Solar Energy 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

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Panel Permits

Roof-mounted and freestanding solar energy systems in the unincorporated county skip design review and planning permits outright, but still need a Building, Electrical, and Plumbing permit, and, if the Building Official has a good-faith concern about a specific health or safety impact, a discretionary Solar Use Permit.

Santa Barbara County Solar Panel Permits

Some Restrictions

Santa Barbara County LUDC Sec. 35.30.160

35.30.160 - Solar Energy Systems. Solar energy systems located on the roof of an existing structure and freestanding solar energy systems are exempt from design review and do not require planning permit approval, however such systems do require the issuance of a Building Permit, Electrical Permit, Plumbing Permit and/or Solar Use Permit, as applicable, in compliance with Chapter 10 (Building Re...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Expedited Solar Permitting

Small residential rooftop solar systems, up to 10 kilowatts AC or 30 kilowatts thermal on a single or duplex home, get a streamlined County permitting track: submit an eligibility checklist, get a completeness or denial decision within 45 days, and pass one consolidated inspection instead of the usual multi-visit process.

Santa Barbara County Expedited Solar Permits

Some Restrictions

Santa Barbara County Code Sec. 10-16.2 & Sec. 10-16.3

Sec. 10-16.2. - Permitting. 1. Applicant shall submit a completed eligibility checklist to verify that project qualifies for expedited permitting under this section. ... 3. The building official shall review application, checklist, and other submitted documents to ensure completeness and compliance with all applicable health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law. An applicati...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Solar Energy by City in Santa Barbara County

1 cities in Santa Barbara County have their own solar energy rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

Santa MariaPop. 112,076

2 verified rules • Expedited Solar Permitting, Panel Permits

All Santa Barbara County ordinances

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Santa Barbara County Ordinance Hub →