Wage and hour cases in Santa Barbara County at a glance
Employers in Santa Barbara County account for 310 concluded Wage and Hour Division investigations since 2004, 239 of which found violations (77%). Employers agreed to pay $7,640,780 in back wages to 7,468 workers, and $1,573,744 in civil money penalties was assessed. In the last 12 months 6 cases closed with $529,513 in back wages. The industries with the most back wages here are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting ($4,512,138), Health Care and Social Assistance ($1,039,144), Administrative and Support and Waste Management Services ($1,037,190).
All cases, newest first
310 cases, page 4 of 4.
| Employer | City | Case closed | Findings | Back wages | Workers paid | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brophy Bros. Restaurant | Santa Barbara | Sep 11, 2004 | 5 violations | $5,340 | 4 | 0 |
| Main Street Farms, Inc. | Santa Maria | Jun 19, 2004 | 2 violations | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fidel Cardenas | Santa Maria | Jun 14, 2004 | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Main Street Produce | Santa Maria | Jun 12, 2004 | 10 violations | $3,413 | 9 | 0 |
| Rancho Harvest Inc. (FLC) | Santa Maria | Jun 9, 2004 | 9 violations | 0 | 0 | $2,125 |
| Spaceport Systems International | Lompoc | May 16, 2004 | 5 violations | $4,271 | 5 | 0 |
| Summerland Patrol & Guard Services Summerland Patrol and Guard Services, Inc. | Santa Barbara | Aug 14, 2003 | 7 violations | $22,123 | 6 | 0 |
| Marino AG Marino's Ag Harvesting, Inc. | Santa Maria | not stated | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lorie's RCFE, LLC | Santa Maria | not stated | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cubanissimo | Santa Maria | not stated | no violations found | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Largest back-wage records in Santa Barbara County
| Employer | Cases | Back wages | Workers paid | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Century Farms | 2 | $772,119 | 326 | Dec 20, 2023 |
| Sierra Del Tigre | 1 | $763,978 | 161 | Dec 15, 2023 |
| Rancho Nuevo Harvesting | 9 | $644,038 | 1,237 | Sep 9, 2023 |
| Agrofarms and Grains, LLC | 1 | $429,926 | 92 | Jun 19, 2023 |
| Mydor's Open Guest Home, Inc. | 1 | $393,917 | 14 | Mar 11, 2026 |
| Savino Farms Inc. | 2 | $388,419 | 253 | Nov 15, 2023 |
| Pacific West Labor Services | 1 | $354,794 | 125 | Jan 24, 2010 |
| PG Trucking | 1 | $303,610 | 65 | Apr 23, 2015 |
| Bauer Residential | 1 | $272,828 | 42 | Jul 31, 2021 |
| Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc. | 1 | $265,767 | 84 | May 20, 2011 |
| VTC Enterprises | 1 | $221,880 | 142 | Aug 31, 2015 |
| Sunlife Farm, Inc | 2 | $189,101 | 91 | May 21, 2024 |
| Big F Company, Inc. | 2 | $157,698 | 242 | Sep 15, 2018 |
| Royal Oak Ag Service | 1 | $120,996 | 157 | Jul 3, 2020 |
| Mantech International Corporation | 1 | $107,735 | 18 | May 19, 2017 |
| USDM Life Sciences | 1 | $100,088 | 74 | May 15, 2020 |
| Rancho Del Mar | 2 | $97,643 | 445 | Jun 3, 2019 |
| Villa Care Home I | 1 | $96,016 | 3 | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Adam Bros. Farming, Inc. | 1 | $94,146 | 30 | Nov 9, 2021 |
| Air Property Maintenance | 4 | $91,028 | 58 | Oct 15, 2008 |
By year closed
| Year | Cases | With violations | Back wages | Workers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 5 | $527,716 | 52 |
| 2025 | 8 | 8 | $11,707 | 68 |
| 2024 | 8 | 8 | $138,853 | 331 |
| 2023 | 14 | 12 | $2,258,495 | 989 |
| 2022 | 13 | 10 | $536,018 | 810 |
| 2021 | 19 | 16 | $837,890 | 983 |
| 2020 | 23 | 19 | $414,670 | 1,068 |
| 2019 | 14 | 13 | $238,980 | 634 |
| 2018 | 8 | 7 | $410,494 | 533 |
| 2017 | 24 | 17 | $189,775 | 193 |
| 2016 | 8 | 7 | $34,227 | 179 |
| 2015 | 19 | 13 | $595,175 | 292 |
| 2014 | 10 | 6 | $58,392 | 26 |
| 2013 | 8 | 7 | $52,570 | 143 |
| 2012 | 11 | 7 | $63,485 | 111 |
| 2011 | 10 | 7 | $328,899 | 141 |
| 2010 | 26 | 16 | $391,663 | 168 |
| 2009 | 9 | 8 | $40,505 | 75 |
| 2008 | 24 | 18 | $86,029 | 128 |
| 2007 | 17 | 14 | $189,688 | 205 |
| 2006 | 11 | 7 | $163,136 | 189 |
| 2005 | 10 | 8 | $37,266 | 126 |
| 2004 | 7 | 5 | $13,024 | 18 |
Cities in Santa Barbara County with cases
- Santa Maria193 cases, $6,063,835
- Lompoc44 cases, $1,130,553
- Santa Barbara38 cases, $333,935
- Carpinteria12 cases, $75,265
- Vandenberg Afb3 cases, $16,723
- Goleta9 cases, $12,415
- Buellton4 cases, $8,054
- Solvang2 cases, $0
- Guadalupe5 cases, $0
Your rights in Santa Barbara County
The federal file stops at $7.25 and weekly overtime. California workers in Santa Barbara County are owed the state minimum wage of $16.90 in 2026 or the higher local rate, overtime after 8 hours in a day, an hour of pay for each missed meal or rest period, and up to 30 days of wages when final pay is late. Claims go to the Labor Commissioner or to Superior Court, three years back, four under the Unfair Competition Law. Our Santa Barbara County employment law page covers the local offices and deadlines. Free, confidential review: (800) 371-3088.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division enforcement database, California cases through Sep 6, 2026. County is assigned from the city on the case. Back to the wage theft tracker.
About this data: Cases come from the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division enforcement database (WHD compliance actions concluded since fiscal year 2005, California employers only), published by the Department of Labor and reloaded here every month. "Back wages" are amounts the employer agreed to pay at the close of the investigation; "penalties" are civil money penalties assessed. An investigation that found no violation is listed as such. The database does not include California Labor Commissioner cases or private lawsuits. This page is general information, not legal advice about your situation.