Public Works
The Public Works Department is responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of the City’s infrastructure, which includes streets, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, sewer system, storm drain system, and water systems. This also includes public facilities such as parks, park and ride, transit, buildings and its landscaping. In addition, the department includes the Engineering Division, which manages the capital improvement programs, provides design and inspection services, and reviews developments and subdivisions.
Program Information & Forms
Click a section below for more information
-
See also Development Impact Fee Schedules on the Planning Department Page
-
Street Sweeping – the City’s streets are swept on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month. Please remove vehicles from the streets to ensure that we receive the best possible sweeping service.
-
-
*The City of Buellton participates in the Regional Water Efficiency and Conservation Program throughout the County of Santa Barbara. For additional information in these programs, please visit Water Wise
-
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
The City of Buellton is a partner with the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District (SYRWCD) to comply with the State’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
Specifically, the City of of Buellton is located within the Central Management Area of the Santa Ynez River Valley Groundwater Basin. Members of this Central Management Area would consist of the City of Buellton, the Santa Ynez Valley River Water Conservation District and the County of Santa Barbara. The County of Santa Barbara will not be a voting member of the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA).
For additional information regarding SGMA, please visit: http://www.santaynezwater.org/central-gsa
-
City staff read your water meter monthly. To ensure accurate reading and correct billing, City staff need to have free access to your water meter with no obstrutions from overgrown ornamental landscape (trees, shurbs and/or low growing bushes) preventing access and light needed to read your water meter. In addition, you cannot have items blocking access to the water meter such as fences, walls, gates, large rocks, cars, trailers, trash/recycling/green waste bins, materials and/or debris.
When planting ornamental landscape, please keep in mind that roots from trees and shurbs can damage water lines when roots become entangled around them potentially resulting in root intrusion. The City recommends a 1 foot clearance around the edge of your water meter box and a 6 foot vertical clearance above your water meter to allow free access and natural sunlight needed for reading and conducting maintenance and/or repair of infrastructure, or emergency repair, if needed. By keeping clearance around your water meter, you are also helping protect City staff from bees, ticks, snakes and spiders!
If the City does not have free access, the City may have to estimate your water meter usage and/or will leave a notice on your property to remove an obstruction from water meter. If the obstruction is not removed, the City may take corrective action to gain access to the water meter.
Don’t forget any obstruction may not allow for your water meter to be shut off quickly during an emergency condition such as a water line rupture.
Other reasons the City may leave a notice concerning your water meter include:❖ Higher than normal readings indicating a possible water line leak
❖ Infrastructure Maintenance and/or Repair
❖ Emergency Repair, if needed.For more information, please refer to Buellton Municipal Code Title 13 Water Chapter 13.32 General Use Regulations Section 13-32-040 Responsibility for equipment on customer premises.
-
Backflow devices are an integral part of the City’s Cross Connection Control Program. They help to ensure that no contaminants of any kind (chemicals, debris, reclaimed water, etc.) enter the potable water system.
Backflow devices are owned by the customer and regulated by the State through the City of Buellton. While it is primarily business customers who are required to have these devices, some residential properties need them, also.
The State of California Department of Health Services provides regulations for the City and our customers through California Code of Regulations, Title 17. These regulations spell out the types of services that require backflow devices. Download the Test Sheet.
For additional information, questions and clarifications, please contact our Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Administrator, Victor Velasquez at: Victor.Velazquez@tetratech.comRelated Files
-
Industrial Waste Discharge Program Pretreatment contact Bill Callahan at Wallace Group (805) 544-4011.
Fats, oils and grease (FOG) contact Bill Callahan or Glenn Rider at Wallace Group (805) 544-4011
-
Trash Service
For residential and commercial trash, recycling, and green waste collection services contact Marborg Industries (marborg.com) or call (800) 798-1852.
Recycling
The City supports and encourages Reduce, Reuse and Recycling of all materials. In cooperation and coordination with the County of Santa Barbara, various programs are available. Additional information can be found at the Less is More website.
Self Hauling
Quarterly Household Hazardous Waste Roundup
Also available are:
Marborg - Quarterly Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up (79 Industrial Way) from 9am – 1pm and Residential Bulky Item pick up (curbside).
2026 dates:
Feb 7, 2026
May 2, 2026
Aug 1, 2026
Nov 7, 2026
E-Waste
Can’t wait to get rid of your electronic waste?
California MCR Requirements
AB341 - The City is subject to the State of California’s Mandatory Commercial Recycling Law (MCR), which requires that all businesses that generates 4 cy or more of commercial solid waste per week or a multifamily residential dwelling of 5 units or more mush arrange for recycling services.
AB1826 – The City is subject to the State of California’s Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling (MORe), which requires businesses to recycle their organic waste, depending on the amount of waste they generate per week. For additional details regarding MORe, please visit: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/recycle/commercial/Organics/default.htm.
The City has been working in partnership with Marborg Industries to implement compliance with MCR and MORe. For additional information, please contact Marborg at: marborg.com or call (800) 798-1852
SB1383 - The City is subject to the State of California's mandatory Reycling of Organic Waste, which intends to reduce methane pollution and other short-lived climate pollutants. Targets include 75% less organic waste sent to landfills and 20% of unsold, still-edible food sent to food recovery organizations. For additional details regarding SB1383, please visit: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/
SB1383 Business Requirements: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CALRECYCLE/bulletins/3d63608 Business requirements (14 CCR Sections 18984.9 and 18984.10) The purpose of this notice is to send a reminder regarding the guidance about the collection requirements, including for businesses. Pursuant to 14 CCR Sections 18984.9 and 18984.10 businesses are required to either: Subscribe to and participate in their jurisdiction’s organics curbside collection service OR Self-haul organic waste to a specified composting facility, community composting program, or other collection activity or program. Note: Businesses also have the right to donate or sell their recyclable materials (Public Resources Code Section 41952). Businesses must provide collection containers for organic waste and recyclables in all areas where disposal containers are provided for customers, except in restrooms. However, if a business does not generate any of the materials that would be collected in a specific container, then it does not have to provide that particular container. Internal containers must conform to the proper color requirements or labeling requirements. If a business chooses to use containers that are the correct color, internal containers do not need to be replaced until they are no longer functional or until January 1, 2036, whichever comes first. To reduce contamination, businesses must provide education to employees, contractors, tenants, and customers regarding how to properly sort organic material into the correct containers. Businesses must periodically: Inspect organic waste containers for contamination Inform employees if containers are contaminated Instruct employees about how to properly sort material into the correct containers. They must supply and allow access to an adequate number, size, and location of containers with the correct labels or container colors. They must also: Annually educate employees, contractors, customers, and tenants on how to properly sort organic waste into the correct bins, AND Provide information to new tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises. Employees, contactors, tenants, and customers must properly sort organic materials into the correct containers at business establishments. Please visit this webpage: New Statewide Mandatory Organic Waste Collection - CalRecycle Home Page Should you have any questions, please contact your Local Assistance and Market Development liaison: Local Assistance and Market Development (LAMD) Contacts - CalRecycle Home Page
SB1383 Edible Food Recovery:
SB1383 has a strong component requiring Edible Food Recovery from waste. As such, every business in operation within the City is required to “recover” any potential edible food waste and send to eligible agencies that may be able to utilize those foods for the community. If you are or know of these businesses that is required to comply or has the opportunity to voluntarily recover any food that may go to waste, please see the available resources and organizations below.
Active Food Recovery Agencies Available in the City of Buellton:
*Santa Ynez Valley Community Outreach – 140 W. Highway 246, Buellton - (805) 688-4571
As part of the City of Buellton’s commitment to Edible Food Recovery, we have partnered with the Santa Barbara County’s Resource Recovery and Waste Management Division and with the Cities of Carpinteria, Goleta, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, and Solvang to connect with businesses and non-profits, create outreach materials and food recovery tools, and implement a thriving food recovery network in Santa Barbara County. This network is being named the Santa Barbara County Regional SB 1383 Food Recovery Plan (FRP). The goals of this network are as follows:- Recover the maximum amount of edible food to help feed our local Santa Barbara County residents
- Help businesses interpret the regulations and gain a full understanding of their responsibilities under SB 1383
- Support local non-profits in their role with SB 1383, help them build capacity to recovery more food, and assist in finding donors that meet the specific needs for their organization
- Create useful tools and informational materials to help businesses and non-profits
- Streamline data collection through shared technology resources
- Monitor our jurisdictions’ compliance as a whole, and support each other’s needs
- Research grant opportunities to help build food recovery infrastructure
- Connect with other local government departments to create a holistic food recovery network
- Encourage residents and businesses to reduce food waste by providing shopping tips, sharing composting resources, and more
The County and our city partners understand that food recovery expands beyond jurisdictional boundaries. Through this network, we hope to combine resources to create a cohesive network that benefits everyone in Santa Barbara County.
This network works by creating a list of food recovery organizations in Santa Barbara County that want to work with the retail food businesses identified under SB 1383. This list will be used as a resource for businesses who need to donate. By working with these donors, solid waste staff can better help business find a compatible donor and vice versa. This shared network approach can also help highlight needs in local food recovery efforts that jurisdictions can help support.
Are you a food recovery organization in the City of Buellton and want to get involved in our network? Email Public Works at: PublicWorks@cityofbuellton.com
-
