Santa Barbara County · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Santa Barbara County
In unincorporated Santa Barbara County, fence, accessory structure and home business limits depend on which code covers the property: the County, Coastal or Montecito code. The county also limits oak removal in inland rural areas and sets distances for beehives.
Key points
- Fence height: County rule: outside Montecito, fences up to 6 feet in front setbacks and 8 feet in side and rear setbacks need no planning permit.
- Fence exceptions: County rule: Montecito fences over 6 feet in any setback need a permit; Mission Canyon front fences are exempt only to 3.5 feet.
- Accessory size: Outside Montecito, detached accessory structures on lots of 1 acre or less are limited to 800 square feet; garages, barns and stables are excluded.
- Home businesses: County rule: in Coastal and Montecito code areas, a home business may have at most 5 customers or clients at one time.
- Oak trees: Inland rural lots under 50 acres: non-agricultural removal of over 2 protected oaks per 30-year period needs a permit; 12 above 899 acres.
- Beehives: County rule: beehives must be at least 600 feet from another person's dwelling unless the occupant gives permission.
Each rule below is marked Santa Barbara County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Santa Barbara County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Santa Barbara County have their own codes and their own pages.
Fences and walls
Santa Barbara County code County rule: outside Montecito, fences up to 6 feet in front setbacks and 8 feet in side and rear setbacks need no planning permit. County rule: Montecito fences over 6 feet in any setback need a permit; Mission Canyon front fences are exempt only to 3.5 feet.
All 28 Santa Barbara County rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Santa Barbara County code Outside Montecito, detached accessory structures on lots of 1 acre or less are limited to 800 square feet; garages, barns and stables are excluded.
Running a business from home
Santa Barbara County code County rule: in Coastal and Montecito code areas, a home business may have at most 5 customers or clients at one time.
All 8 Santa Barbara County rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
| Parking on the street |
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|---|
Solar panels and EV chargers
Santa Barbara County code Expedited administrative approval; all required permits are issued once the checklist application and documents are confirmed complete. Expedited permits with a completed eligibility checklist; submit electronically or on paper; complete qualifying applications are approved.
All 4 Santa Barbara County rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Tree removal
Santa Barbara County code Inland rural lots under 50 acres: non-agricultural removal of over 2 protected oaks per 30-year period needs a permit; 12 above 899 acres.
All 13 Santa Barbara County rules on tree removal, with the code text →
Swimming pools
| Setback from property lines |
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Pets, chickens and bees
Santa Barbara County code County rule: beehives must be at least 600 feet from another person's dwelling unless the occupant gives permission.
All 4 Santa Barbara County rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
| Floodplain permit |
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|---|---|
| Building in a floodway |
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| Height of the lowest floor |
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Grading and erosion control
| When a grading permit is needed |
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|---|---|
| Grading without a permit |
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Building on a hillside
Santa Barbara County code Grading may be no more than 1,500 cubic yards of cut or fill. Fill for homes on downhill areas may be no more than 10 feet high at the top of slope.
All 12 Santa Barbara County rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
| Quiet hours |
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|---|
Outdoor lighting
Santa Barbara County code Light at property lines may be at most 0.1 foot-candles. Light at the shared property line may be at most 0.2 foot-candles.
All 7 Santa Barbara County rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| Local rules | Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Santa Barbara County code Projects qualifying for state density bonus law by providing price-restricted affordable units are exempt. Projects in the Cuyama Housing Market Area are exempt.
Group homes and residential care
| Homes for 6 or fewer |
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Parking spaces required for homes
Santa Barbara County code Paved with at least 2 inches of asphalt, concrete, masonry pavers or equivalent (pervious allowed), on a suitable base Width at most 50 percent of adjacent street frontage; wider allowed if needed to meet County or fire district rules
All 7 Santa Barbara County rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Signs on homes
Santa Barbara County code Exempt from all sign chapter rules except: not in the public right-of-way; State Code rules apply to placement and removal Address identification signs conforming to the Building Code
All 6 Santa Barbara County rules on signs on homes, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
Santa Barbara County code Owner must subscribe to an authorized collector for service equal to 1 32-gallon container twice per week Remove containers within 12 hours after collection
All 4 Santa Barbara County rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Santa Barbara County rules on this
Santa Barbara County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Two-unit developments and urban lot splits (SB 9) (§ 35.42.268) — single-family zones in urbanized areas only
- Fire development impact fee (Ch. 15, Art. III)
- Park fee for new homes (Ch. 21, Div. 2)
- Transportation impact fee (§ 23C-4)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the pool fence and setback rules in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Barbara County's code: At least 5 feet from any property line. (Coastal Zoning Ordinance; non-interior lots, when in the rear setback. Pools, spas and equipment are not allowed in front or side setbacks.) (§ 35-122); At least 10 feet from any property line. (Coastal Zoning Ordinance; interior lots.) (§ 35-122).
What are the rules for building in a Santa Barbara County flood zone?
Santa Barbara County's code: You need a development permit before any construction or development starts in a special flood hazard area. (§ 15A-13); The lowest floor must be 2 feet above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved buildings; nonresidential may floodproof instead; the floodplain administrator may lower it, but not below base flood elevation.) (§ 15A-16).
What are the grading rules in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Barbara County's code: More than 50 cubic yards, smaller operations for one purpose combined; a cut or fill over 3 feet also counts. (Privately owned land: new grading, excavations, fills, non-agricultural land disturbance, drainage devices, cuts, borrow pits, stockpiling, land reclamation. Subject to exemptions elsewhere in the chapter.) (§ 14-6); No grading permit for permitted basement, pool, tank or footing digs; fill over 50 cubic yards still needs one. (Outside Orcutt Community Plan open space areas.) (§ 14-6).
What are the noise rules and construction hours in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Barbara County's code: Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next morning. (Sunday to Thursday nights; amplified sound heard 100 feet from the property line or over 60 decibels at the line.) (§ 40-2); Quiet hours are 12:00 midnight to 7:00 a.m. (Friday and Saturday nights; amplified sound heard 100 feet from the property line or over 60 decibels at the line.) (§ 40-2).
Can I run a family child care home in Santa Barbara County?
California law sets this for every city, including Santa Barbara County: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).
Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Barbara County's code: Considered a residential use; residents and operators are considered a family. (Special care homes serving 6 or fewer persons.) (§ 35.42.090); Restrictions must be identical to those applied to other family dwellings of the same type in the same zone. (Restrictions on structure height, setbacks, lot dimensions or sign placement; special care home serving 6 or fewer persons.) (§ 35-143).
General information, not legal advice.
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