Lompoc, CA

9 Apartments for Rent with Balconies

Lompoc, California is a charming community nestled along the famous coast road Highway 1 and next to Vandenberg Air Force Base. It's in Santa Barbara County, about equidistant from Santa Maria and Santa Barbara in the coastal hills that typify the region. The city takes its name from the Chumash Indian words meaning "stagnant water." Another translation is lagoon, and that sounds much better, so let's go with that one. A sign on the way into town terms it a "City of Arts and Flowers," formerly the premier flower seed growing region in the world, the area is seeing a resurgence and may regain that title soon. That makes for a very colorful agricultural countryside in bloom season! It was originally meant to be a temperance colony, but fear not, drink aficionados, those days are long past. With Vandenberg AFB close, military personnel naturally make up a good portion of the local workforce and contribute heavily to the local economy. In addition, the Federal Corrections Institution is a major employer. It's a minimum security "Club Fed" facility, mostly filled with people who are probably quite happy to not be somewhere more notorious. The city grew rapidly starting in the late 50s when it was announced that the base would be a test site for intercontinental missiles and the population "exploded." Since then, Vandenberg and the city have been inexorably linked. The area also saw boom times when shuttle missions were taking off from the base but experienced a recession after that program ended. See more

Balconies are a coveted amenity for many renters looking for high-rise views and opportunities for fresh air. However, you should keep in mind that balconies often come with restrictions.

Before signing a lease, ask about how many people can be on the balcony at once. Also, ask about whether you’re allowed to store a bike or other items.

You’ll also want to know about any maintenance schedules. Using your balcony as storage could result in fines and intervention from your property management.

Keep in mind that not all balconies are created equally. You may discover the views of the parking area are less than optimal or reduce your overall privacy.

Balconies can also get messy with debris, foliage, dirt, and pollen depending on your location. Renters are typically responsible for any clean-up and basic balcony upkeep.

Regardless of the issues to keep in mind, balconies are usually a big win for Lompoc renters. Ask about apartments on higher floors for the best views.