The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is a signature building structure in the city of Santa Barbara. It is built in the Spanish Colonial style and was built in 1929 and still functions as a working courthouse. The surrounding grounds are planted with palms and beautifully landscaped. There is a wonderful sunken garden with a well manicured lawn that is a perfect place for a picnic lunch or just a nice spot to relax. There is a scenic lookout at the top of the clock tower offering 360 degree views of the city, Santa Ynez Mountains and Pacific Ocean. The clock tower can be reached by elevator or if you want exercise there is a staircase. The clockworks are enclosed by glass and the mechanical works are visible. Apparently there are tours of the clockworks available.The interior of the courthouse has many murals and a nice selection of Spanish tile is laid throughout the building. Make sure and visit the County Supervisors meeting room with its high wooden beamed ceilings and colorfully painted mural walls. There are docent led tours throughout the day. I would highly recommend visiting this charming gem of a building. Admission is free. Public parking is located near by.

This was a must see spot for me during my brief few days in Santa Barbara during my PCH road trip.This old courthouse is highly recommended and is a favorite spot for elopements because of its beautiful old Spanish Mission style and the gardens surrounding it.I thought it was closed on the day I visited but I got lucky and it wasnt, I was able to roam around and view the old courtroom, roam the halls, admire the light fixtures and take photos from the garden.If you are in town, its a beautiful historic spot to visit and is unlike any courthouse I have ever seen.

The superior court is closed during covid so we couldn’t visit it and could only visit the outside part and gardens around it.

Very beautiful courthouse building, providing birds-eye views of Santa Barbara. From here, you can observe the iconic Californian barley/white-colored buildings with red roof tiles! Streets lined-up with palm trees. You are in the heart of California here. The tall towers terrace can be accessed via an elevator. Definitely do this when in town!

Because of the COVID, I couldn’t go inside. But the building and the garden is a must see.

Address: 1100 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, CA 93121Really amazing architecture, painting, tiles and views along with the stunning gardens. Free to enter and go to the lookout. The clock tower docent is fabulous. Really cool to learn about the clock and mechanics and how time came to be. Must do in SB!

AMAZING! Our favorite place in Santa Barbara. Not only the building is beautiful both from the outside and the inside, but the gardens that surround it are amazing! Also, we got to go up to the tower and the views from up there are breathtaking. It’s free and open until 4 or so.

Loved the Spanish colonial style of the building. Take the free tour that is offered so you can hear the story of the paintings and the rooms. Definitely worth a visit. Hang out in the courtyard and have a picnic. It’s so peaceful and pretty.

In a city designed almost exclusively around the Spanish Colonial Revival era, the Santa Barbara Courthouse stands out as an awe-inspiring example and shows how powerfully a public space can help shape a city’s identity. It’s a great place to visit on a Sunday afternoon, walking the corridors, taking in the intricately painted ceilings, art, and the views from the El Mirador clock tower. As was common when built in the 1920’s, the art and architecture depict a local history that seems to have begun when the Spanish explorer Cabrillo first landed here in 1542, the narrative largely void of the history of the indigenous people who had been here for the previous 10,000 years. The nearby Santa Barbara History Museum depicts the local history in much the same way. For a better understanding of the people who first called this place home, visit the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, which has an excellent exhibition space dedicated to the history of the Chumash.

We parked our car at the public parking at the front of the Courthouse. The parking is free for 75 minutes. We took the elevator to the tower floor. The ocean views and Mountain views are amazing. The old court room on the second floor is also beautiful. There are lawyers and jurors working at the Courthouse. The garden is good.

I’ve never seen such a beautiful courthouse before. The scenery on top of the building is also very awesome.

Easily one of the best features of Santa Barbra. This building is so pleasing to the eye and the surrounding gardens are beautiful. We visited on a Wednesday and were lucky to have bumped into Barbra at the information desk who has a wealth of knowledge. Great woman and very helpful. It’s a public building meaning you can freely walk around inside and out. We even sat through some live court hearings! Viewing deck at the top is a must.

The best place to get hitched with the love of your life. The Judges are respectful and also share how important your special day is. Their customer service is par excellence. Plus, the courthouse is a beautiful Spanish revival courthouse. Great for wedding pictures! And it’s in Santa Barbara, what more could you ask for?

Looking for a place to sight-see? A place to bring out-of-town folks? Or maybe just jazz up your day? If its before 4:45pm, check out the Courthouse Clock Tower. There is the option of elevator (kinda slow) or stairs. If you can, be sure to take the stairs one way, either up or down, because along the way there are some lovely mosaics and various views of the inner courthouse. The view on a relatively clear day is lovely and being on the tower is so refreshing with the breeze. On each of the four sides there are maps labeling what you can see from that side of the tower so you can view some of SBs popular sightseeing destinations from above!Below the viewing platform of the tower is the Clock Gallery, though be sure to check the open hours if you decide to go because it closes up pretty early and is not open every day!The Mural Room is also breathtaking with beautiful historical moments depicted on each wall. Fantastic for photos. In general, the courthouse and its grounds are perfect for meandering or finding cool refuge on a hot day. Its truly a work of art inside and out.

Beautiful Spanish architecture. From the lookout tower you can see out over pretty much all of Santa Barbara. Definitely worth a visit!

Just catch a wedding be held in the city hall, the feelings of whole town makes me peace. People can enjoy the leisure life here by walk through

Amazing courthouse with great view of Santa Barbara on the top floor, clock & great murals inside the courtroom.

Wow! Wish all courthouses looked like this. It’s really a treasure. I’m so glad a friend recommended it to us. We arrived early and were able to find free parking right up front. Really worth a visit to locals and visitors.

This was a little pit stop on my drive from SLO back to LA. really enjoyed walking around, going up to the tower, seeing the view, and taking in the beautiful architecture. someone was getting married and it looked really pretty! would recommend if youre in the area. theres lots of street parking around the area thats not metered.

Omg!! Can’t recommend this space enough!!! If you are thinking about getting married here and looking for a really cool traditional space...highly recommend the mural room. Our bride, Jessika tied the knot there a couple weeks ago and we are obsessed with the photos! We had our photo booth, Desert Luna Photobooths part of their wedding reception after their ceremony, and boy, Santa Barbara is the place to get married hands down!

Very impressive courthouse. It looks like a mission or church. You can take an elevator to the top and have great views of the tile roof tops. The best part is that it’s all free. It’s a functioning courthouse so there are trials going on so be mindful of that.

I got married at the courthouse in the Mural Room in June. Booking was very easy (do it far in advance!) and very cheap for a wedding venue. The grounds and tower were spectacular for taking pictures, it looks more like a Spanish villa than a courthouse. Even the recorders office looked more like a hotel than a government building. Everyone we interacted with in the recorders office was very pleasant and we did not have to wait long to get our license or to file it. The Mural Room itself was absolutely gorgeous, as was every hallway we walked through and every stair we climbed. The view from the tower cannot be missed!

We stumbled across the court house on a road trip, and what an amazing find! Absolutely beautiful architecture, grounds and view! Take a minute the next time your in the area and walk through, it will be well worth it.

The Santa Barbara courthouse is so stunning, its no coincidence that a wedding takes place there nearly everyday. Many of those weddings take place in the history mural room, but nearly the entire building is detailed in intricate design. The original building was destroyed early in the 20th century by a bad earthquake, but this area has been the local hub for government since 1800s. Its my favorite thing in Santa Barbara.

Beautiful courthouse! The mural room is really ornate and the view from the top of the tower is incredible. Its free to walk around.

An absolute gold mine. Stunning Spanish tile architecture and the 360 view of the town, the beach, the islands, and the mountains is to die for. It should be an essential stop while in Santa Barbara.

A delightful building in the Spanish Colonial stile that you can visit almost in its entirety. The view from the bell tower on a clear days is amazing.

Got married here, I love it. So beautiful. Weather is great, location is close to the beach, and people were helpful and nice.

This has to be on your bucket list when visiting Santa Barbara. Go to the Visitors Center near Stearns Wharf first and the volunteers will give you the inside skinny on where to park and what to see. This was at the top of our list. Go when the weather is nice for spectacular 360 views. The architecture is stunning and youll not see an ACTIVE public courthouse like this anywhere.

Not sure about recommending this place for the tourists.It depends on you.Personally, I dont recommend to visit here.

Very nice place. Historic court building. Nice panoramic view from the tower. Good photo shot location.

Beautiful! This is definitely a place youll take a few pictures! The building is gorgeous outside and in. Im a particularly big fan of all the beautiful tiles. And dont forget to go all the way to the top so you can look out over the city! Theres only one small elevator, so plan on waiting if theres even the slightest crowd.

So beautiful place especially from the top of building

Beautiful courthouse in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. The building is full of great architecture, and is a great venue for weddings and other photoshoots. Would highly recommend if youre visiting the area!

One of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen - inside and out. The view from the clock tower is spectacular and the ‘vibe’ of this place is inviting. Don’t miss out this place if you’re visiting Santa Barbara.

The courthouse was not on my list of places to visit in Santa Barbara, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise my wife and I enjoyed. Interesting Spanish-inspired architecture, a great view of the city from the roof, and a interesting view into a ceremonial courtroom. A wedding couple was taking some photos with a photographer from the roof during our visit. You can even sneak a peak at the inner function of the clock tower gears while inside.

I have photographed a few weddings / elopements here and it is absolutely gorgeous, and every wedding has gone smoothly! The sunken gardens and the mural room both make for perfect backdrops for saying your vows, and the stairwell and tower are amazing for photos (actually the whole place is amazing for photos)! Everything was clean and the crowds werent bad at all.

The four murals in the second floor courtroom are simply magnificent, recounting stories of important moments in Santa Barbaras history. They are the obvious focal point for visitors entering the room. In addition to the murals, In addition to the murals, however, there are other details in the room that warrant closer looks in the room: the beautiful ceiling, the half-moon high patina desk, the studded-edge benches, the interlocking octagonal pattern floor, etc. My favorite is the armchair next to the window with all its rich details on the seat-back, the arms, the feet. But the beautiful details are not just limited to those in the courtroom; the entire courthouse is filled with eye-candy corners, passages, doors, walls, ceilings. Very much worth spending time to explore it.

Amazing architecture but the views from the top of the tower are incredible! Getting to see the inner workings of the clock was very cool as well

Beautiful, if you have the chance go all the way to the top tower and view the entire city of Santa Barbara, also go and see when the clock hits the hr, is all free, you can take the stairs or the elevator you will take Beautiful pictures.

Beautiful place! You can see the city from the tower!

Beautiful Location for Wedding Ceremonies! Lawn is always green and you can get great photos of your wedding at this historic courthouse.

Nice building with a great view of the city on the 4th floor.

This is the most visited place in Santa Barbara. Take the lift to 4th floor, you can see the whole city of santa Barbara

Dont miss the view of the beautiful Santa Barbara ..

The most picturesque courthouse in the country. Theres not many that even let you wander the halls... but its encouraged here!

You can see the greatest landscape from here.

Beautiful well maintained historical building with an unbeatable view of Santa Barbara from the top of the viewing tower. The murals inside the courthouse depicting the building process is very nicely done.Free street parking

Court house is so pretty for tourists.. but I am bewildered how american system, santa barbara court and santa barbara DA work....After a discussion with SB DA regarding being under potential *deathly threat* from a greedy cunning plaintiff, which is my estranged sibling, competing for my inheritance I am not confident I can expect proper protection from DA.My sibling should be a suspect in my fathers death and in abandonment of my mother in the first place....I realized that in the US cunning greed and gun violence gets proper reverence but civil codes and constitution are for decorations only as I experienced in your court:*I HAD NO VOICE IN THE COURTROOM* and my objections and petitions were all belittled, discarded and intentionally overlooked by Judge Sterne. Judge Sterne engaged in double-dealing as she received ample money from my sister to appoint her favourite court officer at a premium, against my wishes.*several probate codes were entirely violated* by covetous attorney Barnes who muted me out aggressively and also by double-dealing Judge Sterne. A vexatious court process which should not be challenging my rightful inheritance from my parents especially while I am still living in hardship... is slowly funding courtroom apparatus and abusing me.*My rights are violated* as US constitution was and is also violated in the santa barbara courtroom..American system failed me also long time ago when violent and invasive crimes against me were not properly handled in the first place ... nor ever was there any attempt to recompense..

Santa Barbara Courthouse is not only a great place to visit while you are visiting Santa Barbara but also a lovely ceremony location for your wedding! We recommend it!

Lovely place to visit. Nice view from the tower, beautiful architecture.

The epitome of Santa Barbara architecture and style. The historic courthouse has it all. The history, the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, the gorgeous sunken gardens and a view of the entire city from its tower. Small weddings are held here, community events and countless lunches on the lawn in addition to it still functioning as a court of law. Its a truly special place.

An incredible place to see. Was really blown away by the artwork inside and the clock tour visit. Really recommend if you have a spare hour to kill.

Okay so i went dont like courthouses but i went to hear all this fuss....and well there is people downstairs getting locked up ..the virws are pretty dope!! good views

The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is the most beautiful building in the city rivaling only the mission. The painting inside are beautiful and there is a stunning view from the top of the structure. It is really windy at the top, so taking good videos is difficult, but pictures are a lot easier to take.

Great views from the top and loved that we could walk around this building and learn some California history.

The Court House and the guided tours of it are an easy way to learn some local history, tour an amazing building and see some amazing wall paintings. Even if you dont take the tour it is worth wandering around to see the Courthouse and going up to the 4th floor tour to enjoy the view.

Nice place to get married

The decoration and the styles of the building are magnificent!

Its an old school building. Pretty nice & the tower overlooks the cities red tiled buildings downtown. The sunken gardens is a very nice place if you want to just sit & read, or bring your beach blanket & beach chair & eat lunch. Then on warm days theres nice spots in the shade if its really hot out...

Is a beautiful place

The information given by this court is incorrect and misleading. The hours state they open at 10 am. It says CLOSED in RED LETTERS. And clearly says open at 10 am. If you are looking up this courthouse for information or directions and are doing so because you have to appear in court do not go by what they say....court starts at 830 am. Whoever set up the web page should be posting the proper information. Is this a way to obtain extra funds by causing people to appear late so they get fined? I am not surprised.. At all. If I could give 0 stars I would.

Very nice

Amazing structure! Worth a trip for the view alone. As the guy at the information booth said on arrival: everything worth seeing is upstairs.

Who would know justice can be so charming! A worker told us this is considered the most beautiful courthouse in America. And indeed this courthouse has a lot of characters. Must make you way up to the clock tower. The panoramic view of Santa Barbara awaits. There is even an elevator to take you up and down. And there is no admission fee.

There is no charge to visit the courthouse and to go up in the tower. The 360° view from the top will knock your socks off. A must see whenever youre in Santa Barbara

Wonderful Spanish architecture!

Excellent location. Beautifully presented, preserved, and maintained. Lovely, history, architecture, colors, open spaces, large rooms, vibrant art pieces, and gorgeous views and sights inside and outside, on each floor and from the top of the courthouse where all four directions extending uninhibited by trees or structure provide rich tableus of the whole quaint, pretty town, from the mountains to the ocean.

As a criminal defense lawyer, I couldnt ask for ask for a better place to work every day and to call my neighbor. The architecture and decor are beautiful. The grounds, exotic plants and trees are expertly and lovingly maintained. The court staff is professional and courteous. The clock tower has the best panoramic view from any downtown building and the sunken garden is wonderful place to put on outdoor events; and there are many. It is no doubt one of the most beautiful and well-utilized in-service courthouses on the planet.

Perfect spot to see the sunset

Spend a day just browsing through the courthouse... absolute treat stepping back in history. Foilage is as fabulous.

Do not miss this place. I had been to SB a handful of times and never knew there was such a gem just sitting there. Absolutely beautiful. THE BEST VIEW AROUND!!! Lots of people get married there and it is so nice to just go visit sometihing free of charge. Every wall has something different to see.

This building is beautiful, nice and cool inside, dont forget the tower.

Gorgeous views from the tower!

This review is purely tourist based nothing to do with what goes on in the courthouse . I just love Santa Barbra (my most probable place after retirement ) The Yard of the courthouse is one of the most beautiful attraction there especially the view from the tower of the courthouse.

Stunning building. Pictures dont do it any justice

Beautiful courthouse inside and out.

What a beautiful building. Takes you back to the time of the Spanish rule. The architecture and gardens are amazing and definitely take a trip to the top of the bell tower and catch the views of one of So-Cals most beautiful cities

With its beautiful gardens and his original architecture, Santa Barbara County Courthouse does not look like a courthouse but rather a foundation. If you are looking for a place to Santa Barbara to take beautiful pictures of yourself, go there.

This is a truly wonderful court house to visit. Breathtaking architecture and surrounds. Take the elevator to the top to see the clock in action and get great views of Santa Barbara.

Tried calling to ask a simple question and all you get is a voice recorder. I was only able to reach one person and she was completely rude and did not help. Worst service ever.

Beautiful building

If you are a tourist going to SB, this is a must see. If you are a huge fan of architecture you need to go. If you are a CA history buff if you havent gone shame on you.

As a tourist, this was a neat site. Architecturally stunning and breathtaking. However, climb (dont cheat, use the stairs) to the top of the tower -the views are incredible, you see all of Santa Barbara.

The nicest courthouse I have ever been. Spanish style. Ill get married in here this year. The gardens, the Mural Room, the tower... my favourite historic place in Santa Barbara.

Got married here. Beautiful historical building. The Library is amazing. The views from the tower are incredible

So full of history and looking down at the city from above is absolutely a must! Got to explore the county courthouse while participating in a city race with clues so it was a super fun way to get to know this beautiful place.

Great place to visit if you are in town. The mural room is one of the highlights if you stop here. You can climb the observatory and get a great view of the nearby building.

Old and beautiful architecture.

The Court House is very well maintained and the murales room and the clock tower are must see spots in Santa Barbara.

Great place to visit. Make sure to go to the viewing tower for some Stunning pics. A must visit

Amazing old building, you can get right up to the roof and there is an amazing view of the coast, hills and mission. Really worth a visit!

Love the gorgeous Moorish/Spanish architecture. Has a beautiful view from the top of the tower. A must-see landmark in SB.

This is a nice building offering good views of the town. It is actually much more modern that it looks. Visited in June and entry was free.

Very beautiful building

Beautiful clear skies!

Nice view from the roof.Try to get when the clock bells ringing every hour

This was fascinating and the fact there are real cases going on. Such a beautifully preserved building. Great views.

Wow....my wife and I found this astonishingly beautiful building while on vacation near Santa Barbara. a few years ago.We walked around inside and admired the arches,tiled floors and gardens.

I am a Santa Barbara local and am always impressed to see the staff go above and beyond to assist myself and others. They are professional and courteous.