Building Setbacks & Zoning in Santa Barbara, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Santa Barbara, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Required setbacks vary by zone. In lower-density zones, interior setbacks range from 6 ft (RS-6) up to 35 ft (RS-1A). In R-2, R-M and R-MH zones, the front setback is generally 10 ft for the first/second story and 20 ft for third-plus stories, with interior and rear setbacks around 5-6 ft. Coastal-Zone (Title 28) and non-Coastal (Title 30) standards differ in places.
Santa Barbara Building Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsStructure Height Limits
In lower-density residential zones, main buildings are limited to 30 feet; in R-M and R-MH zones the limit is 45 feet. Accessory buildings are limited to 30 feet and 2 stories. Building height is also capped by the City's Solar Access Ordinance (SBMC 30.140.170 / 28.11).
Santa Barbara Structure Height Limits
Some RestrictionsLot Coverage Limits
Santa Barbara controls building intensity mainly through maximum floor area, open-yard requirements, and a floor-to-lot-area ratio (FAR) guideline rather than a single lot-coverage percentage. Maximum floor area scales with lot size, and development is precluded above 100% of the maximum, or above 85% with steep slope, height over 25 ft, or major grading.
Santa Barbara Lot Coverage and Floor Area
Some RestrictionsLooking for Santa Barbara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Barbara city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Santa Barbara County →