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Historic homes in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara's own rules on historic homes, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Santa Barbara Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Santa Barbara's code says

Santa Barbara code What Santa Barbara's code adds
When a building counts as historic
  • At least 50 years old
    Applies: Landmark, Structure of Merit or Local Register listing: structure must be at least this old, meet a significance criterion, and keep historic integrity
    § 30.157.025 · code text
    any structure, site or feature must be at least 50 years of age, meet one or more of the criteria outlined below, and retain historic integrity.
Changing a historic home
  • Landmarks Commission approval, only if work restores original appearance or substantially aids preservation and follows Secretary of the Interior's Standards
    Applies: Major alterations to a historic resource
    § 30.157.110 · code text
    A major alteration, as defined in Section 30.300.080 "H", Historic Resources Related Definitions, may only be approved if the Historic Landmarks Commission finds that:
  • Landmarks Commission approval, only if work is primarily for and substantially advances restoring original appearance; follows Interior Secretary's Standards
    Applies: Minor alterations for Landmarks and structures within El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District
    § 30.157.110 · code text
    A minor alteration, as defined in Section 30.300.080 "H", Historic Resources Related Definitions, may only be approved for Landmarks, and structures within El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District, if the Historic Landmarks Commission finds that:
  • Landmarks Commission approval, only if work is primarily for and substantially advances restoring original appearance; follows Interior Secretary's Standards
    Applies: Minor alterations for Structures of Merit and resources on the Local Register of Historical Resources or within a Historic District Overlay Zone
    § 30.157.110 · code text
    A minor alteration, as defined in Section 30.300.080 "H", Historic Resources Related Definitions, may only be approved for Structures of Merit, and resources on the Local Register of Historical Resources within a Historic District Overlay Zone, if the Historic Landmarks Commission finds that:
  • City Architectural Historian approval, only if work is primarily for and substantially advances restoring original appearance; follows Interior Secretary's Standards
    Applies: Ordinary maintenance to a historic resource
    § 30.157.110 · code text
    Ordinary maintenance as defined in Section 30.300.080 "H", Historic Resources Related Definitions under ordinary maintenance to a historic resource shall be approved by the City's Architectural Historian only if he or she finds that:
Demolishing an older or historic home
  • Landmarks Commission approval only if repair or restoration is not reasonably practical or feasible
    Applies: Substantial redevelopment or demolition of a Landmark; the Landmark must have been damaged by earthquake, fire or similar natural casualty
    § 30.157.110 · code text
    A proposal to substantially redevelop or demolish a Landmark may only be approved if the Historic Landmarks Commission finds that the Landmark has been damaged by an earthquake, fire, or other similar natural casualty such that its repair or restoration is not reasonably practical or feasible
  • Approval needs at least 1 of: loss mitigated, repair impractical after casualty, preservation not economically feasible, compelling public interest
    Applies: Demolition of a historic resource other than a Landmark; approval is by the Historic Landmarks Commission
    § 30.157.110 · code text
    A proposal to demolish a historic resource other than a Landmark may only be approved if the Historic Landmarks Commission has made at least one of the following findings:
Mills Act tax incentive
  • Available; owners of Qualified Historic Properties may enter into Mills Act contracts with the City
    Applies: Qualified Historic Properties, such as designated City Landmarks, Structures of Merit, or properties contributing to designated Landmarks or Historic Districts
    § 30.157.145 · code text
    Preservation incentives may be made available by the City to owners of properties that are Qualified Historic Properties

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What rules apply to a historic home in Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara's code: At least 50 years old (Landmark, Structure of Merit or Local Register listing: structure must be at least this old, meet a significance criterion, and keep historic integrity) (§ 30.157.025); Landmarks Commission approval, only if work restores original appearance or substantially aids preservation and follows Secretary of the Interior's Standards (Major alterations to a historic resource) (§ 30.157.110).

General information, not legal advice.

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