Building Setbacks & Zoning in Santa Barbara County, CA (2026)
2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Santa Barbara County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
In the Coastal Zone's R-1/E-1 Single-Family Residential zone, Santa Barbara County requires a 50-foot front setback measured from the street centerline (20 feet from the right-of-way), side setbacks of 10 percent of lot width capped between 5 and 20 feet depending on parcel size, and a 25-foot rear setback that drops to 15 feet where the rear yard abuts dedicated open space. County Code Sec. 35-71.7 sets these numbers.
Santa Barbara County Coastal Zone Yard Setbacks
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 35-71.7 (Article II, Coastal Zoning Ordinance)
Section 35-71.7 Setbacks for Buildings and Structures. 1.Front: 50 feet from the centerline and 20 feet from the right-of-way line of any street except that when the property fronts on a private roadway easement serving or having the potential to serve five or more lots the setback shall be 20 feet from the easement line. 2.Side: On each side of the lot, 10 percent of the width of the lot excep...
Structure Height Limits
In the Coastal Zone's R-1/E-1 Single-Family Residential zone, Santa Barbara County caps buildings at 25 feet, measured as the vertical distance from existing grade to the highest point of the structure directly above it. County Code Sec. 35-71.10 sets that base limit, while Sec. 35-127 lets non-habitable features like chimneys and antennas reach 50 feet and adds a 3-foot bonus for roofs pitched at 4-in-12 or steeper.
Santa Barbara County Coastal Zone Height Limit
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Code Sec. 35-71.10 (Height Limit); Sec. 35-127.A.3 (Height Measurement, Exceptions and Limitations)
Section 35-71.10 Height Limit. No building or structure shall exceed a height of 25 feet. Section 35-127.A.3.a. Chimneys, church spires, elevator, minor mechanical and stair housings, flag poles, noncommercial antennas, towers, vents, and similar structures which are not used for human activity may be up to 50 feet in height in all zone districts where such excess heights are not prohibited by ...
Building Setbacks & Zoning by City in Santa Barbara County
1 cities in Santa Barbara County have their own building setbacks & zoning rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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