Santa Barbara County Courthouse Gardens

The Santa Barbara Courthouse is hands-down one of the most beautiful and romantic places to say “I do” in California. As a California wedding photographer, I’ve had the honor of capturing many love stories here, and it never loses its magic. The Spanish-style architecture, lush gardens, and golden light make it feel like a dreamy European escape—without ever leaving the coast. Whether you’re planning an intimate elopement or a small ceremony with loved ones, this location offers so much charm and elegance. The Mural Room alone is breathtaking, and the grounds provide endless photo opportunities in every direction. If you’re dreaming of a stress-free, stunning place to get married, the Santa Barbara Courthouse is such a special choice. Every time I photograph a wedding here, it feels like stepping into something timeless and effortlessly romantic.

It was really nice visiting the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Gardens. The architecture is stunning, with beautiful tile work, archways, and a peaceful garden area perfect for walking or relaxing. Don’t miss the opportunity to go up to the clock tower but keep in mind it closes at 4:45 PM. From the top, you get a gorgeous 360° view of Santa Barbara, including the ocean, mountains, and red tiled rooftops. It’s a fun, free, and relaxing way to enjoy the city and learn a bit about its history at the same time. Great spot for photos, too.

We visited Santa Barbara Courthouse and were blown away—it turned out to be a stunningly beautiful and historic place. We didn’t expect a courthouse to be such a hidden gem, but the architecture, the details, and the overall atmosphere really made an impression. It’s actually so picturesque that we’re now considering it as a potential wedding venue for us! Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area!

Great, historic (yet still functioning) courthouse that offers spectacular views of the city and a really neat mural room. It is free and in an accessible part of town. It is free and I would highly recommend coming here if on a trip to Santa Barbara. There is also a really nice green lawn area surrounding the building.

Wonderful for weddings. Simply gorgeous. Definitely a shared space but if you can get past that this space is definitely for you and your budget-friendly wedding

Beautiful place. You can climb up the tower. There is a great view of the city from there! Admission is free.

If just want to relax just sit on the grass or have a picnic, if you want to see a city from the bird’s perspective than you should make your way to a free clock tower;)

What a beautiful building. We came here for a wedding not sure what to expect and were totally blown away. The art is well preserved. It's super clean. There is an elevator.

During my research of things to do in Santa Barbara, I wondered why so many people recommended visiting the Court House. But when in Rome, do as the Romans do. To be completely frank, the pictures online do not any justice to the absolute beauty of the Court House. When you step into the courtyard, you can see how beautiful the architecture of the building is and with the mountains in the background. The inside of the building is beautiful as well. There's so much intricate designs that is so breathtaking. The mural is amazing as well. The steps up to the clock tower is a doozy if you're out of shape (my calves were crying), but the view up top is totally worth it. You get to see so much of the city and those beautiful mountains again. Such a worthwhile visit and hey, it's also free! Just an FYI, you do have to go through a metal detector and scan your bag. It was a little annoying to take out my electronics, but it is a courthouse so you gotta follow the rules.

You need to go through a security check in the beginning because this is indeed a courthouse. This is a nice place to visit for free on a walking tour of Santa Barbara, and I am thankful my gracious friend showed me here. The views are gorgeous and the interior architecture is splendid. There is so much history here, and I hope to experience more of Santa Barbara in the years to come. (I am manifesting something here in this Yelp review.)

The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is a beautiful building. I love the old Spanish architecture and design. You also can get a sense of Santa Barbara's history from looking at the various murals in the building. If you go all the way to the top of the building to the clock tower, you can see a beautiful gorgeous view of Santa Barbara. If you're visiting Santa Barbara, you should definitely come here.

When my boyfriend put the Santa Barbara County Courthouse on the list of something to do when visiting Santa Barbara I thought it was weird... but apparently this place is one of the top rated attractions for those who are visiting Santa Barbara. During our visit there was a wedding, so the mural room and some of the hallways and exterior were crowded with wedding guests. And unfortunately the clock tower was closed off for renovations. This made the visit probably quicker than it would have been without the construction and wedding service. I can see how this place has historical value but it really needs some renovations to maintain. Especially the bathrooms. They were old and dated. I would have waited if I didn't super need to pee. I can't believe people actually have to come here to report for jury duty. It seems like it would be really crowded and inconvenient. A nice free stroll, but honestly not my cup of tea. If you are visiting Santa Barbara and you have time restrictions, you can probably skip this place. If you have extra time to spare, it's free to visit.

Court Authority Built in 1929 in a Spanish Colonial Revival style, the Santa Barbara Courthouse is easily one of the countries most beautiful public buildings, and is listed in several historical collections including the National Register of Historic Places (1981), City of Santa Barbara Historic Landmark (1982), CA Historic Landmark (2004) and National Historic Landmark (2005). We actually weren't planning on visiting due to being unaware of its existence, but after driving-by we knew it was a must-see. The Good: *Free to visit *You'll definitely get some steps in, especially if you climb the stairs to the top to visit the clock tower for its panoramic views of the area. *Free self-guided tours, as well as one-hour guided tours *The exterior and interior are both spectacular and worth visiting both and dealing with the hassel of entering (see "The Ugly" below). *Available for rent (popular for weddings) *Great location near DT Santa Barbara with lots of shopping and dining nearby. The Meh: *You'll most likely have to pay for parking (90-minutes free street parking is available if one can find it) The Ugly: *As with all functional courthouses, you'll have to go thru a security check to visit. Conclusion: A great place to visit, especially if one is into architecture and history.

I highly doubt I'll ever review a courthouse again in my life but there's a reason hundreds (thousands?) of people visit this facility each day, and it isn't to fight parking tickets or argue that they really weren't that drunk when they got pulled over. Yes, it's a working courthouse with real judges and real lawyers but it's also an amazing architectural gem with some terrific art inside. Do yourself a huge favor and partake in one of the freeeeee docent-led tours they offer. The tour is one hour long and is very informative and entertaining. Frankly, the building is so unique, the tour could probably last two hours long but one hour works out very well. Before or after the tour, take the stairs or elevator up to the top of the clock tower. The view is 360 degrees around and it's spectacular. Put this on your list when you come to SB. It is well worth it.

We all know this is an amazing place filled with stunning views and wonderful pieces of Santa Barbara History, It really shouldn't be missed on any visit to SB. What I want to impart to anyone planning on visiting the courthouse is that it IS a functioning courthouse that houses trials and hearings for all kinds of crimes, some very serious. To that end it's important for visitors to know in advance that there IS high security at the courthouse, especially going inside the building. The security is actually tighter now than at many US airports, with metal detectors and sometimes gruff security personnel. I don't say this to be mean but unfortunately I've witnessed it on more than one occasion. Anyone visiting please aware that even tiny Swiss Army knives, some nail files and even eyeglass screwdrivers are not allowed in. And the personnel will NOT hold items for you, nor is there anyplace like lockers, to store items deemed "unsuitable" . In fact I heard security rather rudely tell an obvious tourist that if she left her small item there he would keep it permanently and she could never get it back! Needless to say she didn't go in. Despite this type of behavior by security, the court house is absolutely worth a visit so please leave pretty much everything in your car or bus when visiting the SB courthouse:-)

I was introduced to this from the landshark tour. The history behind the courthouse was very interesting and they have great picture moments here. Definitely grabbed some in front. Even saw a wedding was going on here.

Santa Barbara Courthouse is one of the iconic landmarks in the city.It is located in the downtown. The courthouse was built in Spanish architectural style, in 1929. It has a spacious elegant and well designed garden. The building is famous for the clock tower and the Spanish arches all around the building. The interior of the building has the Spanish architecture starts with tiles to paintings to the Spanish  decorative spiral staircases  to elegant ornate chandeliers. The tower is open to the public. This is the best place .The tower offers magical views of the city all the way from downtown, to  the ocean and the mountains. I wish I could stay for longer time in the tower. There is a map in every direction explaining what are the landmarks you can see from this particular direction. It is the most enjoyable and indescribable experience in my visit to Santa Barbara.

Parking was hard to find. It was a bit hard to find the way up to the lookout area. The grounds and the architecture were impressive. The views from the bell tower area were not the greatest due to morning fog. I'm happy I checked it out but won't return.

We were married at this beautiful courthouse six months ago. Wanted yelp community to know about a wonderful man, officiant, Keenan from Lompoc. Keenan made our private wedding memorably special. Keenan was kind, funny, respectful and sweet. My husband and I are 72 and 67 respectively and Keenan made us feel like we were young lovebirds marrying for the first time. After marrying us he doubled as our photographer and took our photos on the amazing courthouse grounds. Thank you, Keenan, your the best! P.S. We tried tipping him for his wonderful service, but he could not accept a tip

Beautiful building for architecture lovers and free for backpackers and families. Design on the inside is very well preserved. There are murals upstairs also with viewing. Worth your time!

This is the most beautiful courthouse I've ever seen, and I'm a lawyer, so I've seen more than my fair share. It's no wonder they book up with weddings - the setting is stunning and the location is ideal. I highly recommend the docent-led tours. Tours take place daily, and they are (currently) at 2pm on weekends. Check the website in the event that anything changes from my visit to when you do. The volunteer docents are extremely knowledgeable, and a tour from them will enhance your visit.

Excellent! One would not know the beauty of the interior based on the exterior (white-washed walls with red roof tiles). I can see why brides and quinceneras choose this location as the garden is picturesque. Please note, this is a functioning courthouse. There is a security check upon entry. Be prepared for that. I love the colorful tiles and details of the light fixtures!! The mural room is quite intriguing which is located on the second floor. This location not to be missed if you are in the area!

Absolute must see while in SB. This site is so beautiful with amazing architecture and views. It's like taking a step back in time. Thoroughly enjoyed our time there!!

My wife and I got married at the courthouse back on November 2021. We specifically chose this location for various reasons but the top being for its appearance. Although we wanted a big traditional wedding, we opted in for a small intimate gathering and dinner. To get married here, you are given various locations that are completely FREE. No need to reserve or reach out to anyone. They do have a map of where you can get married. We got married and had about 25 people there, with lawn chairs set up from a local vendor. Not once we're we disturbed. You do get occasionally an audience as people walk throughout the courthouse. We couldn't have asked for a better location. One year later, my wife and I brought our baby girl. We took a stroll down the whole courthouse and soaked in the sun. It's great coming back and seeing its beauty.

Hola yelpers: Hoy andamos modo turistas, tocó venir (por segunda vez) a la corte por si les interesa casarte hoy me encontré con much@s novi@s. El lugar es realmente bonito y tiene mucho historia y belleza con sus parques y bellos cuadros, esculturas, etc. Así que anímense a visitarlo les va gustar muchísimo Sin mas por el momento les dejo y cuídense del calor .. Saludos Ba bye yelpers

We were in Santa Barbara for a day a week or so ago on a mini road trip across some of California and decided to wander in to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. It's definitely worth a visit! It's open to the public, but you do go through metal detectors/security to visit. The courthouse is simply beautiful. It was built in 1929 in a Spanish Colonial Revival style. The mural room and the clock tower (and its views) are must sees, but there are other surprises: ceilings, walls, floors...! Definitely take the time to explore it if you're visiting Santa Barbara!

We've enjoyed photographing elopements at the courthouse for many years now. It's a breathtaking backdrop in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. www.BurgundyBlue.com

This is a beautiful free space to visit. You need to go through security when you arrive, but the security guard was very friendly and directed me where to go. I toured myself, but I also saw one of their tours, and the guide seemed very friendly. The gardens are beautiful, and I even saw someone getting married! Parking was 75 minutes around there and I think that is plenty of time to do a self tour.

Centrally located and significant tourist spot. Enjoy the clock tower by entering and making your way up to the fourth floor where a panoramic view of the city is before you.

The courthouse is located in downtown Santa Barbara, close to restaurants and shopping, 75 minutes parking available in garage and on the street. It represents the classic white and red architecture style here, and worth visiting.

This place was absolutely gorgeous! We went to apply for our marriage license and I never expected to end up at a place as gorgeous as it was. It is a Spanish styled building with beautiful views all around the place. There were so many brides actually getting married there. They were outside taking pictures and sharing their special day with their families and friends. We parked accross the street it wasn't hard to walk out there and we had two hours. The inside of the building was epic! Our clerk was kind... she was a bit serious but we got her to laugh every now and again. I think she was observing us making sure we were legit lol. I had never heard of this place but it is known worldwide as the most beautiful court in the world and now I know why! Our love for the ocean is deep and this place was right around the corner from the big blue! If u r getting married... you might consider this place!

Take the time for a quick stop at the beautiful Spanish-Colonial style Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Built in 1929, it is an iconic landmark with a distinctive four sided clock tower, Mediterran red tile roofs, graceful arches, fountains and lush sunken garden. Although tours are currently closed, download the app for a virtual self-guided tour of the exterior and grounds. The Great Arch leading to the sunken gardens was inspired by historic Roman triumphal arches. The adjacent "Spirit Of The Ocean" fountain was designed and sculpted of porous sandstone at a cost of $5,000 in 1929. It did not weather well and was resculpted as a replica in 2011 at a cost of over $730,000. It signifies Santa Barbara's closeness to the ocean. The four-sided clock tower, known as "El Mirador," houses one of the last remaining working tower clocks made by the Seth Thomas Clock Company. The sunken gardens and grounds are filled with magnolias, palm trees and birds of paradise. Beautiful and peaceful for a quick stop on a sunny day.

Santa Barbara Courthouse is such a beauty!! My husband and I got married at the Santa Barbara courthouse and we are so happy with our decision. My husband and I did not want a big traditional wedding. We wanted something small, intimate and with a beautiful backdrop. The Santa Barbara Courthouse checked all of our boxes. Booking the ceremony was fast and easy online. On the day of our ceremony we brought in any necessary paperwork/identification, waited for our photographer and outside was held our ceremony. Shout out to the county clerk that married us, David! He was great and made our experience much memorable. If you are debating on getting married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, don't!! Just do it!

Saw some social media posts about being this being the most beautiful courthouse, and I'd have to agree. Very interesting, and once you go through security, it's free to walk around and go up to the tower for a view, as well as the mural room and hallways and such. Certainly worth a few minutes diversion, and if you're in the area and getting married, I wouldn't blame you one bit for selecting here.

Spectacular views of the mountains and the coast from the Santa Barbara Courthouse & Clock Tower. Climb the Clock Tower to see the 18th century clock and take in breathtaking panoramic views of downtown Santa Barbara with wide mountain vistas and low hanging clouds.

The courthouse is located a block or two off State Street and is a nice pitstop if you're walking around downtown. The courthouse grounds are a must-see -- they're very picturesque and you just need 10 minutes or less to take a lap around it and snap some pictures. If you happen to be around at 10:30 or 2, I highly recommend doing the hour-long tour. You'll get to see the inside and outside of the courthouse and learn its history. The tour is free and you don't need to make reservations-- just head up to the Mural Room on the 2nd Floor.

Such a beautiful piece of architecture in Santa Barbara. I think it warrants a must-visit if you are in SB. The Spanish Colonial Revival style is so prevalent in the city, but the courthouse is the paragon of all the buildings here. The main facade of the main entrance is absolutely stunning and monumental. The surrounding area has lush gardens to stroll through and a large grassy area that is perfect for afternoon naps, picnics with friends, and scenic backdrops. I saw a lot of people stopping by to enjoy the sunshine after work hours or sitting in the grass to enjoy a quick lunch. A wedding photo shoot was going on nearby. There's some free parking around the area. However, tours and access inside the courthouse is currently unavailable due to the pandemic.

During our short stay in Santa Barbara, my wife and I had wandered by the enormous and beautiful courthouse building several times, always stopping to admire the architecture. Then a local mentioned we could actually walk the grounds and go inside, so we made a beeline here the next morning. The highlight was the clock tower section, with beautiful mural rooms, the clock & bell mechanism itself, and fantastic views at the top. I was pretty much snapping photos the entire time. Note: this is an operating building, with occupied offices and active courtrooms, but stay-out zones were well-marked and we were able to wander and explore pretty freely. It made for a wonderful morning adventure.

This place is one of my favorite buildings in Santa Barbara and (why not?) in California. The Spanish style of architecture is breathtaking, the lawn is spotless, the vegetation is lush, and the views from the top are amazing. You can go up to the rooftop daily till 5 pm. It's something you need to do if you visit Santa Barbara. Also, check the first level, the decorations, the paintings, the cool Moorish style balconies and chandeliers. This place is one of the kind. There are nice restrooms inside, it's free to visit and an elevator will take up to the terrace to see great views of the ocean and of the City. This place has good energy, sometimes there are events on the lawn, a nice wedding, a festival, a zombie dance around Halloween, an outdoor screening in the summer or just a cool guy playing flamenco at his guitar, because... The building reminds me of Spain and each time I visit Santa Barbara, I always stop by. This place never ceases to amaze me with its beauty!

My good friend was providing us a tour of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse which is located at 1100 Anacapa Street, in downtown Santa Barbara. If you are a lover of architecture, this Spanish Colonial Revival style building is quite an enjoyable visit. I always was in great belief that Greeks had a hand in some way in almost every new architecture structure that exists and they definitely did with this structure. The new building replaced a smaller Greek revival courthouse at one time long ago. We visited the clock tower, which has many views from all directions. The clock tower mechanics some levels below was surely quite impressive engineering. I also enjoyed reading the history painted on the walls in the beautifully architected main court room. This is an active court house to this day and it is surely worth the visit and especially for those love creative architecture.

Prettiest courthouse I've ever visited- with daily free tours at 2pm, it's worth a stop! Shout out to my fellow history addicts The architecture of the building is the traditional Santa Barbara, Spanish mission style. The white stucco walls, the tiled roofs, the large rafters. The building is a walk in history. It's very outdoor indoor style, with the spiral staircases that looks immediately out onto the lawn and garden below being completely open to the air, not enclosed. Although we missed the daily tour, we still enjoyed walking the site. The large paintings and adhered tiles are beautiful works of art. We also took the stairs up to the clock tower which was such an interesting room to view. The mechanics and craftsmanship is readily apparent behind the glass. Panoramic views await you at the top- you can see the majestic riviera, meandering homes up the Santa Barbara mountains & the ocean in the distance. The tiled roofs below reminded us of an Italian overlook, reminiscent of Florence or Rome almost, just modern. Even on our cloudy visit it was worth the stop in.

This review, like most, is for the striking architecture and manicured grounds of the courthouse complex. I'd heard for years about the sunken gardens interior, site of many weddings. Last weekend we were visiting nearby historic sites. Seeing that it was only a few blocks away, I suggested that we walk over. We came in via Santa Barbara Street, strolling over lush grass. Moving into the extensive sunken area, I could see the appeal to bridal couples. The intriguing architecture against a blue sky must make for amazing photos. Given how precious fresh water resources are today, I'm surprised that some of the massive lawn areas haven't been converted to native plantings, saving some water for the impressive fountain out front. The fountain is currently dry, for want of a better balance of choices on available water. We walked around 3 sides of the complex, finding each to sport unique facades. All are grand and photogenic. One day I hope to return and see the view from the stately clocktower. Checked another landmark off the to-be-explored list!

Beautiful Courthouse is a Spanish Colonial Revival style building, it's free to visit and I recommend go up to "El Mirador" clock tower, which has labeled photographs that show what the viewer is looking at in all directions.

The best place to have a courthouse wedding! The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. The ceremony is intimate and beautiful. Would absolutely recommend having your civil ceremony here! Thank you Conn for marrying us and recommending all the best spots around the courthouse to take pictures! Couldn't have asked for a better experience.

"Sir, please tell the jury what you witnessed on the eve of the event" "I saw people. Happy people using this courthouse for their phones and their instagrams. A sight to behold indeed sir" I attended a wedding here in the spring, the weather was great and the venue is unique and cute. The outside especially has some beautiful gardens and architecture for wedding photos and backdrops. It's also walking distance from other points in santa barbara.

We eloped at the SB courthouse and couldn't be happier with this decision! Booking the ceremony was fast and easy online. We brought our paperwork and we're married in a very intimate and beautiful ceremony outside. I love everything about this Courthouse, it's spacious, clean, historical, with great views. Hassle and stress free too. 10/10 recommend for anything looking into this route for a wedding.

What an extraordinarily beautiful building. The architecture for this courthouse is unbelievable. So many intricate carvings! The ceilings were beautiful! Then going up to the tower - what a view indeed. Stairs, stairs and stairs - then the surprise and reward of a splendid view of Santa Barbara from the top. This is a must for everyone - it is worth your time.

This is a surprise... I work in politics so I spend a LOT of time in Courthouses and I don't generally find them places I want to visit on my free time. But this one is actually pretty interesting. Well worth a stop if you're doing a Santa Barbara trip. The views from the tower are spectacular. And some of the stained glass and light fixtures are awe inspiring. We didn't make it in time for the tour but turns out a talk was being given in one of the court rooms about the history of the building. Spend 15 or 20 minutes listening to this... it's fascinating. And if you show up when they give the free tour, bonus! The fountain outside is gorgeous. Lots of folks want to get married here so no matter when you show up you're likely to encounter a bride or two. It's a romantic place... I admit.... we did a little kissing here. It somehow gets you in the mood... I'm all about Frank Gehry and modern design, but this structure is definitely something to see. I dare say it might even be a good start to a romantic dinner somewhere nearby...

Brilliant view of the whole area, from the mountains to the ocean, once you climb up (or take the elevator up) to the top of the Courthouse. One floor down you'll find what looks like a fascinating floor devoted to the clock (unfortunately, it was closed on our visit). Murals throughout the main floor (in both the hallways and the chapel) are nice, though the subjects frequently involve the Spanish conquest of the native Americans.

I went to the courthouse today because they put my name wrong on my marriage license. Not only did they refuse to correct their error, the supervisor came out and loudly went over my request so anyone in the building could hear what I was there for. I felt this was very rude and made me very uncomfortable. There has to be a better way of getting things done than the middle of a busy office and loudly telling other peoples business. Definitely not a fan.

December 22, 2022 Good Morniing : This is (Nominated) Justice Of The Peace Ms. Karin AE Brown. I am at the Carpinteria Best Western Plus @ 805-684-5868 Room 210. Please telephone me as soon as possible. I need office information. Also, I have an (SSID) Ocular Disability, no car and am in need of Para-Van Transport. Thank You. Sincerely, Ms. Karin AE Brown

Located in beautiful downtown Santa Barbara, the courthouse is truly an amazing place to visit with its Mediterranean style architecture. Beautiful artwork and tilework deck the floors, walls and halls of this still functioning courthouse. As beautiful as the view is from ground level be sure to take the elevator up to the clock tower to get a birds eye view of courtyard, the sunken garden, as well as gorgeous panoramic views of all of Santa Barbara.

While this is an active courthouse, most people set foot inside or on the grounds because it is so pretty. Very well manicured grounds, lots of green grass and foliage, not to mention the courthouse itself, make this one of the major tourist attractions of Santa Barbara. We came here on a Saturday, and while the building was open, obviously court was not in session, and we couldn't see inside the courtrooms. We came too late for the 2pm tour, so we just walked around on our own.

Beautiful view of the city of SB when you go all the way to the top! It's free, and it's a couple flights of stairs where you'll see a clock tower on your way up. It closes at 4:45 though so make sure to get there in time!

The Courthouse has one of the best views of Santa Barbara. The outside of it is so beautiful and has a huge grassy lawn on which is perfect for picnics. The day we went there was a huge wedding going on. There is a lot of history and there are many floors to it. It's actually still functioning as an actual courthouse as well. Every hour the clock still rings. There is also someone also down in the section where the mechanics of the clock are. They are there to explain everything and how it all works. Once you past this section you will be on the observation deck. This deck provides some of the most incredible views of Santa Barbara. You can see everything from here. Sometimes you can even see the Channel Islands! Even as a local I come here sometimes just to relax and remind myself that I live in such a beautiful place!

Gorgeous historic facilities in Santa Barbara! So nice that they allow visitors to wander the echoey halls at leisure to enjoy to architecture, artwork, and the placards throughout that explained the historical significance of the various pieces and spots in and around the buildings. Take the stairs up to the clock tower. The spectacular views from up there are well worth the exercise! We enjoyed the visit, but I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a tour or docent around to answer questions for our group.

This court house is amazing! Just wow! The garden is big and full of flowers. You can married here ok. Hahaha Also, the interior and the designs are amazing. It doesn't even look like a court house to me. Go to the top of this court house where the bell is and the big clock and you will see a nice view of Santa Barbara. P.s. The parking is not bad. Street parking is 90mins