Local jurisdiction · Santa Barbara County

Lompoc Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

Q: What zoning districts does Lompoc have?

Lompoc’s base zones are grouped into Residential (e.g., RA , 10‑R‑1 , 7‑R‑1 , R‑2 , R‑3 , MH ), Commercial ( CC , CB , OTC , PCD ), Industrial ( I , BP ) and Other zones (including MU , PF , OS ). The Code lists zone purposes in § 17.208.020 , § 17.212.020 , § 17.216.040 and § 17.220.020 .

Q: What are typical setbacks and height limits in residential zones?

Numeric standards live in the residential zone table ( Table 17.208.040.A , § 17.208.040 ). For example many primary residential buildings are limited to 35 ft or 2 stories (table entry) and accessory building heights are often 20 ft ; consult § 17.208.040 for the exact standard that applies to the specific residential zone.

Q: How does Lompoc treat ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units)?

Lompoc’s ADU rules are in § 17.404.020 : the section implements state ADU law, requires ministerial processing (City must approve/deny within 60 days for complete applications), specifies allowed counts (one ADU on single‑family lots; multi‑family rules allow up to two detached ADUs under conditions), defines size limits (e.g., 1,200 sq ft for some detached ADUs), sets 4‑ft side/rear setbacks and minimum detached‑ADU heights 16 ft (with state-based exceptions). ADUs

Q: Can I get a density bonus for affordable housing in Lompoc?

Yes — Chapter 17.320 implements density bonuses consistent with State Government Code § 65915 , including calculation rules and rounding. The chapter applies where five or more units are proposed and the applicant meets the affordability or senior/student criteria set out in the chapter. § 17.320.010–030 .

Q: Are there special rules near the Lompoc Airport?

Yes — the Airport Overlay (AO) imposes height limits (e.g., 15 ft in the clear zone above airport elevation and other approach‑zone limits) and prohibits certain uses and illuminated signs; development within the AO needs Airport Land Use Commission clearance per § 17.224.050 . overlay zones

What you can build in Lompoc depends on its local zoning and planning code, layered on the California Building Standards Code. Ask GoCodebook about any Lompoc address.

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Key points

Zoning districts & allowed uses Setbacks & height limits FAR, lot coverage & density Building permits Remodels & change of use ADUs & JADUs Parking requirements Planning & design review

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Lompoc’s land-use rules are codified in Title 17. Zoning of the municipal code; the Title is adopted as the City’s Zoning Code and establishes applicability, scope and enforcement basics. § 17.104.010 and § 17.104.040 explain that the Code governs new construction, permits, subdivisions and the interplay with existing lawful uses. The City administers the Code through the Community Development Department, the Director, the Planning Commission and the City Council per the administration provisions. § 17.108.020.

How Lompoc's code is organized

Title: Title 17. Zoning — adoption and purpose stated in § 17.104.010 and § 17.104.020.
Administration and interpretation: Chapter 17.108 (responsibility, delegation, rules of interpretation) including appeals references. § 17.108.020 and § 17.108.030.
Zoning districts and development standards (Division II / Division of zones): Residential (Chapter 17.208), Commercial (Chapter 17.212), Industrial (Chapter 17.216), and Other Zones (Chapter 17.220). See the tables of standards (e.g., § 17.208.040, § 17.212.040, § 17.216.040, § 17.220.040) for setbacks, heights, FAR and lot coverage.
Overlays and special districts: Chapter 17.224 (Overlay Zones) and project-specific Specific Plans (standards set by an adopted specific plan; note in Table 17.220.040.A). § 17.224.010, § 17.224.020, and Table notes.
Standards supporting chapters: site requirements and performance standards (Chapter 17.304), parking (Chapter 17.308), landscaping & screening (Chapter 17.312), signs (Chapter 17.316), density bonuses (Chapter 17.320) and inclusionary housing (Chapter 17.324). See the referenced chapters for detailed numerical standards.
Permit procedures and review authorities are collected in Division V; specific procedural chapters include administrative use permits, design review, minor and conditional use permits and appeals (e.g., Ch. 17.508, Ch. 17.512, Ch. 17.520, appeals Ch. 17.612). Noticing and which reviews require public hearings are summarized in Table 17.608.010.A.

Note: when the Code cross-references a topic (for example parking or landscaping) it points users to the supporting chapter—e.g., parking standards are consolidated in Chapter 17.308.

Zoning district families

Lompoc separates its base zones by function; the Code names and purposes are explicit:

Residential zones — RA, 10‑R‑1, 7‑R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, MH (Mobile Home). The list and zone purpose are in § 17.208.020 and the development standards are shown in § 17.208.040 (Table 17.208.040.A).
Commercial zones — CC (Convenience Center), CB (Central Business), OTC (Old Town Commercial), PCD (Planned Commercial Development). Purposes and allowed-permit structure are in § 17.212.020 and standards in § 17.212.040.
Industrial zones — I and BP (Business Park) with minimum lot and setback patterns and height/FAR guidance in § 17.216.040.
Other zones — MU (Mixed Use), PF (Public Facilities), OS (Open Space) — see § 17.220.020 and Table 17.220.040.A for MU/PF/OS development standards and notes (including specific‑plan parcels).
Overlay zones — the Code applies additional controls via overlays: AO (Airport Overlay), CRO (Cultural Resources Overlay), SO (Southside Overlay), PD (Planned Development Overlay), SEO (Special Event Overlay). Overlay lists and purposes appear in § 17.224.020; Airport-specific rules are in § 17.224.050.

(Every district name above is the Code’s label; consult the cited sections and the Zoning Map for parcel-level zone location.)

Citywide development standards (high-level)

The Code centralizes numeric design standards in the zone tables: front/side/rear setbacks, height limits, lot coverage and floor‑area ratio (FAR). Examples: many residential “Primary Building” heights are 35 ft or 2 stories in Table 17.208.040.A § 17.208.040; commercial CB height can be up to 50 ft or 4 stories § 17.212.040; industrial heights are commonly 35 ft (with airport-adjacent exceptions) § 17.216.040.
Parking is regulated citywide in Chapter 17.308; each zone’s table points to that chapter for required parking counts, design and exceptions. For the Code’s cross-reference to parking see zone tables and Chapter 17.308. parking § 17.308.
Site-level requirements—lot-to-lot spacing, hillside rules, minimum landscaped open area, and connectivity—are in Chapter 17.304 (see § 17.304.050 for site requirements and open‑space/spacing rules).
Landscaping, screening, fences/walls and tree protection are handled in Chapter 17.312 (with cross-reference to Title 15 landscape water-efficiency standards). § 17.312 is referenced from the zone tables.
Signs are governed in Chapter 17.316 (see each zone’s “Signs” reference).

For the numerical ceilings and exceptions, consult the applicable table in the referenced zone section (e.g., § 17.208.040, § 17.212.040, § 17.216.040, § 17.220.040).

Design review, discretionary review and variances

The City differentiates ministerial approvals from discretionary permits. The Code defines a “Discretionary permit” as a land-use review where the review authority exercises discretion (definition in the terms/definitions chapter). (See definitions and Chapter cross-references.)
Architectural Design and Site Development Review is administered under Chapter 17.512; some projects (e.g., first development on a vacant site, or Major Design Review) require Commission review while minor reviews may be administrative — the noticing table (Table 17.608.010.A) shows which reviews require hearings. design review Ch. 17.512 and Table 17.608.010.A.
Variances, minor/conditional use permits and administrative use permits are processed under Chapters referenced in the zone tables (Ch. 17.508, Ch. 17.520, and related procedural chapters). For appeals, see Ch. 17.612.
Requests for variances or waivers (for example under the inclusionary housing chapter) require explicit findings by the Commission; see § 17.324.090 for the inclusionary-waiver standard example.

Specific plans & overlays (practical orientation)

Parcels inside an adopted Specific Plan are governed by the specific plan’s standards rather than the base-zone tables; Table 17.220.040.A notes “Development standards applicable to parcels within the Specific Plan Zone shall be established by an adopted specific plan.” § 17.220.040 notes.
Overlay zones layer additional constraints: the AO (Airport Overlay) sets stringent height and use prohibitions and requires Airport Land Use Commission review for projects in the overlay (see § 17.224.050). overlay zones § 17.224.020, § 17.224.050.
The Cultural Resources Overlay (CRO) and Southside Overlay (SO) impose archaeological and neighborhood‑specific rules; see § 17.224.020 for descriptions and procedure.

Building permits & review — typical pathways

All building and grading permits require conformance with Title 17 before issuance. § 17.104.040 states no building or grading permit shall be issued unless the proposed activity complies with the Zoning Code.
Ministerial (no discretionary hearing) vs discretionary: ministerial approvals (e.g., many building permits and some ADU permits) are processed by the Director/Building Official; discretionary permits (CUP, Variance, Major Design Review) go to the Commission or Council per the authority chapters (see § 17.108.020 and Division V chapters).
The Code’s noticing and timeline rules are summarized in the permitting tables (Table 17.608.010.A) — use that table to check whether a project requires a hearing or public notice.
Building-code compliance: Lompoc enforces state building standards (Title 24); ADU and other building-permit work must comply with the local Building Code and the state code. California Building Standards Code § 17.404.020.E.8 (ADU building-code note).

State housing law in Lompoc — how it interacts with the Code

ADUs / JADUs: Lompoc implements ADU/JADU rules in § 17.404.020 (Accessory Dwelling Units). The Code states the ADU section is intended to implement Government Code §§ 65852.2 and 65852.22 and then prescribes ministerial processing, unit counts, size limits, setbacks and minimum 60‑day processing for complete applications. § 17.404.020 (C, D, E). ADUs
- Examples from the local ADU rules: maximum sizes for new detached ADUs (e.g., up to 1,200 sq ft for new detached ADUs per the Code’s limits), minimum detached‑ADU heights 16 ft (with specific 18‑ft exceptions), and side/rear setbacks of 4 ft for ADUs — all spelled out in § 17.404.020.E.
- Lompoc follows State timelines for ministerial ADU approvals (approve/deny within 60 days for complete applications), and the City must provide written deficiencies if denying an ADU. § 17.404.020.C.1–2.
Density bonus and incentives: Lompoc’s Chapter 17.320 implements density bonus provisions consistent with Government Code § 65915; the chapter explains applicability, calculation rules and rounding. § 17.320.010–030.
Inclusionary housing and in‑lieu options: Chapter 17.324 sets the City’s inclusionary requirements, alternative methods and waiver process. § 17.324 (see § 17.324.040 and § 17.324.090).
SB 9 / ministerial lot splits: The uploaded Title 17 text does not contain an explicit SB 9 implementation section or named “urban lot split” chapter in the retrieved pages. For Lompoc’s local interpretation and any objective standards implementing SB 9 you should verify with the Community Development Department (Not found in retrieved materials).
Rent control / tenant protections: No local rent‑control ordinance text was found in the provided Title 17 excerpts; confirm with City sources if local rent rules exist (Not found in retrieved materials).

Practical navigation tips

To confirm what zone applies to a parcel: consult the Zoning Map and the zone purpose section (e.g., § 17.208.020 for residential zones and § 17.212.020 for commercial).
To find numeric standards quickly: open the applicable zone’s development‑standards table (e.g., Table 17.208.040.A, Table 17.212.040.A, Table 17.216.040.A). Lompoc Development Standards
For design review triggers and hearing requirements: consult Chapter 17.512 and Table 17.608.010.A (which shows which reviews are noticed vs. administrative). design review
For parking counts, exceptions and shared‑parking rules: see Chapter 17.308. parking

Information Gaps / Verify with City

Local SB 9 procedures and objective standards — Not found in the uploaded Title 17 excerpts; confirm current Lompoc implementation with the Community Development Department.
Local rent‑control or tenant‑protection ordinances — Not found in the retrieved files; verify with City Clerk or municipal code hosting.

Source References

City of Lompoc, Title 17. Zoning — adoption, purpose, applicability (e.g., § 17.104.010, § 17.104.040).
Chapter 17.108 (Authority and administration) — § 17.108.020, § 17.108.030.
Chapter 17.208 (Residential zones) — § 17.208.020, § 17.208.040 (Table 17.208.040.A).
Chapter 17.212 (Commercial zones) — § 17.212.020, § 17.212.040 (Table 17.212.040.A).
Chapter 17.216 (Industrial zones) — § 17.216.040 (Table 17.216.040.A).
Chapter 17.220 (Other zones — MU, PF, OS) and Specific Plan notes — Table 17.220.040.A.
Chapter 17.224 (Overlay Zones — AO, CRO, SO, PD, SEO) and AO rules § 17.224.050.
Chapter 17.304 (Site requirements), § 17.304.050 (site requirements).
Chapter 17.308 (Parking) (zone tables reference). parking
Chapter 17.312 (Landscaping & screening) and Chapter 17.316 (Sign standards) (zone tables reference).
Chapter 17.320 (Density bonuses) § 17.320.010–030.
Chapter 17.324 (Inclusionary housing / in-lieu fees) § 17.324.040, § 17.324.090.
Chapter 17.404 (Specific use standards) — § 17.404.020 (Accessory Dwelling Units). ADUs
Noticing & procedural table — Table 17.608.010.A (Noticing).

Where to read the Lompoc code

The Lompoc municipal and zoning code is published on eCode360 — view the official Lompoc code library. That lets you read the ordinance section by section.

GoCodebook goes beyond browsing eCode360 (see how they compare): it reads the Lompoc ordinance together with the California Building Standards Code and answers your question — zoning, setbacks, FAR, height, ADUs, permits — with the controlling citation for your parcel.

Who this affects

Lompoc homeownersReal estate developersArchitects & designersReal estate agentsInvestorsGeneral contractorsADU buildersPermit consultants

Frequently asked questions

What zoning districts does Lompoc have?

Lompoc’s base zones are grouped into Residential (e.g., RA, 10‑R‑1, 7‑R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, MH), Commercial (CC, CB, OTC, PCD), Industrial (I, BP) and Other zones (including MU, PF, OS). The Code lists zone purposes in § 17.208.020, § 17.212.020, § 17.216.040 and § 17.220.020.

Do I need a permit to remodel in Lompoc?

Yes — no building or grading permit shall be issued unless the proposed work complies with Title 17 (Zoning) and applicable Building Code rules; see § 17.104.040 for the requirement that permits comply with the Zoning Code before issuance. For discretionary elements (e.g., changes requiring a Variance or CUP) see the applicable procedural chapters.

Does Lompoc require design review for new commercial or residential projects?

Some projects trigger Architectural Design and Site Development Review (Chapter 17.512) — zone tables call out when first development or major projects need Commission review; the Table 17.608.010.A shows whether review is noticed or administrative. Check Ch. 17.512 and Table 17.608.010.A for your project type. design review

What are typical setbacks and height limits in residential zones?

Numeric standards live in the residential zone table (Table 17.208.040.A, § 17.208.040). For example many primary residential buildings are limited to 35 ft or 2 stories (table entry) and accessory building heights are often 20 ft; consult § 17.208.040 for the exact standard that applies to the specific residential zone.

How does Lompoc treat ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units)?

Lompoc’s ADU rules are in § 17.404.020: the section implements state ADU law, requires ministerial processing (City must approve/deny within 60 days for complete applications), specifies allowed counts (one ADU on single‑family lots; multi‑family rules allow up to two detached ADUs under conditions), defines size limits (e.g., 1,200 sq ft for some detached ADUs), sets 4‑ft side/rear setbacks and minimum detached‑ADU heights 16 ft (with state-based exceptions). ADUs

Can I get a density bonus for affordable housing in Lompoc?

Yes — Chapter 17.320 implements density bonuses consistent with State Government Code § 65915, including calculation rules and rounding. The chapter applies where five or more units are proposed and the applicant meets the affordability or senior/student criteria set out in the chapter. § 17.320.010–030.

Are there special rules near the Lompoc Airport?

Yes — the Airport Overlay (AO) imposes height limits (e.g., 15 ft in the clear zone above airport elevation and other approach‑zone limits) and prohibits certain uses and illuminated signs; development within the AO needs Airport Land Use Commission clearance per § 17.224.050. overlay zones

Does Lompoc have local rent control?

No explicit rent‑control provisions were found in the provided Title 17 excerpts. The uploaded zoning code does not include a rent‑control chapter; confirm with the City Clerk or municipal code online for any separate municipal ordinances (Not found in retrieved materials).

Where do I find parking requirements for a new development?

Parking requirements and specifications are consolidated in Chapter 17.308; each zone table points to that chapter for required parking counts, accessible parking, and exceptions. parking Ch. 17.308.

Does the Code spell out how to challenge a Planning Commission decision?

Yes — the Code includes appeal procedures in Division V and references an appeals chapter (e.g., Ch. 17.612) and the Director/Commission/Council roles are described in § 17.108.020; check the appeals chapter for deadlines and appeal mechanics.

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