Parking + Transportation FAQ
Living Car-Free in IV:
Saving money:
Car ownership is expensive! Between gas, maintenance, and potential parking tickets, the choice to not bring a car to IV is the financially savvy one. With UCSB’s campus and student essentials all within walking or biking distance, cars sit mostly unused in Isla Vista. The cars that are parking on the street for long periods of time are significantly more likely to be damaged.
Convenience:
Parking in Isla Vista often feels like a game of musical chairs. Save yourself the headache of circling the block for 30 minutes every time you park. The lack of parking interferes with busy school, work, and social schedules. Don’t sacrifice your study and beach time looking for somewhere to park!
Sustainability:
IV is proud to have a long history of eco-consciousness! Be a part of this community legacy by not bringing a car. Choosing alternative transportation is an easy way to be eco-friendly in daily life and reduce your carbon footprint.
For a comprehensive review of transportation options in Isla Vista, head to our parking + transportation webpage. Here's some of the highlights:
Biking and walking:
Both UCSB's campus and Isla Vista are easily walkable and bikable. Plus, Isla Vista contains all of the essentials such as groceries, restaurants, nail salons, shops, and more within 1.5 square miles.
Buses:
For trips beyond walking distance, you can take Santa Barbara MTD’s bus lines into Goleta and Santa Barbara.
Another popular option for evening trips to downtown Santa Barbara are UCSB alumni-owned Bill’s Bus or Jump on the School Bus. Bill's Bus runs on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, transporting Isla Vista residents from IV to downtown SB (EOS or State and Cota) and back. Jump on the School Bus runs on Thursday evenings, transporting Isla Vista residents from IV to downtown SB (Wild Cat Lounge and El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District) and back. Enjoy a fun trip with friends and eliminate the possibility of driving under the influence.
The Wave:
SBMTD also offers The Wave, an easy to use, microtransit service. Similar to Uber or Lyft, The Wave is an on-demand rideshare service that will take you from point A to point B for a flat rate. It’s as easy as downloading the app, scheduling a pick-up time, and requesting a drop-off within the service zone. The Wave will pick you up directly from the IV Community Center and you’ll be on your way! Look for free vouchers at IVCSD tabling events and find more information here.
Car Rental Apps:
Explore third-party car rental apps, such as Zipcar or Turo, for errands, daytrips, or weekend excursions.
Even for trips outside of Santa Barbara county, there are many transportation options that don't require a personal vehicle, including trains, car rental apps, airports, and rideshare groups. For more information, visit the following webpages:
No! This is a common misconception about living in IV. Between local grocery stores and delivery services, driving to Goleta or Santa Barbara for groceries is not necessary. For more information, visit our webpage: How Do I Get Groceries Without a Car?
A parking structure would cost at least $15 million to build, which drastically exceeds our budget. Even a smaller structure holding just 300 cars, roughly 0.2% of Isla Vista's population, would cost $15-30 million. Spread over 30 years, that works out to about $100 per resident per year, to benefit a small fraction of the community.
A better use of limited public funds, for both residents and the environment, is investing in public transportation that makes it easy for people who don't need a car for work or school to get around without one. Rather than spending millions to store more cars, we can put resources toward expanding bus service, improving bike infrastructure, and other sustainable transportation options that benefit the whole community, not just the small percentage of residents who would use a parking structure.
Parking Compliance:
For an in-depth review of parking laws in Santa Barbara County, head to our Parking Laws webpage. But if you're looking for a quick refresher, here are the basics:
Parking Laws:
- Don’t park in the red,
- Don’t park blocking the sidewalk.
- Don’t park blocking driveways (even your own).
- Park facing the direction of traffic flow.
- Parking is prohibited in alleys unless loading or unloading.
- Don't park blocking a fire hydrant, or within 15 feet of one on either side
- Don't park within 20ft of a marked or unmarked crosswalk (new CA Daylighting Law)
- Don't park where there is a "NO Parking" sign, like on El Nido.
- Don't park in front of a bus stop, in a bike lane, or in a handicapped spot (if you don't qualify).
72-hour limit
- Vehicles in California cannot remain parked in the same parking spot for over 72 hours.
Front Yards
- Parking is prohibited in front yards of residential properties, except on paved driveways.
- Parking in a way that blocks Marborg from servicing your trash may lead to fines from Marborg.
Our goal is to free up parking spaces for residents who genuinely need a car. According to our Parking Study, a significant percentage of vehicles in town remain parked in the same spot for more than three days at a time. This tells us that many cars in Isla Vista aren't being used daily or even semi-weekly, they're being stored on the street for occasional use, taking up a space that could otherwise go to a resident who needs to park there every day. That's not fair to residents who rely on their vehicle daily to get to work or school and can't find a spot when they actually need one.
Additionally, illegal parking isn't fair, or safe, for community members who depend on clear sidewalks and driveways to get around Isla Vista, including those using mobility aids or strollers, or parents with small children. Parking compliance helps ensure those spaces stay open for the people who need them, not for parked cars.
If you need to bring a car to Isla Vista, here are your parking options:
- Purchase off-street parking. Even if your own leasing company/address does not provide off-street parking, you may be able to purchase a parking spot at a separate address near you. Use this spreadsheet to easily reach out to other leasing companies who may have spots available near your home.
- Park on-street. If you're parking on the street, keep in mind that California state parking rules are enforced in Isla Vista, including the requirement to move your car every 72 hours. For a complete list of CA state parking laws, click here.
Helpful tips:
- Use our parking predictor to check where you are most likely to find parking in Isla Vista before you head out. This tool gives a historical estimate based on past parking patterns, not live spot-by-spot availability.
- Since you have a car, consider exploring car rental apps like Turo. Make some extra cash by renting your car and reduce others’ need for personal vehicles!
If you received a ticket for not being in compliance with safety laws in Isla Vista, here are the next steps:
If you have received a parking citation, please verify the administrative party by viewing the front of the citation.
If your citation was administered by the Isla Vista Community Services District, please read the directions on your citation carefully.
- Inquiries and payments can be made online, at www.CitationProcessingCenter.com or by calling (800) 989-2058.
- To pay in person, please place the exact amount in cashiers check, money order, or personal check payable to the Isla Vista Community Services District in the drop box located in front of 970 Embarcadero Del Mar, Isla Vista California, 93117 Suite 101. Do not submit cash.
- Enclose the notice of parking violation with your payment and/ or proof of corrections. Write your citation number on your payment.
- To pay by mail, please send the exact amount in cashiers check, money order, or personal check payable to the Isla Vista Community Services District. Do not send cash. Enclose the notice of parking violation with your payment and/ or proof of corrections. Write your citation number on your payment. Please note there will be a $25 fee for all returned checks.
- MAIL TO: ISLA VISTA COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICTC/ O CITATION PROCESSING CENTERP. O. BOX 10479NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658-0479
Indigent Payment Plan
An indigent payment plan is available for qualifying low-income individuals. For more information visit www.CitationProcessingCenter.com or call 800-989-2058.
To view qualifications, click here. Please note that all registered owners of the cited vehicle must qualify.
To pay or appeal citations administered by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office please visit https://www.sbsheriff.org/home/pay-parking-ticket/.
No! IVCSD will not profit off of this program. Safety is our priority: less illegal parking in IV will improve driver visibility and benefit the safety of pedestrians and bikers.
Revenue from parking citations goes toward running the program itself, including staffing & enforcement, not toward generating profit for IVCSD.
More:
We’re here to help! Contact us and our team will be in touch shortly.
Learn more about the Isla Vista parking study and research results HERE.