Santa Barbara County · Zoning · SR-M-18
Santa Barbara County SR-M-18 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Santa Barbara County's SR-M-18 zone, buildings can be up to 25 ft tall, the front setback is 50 ft from center line and 20 ft from right-of-way line and the minimum lot size is 7,000 sq ft (Santa Barbara County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 25 ft
- Minimum front setback: 50 ft from center line and 20 ft from right-of-way line
- Minimum side setback: 10% of lot width, min 5 ft
- Minimum rear setback: 25 ft
- Minimum lot size: 7,000 sq ft
- Maximum density: 18 dwelling units per gross acre
SR-M-18 (Medium Density Student Residential) 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 SR-M-18
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 | 25 ft § 35-76 · code textNo building or structure shall exceed a height of 25 feet. |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 50 ft from center line and 20 ft from right-of-way line § 35-76 · code textFront: 50 feet from the center line and 20 feet from the right-of-way line of the street. |
| Minimum side setback | 10% of lot width, min 5 ft § 35-76 · code textSide: On each side of the lot, 10 percent of the width of the lot but not less than five feet. |
| Minimum rear setback | 25 ft § 35-76 · code textRear: 25 feet. |
| Minimum lot size | 7,000 sq ft § 35-76 · code textThe proposed development shall be located upon a lot having a minimum net lot width of 65 feet and a minimum net lot area of 7,000 square feet. |
| Maximum density | 18 dwelling units per gross acre § 35-76 · code textTable row “SR-M-18”, column “Dwelling Units Per Gross Acre”: 18 |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in SR-M-18:
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — When the required side yard exceeds 10 ft, one side may stay at 10 ft if the excess is added to the other side § 35-76
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, lot coverage, FAR limit for SR-M-18 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 SR-M-18 zone?
25 ft — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35-76.
What is the minimum front setback in Santa Barbara County's SR-M-18 zone?
50 ft from center line and 20 ft from right-of-way line — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35-76.
What is the minimum side setback in Santa Barbara County's SR-M-18 zone?
10% of lot width, min 5 ft — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35-76.
What is the minimum rear setback in Santa Barbara County's SR-M-18 zone?
25 ft — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35-76.
What is the minimum lot size in Santa Barbara County's SR-M-18 zone?
7,000 sq ft — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35-76.
General information, not legal advice.
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