Santa Barbara · Zoning · CO-HV
Santa Barbara CO-HV zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Santa Barbara's CO-HV zone, generally buildings can be up to 45 ft tall, the front setback is 10 ft and the minimum lot size is No minimum, with the conditions listed below (Santa Barbara code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 45 ft (30 ft in the area bounded by Cabrillo Boulevard, Los Patos Way and the railroad right-of-way)
- Minimum front setback: 10 ft (Residential structures. Add 10 ft for portions over 15 ft tall; add 90 ft in the Cabrillo Blvd and Los Patos Way area.)
- Minimum side setback: 6 ft (Residential Structures)
- Minimum lot size: No minimum (Lots without residential uses; lots with residential uses need 3,500 sq ft)
- Maximum density: 3 units, or 1 unit per 3,500 sq ft of net lot area, whichever is greater (Residential uses; same as the R-M zone, whose density does not depend on lot size. Other uses: not applicable.)
CO-HV is a zoning district in Santa Barbara. Every value below was read from the Santa Barbara 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 CO-HV
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 | 45 ft Applies: 30 ft in the area bounded by Cabrillo Boulevard, Los Patos Way and the railroad right-of-way § 30.35.030 · code textTable row “Maximum Height (ft.)”, column “CO-HV”: 45; 30 when located in the area bounded by Cabrillo Boulevard on the southeast, Los Patos Way on the southwest and the existing railroad right-of-way on the north |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 10 ft Applies: Residential structures. Add 10 ft for portions over 15 ft tall; add 90 ft in the Cabrillo Blvd and Los Patos Way area. § 30.35.030 · code textTable row “Front”, column “CO-HV”: 10; Portions of structures over 15 feet in height: +10; Portions of structures over 15 feet in height and when located in the area bounded by Cabrillo Boulevard on the southeast, Los Patos Way on the southwest and the existing railroad right-of-way on the north: +90 |
| Minimum side setback | 6 ft Applies: Residential Structures § 30.35.030 · code textTable row “Interior”, column “CO-HV”: 6; Portions of structures over 25 feet in height: +4 |
| Minimum lot size | No minimum Applies: Lots without residential uses; lots with residential uses need 3,500 sq ft § 30.35.030 · code textTable row “Minimum Net Lot Area for Newly Created Lots (sq. ft.)”, column “CO-HV”: None; except 3,500 sq. ft. of net lot area is required for lots that include residential uses |
| Maximum density | 3 units, or 1 unit per 3,500 sq ft of net lot area, whichever is greater Applies: Residential uses; same as the R-M zone, whose density does not depend on lot size. Other uses: not applicable. § 30.35.030 · code textTable row “Maximum Base Residential Density”, column “CO-HV”: Structures and portions of structures used for residential purposes: Same as R-M Zone Otherwise: N/A |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in CO-HV:
- Maximum building height: 30 ft — when located in the area bounded by Cabrillo Boulevard on the southeast, Los Patos Way on the southwest and the existing railroad right-of-way on the north § 30.35.030
- Minimum side setback: 4 ft — Extra 4 ft added to the 6 ft setback for portions of structures over 25 feet in height; residential § 30.35.030
- Minimum lot size: 3,500 sq ft — lots that include residential uses § 30.35.030
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, rear setback, lot coverage, FAR limit for CO-HV in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Santa Barbara Municipal Code.
Other Santa Barbara zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Santa Barbara's CO-HV zone?
45 ft (30 ft in the area bounded by Cabrillo Boulevard, Los Patos Way and the railroad right-of-way) — Santa Barbara Municipal Code § 30.35.030.
What is the minimum front setback in Santa Barbara's CO-HV zone?
10 ft (residential structures. Add 10 ft for portions over 15 ft tall; add 90 ft in the Cabrillo Blvd and Los Patos Way area) — Santa Barbara Municipal Code § 30.35.030.
What is the minimum side setback in Santa Barbara's CO-HV zone?
6 ft (residential Structures) — Santa Barbara Municipal Code § 30.35.030.
What is the minimum lot size in Santa Barbara's CO-HV zone?
No minimum (lots without residential uses; lots with residential uses need 3,500 sq ft) — Santa Barbara Municipal Code § 30.35.030.
What is the maximum density in Santa Barbara's CO-HV zone?
3 units, or 1 unit per 3,500 sq ft of net lot area, whichever is greater (residential uses; same as the R-M zone, whose density does not depend on lot size. Other uses: not applicable) — Santa Barbara Municipal Code § 30.35.030.
General information, not legal advice.
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