Santa Barbara City College sits on the bluff at the east end of the Mesa, on Cliff Drive above Leadbetter Beach and the harbor. Loma Alta Drive cuts the campus in two, with East Campus on the harbor side and West Campus across a footbridge. Cars need a permit to park here, and the college treats motorcycles and mopeds differently.
We are a mobile locksmith for motorcycles and scooters only. On campus we cut replacement keys when the only one is lost, program transponder keys, remove broken keys and repair ignitions and seat locks at the bike. Call as soon as you know the key is gone, and bring your photo ID and the registration or title to the bike. The parking rules below are from SBCC's own Campus Safety and parking pages. Confirm anything that matters with Campus Safety, since the college can change them.
SBCC's motorcycle and moped rule
SBCC states that permits are not required for mopeds and motorcycles. The condition attached is that they may be parked only in the areas designated for such vehicles on campus. A motorcycle left anywhere else, including in an ordinary car stall, risks a citation.
The college does not list the motorcycle areas on its parking pages, so look for the signs and markings in the lot. That is why we ask for the lot number and what the bike is next to, not just the word campus.
SBCC says its parking regulations are enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that signs are posted at the entrance of each lot. A bike that has been pushed out of a motorcycle area to somewhere more convenient for a repair is no longer covered by the motorcycle rule.
The lots, as SBCC names them
- Lot 1-A, outside the Student Services building on East Campus: metered visitor spaces with a 60 minute limit.
- Lot 2-C, also called La Playa East, and Lot 3, La Playa West: student parking, with paid visitor permits sold from dispensers. Lot 2-A is also all-day student parking.
- Lots 4-A through 4-E on East Campus: a mix of carpool, afternoon student and staff parking.
- Lots 5-2, 5-3 and 5-4, the West Campus parking structure: student parking all day, with visitor permit dispensers.
- Lots 1-B, 2-B and 5-1: staff and faculty during the day.
- Pershing Park, near East Campus: free for students, staff and faculty with no permit.
- The Leadbetter lots at the beach: usable with an SBCC permit during fall and spring semesters while school is in session, but not in summer and not in the 90 minute stalls.
Getting a service vehicle to your bike
SBCC requires visitors to have a permit to park on campus, bought from the dispensers in the student lots or, for a short stop, at the meter machine in Lot 1-A. We may need to stop in one of those lots and walk tools to the motorcycle area. If your bike is deep inside the West Campus structure or in a staff lot, ask Campus Safety beforehand whether a service vehicle may pull up briefly beside it.
The Leadbetter and La Playa lots are a special case. The City of Santa Barbara lists them among its waterfront parking lots and sets hourly fees for them, so outside the times an SBCC permit covers, the city's posted fees and hours apply.
Motorcycle key services at Santa Barbara City College
Everything is done at the bike at Santa Barbara City College: no tow and no waiting on a dealer order. Tell us the year, make and model and whether you have any key, and we will tell you what the job involves.
- Lost Motorcycle Key, No SpareNo key at all? We make a working key at the bike.Details →
- Motorcycle Key ReplacementNew keys cut by code or from the lock, for all major makes.Details →
- Transponder and Immobilizer Key ProgrammingChip keys and fobs programmed to your immobilizer.Details →
- Motorcycle Key Duplication and Spare KeysA spare now costs far less than a lost only-key later.Details →
- Motorcycle Ignition Repair and ReplacementSticking, worn or damaged ignitions repaired or replaced.Details →
- Broken Motorcycle Key ExtractionSnapped key removed and a new one cut from the pieces.Details →
- Gas Cap, Seat, Steering and Saddlebag LocksGas cap, seat, steering, helmet and saddlebag locks.Details →
Where we come to you at Santa Barbara City College
| Common call-out spots | Student Services building and Lot 1-A, West Campus parking structure, Loma Alta Drive footbridge, La Playa Stadium, Luria Library, Garvin Theatre, Pershing Park, Leadbetter Beach below campus |
|---|---|
| ZIP codes | 93109 |
Stuck at Santa Barbara City College without a key?
Call or text with your year, make, model and where the bike is parked.
Or read first: all services · common questions · about us · contact details
Local notes for Santa Barbara City College riders
- Say East Campus or West Campus first. They are on opposite sides of Loma Alta Drive, with separate entrances off Cliff Drive.
- The campus sits on a bluff over the ocean, and bikes parked here every day get the same salt air as bikes at the harbor. A key that drags in the ignition is asking for attention.
- If your key is lost during class, check with Campus Safety for turned-in keys before you call us.
Riding roads near Santa Barbara City College
- Cliff Drive: The college's front door, running west from campus across the Mesa.
- Loma Alta Drive: The steep road that divides East and West Campus and connects Cliff Drive to Shoreline Drive at the bottom and the Westside over the top.
- Shoreline Drive and Cabrillo Boulevard: The waterfront route below campus, east to the harbor, Stearns Wharf and State Street.
- Castillo Street: Runs from Highway 101 down to the waterfront at Cabrillo Boulevard, a short ride east of the campus.
Makes we cut and program keys for at Santa Barbara City College
- Harley-Davidson
- Honda
- Yamaha
- Kawasaki
- Suzuki
- Ducati
- BMW
- Triumph
- KTM
- Indian
- Aprilia
- Moto Guzzi
- Husqvarna
- Royal Enfield
- Can-Am
- Victory
- Vespa and Piaggio
- Zero
- MV Agusta
- Benelli
- Beta
- Buell
- CFMOTO
- GASGAS
- Genuine Scooters
- Hyosung
- KYMCO
- LiveWire
- SYM
Santa Barbara City College motorcycle key FAQ
Do I need an SBCC parking permit for my motorcycle or moped?
SBCC says no permit is required for mopeds and motorcycles, but they may be parked only in the areas designated for them on campus. Parked anywhere else, a bike can be cited.
I lost my scooter key between classes. Can you make a new one in the West Campus structure?
Yes, if we can reach it. Tell us the lot number, such as 5-2, 5-3 or 5-4, and where the motorcycle area is on that level. Meet us at the scooter with photo ID and registration or title.
Can I leave my bike on campus overnight until the key is sorted out?
SBCC enforces its parking rules around the clock and posts the rules for each lot at the entrance. Keep the bike in a designated motorcycle area and tell Campus Safety why it is staying.
My parents own the scooter and I am the one at school. Can you still make a key?
The registered owner needs to authorize it. Usually that means the registration plus the owner's ID and a call with them, along with your own ID. Tell us the situation when you call.
Helpful guides
- How Many Keys Should Come With a Used Motorcycle?Most motorcycles are delivered with two keys or fobs, and many also come with a third item that matters more than either: a master or programming key, a code card, a key number tag or a security PIN.
- Trike and Three-Wheeler Keys: Harley, Can-Am, TrunksKeys and locks on trikes can be replaced, but who does which part depends on the machine.
- Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Keys: Codes, Blanks, WearA key can usually be made for a vintage motorcycle even when no original survives, because these are plain mechanical locks with no chip.
Nearby areas we also cover
- The Mesa
- Santa Barbara Waterfront and Harbor
- Westside and Oak Park
- Downtown Santa Barbara
- UC Santa Barbara
- All of Santa Barbara and Goleta
Sources
- https://www.sbcc.edu/safety/parkingpermits.php
- https://www.sbcc.edu/safety/parkinglots.php
- https://www.sbcc.edu/sustainability/sbcc-commute.php
- https://santabarbaraca.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/Waterfront%20Parking%20Fees%20and%20Hours%20of%20Operation.pdf
Page last updated .