Santa Barbara County Municipal Code Ch. 35.422 Resource Protection Zone

This Chapter lists the land uses that may be allowed within the Resource Protection zone established by Section 35.404.020 (Zoning Map and Zones), determines the type of planning permit/approval required for each use, and provides basic standards for site layout and building size.

A. Applicability. The Resource Management Zone (RMZ) is applied to protect lands that are unsuited for intensive development and that have:

1. Slopes in excess of 40 percent; or

2. Valleys surrounded by slopes exceeding 40 percent; or

3. Isolated table land surrounded by slopes exceeding 40 percent; or

4. Areas with outstanding resource values, including environmentally sensitive habitats and/or watersheds.

B. Intent. The intent is to limit development because of extreme fire hazards, minimum services, and/or environmental constraints, and to encourage the preservation of these areas for uses including grazing, scientific and educational study, and limited residential uses.

A. General permit requirements. Table 2-1 (Allowed Land Uses and Permit Requirements for Resource Protection Zone) identifies the uses of land allowed by this Development Code in the Resource Management Zone, and the planning permit required to establish each use, in compliance with Section 35.420.030 (Allowable Development and Planning Permit Requirements).

B. Requirements for certain specific land uses. Where the last column ("Specific Use Regulations") in Table 2-1 (Allowed Land Uses and Permit Requirements for Resource Protection Zone) includes a Section number, the referenced Section may affect whether the use requires a Land Use Permit, Development Plan, or Conditional Use Permit, and/or may establish other requirements and standards applicable to the use.

C. Development Plan approval required. Development Plan approval in compliance with Section 35.472.080 (Development Plans) is required for all development, including grading, except for:

1. Solar energy systems allowed in compliance with Section 35.430.160 (Solar Energy Systems).

D. Design Review required. Design Review may be required prior to the approval of a planning permit for a structure, or an addition to or an alteration of, an existing structure in compliance with Section 35.472.070 (Design Review).

E. Accessory Structures and Uses. Accessory structures and uses that are customarily incidental to the primary use allowed by Table 2-1 (Allowed Land Uses and Permit Requirements for Resource Protection Zone) are not allowed except as follows:

1. Accessory Dwelling Units. Accessory dwelling units approved in compliance with Section 35.442.015 (Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units).

2. Junior Accessory dwelling Units. Junior accessory dwelling units allowed in compliance with Section 35.442.015 (Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units).

3. Swimming Pools and Water Storage Tanks. Swimming pools and water storage tanks shall be approved or conditionally approved as accessory structures in compliance with Section 35.472.080 (Development Plans).

4. Solar energy systems. Solar energy systems allowed in compliance with Section 35.430.160 (Solar Energy Systems).

Key to Zone Symbols

Notes:

(1) See Division 35.10 (Glossary) for land use definitions.

(2) A change of use to a large or small family day care home, serving children, is exempt from zoning permits. An application to construct a new structure to be used as a large or small family day care home, serving children, is subject to the same standards and permit requirements as a proposal to construct a residential structure in the same zone.

(3) Day care centers serving up to and including fifty (50) children may be permitted with a Land Use Permit in compliance with Section 35.472.110 (Land Use Permits).

Key to Zone Symbols

Notes:

(1) See Division 35.10 (Glossary) for land use definitions.

(2) Shall comply with the requirements of the PU zone; see Table 2-11 (Special Purpose Zones Development Standards) and Section 35.425.050 (PU Zone Standards).

(3) Does not include electrical transmission lines outside the jurisdiction of the County.

(Ord. No. 5169, § 2, 11-29-2022; Ord. No. 5203, § 1, 2-13-2024; Ord. No. 5277, § 3, 1-27-2026)

Each subdivision and residential development shall comply with the following minimum lot area and building site requirements for the applicable zone.

A. Minimum lot size. Each lot in a proposed subdivision shall comply with the minimum gross lot area requirements in Table 2-2 (Minimum Lot Area/Building Site Area). Minimum lot width and depth shall be determined by the review authority through the subdivision approval process.

B. Minimum building site area for residential use. Each primary dwelling shall be located on a lot with the minimum gross area shown in Table 2-2 (Minimum Lot Area/Building Site Area). A dwelling and its accessory structures and uses may also be located on a smaller existing legal lot, except for a fraction lot.

Table 2-2 - Minimum Lot Area/Building Site Area

A. Development Standards. Development within the Resource Management Zone shall be designed, constructed, and established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-3 (Resource Protection Zone Development Standards) and all applicable standards in Division 35.3 through Division 35.6 of this Development Code.

Table 2-3 - Resource Protection Zone Development Standards

(Ord. No. 5277, § 4, 1-27-2026)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 5277, § 4, adopted January 27, 2026, repealed the former Section 35.422.060 in its entirety, which pertained to resource protection zone findings for project approval and derived from original codification.