Shed permit rules in Santa Barbara, CA — also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations — set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
In the City of Santa Barbara, work or storage sheds for non-commercial use are a permitted accessory use in residential zones. Accessory buildings may not exceed 30 feet and two stories, must meet zone setbacks (with limited encroachments allowed), and are subject to floor-area caps that scale with lot size.
Under the City's zoning ordinance, 'work or storage sheds for any non-commercial use or equipment' are listed as a permitted accessory use in residential (R-1 and comparable) zones. Accessory buildings are limited to a maximum height of 30 feet and two stories (Section 30.140.020 / 28.87.160), and that height is further limited by the City's Solar Access Ordinance (Section 30.140.170 / 28.11). Accessory buildings must generally meet the interior and rear setbacks of the zone, but a detached accessory building may encroach into an interior setback under the encroachment rules of Section 30.140.090 / 28.87.062 if it is outside the front yard and required open yard. Floor area is capped: under Title 28 an accessory building is limited to 500 sq ft, and under Title 30 the cumulative total of covered parking and accessory buildings (including any ADU) is limited by lot size, ranging from 1,000 sq ft on lots under 5,000 sq ft up to 1,950 sq ft on lots over 20,000 sq ft. A building permit is required for sheds over the state exemption threshold, and design review may apply in hillside or historic areas. Because the City has its own municipal code, these standards differ from Santa Barbara County's accessory-structure rules for unincorporated areas. Sheds in the Coastal Overlay Zone are governed by Title 28.
Erecting a shed in a required setback or front yard, exceeding the height or floor-area limits, or building without a required permit can trigger a zoning-enforcement action and an order to relocate, reduce, or remove the structure.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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