Santa Barbara County officials voted this week to approve a 72-hour festival ban aimed at shutting down the annual unsanctioned “Deltopia” street party in Isla Vista, citing public safety concerns, strained emergency resources and hundreds of past arrests and citations.
The ordinance, approved unanimously by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, would prohibit unsanctioned gatherings during the first weekend of University of California, Santa Barbara’s spring quarter — the period traditionally associated with Deltopia — according to The Santa Barbara Independent.
County officials said the annual bluffside street party routinely draws thousands of people and has led to sharp spikes in arrests, emergency medical calls and public-safety costs. Data presented during the meeting showed that emergency medical services calls during past Deltopia weekends have surged far beyond normal levels.
Isla Vista Foot Patrol Lt. Joe Schmidt told supervisors the event poses an ongoing danger to the community. Emergency medical officials said EMS call volume has increased as much as 60 times during Deltopia weekends compared to a typical Saturday, while sheriff’s and fire officials reported the event has cost the county more than $465,000 in overtime expenses since 2023.
The ordinance would still allow a sanctioned event if organized through a government entity, such as the Isla Vista Community Services District, officials said.
Several students spoke in opposition to the ban, arguing it would not stop partying but instead push gatherings underground, potentially increasing safety risks, according to the Independent.
People attending the Deltopia spring break party in Isla Vista are seen in this image posted to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
Partygoers crowd a street in Isla Vista while paramedics wheel an injured person on a gurney during the unsanctioned Deltopia party on April 8, 2023 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
Streets are crowded in the beachfront community of Isla Vista as a yearly party returned for the first time since 2019 on April 2, 2022. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
Paramedics are seen responding to one of at least 19 medical emergencies during the 2025 Deltopia weekend event in Isla Vista. April 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
Two of the at least 84 people arrested during the 2025 Deltopia weekend event in Isla Vista are seen in this photo. April 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
The two suspects in this photo were accused of obstruction and contributing alcohol to a minor. At least 84 people were arrested during the 2025 Deltopia weekend event in Isla Vista. April 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
EJ Raad, external vice president for UCSB’s Associated Students, told supervisors that previous attempts to ban unsanctioned events have historically led to new iterations of large gatherings. He pointed out that Deltopia started nearly two decades ago on the beaches of Isla Vista as “Floatopia,” where partygoers would gather on the beaches and in rafts and innertubes off the coast.
“Deltopia began as Floatopia, an unsanctioned beach festival. An ordinance ended it. And what was the result? Students created Deltopia,” Raad said.
While under the new name “Deltopia,” the massive gathering reached its darkest point in 2014 when riots broke out, and dozens of the 20,000-plus attendees, both students and out-of-towners, were arrested or cited. In the years since, authorities have attempted to proactively curb the number of medical calls and arrests made through parking restrictions and educational campaigns to keep the party “local.”
During this week’s board meeting, Raad added that student groups have attempted to reduce harm through efforts such as distributing Narcan and exploring organized medical support.
IVCSD community programs and engagement director Myah Mashhadialireza urged the county to work more closely with the community, saying Isla Vista lacks the infrastructure needed to safely manage the annual influx of visitors without a coordinated event.
Supervisor Laura Capps said the county should move toward a sanctioned alternative that prioritizes public safety and allows for proper planning and emergency response, the Independent reported.
The vote marked the first reading of the amended ordinance. A second and final vote is scheduled for Jan. 27, after which the festival ban would take effect ahead of this year’s Deltopia weekend.
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