Santa Barbara County — Signage

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

In unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County, sign regulations live in the County zoning ordinance and, in the Coastal Zone, are implemented through the Coastal Zoning Ordinance with area-specific rules and review requirements. The Coastal ordinance points to the County’s general sign regulations in Article 1, and then adds special standards for certain communities (notably Summerland) and additional design review triggers and overlays. Always distinguish unincorporated areas from incorporated cities; city codes do not apply here.

Key takeaway: In the Coastal Zone’s unincorporated areas, the baseline sign rules are in Article 1 of Title 35, but Summerland has its own numeric limits and materials rules, and many areas require Board of Architectural Review approval for signs (§ 35-138; § 35-184).

How the ordinance is organized for signs (Coastal Zone baseline)

• General sign and advertising structure regulations are controlled by Article 1 of Title 35; the Coastal Zoning Ordinance largely defers to those baseline rules, and then adds community-specific standards where stated in the Coastal ordinance (§ 35-138). Not found in retrieved materials: the text of Article 1’s general sign standards.
• Exterior lighting that could illuminate a sign must be hooded/shielded and avoid glare toward residences, environmentally sensitive habitat, or traffic (§ 35-139).
• Signs often require design review by the Board of Architectural Review (BAR) where a district or overlay calls for it, and BAR is categorically required for any sign to be erected in the Montecito Planning Area (§ 35-184).

District-by-district standards and review

Summerland Community Plan Area — Commercial, Industrial, and PU-Public Utilities zones

Purpose: Maintain Summerland’s small-town coastal character and visual quality through tight control of sign type, size, materials, and lighting. Applies only to Commercial, Industrial, and PU zones that lie within the Summerland Community Plan area (§ 35-138; “PU—Public Utilities District” is codified at § 35-88).

Typical permitted sign types and key dimensional standards in Summerland:

• Wall signs: One or more per street frontage; unlighted or indirectly lit; total area is the lesser of 10% of the façade area for the tenant’s occupied floor or 60 sq ft (§ 35-138.A.2.a.1–2).
• Identification sign: One, unlighted or indirectly lit; max 10 sq ft; max 5 ft overall height from grade; identifies the primary business (§ 35-138.A.2.b).
• Banner sign: One, unlighted; max 16 sq ft; must be on the façade with street frontage; may be displayed no more than a rolling 30 days in any three-month period (§ 35-138.A.2.c).

Design/materials and lighting:

• Face materials must be wood (painted and/or carved) or painted non-gloss; other materials are treated as banners (§ 35-138.A.3.a).
• Illumination must be external and shielded; sources must be extinguished at business closing time (§ 35-138.A.3.b; also comply with countywide exterior lighting rules in § 35-139).
• Neon signs may be allowed with BAR approval only if they meet strict siting and design criteria (distance from and visibility to residential zones, compatibility, subtlety, secondary to primary signage) (§ 35-138.A.3.c).

Prohibited in Summerland:

• Internally illuminated signs (e.g., fluorescent tube behind a plastic panel) (§ 35-138.A.4.a).
• Freestanding pole signs higher than 5 ft (to top of sign) (§ 35-138.A.4.b).

Where Summerland rules apply: Only within the Summerland Community Plan area’s Commercial, Industrial, and PU zones; if there’s a conflict, Summerland-specific standards govern over otherwise applicable regulations (§ 35-138.A.1).

Montecito Community Plan Overlay

Purpose: Ensure design quality and neighborhood compatibility in Montecito.
What it does for signs: Any sign to be erected within the Montecito Planning Area requires BAR review; this is in addition to whatever base-district sign allowances exist (§ 35-184; § 35-184.3 lists limited exceptions not specific to signs).
Where it applies: The Coastal Zone portion of the Montecito Planning Area as mapped in the Coastal Land Use Plan (§ 35-184).
Dimensional sign standards: Not found in retrieved materials (baseline standards referenced to Article 1).

Gaviota Coast Plan Overlay

Purpose: Protect rural/coastal visual character.
What it does for signs: Extends BAR oversight to signs and structures in the plan area; signs must undergo BAR review unless exempted (§ 35-184).
Where it applies: Gaviota Coast Plan area within the Coastal Zone as mapped (§ 35-54; list of certified maps includes Gaviota Coast Plan Zoning/Overlay).
Dimensional sign standards: Not found in retrieved materials.

Toro Canyon Area Plan — BAR and TCWO (Toro Canyon Wetland Overlay)

Purpose: Protect Toro Canyon’s coastal resources and visual character; implement specific public access improvements.
What it does for signs:

• BAR review is required for signs and structures in Toro Canyon Area Plan territory unless exempted (§ 35-184).
• Separate from private on-premise signage, the TCWO mandates comprehensive bilingual public access signage (e.g., park/overlook/trail identification, safety info, Coastal Trail logos) for specified County projects (§ 35-102H.3).
  Where it applies: For TCWO signage, only to defined public access projects along U.S. 101 between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara within mapped overlay boundaries (§ 35-102H.2–.3).
  Dimensional standards (private signs): Not found in retrieved materials.

Countywide Coastal Zone — Exterior Lighting affecting signs

Purpose: Avoid glare/visual impacts and traffic hazards.
Standard: All exterior lighting (including sign illumination) must be hooded; beams may not shine toward residences, environmentally sensitive habitat, or interfere with traffic. Several community plan overlays may add requirements (§ 35-139).

Temporary Uses — Event signage in the Coastal Zone

Purpose: Allow time-limited activities with safeguards.
What it does for signs: Decision-makers may condition temporary use permits to regulate the number, height, and size of temporary signs and to require on-site directional signs for parking. Directional signs must be in place before each event and removed after (§ 35-137.4).
Where it applies: Unincorporated Coastal Zone locations where temporary uses are authorized (§ 35-137.3–.4).

Decision-relevant standards (selected)

Practical notes and cross-checks

• The Coastal ordinance defers general sign rules to Article 1; use the County’s Zoning and Land Use pages to confirm your base district and whether community overlays apply (§ 35-138; § 35-54).
• If your parcel is in Montecito, Summerland, Gaviota Coast, or Toro Canyon, expect design review scrutiny for any new or modified sign (§ 35-184).
• Materials/lighting limitations in Summerland can supersede otherwise allowed options (e.g., wood/non-gloss faces only; no internal illumination) (§ 35-138).
• Temporary event signage is allowed under permit conditions but is time-limited and often tied to parking plans (§ 35-137.4).
• Existing, older signs may be “nonconforming”—check Nonconforming Uses before altering or replacing. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Checklist

• Confirm your site is in unincorporated Santa Barbara County and whether it lies in the Coastal Zone on County maps (§ 35-51; § 35-54).
• Identify base zoning and overlay(s) using County zoning maps; note if you’re in Summerland, Montecito, Gaviota Coast, or Toro Canyon (§ 35-54).
• If in Summerland Commercial/Industrial/PU, size/design your sign within the strict wall/identification/banner limits and materials/lighting rules (§ 35-138).
• Plan for BAR submittal if your area requires design review for signs, especially in Montecito (§ 35-184).
• Ensure external sign lighting is fully shielded/hooded and compliant with countywide standards (§ 35-139).
• For temporary events, include directional parking signage and follow any conditions on size/height/number of temporary signs (§ 35-137.4).
• Coordinate structural/electrical compliance under the California Building Standards Code as needed. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If you’re in unincorporated Santa Barbara County’s Coastal Zone, most signs follow countywide rules housed in Article 1, with extra layers in some communities. Summerland has strict, numbers-based limits and material/lighting rules; Montecito and several other areas require Board of Architectural Review for any sign. Keep illumination shielded, and expect temporary event signs to be time-limited and tied to an approved parking plan.

Information Gaps

• Countywide (Article 1) sign types, measurement methods, and permit thresholds outside Summerland: Not found in retrieved materials (§ 35-138 references them).
• Base-zone-specific sign allowances for Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural, and Residential districts (other than Summerland’s overlay rules): Not found in retrieved materials.
• Any historic resource–specific sign standards: Not found in retrieved materials. See Historic Preservation and verify with the jurisdiction.

Source References

• § 35-138 (Signs and Advertising Structures – Summerland special standards). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II).
• § 35-139 (Exterior Lighting). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II).
• § 35-184 and § 35-184.3 (Board of Architectural Review; exceptions). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II).
• § 35-102H.2–.3 (Toro Canyon Wetland Overlay – Signage for Public Coastal Access Facilities). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II).
• § 35-137.4 (Temporary Uses – Development Standards incl. signage). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II).
• § 35-54 (Adopting Zoning Ordinances and Maps; list of certified Coastal maps/overlays). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II).
• § 35-88 (PU—Public Utilities District reference). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II).
• Article II preface/context (Title and Purpose; Applicability). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II).

Retrieved passages

• Santa Barbara County Zoning Code (Section 35-138.) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara County Zoning Code (Section 35-137.5) Medium relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara County Zoning Code (Section 35-184) Medium relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara County Zoning Code (Section 35-102H.3) Medium relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara County Zoning Code (Section 35-184.2.2) Medium relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara County Zoning Code (Section 35-144A) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 0479 Medium relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara County Zoning Code (Section 35-102H.2) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 35-138 (Signs and Advertising Structures – Summerland special standards). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II). (§ 35-138)
• § 35-139 (Exterior Lighting). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II). (§ 35-139)
• § 35-184 and § 35-184.3 (Board of Architectural Review; exceptions). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II). (§ 35-184)
• § 35-102H.2–.3 (Toro Canyon Wetland Overlay – Signage for Public Coastal Access Facilities). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II). (§ 35-102H.2)
• § 35-137.4 (Temporary Uses – Development Standards incl. signage). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II). (§ 35-137.4)
• § 35-54 (Adopting Zoning Ordinances and Maps; list of certified Coastal maps/overlays). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II). (§ 35-54)
• § 35-88 (PU—Public Utilities District reference). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II). (§ 35-88)
• Article II preface/context (Title and Purpose; Applicability). Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II). (Article II)
• SantaBarbaraCounty_ZoningCode.md

• Official Santa Barbara County code library