Chapter 28.10 — ZONES

In order to classify, regulate, restrict and segregate the uses of land, buildings and structures; to regulate and restrict the height and bulk of buildings; to regulate the area of setbacks, open yards, courts and other open spaces about buildings; and to regulate the density of population; the territory of the City of Santa Barbara is hereby divided into the following zone classifications:

(Ord. 2585, 1957; Ord. 3710, 1974; Ord. 4169, 1982; Ord. 4171, 1982; Ord. 4172, 1982; Ord. 4825, 1993; Ord. 4900, 1995; Ord. 5319, 2004; Ord. 5343, 2005; Ord. 5417, 2007; Ord. 5459, 2008)

• A. Upon the effective date of amendment, boundaries of all areas to be zoned or rezoned, whether by application or initiated by the City, including zoning in areas to be annexed to the City shall be described and documented as follows:

  1. Metes and bounds (bearings and distances in feet) covering all courses and distances around the boundaries of each area to be zoned or rezoned; or

  2. Where the proposed boundary lines are coincident with existing parcel lines, the legal description of the property to be zoned or rezoned may be done by referencing the current assessor's block and parcel numbers; or

  3. Combination of the above as determined by the Community Development Director; or

  4. When the preferred methods indicated above are determined to be impractical by the Community Development Director, a map which is drawn to scale may be used.

• B. The description of subject boundary shall also include, but not be limited to, references to contiguous lines of public alleys, public streets, highways, freeways, and railroad property existing at the time of said zoning or rezoning.

• C. The zone boundary description shall be prepared by the applicant and shall be made part of the application submitted to the Planning Commission. In the event that the rezoning is initiated by the City, the zone boundary description shall be prepared by the Public Works Director immediately following approval of zoning or rezoning by the City Council and shall be submitted to the City Attorney for preparation of the Zoning Ordinance amendment.

• D. Said zoning and rezoning boundary descriptions shall hereafter be incorporated in each ordinance authorizing each zoning or rezoning classification including land use zones resulting within areas to be annexed to the City.

• E. Applications for zoning or rezoning shall be submitted to the Planning Commission as required in Chapter 28.92 , on standard forms prepared therefor and shall include one copy of the current City parceling map showing all property involved and currently zoned in said application with the boundary of the portion requested to be rezoned outlined in red color.

• F. In addition to documenting zone boundary descriptions, the zoning maps of the City of Santa Barbara, drawn to scale, shall also show the current boundaries of all zoned areas, including such zones documented by descriptions. Dimensions, if shown on the zoning map, shall concur with the dimensions (distances) cited in the corresponding documented zone descriptions.

• G. Where uncertainty exists as to the boundary of any zone created and shown on the zoning map after the effective date of this amendment, the corresponding documented zoning description shall govern.

• H. In the case of uncertainty as to interpretation of a zone boundary either documented by description or by the zone map in the absence of a documented boundary description, the City Council shall, after recommendation of the Planning Commission, determine the location of the boundary in question.

• I. Where a zone boundary, not documented by description as set forth herein, crosses unsubdivided property or any lot and unless the location of such boundary is specified by dimensions shown on the zoning map, said boundary shall be determined by reference to City parceling maps maintained by the Chief of Building and Zoning and on which, in this instance, specific boundary locations shall be shown.

• J. Where any public street, alley, or thoroughfare is officially vacated or abandoned and use of the land therein is conveyed to the contiguous property, the zoning regulations applicable to the contiguous property shall apply to the areas so vacated or abandoned.

• K. Where any private right-of-way or easement of any railroad, railway, canal, transportation or public utility company is vacated or abandoned, the zoning regulations applicable to the contiguous property shall apply to such vacated or abandoned property.

• L. All property in the City of Santa Barbara not otherwise classified, and all property hereafter annexed and not zoned upon annexation, is hereby classified as A-1 Zone.

• M. At the time of any zoning or rezoning, the new zone boundary shall follow existing lot lines as shown on the Official Parceling Maps of the City of Santa Barbara, unless otherwise recommended by the Planning Commission.

• (Ord. 3020, 1965; Ord. 3632, 1974; Ord. 4190, 1982; Ord. 5380, 2005)

Except as hereinafter provided:

• A. No building or structure shall be erected, moved, altered, added to or enlarged, nor shall any land, building, structure or premises be used, designed, or intended to be used, for any purpose or in any manner other than

is permitted in the zones in which such land, building, structure or premises are located.

• B. No building or structure shall be erected, moved, reconstructed or structurally altered to exceed in height the limit established for the zone in which such building or structure is located.

• C. No building or structure shall be erected nor shall any existing building or structure be moved, altered, enlarged or rebuilt, nor shall any open spaces surrounding any building be encroached upon or reduced in any manner except in conformity with the lot area, setback, and open yard regulations established for the zone in which such building or structure is located, except as otherwise provided in this title.

• D. No setback, open yard, or other open space provided about any building or structure for the purpose of complying with these regulations shall, by reason of change in ownership or otherwise, be considered as providing a setback, open yard, or open space for any other building or structure.

• (Ord. 2585, 1957; Ord. 3710, 1974; Ord. 5459, 2008)