Data Centers & Crypto Mining in Santa Barbara County, CA (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Santa Barbara County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Data Center Zoning & Siting
Santa Barbara County has no data-center-specific ordinance. A data center is treated as an industrial use, belonging in the M-RP, M-1, or M-2 zones, and needs a discretionary land use permit plus CEQA review. County zoning covers only unincorporated land, not the eight cities.
Santa Barbara County Data Center Zoning (Unincorporated)
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County, Summary of Zones (Industrial Zones — M-RP Industrial Research Park)
The M-RP zone is applied to areas to provide exclusively for light industry, technical research, and business headquarters offices (as the primary land use types) that are located in well-designed buildings and attractively landscaped areas.
Data Center Noise Limits
Santa Barbara County has no numeric noise ordinance. Its Environmental Thresholds Manual treats a project as significant if it raises exterior noise at nearby homes above 65 dB(A) CNEL, or adds 3 dB(A) where it already exceeds 65. Data-center cooling and generators are conditioned to meet it via CEQA.
Santa Barbara County Noise Limits for Data Centers
Some RestrictionsSanta Barbara County Environmental Thresholds and Guidelines Manual (Published January 2021), Noise Thresholds
If existing exterior noise levels, including at outdoor living areas, experienced by sensitive receptors is below 65 dB(A) CNEL, and if the proposed project will generate noise that will cause the existing noise levels experienced by the sensitive receptors to exceed 65 dB(A) CNEL ... then the proposed project is presumed to have a significant impact.
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