Yossarian wrote:


I assume it would be poor form to turn out into a downwind for runway
25 without telling anyone

At an airport with an operating tower, it would be a serious violation.
At a non-towered airport it is your call, and ATC usually couldn't
care less.

I'll be the tie breaker on the specifics at KSBA. If you make the
decision to circle to a runway other than 7 early on, let approach
control know. The earlier the better. If they don't want to deal with
it they will tell you to restate your request to the tower when you are
shipped over to the tower. It's a variable, especially including
whether the Class D surface area is above or below VFR minimums. When
the airport is below VFR minimums, you are far more apt to get what you
want as to circle-to-land.