The Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County (District) is an independent special district that controls and monitors disease-carrying insects, rodents, and other vectors such as mosquitoes. In addition, the District regularly tests for diseases carried by these vectors and educates the public in regard to protection from and reducing the probability of contracting such diseases.

In addition to its mosquito abatement and vector control services, the District provides education programs on vectors and disease prevention at school and civic group meetings. The District maintains and distributes printed material and brochures that describe what citizens can do to keep their homes and property free of rats, yellow jackets, mosquitoes, and other pests.

The District, situated within Santa Barbara County, was originally formed in 1959 as the Goleta Valley Mosquito Abatement District, initially encompassing about 15 square miles and the Carpinteria Mosquito Abatement District which serviced only the City of Carpinteria. To simplify administrative control and facilitate expansion of the District’s operations and services, these two independent special districts merged in 1999 to form the Santa Barbara Costal Vector Control District. Then in 2006 the District annexed the unincorporated territories of Santa Barbara County not previously under their prevue. At this time the Board of Trustees decided that in an effort to more accurately reflect the service area of the District the organizations name would be changed to the Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County.

The District is funded by Ad Valorem property taxes and a benefit assessment paid by the property owners in two specific areas of the southern county. The District provides basic services including public information and basic disease surveillance services throughout the District boundaries, and Enhanced Vector Control Services in the benefit assessment areas.

The District functions under the prevue of the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District Law of the State of California which is governed by the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District Law of 2002, codified in the Health and Safety Code, Section 2000, et. seq.