The beaches in Isla Vista will be closed Friday, April 5 through Sunday, April 7 during the planned Deltopia event, the Santa Barbara County Community Services Department has announced.

The closure is designed to prevent a re-occurrence of the conditions that resulted from the 2009 Floatopia. Following the Floatopia, Isla Vista beaches were left strewn with trash and debris, including human waste.

The 2009 event had no provisions for the health and well-being of the public, including no facilities for human sanitation or refuse collection. The county therefore acted to close the Isla Vista beaches for similar events since 2010.

Santa Barbara County Code (Section 26-11) authorizes the Community Services Department to close any county recreation area including beaches.

The upcoming Deltopia is not a sanctioned event, and there are no approved permits issued. As such, the county Community Services Department will declare the Isla Vista beaches closed to public entry to protect public health and safety and to protect the beach from excessive waste and litter. 

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office will enforce the closure.