ADU Rules: Lompoc vs Santa Maria

Can I build an ADU on my Santa Barbara County property?

If your lot has a proposed or existing single-family dwelling, in nearly all cases yes - California Government Code requires every local agency to allow at least one ADU and one Junior ADU on every single-family lot, and Santa Barbara County has implemented those rules through LUDC Section 35.42.075 (inland), the Coastal Zoning Ordinance (coastal zone), and parallel sections in the Montecito and Toro Canyon LUDCs. A detached ADU up to 800 sq ft is allowed by right with 4-foot interior side/rear setbacks. Detached ADUs may generally be up to 1,200 sq ft; attached ADUs up to 50 percent of the primary residence. Height is allowed up to 16 feet, or up to 18 feet near transit, or up to 25 feet above an attached garage. A JADU up to 500 sq ft must be carved out of the existing or proposed walls of the single-family dwelling and requires owner occupancy of either unit. Parking is waived in many cases (including within 1/2 mile of public transit).

Can I rent my Santa Barbara County ADU on Airbnb or Vrbo?

No. Santa Barbara County imposes a minimum 30-day rental term on permitted ADUs and JADUs through LUDC Section 35.42.075, using the authority granted to local agencies under California Government Code Section 66314 (formerly part of Section 65852.2(a)(6)). That effectively prohibits use of the unit as a short-term vacation rental (any term under 30 days). The County's separate Short-Term Rental Ordinance only allows STRs in narrow circumstances: STRs are permitted in most commercial zones; homestays (where the owner occupies the primary residence) may be permitted in residential zones; an ADU or JADU is not eligible as either a vacation rental or a homestay. Operators of permitted STRs must also obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate from the County Treasurer-Tax Collector and collect the 14% Transient Occupancy Tax.

What rules apply to ADUs in the Santa Barbara County coastal zone or wildfire zones?

Inside the Coastal Zone (Gaviota, Refugio, El Capitan, Hope Ranch coastal, Montecito coastal, Summerland coastal, Carpinteria coastal), ADUs are processed under the County's Coastal Zoning Ordinance and may require a Coastal Development Permit; Coastal Act considerations including Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas, visual resources, and public-access protections all apply. In High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, the ADU must be built to California Building Code Chapter 7A standards (Class A roof, ember-resistant vents, ignition-resistant siding, enclosed eaves, noncombustible deck within 10 feet) and the parcel must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under Public Resources Code Section 4291, including for the ADU itself. Fire-flow, water-supply, and access standards in the locally adopted Fire Code (County Code Chapter 15) also apply.

Can I build an ADU in Santa Maria?

Yes, on residential-zoned lots with a single-family home. ADUs are approved ministerially within 120 days of complete application.

What zones allow ADUs in Santa Maria?

RA, R-1, RSL-1, R-2, R-3, and RMH zones all allow accessory dwelling units.