Santa Barbara County is at the crossroads of state housing mandates and local planning control, and the latest flashpoint is the Richards Ranch project in Orcutt. On April 8, the Board of Supervisors unanimously overturned a previous staff ruling, marking a pivotal moment for the controversial mixed-use development, and reaffirming California’s powerful Builder’s Remedy provision. Here's a breakdown of what the decision means and why it matters.

Every eight years, the state of California determines the RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) number of housing units each jurisdiction is expected to produce locally to collectively address the statewide lack of housing.