Santa Barbara Municipal Code Ch. 30.235 General Plan and Zoning Amendments

This chapter establishes a process for consideration and review of General Plan and Zoning Amendments. More specifically, the purpose of this chapter is to:

A. Establish procedures for making changes to the General Plan to address changes in applicable law, to respond to external trends, or avert future unintended consequences.

B. Establish procedures for making changes to the text of this Title or to the Zoning Map whenever the public necessity, convenience, general welfare, or good zoning practice justify such amendment, consistent with the General Plan.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

The procedures in this chapter shall apply to:

A. All proposals to change the text of the General Plan or the maps that illustrate the application of its provisions, and

B. All proposals to change the text of this Title or to revise a zoning district classification or zoning district boundary line shown on the Zoning Map.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

Pre-application review pursuant to Section 30.205.030, Pre-Application Review, is required prior to submittal of an application of any property owner or authorized agent for initiation.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

An application for an amendment to the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, or Zoning Map may be made by either the Planning Commission or City Council upon its own motion, or the Planning Commission upon the verified application of any property owner or authorized agent and following a public hearing.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

Applications for a General Plan or Zoning Ordinance or Map Amendment shall be accepted and processed pursuant to Chapter 30.205, Common Procedures, and the specific requirements of this chapter. In addition to any other application requirements, the application for a General Plan or Zoning Ordinance or Map Amendment shall include such additional information and supporting data as considered necessary to process the application.

A. Boundary Lines. At the time of any General Plan or Zoning Map Amendment, the new or revised land use or zone boundary shall correspond to lot lines as shown on the County of Santa Barbara Assessor Parcel Maps, unless otherwise recommended by the Planning Commission.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, no mandatory element of the General Plan can be amended more frequently than four times during any calendar year. Subject to that limitation, an amendment may be made at any time, as determined by the City Council. Each amendment may include more than one change to the General Plan.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

Public notice of hearings by the Planning Commission and the City Council for a General Plan or Zoning Amendment shall be given as specified in Chapter 30.205, Common Procedures; except that if a proposed ordinance or amendment to a zoning ordinance or zoning map affects the allowed uses of real property, notice must be published, posted, mailed, and delivered, or advertised, as applicable, at least 20 days before the hearing (Government Code Section 65854). Notice of the hearing shall also be mailed or delivered at least 10 days, or 20 days if applicable pursuant to Government Code Section 65854, before the hearing to any other local agency expected to provide essential facilities or services to the property that is the subject of the proposed amendment.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

A. Hearing. Following initiation, the Planning Commission shall conduct a public hearing for the purpose of making recommendations to the City Council in conformance with the provisions of Chapter 30.205, Common Procedures.

B. Recommendation to Council. Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission shall make a written recommendation on the proposed amendment. A recommendation for approval shall be made by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the total membership of the Planning Commission. The Community Development Director shall transmit the Planning Commission's written recommendation and complete record of the application to the City Council.

C. Denial. If the Planning Commission has recommended against the adoption of such amendment, the City Council is not required to take any further action unless an appeal is filed in accordance with Section 30.205.150, Appeals.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

A. The Ordinance Committee must review and may make recommendations to the City Council on Zoning Amendments, as provided in Chapter 2.05 of the Santa Barbara Municipal Code.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

A. Hearing. After receiving the report from the Planning Commission, and the Ordinance Committee as applicable, the City Council shall hold one or more public hearings in conformance with the provisions of Chapter 30.205, Common Procedures and the City Charter. Except for emergency ordinances, Zoning Amendments require both an introduction hearing and an adoption hearing pursuant to City Charter Section 511.

B. Decision. After the conclusion of the adoption hearing, the City Council may approve by affirmative votes of at least five members of the City Council, revise, or deny the proposed amendment. If the Council proposes any substantial revisions not previously considered by the Planning Commission during its hearing(s), the proposed revision shall first be referred back to the Planning Commission for a report and recommendation. The Planning Commission is not required to hold a public hearing for said revision. Failure of the Planning Commission to provide a report to the City Council within 45 days after the referral, shall be deemed a recommendation for approval.

C. Effective Date of Ordinance. Every Ordinance becomes effective pursuant to City Charter Section 514. Unless otherwise specified by the City Council, any pending permit or approval submitted prior to the effective date of the ordinance must be exercised in accordance with Section 30.205.120A, Exercising a Permit or Approval, or the new ordinance will apply.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

The Planning Commission shall not recommend, and the City Council shall not approve a Zoning Ordinance or Map Amendment unless the proposed amendment is found to be consistent with the General Plan and Local Coastal Plan, as applicable.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)

Following the City Council action, the City Clerk shall make the documents amending the General Plan or Zoning Ordinance or Map, including the maps and text, available for public inspection.

A. Upon the effective date of amendment, boundaries of all areas subject to a land use designation or zoning district revision, including areas to be annexed to the City, shall be described and documented in one or more of the following ways:

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. A 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 the 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, as determined by the Community Development Director.

(Ord. 6217, 4/21/2026)