Santa Barbara County · Zoning · AG-I
Santa Barbara County AG-I zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Santa Barbara County's AG-I zone, generally buildings can be up to 35 ft tall and the front setback is 20 ft, with the conditions listed below (Santa Barbara County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 35 ft (Residential structures (25 ft in the Toro Canyon Plan area); no height limit for other structures)
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft (Measured from the edge of the right-of-way)
- Minimum side setback: 20 ft (Lots of 1 acre or more; on a lot of less than 1 acre, 10% of lot width, at least 5 ft and at most 10 ft)
- Minimum rear setback: 20 ft (Lots of 1 acre or more; 25 ft on a lot of less than 1 acre)
- Maximum density: 1 one-family dwelling per lot (plus agricultural employee housing where allowed, if the lot complies with section 35.21.040)
AG-I (Agriculture I) is a zoning district in Santa Barbara County. Every value below was read from the Santa Barbara County Municipal Code and links to its section (read October 2026). State laws such as the ADU and SB 9 rules can allow more on a residential lot. General information, not legal advice — read the code text and check with the city before you build.
Development standards in AG-I
The general rule for a typical lot in this zone. Zoning tables often attach notes, such as rules for corner lots, lots next to a residential zone, or new subdivisions only. Open “code text” under a value to see the table cell or sentence it was read from.
| Maximum building height | 35 ft Applies: Residential structures (25 ft in the Toro Canyon Plan area); no height limit for other structures § 35.21.050 · code textTable row “Maximum height”, column “AG-I Agriculture I”: 35 ft for a residential structure, no limit otherwise; Toro Canyon Plan area - 25 ft for a residential structure. |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 20 ft Applies: Measured from the edge of the right-of-way § 35.21.050 · code textTable row “Front”, column “AG-I Agriculture I”: 20 ft from edge of right-of-way. |
| Minimum side setback | 20 ft Applies: Lots of 1 acre or more; on a lot of less than 1 acre, 10% of lot width, at least 5 ft and at most 10 ft § 35.21.050 · code textTable row “Side”, column “AG-I Agriculture I”: 20 ft; 10% of lot width on a lot of less than 1 acre, with no less than 5 ft or more than 10 ft required. |
| Minimum rear setback | 20 ft Applies: Lots of 1 acre or more; 25 ft on a lot of less than 1 acre § 35.21.050 · code textTable row “Rear”, column “AG-I Agriculture I”: 20 ft; 25 ft on a lot of less than 1 acre. |
| Maximum density | 1 one-family dwelling per lot Applies: plus agricultural employee housing where allowed, if the lot complies with section 35.21.040 § 35.21.050 · code textTable row “Maximum density”, column “AG-I Agriculture I”: One one-family dwelling per lot; plus agricultural employee housing where allowed by Table 2-1 and applicable standards provided that the lot complies with Section 35.21.040 (Agricultural Zones Lot Standards). |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in AG-I:
- Minimum side setback: 10% of lot width, min 5 ft and max 10 ft — lot of less than 1 acre § 35.21.050
- Minimum rear setback: 25 ft — lot of less than 1 acre § 35.21.050
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, lot size, lot coverage, FAR limit for AG-I in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Santa Barbara County Municipal Code.
Other Santa Barbara County zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Santa Barbara County's AG-I zone?
35 ft (residential structures (25 ft in the Toro Canyon Plan area); no height limit for other structures) — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.21.050.
What is the minimum front setback in Santa Barbara County's AG-I zone?
20 ft (measured from the edge of the right-of-way) — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.21.050.
What is the minimum side setback in Santa Barbara County's AG-I zone?
20 ft (lots of 1 acre or more; on a lot of less than 1 acre, 10% of lot width, at least 5 ft and at most 10 ft) — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.21.050.
What is the minimum rear setback in Santa Barbara County's AG-I zone?
20 ft (lots of 1 acre or more; 25 ft on a lot of less than 1 acre) — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.21.050.
What is the maximum density in Santa Barbara County's AG-I zone?
1 one-family dwelling per lot (plus agricultural employee housing where allowed, if the lot complies with section 35.21.040) — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.21.050.
General information, not legal advice.
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