Santa Barbara County, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

2) preempt restrictive local rules and apply to counties for their unincorporated areas. Santa Barbara County implements these standards through its Land Use & Development Code (LUDC) for the Inland Area and its Coastal Zoning Ordinance for the Coastal Zone. County and third-party planning summaries describe a 'small' detached, new-construction ADU allowed on a lot with an existing or proposed single-family dwelling, subject to an 800-square-foot size limit and 16-foot height limit, with 4-foot side and rear setbacks and compliance with the zone's front setback.

No parking and no passageway are required, and owner-occupancy is not required for ADUs (it is required for JADUs). In the Inland Area, ADUs and JADUs now require a building permit only, with no separate planning permit. State law generally allows detached ADUs up to roughly 800-1,200 sq ft and JADUs up to 500 sq ft, with a 60-day ministerial review timeline. Coastal Zone proposals must also comply with the County's certified Local Coastal Program and may need a Coastal Development Permit unless exempt. Always confirm current figures with County Planning & Development before designing.