Before You Build in Santa Maria, CA: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 12-27 limits fences to 3 feet immediately behind the public utility easement (front yard), and 6 feet within required side and rear yards. A 6-foot wall is allowed in the front/interior side yard only if set back 10 feet from the back of sidewalk and is no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to corner-cutback rules.

Santa Maria zoning permits standard residential fence materials (wood, vinyl, masonry, ornamental metal, chain link). Barbed wire, razor wire and electrified fencing are generally prohibited in residential zones.

Under California Residential Code R105.2 (adopted by Santa Maria in SMMC Chapter 9-08), a wood, chain-link or similar fence not over 7 feet in height is exempt from a building permit. Masonry walls, retaining walls over 4 feet, and electric fences (SMMC Chapter 9-04) require a permit from the Community Development Department.

Santa Maria's Good Neighbor Rules (Chapter 4-7) address fence-related neighbor issues. California law does not require neighbor consent to build on your own property. Shared fence costs may be split.

Above-ground pools in Santa Maria must meet California barrier requirements. Pools with walls under 60 inches need additional fencing. Pools must be setback at least 10 feet from the front property line.

Santa Maria requires swimming pools to be enclosed by a barrier at least 5 feet high per California Building Code. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching.

Santa Maria follows California building code for pool safety. Pools require permits, anti-entrapment drain covers, and approved safety features per state law.

Santa Maria permits one ADU and one JADU per single-family lot ministerially within 60 days; detached ADUs may be up to 1,200 sq ft with 4-foot side/rear setbacks, and parking is waived within 1/2 mile of transit.

When a garage is converted to an ADU in Santa Maria, no replacement off-street parking is required, but converting a garage to a JADU or to other non-ADU living space requires onsite replacement parking under Chapter 12-32.

Carports in Santa Maria are governed by Title 12 of the Municipal Code, including Chapter 12-27 (Accessory Structures) and the Off-Street Parking and Loading chapter. Any street-facing carport must sit at least 20 feet from the property line, each covered space must be at least 9.5 by 20 feet, and detached accessory structures must stand at least 5 feet from any dwelling on the lot.

Detached tool and storage sheds up to 120 square feet, 8 feet tall, and at least 5 feet from any other building are exempt from building permits but must sit behind the front wall of the dwelling and be screened by a 6-foot fence or wall.

Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 9-28 amends California Fire Code Section 307.1 to prohibit open burning within city limits, except for recreational fires (CFC 307.4.2), portable outdoor fireplaces (CFC 307.4.3), or under a single-use permit issued by the Fire Chief. Santa Barbara County APCD separately prohibits backyard burning of leaves, weeds, and yard waste in incorporated Santa Maria.

Recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces are the only routine open-flame exceptions to Santa Maria's open-burning ban. Under California Fire Code Section 307.4.2 (adopted by Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 9-28), recreational fires must stay at least 25 feet from structures and combustibles, be constantly attended, and have a fire-extinguishing means immediately available.

Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 8-10.33 prohibits runoff irrigation, hosing of driveways and sidewalks, washing vehicles with an un-nozzled hose, and operating non-recirculating decorative fountains. In June 2022 the City Council enacted Stage 2 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan, banning landscape irrigation from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and irrigation during or within 48 hours of rainfall.

Santa Maria regulates tree removal through its municipal code. Significant trees and street trees may require permits before removal. Replacement planting may be required.

Under Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 8-8 (Urban Forestry), a permit from the Director of Recreation and Parks is required before anyone may spray, prune, trim, fertilize, plant, transplant, or remove any street tree, vine, shrub, or flower, or trench within the foliage drip line. Street trees are City-managed assets and include trees in parkways from the curb to ten feet toward the home.