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.

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 6-12 months or less while families without children generally wait about 12-24 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.