you are liable. The GradGuard insurance policy was designed for University of California students. Alternatively, you can check with your private homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy about coverage. If you don't have your housing assignment when you sign up, please use the following address:

University of California
Santa Barbara, CA  93107

For more information, please visit: GradGuard Insurance

Contact University & Community Housing Services before the fee deadline to discuss your deferral options.

We know that many members of the University of California community are concerned about immigration enforcement actions occurring across the country and have asked about the possibility of enforcement actions occurring on a UC campus. The Office of General Counsel at the UC Office of the President prepared the following to address these concerns: FAQs - Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

Each student is assigned a mailbox that is used during the academic year as long as the student lives in the UCSB residence halls. Mailboxes are shared by 2-3 persons, usually (but not always) with roommates.

A student’s room number is not the mailing address. Students will be notified of their mailbox numbers prior to the opening of the halls. The mailboxes are at the Post Office located in the University Center (UCen).

Regarding deliveries to residence hall front desks, Desk Attendants cannot accept any packages for residents at the desk with the exceptions of: flower deliveries, cake deliveries, Residential Housing Association (RHA) approved packages, and luggage dropped off for a resident by an airline.

For more information, please visit our Mail web page.

We recommend that students who anticipate receiving any form of financial aid (scholarships, grants and/or loans) select the Quarterly Payment Plan. This plan usually coincides with the quarterly distribution of financial aid. If your room and board fees are not going to be paid by the deadline date (either by you or Financial Aid), you will need to contact University & Community Housing Services to make payment arrangements.

The size of the beds in the residence halls is Twin XL (39"x80"). This is a standard linen size that can be found in most department stores. 

Move In for fall quarter and other important dates can be found on our calendar. If you need to make travel arrangements for Move In and you don't know your room assignment yet, plan to move in on the Sunday before instruction begins since you can move in anytime after your assigned time but not before. Please visit our Move In page for more information.

Please check the applications page for information related to your specific situation, whether it's class level, education abroad, a student with a family, etc.

For undergraduate students, apartment and roommate assignments are generally emailed by early September each year to students’ university e-mail accounts.

For graduate students, apartment and roommate assignments are emailed two to three weeks before your scheduled move-in date (graduate student move-in dates vary from undergraduate students move-in dates.) 

Housing payments are made along with all BARC payments and can be made online or in person at the Cashier's Office, Student Affairs Building, SAASB 1212, Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm. For more information about payments and billing, please visit our Billing page.

University & Community Housing Services
Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7160
email: housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu
web page: www.housing.ucsb.edu
805-893-4371
877-885-9902 (FAX)

Take a look at our social media channels for information as well: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

No. Campus housing is not subject to property taxes and therefore residents are not eligible for the renter's credit.

Yes, gender inclusive housing options are available for students that identify as trans* or non-binary. Gender inclusive housing options include San Nicolas Residence Hall, San Rafael Residence Hall, Manzanita Village, Santa Catalina Residence Hall, and all UCSB apartments. For more information, please visit our LGBTQ+ & Gender Inclusive page. To inquire about gender-inclusive housing options available for students that identify as trans* or non-binary, please contact University & Community Housing Services at housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu.

Pets and other animals are not permitted in the residence halls and apartments, including visitor's pets. An exception is fish in a 10-gallon aquarium or smaller.

Yes, there are bike fix it stations located throughout our communities: De La Guerra Dining Commons, Anacapa Residence Hall, Manzanita Village, San Clemente Villages, San Rafael Residence Hall, Santa Catalina Residence Hall & San Joaquin Villages (3), Santa Ynez Apartments, Sierra Madre Villages, Storke Apartments, and West Campus Apartments. You can see the locations on the campus interactive map by searching for "Self-Service Bike Tools & Pump". A bike fix it station is a stand that holds nearly any bike and includes an air pump and basic tools. 

We have hydration stations* in the following locations:

• Anacapa Hall Lobby
• Manzanita Village
  • DeAnza Resource Center Lobby
  • Montecito House Lobby
  • Madulce House Lobby
  • Tecolote House Lobby
• San Clemente Villages
  • Arrowhead Village common room
• San Miguel Hall Lobby
• San Nicolas Hall Lobby
• San Rafael Hall
  • First Floor Tower Lobby (across from elevator)
  • First Floor Ocean Cluster
  • Third Floor Mountain Cluster
• Santa Catalina Hall
  • North Tower
    • First Floor Lobby
    • Fifth Floor
  • South Tower
    • First Floor Lobby
    • Fifth Floor
• Santa Cruz Hall Lobby
• Santa Rosa Hall Lobby
• Santa Ynez Apartments Laundry Room
• Sierra Madre Villages Miramar Center
• West Campus Community Center
• Storke Family Student Housing Laundry Room

*A hydration station is an upgraded drinking fountain that provides students a convenient way to fill up their reusable water bottles with filtered water for free. Instead of having to tilt their water bottle to fill it 75% at a water fountain, students now have the luxury of being able to fill their bottle to the top. There are also many hydration stations located throughout campus. In addition to providing students a way of staying healthy and hydrated throughout the school year, hydration stations promote environmental stewardship by encouraging students to use and re-fill their reusable water bottles rather than purchasing single-use plastic bottles that end up polluting our oceans, beaches, and communities.

The Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises network (ResNet) provides laser printing services to all current residents of UCSB Housing. This service allows residents to print from anywhere on ResNet (wired or wireless) to any laser printer located at residence hall front desks or apartment common areas. There is more information on the ResNet Remote Printing web page. Specific locations of printers are on the Gaucho Print rates web page. 

Meeting Space availability for student groups varies during the academic year and summer months. As part of our mission, we exist to enhance the learning and living activities of our residents and use of these areas should reflect and reinforce this. Please see below for contact information related to specific areas.

• Main Lounges, Classrooms, Pools and Recreation Rooms: Due to limited community spaces available to our residents, we will not be accepting room reservations from campus student organizations in university-owned residence halls and apartments. Please refer to the Campus Space Reservations process for options on campus.
• Loma Pelona Center
• West Conference Center
• Lawn Request / San Miguel Stage Request: Contact the Residential Housing Association (805-893-4877) during the academic year by filling out the Grounds Department Lawn Use Request Form. For questions about the form, contact the Residential Operations Services Center (805-893-3312 or email osc@housing.ucsb.edu).   
• Tabling outside of a Dining Commons: Contact the Residential Housing Association (805-893-4877) by filling out the Dining Commons Tabling Request Form. After the RHA President signs it, the form then needs to be taken to the Dining Commons for the General Manager to approve. Groups are not allowed to table inside the Dining Commons. See our Contact Us page for Dining Commons contact information.
• If you're interested in making flyers available for your event in our communities, please contact the respective Resident Director or Complex Coordinator for each area. You may find their contact information on our Contact Us page under Residential & Community Living.  

• Limited parking spaces are available for an additional fee for UCSB students residing in university housing. Generally, parking spaces are not in the immediate vicinity of university housing, but in remote campus locations.
• For students living in the UCSB Residence Halls, parking is very limited and we recommend that you plan on not having a vehicle and use other means of transportation to travel to off-campus destinations.
• You may apply for a permit after you get your building and room assignment in late summer.
• For more information, please visit our Parking page.
• We encourage students to use the MTD bus service. This service is free for UCSB students and serves the entire area of Santa Barbara. Most students either bicycle or walk to and from their residence hall or apartment to classes.

You may bring additional furnishings, however, all furniture supplied in the apartment must remain in the apartment.

You can request a roommate that has the same contract type as you before the contract deadline through the roommate process. Please check the relevant Applications page for more information about roommate groups.

Almost all of the spaces in Undergraduate Apartments are shared, double-occupancy rooms. There are 22 single occupancy studios in Westgate.

As a student living in University Housing, you are required to be enrolled as a full-time student during the academic year. To be considered a full-time student, undergraduates must take a minimum of 12 units per quarter and graduate students must take a minimum of 8 units per quarter. Each student is allowed to carry a deficit load (fewer units than full-time status) once per academic year and no action is required. If an additional quarter is needed, students must submit a petition to request an exception to the policy through University & Community Housing Services by contacting their office at housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu or 805-893-4371.

We are unable to accommodate specific apartment requests.

Storage Scholars, one of our partners for move-out shipping/storage services has a move-in program called Ship to School. This service allows families to ship a student's items to Storage Scholars in advance of move-in, then have it delivered on the student's move-in day (after the check-in stations have closed). 

• Storage Scholars: If you have questions please contact them directly at (336) 815-0100 or info@storagescholars.com, Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST.

UCSB Apartment residents may stay in their apartments during all academic year breaks for no extra fee.

Current or future residents who have been approved to receive Housing Choice Vouchers or are transferring existing eligibility from another agency to Santa Barbara can contact UCHS for assistance to get their unit approved and have their vouchers applied toward their rent. Any questions about eligibility or the application process should be addressed directly to one or both of the following agencies:

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara

Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara

UCSB has agreements with Campus Storage and Storage Scholars to provide moving and storage services for UCSB students. If you are making plans to move and are interested in their services, please see below...

• Campus Storage: If you have questions please contact them directly at 1-877-99-CAMPUS or 1-877-992-2678 or info@CampusStorage.com.
• Storage Scholars: If you have questions please contact them directly at (336) 815-0100 or info@storagescholars.com, Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST.

Information about the hiring process for Resident Assistant (RA) positions for the upcoming year is released towards the end of fall quarter, with the application and interview process taking place during the winter quarter. Specific timetables and deadlines are posted closer to the end of the fall quarter so that students can prepare accordingly.

During the application process students are encouraged to attend Information Sessions hosted by Residential & Community Living (R&CL). These sessions give everyone the chance to learn more about the position, listen to current RAs share their experiences, and ask any questions about what the role entails. Although optional, these are very helpful and highly encouraged. Information Sessions generally take place towards the end of fall quarter and at the beginning of winter quarter.

Check out the information on the Become a Resident Assistant webpage and look for RA Selection advertisements in the residence halls, apartments, DigiKnow, Instagram, and around campus towards the end of fall quarter.

Please visit our Billing page. It will help you navigate through the payment process.

• Each of our Residence Halls and Apartment complexes is equipped with a laundry facility available for residents to use. It's important to note that our laundry service is now provided free of charge to the residents. To check machine status, download the Speed Queen App and follow SpeedQueen instructions posted in your Resident Hall or Apartment Laundry Rooms.

Is something broken, damaged, or not working properly in your room, apartment, bathroom, common area, etc? Visit our Get It Fixed page, create a work order, and someone from our Operations staff will fix your problem, usually by the next business day. Access is restricted to campus network addresses only (campus workstations, wireless and VPN.)  

We ask lifestyle questions during the personal preferences process that is accessed via the Applications page.

If students are self-assigning their space, you'll be able to see responses to others' Personal Preferences/Lifestyle Questionnaire during self-assign to make good choices for yourself. If you have specific people with whom you want to live, requests must be mutual. Please review instructions on booking roommate groups. 

If students aren't self-assigning their own space, housing staff will match students without a preferred roommate using the lifestyle questions survey. 

Roommate's names and e-mail addresses are included in the room assignment notices that will be emailed in early September.

Please visit our Billing page. It will help you navigate through the payment process.

You can find rate information for all of our communities on our Rates page. Keep in mind that rates are for an all inclusive 9-month contract that includes high-speed wired and wireless internet access, regular housekeeping and landscaping in common areas, on-site laundry room, gas, electricity, water, garbage pick-up, community events, and 24-hour on-call maintenance and emergency staff.

Please do not visit the Dining Commons if you are ill. Students who are ill or medically unable to eat a meal in the Dining Commons may have a friend or roommate pick up a sick meal. The friend/roommate must present the sick student's access card to the lobby checker, who will notify the student supervisor for assistance.

Yes, DirecTV service is available in the following common areas:

If you are interested in a community for students recovering from substance use issues, please consider The Haven, a non-profit residence in nearby Isla Vista.

Residents receive three free lockouts per quarter. After three lockouts, residents' BARC accounts will be charged $5.00 for each subsequent lockout.

The ResNet staff can help you! There are service centers in San Nicolas, Manzanita Village, and Santa Catalina where you can talk to and receive help from a member of the ResNet staff. You can also email resnet@housing.ucsb.edu with specific questions and concerns! More contact information as well as the ResNet information and policies can be found online on the ResNet website.

UC Santa Barbara requires renters insurance for all residents of campus housing. Renters insurance provides valuable protection if your personal belongings are stolen or damaged, including laptop computers, smartphones, bicycles, game consoles, textbooks, clothing, and other personal items. If your laptop or other valuables are stolen or damaged, you are responsible for replacing them - not the school. Renter’s insurance may also protect you financially for unintentional damage to the apartment and/ or bodily injury for which you are liable. The GradGuard insurance policy was designed for University of California students. Alternatively, you can check with your private homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy about coverage. If you don't have your housing assignment when you sign up, please use the following address:

University of California
Santa Barbara, CA  93107

For more information, please visit: GradGuard Insurance

Contact University & Community Housing Services before the fee deadline to discuss your deferral options.

We know that many members of the University of California community are concerned about immigration enforcement actions occurring across the country and have asked about the possibility of enforcement actions occurring on a UC campus. The Office of General Counsel at the UC Office of the President prepared the following to address these concerns: FAQs - Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

The following are items residents often bring that are not included in the apartments: microwave*, television, dishes, kitchen utensils, sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, desk lamp. You may want to coordinate with your future roommates to avoid unnecessary duplication of items. *Some, but not all apartments, have microwaves.

We recommend that students who anticipate receiving any form of financial aid (scholarships, grants and/or loans) select the Quarterly Payment Plan. This plan usually coincides with the quarterly distribution of financial aid. If your room and board fees are not going to be paid by the deadline date (either by you or Financial Aid), you will need to contact University & Community Housing Services to make payment arrangements.

The size of the beds in the undergraduate apartments is Twin XL (39"x80"). This is a standard linen size that can be found in most department stores.

In all UCSB apartment complexes, housekeeping service is limited to daily cleaning of public areas such as laundry rooms, community centers, and exterior staircases and landings. Housekeeping services are not provided for apartment interiors until residents move out. Residents are responsible for maintaining their apartments in a sanitary and non-hazardous condition.

Please check the applications page for information related to your specific situation, whether it's class level, education abroad, a student with a family, etc.

For undergraduate students, apartment and roommate assignments are generally emailed by early September each year to students’ university e-mail accounts.

For graduate students, apartment and roommate assignments are emailed two to three weeks before your scheduled move-in date (graduate student move-in dates vary from undergraduate students move-in dates.) 

Housing payments are made along with all BARC payments and can be made online or in person at the Cashier's Office, Student Affairs Building, SAASB 1212, Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm. For more information about payments and billing, please visit our Billing page.

University & Community Housing Services
Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7160
email: housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu
web page: www.housing.ucsb.edu
805-893-4371
877-885-9902 (FAX)

Take a look at our social media channels for information as well: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

You will be given the name and email contact information for your assigned roommates.

No. Campus housing is not subject to property taxes and therefore residents are not eligible for the renter's credit.

Yes, gender inclusive housing options are available for students that identify as trans* or non-binary. Gender inclusive housing options include San Nicolas Residence Hall, San Rafael Residence Hall, Manzanita Village, Santa Catalina Residence Hall, and all UCSB apartments. For more information, please visit our LGBTQ+ & Gender Inclusive page. To inquire about gender-inclusive housing options available for students that identify as trans* or non-binary, please contact University & Community Housing Services at housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu.

Pets and other animals are not permitted in the residence halls and apartments, including visitor's pets. An exception is fish in a 10-gallon aquarium or smaller.

Yes, there are bike fix it stations located throughout our communities: De La Guerra Dining Commons, Anacapa Residence Hall, Manzanita Village, San Clemente Villages, San Rafael Residence Hall, Santa Catalina Residence Hall & San Joaquin Villages (3), Santa Ynez Apartments, Sierra Madre Villages, Storke Apartments, and West Campus Apartments. You can see the locations on the campus interactive map by searching for "Self-Service Bike Tools & Pump". A bike fix it station is a stand that holds nearly any bike and includes an air pump and basic tools. 

We have hydration stations* in the following locations:

• Anacapa Hall Lobby
• Manzanita Village
  • DeAnza Resource Center Lobby
  • Montecito House Lobby
  • Madulce House Lobby
  • Tecolote House Lobby
• San Clemente Villages
  • Arrowhead Village common room
• San Miguel Hall Lobby
• San Nicolas Hall Lobby
• San Rafael Hall
  • First Floor Tower Lobby (across from elevator)
  • First Floor Ocean Cluster
  • Third Floor Mountain Cluster
• Santa Catalina Hall
  • North Tower
    • First Floor Lobby
    • Fifth Floor
  • South Tower
    • First Floor Lobby
    • Fifth Floor
• Santa Cruz Hall Lobby
• Santa Rosa Hall Lobby
• Santa Ynez Apartments Laundry Room
• Sierra Madre Villages Miramar Center
• West Campus Community Center
• Storke Family Student Housing Laundry Room

*A hydration station is an upgraded drinking fountain that provides students a convenient way to fill up their reusable water bottles with filtered water for free. Instead of having to tilt their water bottle to fill it 75% at a water fountain, students now have the luxury of being able to fill their bottle to the top. There are also many hydration stations located throughout campus. In addition to providing students a way of staying healthy and hydrated throughout the school year, hydration stations promote environmental stewardship by encouraging students to use and re-fill their reusable water bottles rather than purchasing single-use plastic bottles that end up polluting our oceans, beaches, and communities.

The Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises network (ResNet) provides laser printing services to all current residents of UCSB Housing. This service allows residents to print from anywhere on ResNet (wired or wireless) to any laser printer located at residence hall front desks or apartment common areas. There is more information on the ResNet Remote Printing web page. Specific locations of printers are on the Gaucho Print rates web page. 

Meeting Space availability for student groups varies during the academic year and summer months. As part of our mission, we exist to enhance the learning and living activities of our residents and use of these areas should reflect and reinforce this. Please see below for contact information related to specific areas.

• Main Lounges, Classrooms, Pools and Recreation Rooms: Due to limited community spaces available to our residents, we will not be accepting room reservations from campus student organizations in university-owned residence halls and apartments. Please refer to the Campus Space Reservations process for options on campus.
• Loma Pelona Center
• West Conference Center
• Lawn Request / San Miguel Stage Request: Contact the Residential Housing Association (805-893-4877) during the academic year by filling out the Grounds Department Lawn Use Request Form. For questions about the form, contact the Residential Operations Services Center (805-893-3312 or email osc@housing.ucsb.edu).   
• Tabling outside of a Dining Commons: Contact the Residential Housing Association (805-893-4877) by filling out the Dining Commons Tabling Request Form. After the RHA President signs it, the form then needs to be taken to the Dining Commons for the General Manager to approve. Groups are not allowed to table inside the Dining Commons. See our Contact Us page for Dining Commons contact information.
• If you're interested in making flyers available for your event in our communities, please contact the respective Resident Director or Complex Coordinator for each area. You may find their contact information on our Contact Us page under Residential & Community Living.  

You may bring additional furnishings, however, all furniture supplied in the apartment must remain in the apartment.

You can request a roommate that has the same type of contract as you. During the continuing student application process, you can apply with specific roommates. New graduate students can request roommates during the contract process. Actual room and roommate assignments are not made until late summer, so roommate requests can be made and modified through mid-summer.

All rooms in San Clemente Villages are single rooms.

As a student living in University Housing, you are required to be enrolled as a full-time student during the academic year. To be considered a full-time student, undergraduates must take a minimum of 12 units per quarter and graduate students must take a minimum of 8 units per quarter. Each student is allowed to carry a deficit load (fewer units than full-time status) once per academic year and no action is required. If an additional quarter is needed, students must submit a petition to request an exception to the policy through University & Community Housing Services by contacting their office at housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu or 805-893-4371.

We are unable to accommodate specific apartment requests.

UCSB Apartment residents may stay in their apartments during all academic year breaks for no extra fee.

Current or future residents who have been approved to receive Housing Choice Vouchers or are transferring existing eligibility from another agency to Santa Barbara can contact UCHS for assistance to get their unit approved and have their vouchers applied toward their rent. Any questions about eligibility or the application process should be addressed directly to one or both of the following agencies:

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara

Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara

UCSB has agreements with Campus Storage and Storage Scholars to provide moving and storage services for UCSB students. If you are making plans to move and are interested in their services, please see below...

• Campus Storage: If you have questions please contact them directly at 1-877-99-CAMPUS or 1-877-992-2678 or info@CampusStorage.com.
• Storage Scholars: If you have questions please contact them directly at (336) 815-0100 or info@storagescholars.com, Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST.

Information about the hiring process for Resident Assistant (RA) positions for the upcoming year is released towards the end of fall quarter, with the application and interview process taking place during the winter quarter. Specific timetables and deadlines are posted closer to the end of the fall quarter so that students can prepare accordingly.

During the application process students are encouraged to attend Information Sessions hosted by Residential & Community Living (R&CL). These sessions give everyone the chance to learn more about the position, listen to current RAs share their experiences, and ask any questions about what the role entails. Although optional, these are very helpful and highly encouraged. Information Sessions generally take place towards the end of fall quarter and at the beginning of winter quarter.

Check out the information on the Become a Resident Assistant webpage and look for RA Selection advertisements in the residence halls, apartments, DigiKnow, Instagram, and around campus towards the end of fall quarter.

Please visit our Billing page. It will help you navigate through the payment process.

• Each of our Residence Halls and Apartment complexes is equipped with a laundry facility available for residents to use. It's important to note that our laundry service is now provided free of charge to the residents. To check machine status, download the Speed Queen App and follow SpeedQueen instructions posted in your Resident Hall or Apartment Laundry Rooms.

Is something broken, damaged, or not working properly in your room, apartment, bathroom, common area, etc? Visit our Get It Fixed page, create a work order, and someone from our Operations staff will fix your problem, usually by the next business day. Access is restricted to campus network addresses only (campus workstations, wireless and VPN.)  

Please visit our Billing page. It will help you navigate through the payment process.

You can find rate information for all of our communities on our rates page. Keep in mind that rates are for an all inclusive contract that includes high-speed wired and wireless internet access, regular housekeeping and landscaping in commons areas, on-site laundry rooms, gas, electricity, water, garbage pick-up, parking, community events, live-in staff, and 24-hour on-call maintenance and emergency staff.

Please do not visit the Dining Commons if you are ill. Students who are ill or medically unable to eat a meal in the Dining Commons may have a friend or roommate pick up a sick meal. The friend/roommate must present the sick student's access card to the lobby checker, who will notify the student supervisor for assistance.

Yes, DirecTV service is available in the following common areas:

Each San Clemente Resident who owns a vehicle can obtain a parking permit free of additional charge. Permits can be picked up from UCSB Transportation & Parking Services (805-893-2346 or tps-sales@ucsb.edu). An account needs to be created ahead of time on the UCSB Transportation & Parking Services website.

If you are interested in a community for students recovering from substance use issues, please consider The Haven, a non-profit residence in nearby Isla Vista.

Residents receive three free lockouts per quarter. After three lockouts, residents' BARC accounts will be charged $5.00 for each subsequent lockout.

The ResNet staff can help you! There are service centers in San Nicolas, Manzanita Village, and Santa Catalina where you can talk to and receive help from a member of the ResNet staff. You can also email resnet@housing.ucsb.edu with specific questions and concerns! More contact information as well as the ResNet information and policies can be found online on the ResNet website.

UC Santa Barbara requires renters insurance for all residents of campus housing. Renters insurance provides valuable protection if your personal belongings are stolen or damaged, including laptop computers, smartphones, bicycles, game consoles, textbooks, clothing, and other personal items. If your laptop or other valuables are stolen or damaged, you are responsible for replacing them - not the school. Renter’s insurance may also protect you financially for unintentional damage to the apartment and/ or bodily injury for which you are liable. The GradGuard insurance policy was designed for University of California students. Alternatively, you can check with your private homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy about coverage. If you don't have your housing assignment when you sign up, please use the following address:

University of California
Santa Barbara, CA  93107

For more information, please visit: GradGuard Insurance

We know that many members of the University of California community are concerned about immigration enforcement actions occurring across the country and have asked about the possibility of enforcement actions occurring on a UC campus. The Office of General Counsel at the UC Office of the President prepared the following to address these concerns: FAQs - Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

The following are items residents often bring that are not included in the apartments: television, dishes, kitchen utensils, sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, desk lamp. You may want to coordinate with your future roommates to avoid unnecessary duplication of items.

The size of the beds in San Clemente Villages is Full XL (54" x 80"). This is a standard linen size that can be found in most department stores.

In all UCSB apartment complexes, housekeeping service is limited to daily cleaning of public areas such as laundry rooms, community centers, and exterior staircases and landings. Housekeeping services are not provided for apartment interiors until residents move out. Residents are responsible for maintaining their apartments in a sanitary and non-hazardous condition.

Please check the applications page for information related to your specific situation, whether it's class level, education abroad, a student with a family, etc.

For undergraduate students, apartment and roommate assignments are generally emailed by early September each year to students’ university e-mail accounts.

For graduate students, apartment and roommate assignments are emailed two to three weeks before your scheduled move-in date (graduate student move-in dates vary from undergraduate students move-in dates.) 

Housing payments are made along with all BARC payments and can be made online or in person at the Cashier's Office, Student Affairs Building, SAASB 1212, Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm. For more information about payments and billing, please visit our Billing page.

University & Community Housing Services
Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7160
email: housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu
web page: www.housing.ucsb.edu
805-893-4371
877-885-9902 (FAX)

Take a look at our social media channels for information as well: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

You will be given the name and email contact information for your assigned roommates.

No. Campus housing is not subject to property taxes and therefore residents are not eligible for the renter's credit.

Yes, gender inclusive housing options are available for students that identify as trans* or non-binary. Gender inclusive housing options include San Nicolas Residence Hall, San Rafael Residence Hall, Manzanita Village, Santa Catalina Residence Hall, and all UCSB apartments. For more information, please visit our LGBTQ+ & Gender Inclusive page. To inquire about gender-inclusive housing options available for students that identify as trans* or non-binary, please contact University & Community Housing Services at housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu.

In Family Student Housing, pets are not permitted, with the exception of small caged animals (hamsters, turtles, small birds) and fish in tanks smaller than 10-gallons. Exceptions are reviewed for animals required for disabilities. Please see our Accessible Housing web page for more information.

Pianos and organs require special permission.

Students receive priority for family student housing over Post Docs. Please contact University & Community Housing Services for more information about housing options.

Yes, there are bike fix it stations located throughout our communities: De La Guerra Dining Commons, Anacapa Residence Hall, Manzanita Village, San Clemente Villages, San Rafael Residence Hall, Santa Catalina Residence Hall & San Joaquin Villages (3), Santa Ynez Apartments, Sierra Madre Villages, Storke Apartments, and West Campus Apartments. You can see the locations on the campus interactive map by searching for "Self-Service Bike Tools & Pump". A bike fix it station is a stand that holds nearly any bike and includes an air pump and basic tools. 

We have hydration stations* in the following locations:

• Anacapa Hall Lobby
• Manzanita Village
  • DeAnza Resource Center Lobby
  • Montecito House Lobby
  • Madulce House Lobby
  • Tecolote House Lobby
• San Clemente Villages
  • Arrowhead Village common room
• San Miguel Hall Lobby
• San Nicolas Hall Lobby
• San Rafael Hall
  • First Floor Tower Lobby (across from elevator)
  • First Floor Ocean Cluster
  • Third Floor Mountain Cluster
• Santa Catalina Hall
  • North Tower
    • First Floor Lobby
    • Fifth Floor
  • South Tower
    • First Floor Lobby
    • Fifth Floor
• Santa Cruz Hall Lobby
• Santa Rosa Hall Lobby
• Santa Ynez Apartments Laundry Room
• Sierra Madre Villages Miramar Center
• West Campus Community Center
• Storke Family Student Housing Laundry Room

*A hydration station is an upgraded drinking fountain that provides students a convenient way to fill up their reusable water bottles with filtered water for free. Instead of having to tilt their water bottle to fill it 75% at a water fountain, students now have the luxury of being able to fill their bottle to the top. There are also many hydration stations located throughout campus. In addition to providing students a way of staying healthy and hydrated throughout the school year, hydration stations promote environmental stewardship by encouraging students to use and re-fill their reusable water bottles rather than purchasing single-use plastic bottles that end up polluting our oceans, beaches, and communities.

The Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises network (ResNet) provides laser printing services to all current residents of UCSB Housing. This service allows residents to print from anywhere on ResNet (wired or wireless) to any laser printer located at residence hall front desks or apartment common areas. There is more information on the ResNet Remote Printing web page. Specific locations of printers are on the Gaucho Print rates web page. 

As a student living in University Housing, you are required to be enrolled as a full-time student during the academic year. To be considered a full-time student, undergraduates must take a minimum of 12 units per quarter and graduate students must take a minimum of 8 units per quarter. Each student is allowed to carry a deficit load (fewer units than full-time status) once per academic year and no action is required. If an additional quarter is needed, students must submit a petition to request an exception to the policy through University & Community Housing Services by contacting their office at housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu or 805-893-4371.

We do not guarantee assignment to a specific apartment or specific apartment type. However, we do try to meet applicant preferences. Your flexibility may help us accommodate you earlier than if you have specific requests.

Residents that temporarily leave the area during the summer months may sublet to another eligible family while they're away with prior written approval from University & Community Housing Services. All other short-term rental or sublease situations is not allowed.

Extended family members are welcome as long as you have at least one eligible family member that lives with you on a permanent, full-time basis.

West Campus Family Student Housing residents are free to use the upright piano at the West Campus Community Center. 

Current or future residents who have been approved to receive Housing Choice Vouchers or are transferring existing eligibility from another agency to Santa Barbara can contact UCHS for assistance to get their unit approved and have their vouchers applied toward their rent. Any questions about eligibility or the application process should be addressed directly to one or both of the following agencies:

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara

Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara

UCSB has agreements with Campus Storage and Storage Scholars to provide moving and storage services for UCSB students. If you are making plans to move and are interested in their services, please see below...

• Campus Storage: If you have questions please contact them directly at 1-877-99-CAMPUS or 1-877-992-2678 or info@CampusStorage.com.
• Storage Scholars: If you have questions please contact them directly at (336) 815-0100 or info@storagescholars.com, Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST.

Information about the hiring process for Resident Assistant (RA) positions for the upcoming year is released towards the end of fall quarter, with the application and interview process taking place during the winter quarter. Specific timetables and deadlines are posted closer to the end of the fall quarter so that students can prepare accordingly.

During the application process students are encouraged to attend Information Sessions hosted by Residential & Community Living (R&CL). These sessions give everyone the chance to learn more about the position, listen to current RAs share their experiences, and ask any questions about what the role entails. Although optional, these are very helpful and highly encouraged. Information Sessions generally take place towards the end of fall quarter and at the beginning of winter quarter.

Check out the information on the Become a Resident Assistant webpage and look for RA Selection advertisements in the residence halls, apartments, DigiKnow, Instagram, and around campus towards the end of fall quarter.

Please visit our Billing page. It will help you navigate through the payment process.

• Each of our Residence Halls and Apartment complexes is equipped with a laundry facility available for residents to use. It's important to note that our laundry service is now provided free of charge to the residents. To check machine status, download the Speed Queen App and follow SpeedQueen instructions posted in your Resident Hall or Apartment Laundry Rooms.

Is something broken, damaged, or not working properly in your room, apartment, bathroom, common area, etc? Visit our Get It Fixed page, create a work order, and someone from our Operations staff will fix your problem, usually by the next business day. Access is restricted to campus network addresses only (campus workstations, wireless and VPN.)  

Please visit our Billing page. It will help you navigate through the payment process.

Residency limits are based on degree objective: B.A. – 4 years; M.A. – 2 years; Ph.D. – 6 years. No family may stay past 6 years total, even if more than one degree is sought in the family.

You can find rate information for all of our communities on our Rates page.

Yes, you may apply for Family Student Housing. Upon signing a family student housing contract, we will cancel your current contract and allow you to move over to family student housing. Please contact University & Community Housing Services for more information.

Please do not visit the Dining Commons if you are ill. Students who are ill or medically unable to eat a meal in the Dining Commons may have a friend or roommate pick up a sick meal. The friend/roommate must present the sick student's access card to the lobby checker, who will notify the student supervisor for assistance.

The Oraflea Child Care Center, located on West Campus, provides day care for children of UC Santa Barbara students, staff and faculty ages three months to six years. Since this is a self-supporting operation, fees are charged for services. Scholarships based upon need are available to student families. For additional information, contact 805-893-3665.

Yes, DirecTV service is available in the following common areas:

Apartments are not soundproof, the walls are thin and sounds travel easily. Our community is encouraged to share our commitment to a healthy and enriching environment for families.

The ResNet staff can help you! There are service centers in San Nicolas, Manzanita Village, and Santa Catalina where you can talk to and receive help from a member of the ResNet staff. You can also email resnet@housing.ucsb.edu with specific questions and concerns! More contact information as well as the ResNet information and policies can be found online on the ResNet website.

UC Santa Barbara requires renters insurance for all residents of campus housing. Renters insurance provides valuable protection if your personal belongings are stolen or damaged, including laptop computers, smartphones, bicycles, game consoles, textbooks, clothing, and other personal items. If your laptop or other valuables are stolen or damaged, you are responsible for replacing them - not the school. Renter’s insurance may also protect you financially for unintentional damage to the apartment and/ or bodily injury for which you are liable. The GradGuard insurance policy was designed for University of California students. Alternatively, you can check with your private homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy about coverage. If you don't have your housing assignment when you sign up, please use the following address:

University of California
Santa Barbara, CA  93107

For more information, please visit: GradGuard Insurance

If you are married, you will need to provide your marriage certificate. If you are not married, you may provide domestic partner registration. If neither of these applies, we will review other documentation showing history of your family status, such as, but not limited, to a copy of your lease, joint bank account, bills etc.

Only one parking space is allocated per apartment. You can get on a waiting list for a second vehicle permit after you move in. You are not permitted to park a second car in Family Student Housing parking lots unless and until a second permit is issued. You may purchase a permit to park in one of our other university housing lots.

You may remain eligible to occupy your apartment without full-time student status for not more that one quarter (excluding summers) during your entire residency period. You must receive approval beforehand from University & Community Housing Services and it cannot be during your first or last quarter of residence.

Any changes to family status must be reported to University & Community Housing Services immediately. If you no longer remain eligible due to changes in family status, you will need to submit your 30-day Notice of Termination and vacate Family Student Housing within those 30 days.

We know that many members of the University of California community are concerned about immigration enforcement actions occurring across the country and have asked about the possibility of enforcement actions occurring on a UC campus. The Office of General Counsel at the UC Office of the President prepared the following to address these concerns: FAQs - Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

We recommend that students who anticipate receiving any form of financial aid (scholarships, grants and/or loans) select the Quarterly Payment Plan. This plan usually coincides with the quarterly distribution of financial aid. If your room and board fees are not going to be paid by the deadline date (either by you or Financial Aid), you will need to contact University & Community Housing Services to make payment arrangements.

In all UCSB apartment complexes, housekeeping service is limited to daily cleaning of public areas such as laundry rooms, community centers, and exterior staircases and landings. Housekeeping services are not provided for apartment interiors until residents move out. Residents are responsible for maintaining their apartments in a sanitary and non-hazardous condition.

Please check the applications page for information related to your specific situation, whether it's class level, education abroad, a student with a family, etc.

Families with children can expect to wait 12-18 months or less while families without children generally wait about 18-24 months. Residents vacate throughout the year. Your turn for assignment is based on your application date, your apartment preference and your desired move-in date. Your flexibility in apartment style and move-in date will help us accommodate you earlier than if you have specific requests.

Housing payments are made along with all BARC payments and can be made online or in person at the Cashier's Office, Student Affairs Building, SAASB 1212, Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm. For more information about payments and billing, please visit our Billing page.

University & Community Housing Services
Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7160
email: housinginfo@housing.ucsb.edu
web page: www.housing.ucsb.edu
805-893-4371
877-885-9902 (FAX)

Take a look at our social media channels for information as well: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

No.

In order to terminate a Month-to-Month Contract, an owner or manager needs only to inform a tenant that s/he must vacate the premises within 30 days. The law does not require that an owner or manager give the tenant any reason for this action. Tenants have the same freedom. A tenant who signs a contract is legally obligated to pay the full amount of rent throughout the specified period, even if s/he moves out. Under a Month-to-Month Agreement, a tenant needs only to give the owner or manager 30 days notice of his/her intention to leave in order to satisfy all legal obligations. If you do not follow the lease terms, a landlord can evict you with the same procedure mentioned above.

No. It is only necessary to give written notice on a month-to-month agreement. The fixed term lease will end on the date specified in the agreement. Should you wish to stay, a written notice is recommended to make this clear to your landlord/manager. A new agreement can then be arranged.

UCSB has agreements with Campus Storage and Storage Scholars to provide moving and storage services for UCSB students. If you are making plans to move and are interested in their services, please see below...

• Campus Storage: If you have questions please contact them directly at 1-877-99-CAMPUS or 1-877-992-2678 or info@CampusStorage.com.
• Storage Scholars: If you have questions please contact them directly at (336) 815-0100 or info@storagescholars.com, Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST.

Searching long distance can be difficult and deceiving. You can begin your search at home by visiting our Off-Campus Rental Listing Service. Other sources for local listings include: craigslist.org, individual property provider websites, Daily Nexus and Santa Barbara Independent websites. For more advice about how to begin your search see our Success Guide housing search tips. We recommend that you do not send any money until you have either seen the unit via facetime or zoom or contact our office to verify the listing.

For rentals that began on or after January 1, 2003, tenants must return the premises in the same state of cleanliness that they were in when the tenancy began. During the pre-move out inspection your landlord will provide you with his/her expectations of the condition for which you should leave your place. During the inspection you can negotiate with your landlord and get your agreements in writing.

It is important to know in advance that the landlord has approved you as a new tenant. Once you have been accepted it is O.K. to sign. The next concern would be the deposit and how much to pay if you are moving in where others have lived for a while. It would be wise to agree on the condition of the unit before you sign a new lease. Complete an “inventory & condition report”. Discuss any “imperfections” with your housemates and possibly the landlord. Get things fixed at the beginning of your tenancy or get an agreement, in writing, from your housemates that you will not be held responsible for the specific “imperfections” you have found. If you do not do this you have agreed to accept the place “as is” and may be liable for damages you didn’t make when you are leaving.

When a tenant signs a lease, s/he is signing a legally enforceable contract. All the terms and conditions stated in the lease remain valid throughout the period specified. These constraints also apply to the owner or manager. The rent may not be raised during the specified period of a fixed term lease, nor may tenants be asked to vacate unless they've failed substantially to live up to the commitments they've made in signing the lease—if they're seriously behind with the rent, for example. Even in a situation such as this, however, owners and managers must still follow procedures provided under the law in order to implement an eviction.

In tenancies under Month-to-Month Agreements, both the owner or manager and the tenant must give the other party at least 30 days notice, in writing, of any change they wish to make in the original terms and conditions. In other words, the owner or manager is entitled to raise the rent, but only after s/he has given the tenant 30 days notice of the increase. A 30-day notice to vacate may be given on any day of the month unless otherwise specified on the rental agreement.

Once you are on a month-to-month contract your landlord can raise your rent at any time for any amount s/he chooses. They must give you a 30-day written notice of any such proposed raises. If an increase exceeds 10% of the lowest rent charged within a 12-month period, they must give you 60-days notice.

First you will need to discuss your plans with your roommates. If you have a month-to-month contract you will need to give your landlord and roommates 30-day written notice. If your lease is a fixed term agreement, in most cases,you will need their permission to release you from it. Once you have their permission you can approach your landlord about his/her procedures. S/he will likely tell you to come back again once you found a suitable replacement for yourself. You must always have permission from the landlord to end your tenancy. Both your roommates and the landlord must approve of your replacement. An application and screening process will likely be required by the landlord. Once the replacement has been found your roommates will have to sign a document releasing you from the lease. Remember that while you are still on the lease at your old place it is not wise to sign onto another lease. Signing 2 leases means you will be liable for rent and damages on 2 units.

Please call 805-893-4371 or come into the UCHS office ASAP. If it's after hours take a look at our Success Guide for information and tips (there are several relevant sections).

Your landlord has 21 days to return your deposit to you at the address you have provided as your forwarding or last known address. If they do not return your deposit in a timely manner see our Deposit Dispute page in the Success Guide where you will find a step-by-step approach to getting your deposit back.

No. A 30-day notice on a month-to-month tenancy is not considered an eviction. It is the right of both the tenant and the landlord to give 30 day’s written notice of termination of the lease agreement.

Yes. If you violate the terms of your lease in such a way as to justify a decision to evict you and if the process of eviction follows mandated guidelines, you may still be held responsible for paying the rent. You'll continue to be responsible for the rent until someone else takes over your contractual obligations. You may also be held responsible for paying any other costs (advertising the vacancy, additional cleaning costs, etc.) that the owner or manager may feel resulted directly from your eviction.

Once your old lease has expired and you are still residing in your unit and waiting to sign a new contract, the terms of your old contract are applicable on a month-to-month basis.

Most contracts include a clause requiring that owners or managers be informed in advance of any kind of sub-lease. The law, however, makes it clear that owners or managers may not "unreasonably" withhold permission for a sub-lease. In other words, if the person to whom an apartment is to be sub-leased meets the same credit standards and other criteria that the original tenant met, it is not reasonable for the owner or manager to deny permission for the sub-lease. But if a tenant proceeds to sub-lease an apartment without having first obtained the consent of the owner or manager, in writing, even though the contract includes a clause that says such permission must be granted for any sub-lease, the sub-lease will be invalid.

No tenant should sign a lease or rental agreement without first having read it and understood it. University & Community Housing Services staff will gladly check leases for UCSB students to answer any questions and to go over the lease with you. If you want legal interpretations, we will refer you to the attorney at Associated Students Legal Services to answer your questions.

If you are interested in a community for students recovering from substance use issues, please consider The Haven, a non-profit residence in nearby Isla Vista.

Yes, University & Community Housing Services hosts an on-line Off-Campus Housing Resource Center. It is designed to answer specific questions about housing-related problems, i.e.: roommate conflicts, deposit issues, and much more. While there you will be able to write to an experienced staff person who will respond to your concerns via e-mail or telephone. Also available is a searchable knowledge base and downloads containing resources for landlords, tenants, and roommates.
 

Yes, it is wise to collect a deposit from your sub tenant because you are still responsible for any damages s/he makes while residing in your unit.

It is your right to receive this pre-move inspection. If your landlord does not offer it, s/he may not know this law exists. We recommend that you remind your landlord, in writing, and set up a time that is convenient for both of you to inspect the unit.

If both roommates are on a Month-to-Month Agreement and one leaves, giving 30 days notice before doing so, the agreement becomes null and void 30 days from the day that they gave notice or on the day specified in the written notice. The following two options are available to the roommate who stays: 1. Find a new roommate and sign a new contract; 2. Give a separate 30-day notice of intention to move out. The owner or manager retains all the prerogatives available to him/her under any 30-day agreement.

We know that many members of the University of California community are concerned about immigration enforcement actions occurring across the country and have asked about the possibility of enforcement actions occurring on a UC campus. The Office of General Counsel at the UC Office of the President prepared the following to address these concerns: FAQs - Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

For your protection and benefit your landlord must give you the opportunity for an initial move-out inspection, to be held not earlier than two weeks before your departure date. At the inspection, the landlord should make a list of the intended security deposit deductions (for damage or excessive wear and tear). The tenant may remedy the problems, keeping in mind any repair restrictions in the lease or rental agreement. Landlords can then deduct for unremedied problems. Landlords can also deduct for deficiencies that were not apparent during the inspection due to the presence of the tenant's possessions and for deficiencies that appear after the inspection.

“Reasonable” wear and tear consists of unavoidable detriment to the rental unit, even though reasonable care has been taken to avoid and minimize it. “Reasonable” wear and tear does not include anything that might be corrected by cleaning. If you have a question about something specific, consult the Success Guide.

You can begin your search at anytime of the year. It depends on your needs and desires. If you want housing in Isla Vista on the ocean (Del Playa), you will want to begin your search in early January for the following school year. Also, if you need a rental that accommodates more than 4 people (3 bedrooms or more), we recommend you start in early January. If you want to live in other parts of Isla Vista you can relax a little and search at your leisure in the Winter and Spring Quarter for the following school year. If you are interested in living outside of Isla Vista we recommend that you start your search 2-3 months in advance of the month you wish to begin your tenancy.

Should I sign a separate lease or contract with a subtenant? Yes, you should. You need to keep the original for your own records and you should be sure to give a copy of this new contract both to the owner or manager and to the subtenant. University & Community Housing Services has sublease forms in their office and online.

If an agreement states that you and your roommate(s) are "jointly and severally liable," it's confirming that you're individually and collectively liable for the entire rent. In the event that your roommate(s) fail(s) to pay, you can be held responsible for his/her portion of the rent. This "joint and several" liability continues throughout the stated life of the contract.

Despite everyone's best intentions, problems can occur between owners or managers and tenants and between roommates. Without a written agreement, it's difficult to resolve any dispute that might arise regarding the terms and conditions of a tenancy. A written document protects tenants and owners/managers as well as individual roommates.

Meeting Space availability for student groups varies during the academic year and summer months. As part of our mission, we exist to enhance the learning and living activities of our residents and use of these areas should reflect and reinforce this. Please see below for contact information related to specific areas.

• Main Lounges, Classrooms, Pools and Recreation Rooms: Due to limited community spaces available to our residents, we will not be accepting room reservations from campus student organizations in university-owned residence halls and apartments. Please refer to the Campus Space Reservations process for options on campus.
• Loma Pelona Center
• West Conference Center
• Lawn Request / San Miguel Stage Request: Contact the Residential Housing Association (805-893-4877) during the academic year by filling out the Grounds Department Lawn Use Request Form. For questions about the form, contact the Residential Operations Services Center (805-893-3312 or email osc@housing.ucsb.edu).   
• Tabling outside of a Dining Commons: Contact the Residential Housing Association (805-893-4877) by filling out the Dining Commons Tabling Request Form. After the RHA President signs it, the form then needs to be taken to the Dining Commons for the General Manager to approve. Groups are not allowed to table inside the Dining Commons. See our Contact Us page for Dining Commons contact information.
• If you're interested in making flyers available for your event in our communities, please contact the respective Resident Director or Complex Coordinator for each area. You may find their contact information on our Contact Us page under Residential & Community Living.  

Residents must have their ACCESS Card to enter the Dining Commons. If, however, they have lost their ACCESS Card, the student must present a photo ID with their full name, along with one of the following items: Meal plan purchase receipt or the profile page of Transact eAccounts. The student can show the photo from their profile page to match them to the account.

You may exit the dining room while eating one dessert item, for example ice cream cone, cookie, piece of fruit, etc. All other food and beverages must be consumed inside the dining room, with the exception of coffee at breakfast.

You may find more information on Campus Dining's Work for Us web page and apply online through Handshake. Another option is to take your current class schedule to the Dining Commons of your choice and speak with the Personnel Manager.

Change your meal plan online. Submit your request on the meal plan change form.

It is quick and easy. Place an order online, get hours and closures, and pickup locations  by visiting Campus Dining's sack meals page. Make sure to place your order online the night before your meal is needed.

Visit Campus Dining's Off Campus Meal Plan web page to purchase an off-campus meal plan. You may purchase a meal plan at any time during the quarter by going online.

Please do not visit the Dining Commons if you are ill. Students who are ill or medically unable to eat a meal in the Dining Commons may have a friend or roommate pick up a sick meal. The friend/roommate must present the sick student's access card to the lobby checker, who will notify the student supervisor for assistance.

Use Campus Dining's Food Facts Tool to review the menu options and nutritional content of your food selections. This tool can be used to help you make educated food choices at any of our Dining Commons.