Hollister Ranch is a private, gated community that includes 8.5 miles of publicly owned tidelands along the Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County. The coastal area of the property features sandy beaches, rocky tide pools, coastal bluffs, and world-class surf breaks. The area also contains diverse marine and terrestrial habitats, as well as Native American cultural sites.

Recreational opportunities, like beachcombing, surfing, fishing, and wildlife observation, are currently available only to private homeowners and their invited guests. There is no land-based, public recreational access to this coastline, making it one of the most inaccessible stretches of the California coast.

Assembly Bill 1680 of 2019 requires that four state agencies (the Coastal Commission, State Coastal Conservancy, State Lands Commission, and Department of Parks and Recreation) collaboratively develop an updated coastal access program for Hollister Ranch, including provisions for land access to the beach.

The initial phase of developing the coastal access program included extensive community engagement and resulted in the 2021 Draft Hollister Ranch Coastal Access Program. This step identified potential beach access opportunities and important considerations for each site.

The next step is now underway to refine and evaluate the access options. The goal is to strike a balance between providing public access, protecting environmental and cultural resources, respecting neighboring private property, and maintaining public safety, while also considering construction and management feasibility.

Welcome to the Hollister Ranch Access Program Options Survey!

This survey will walk you through the same access program options presented at our in-person workshops, allowing you to provide feedback on each proposed approach. Before you start the survey, make sure to watch the brief video above to provide background information. Y

Your input is valuable in helping shape the future of coastal access at Hollister Ranch. Thank you for participating in this important planning process!