Santa Barbara County · Zoning · CV
Santa Barbara County CV zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Santa Barbara County's CV zone, generally buildings can be up to 35 ft tall, the front setback is 20 ft and the minimum lot size is None required, with the conditions listed below (Santa Barbara County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 35 ft
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft (from edge of right-of-way)
- Minimum side setback: 20 ft
- Minimum rear setback: 20 ft
- Minimum lot size: None required (The review authority sets the size in subdivision review)
- Maximum lot coverage: 30%
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.10
CV (Visitor-Serving Commercial) is a zoning district in Santa Barbara County. Every value below was read from the Santa Barbara County Municipal Code and links to its section (read October 2026). State laws such as the ADU and SB 9 rules can allow more on a residential lot. General information, not legal advice — read the code text and check with the city before you build.
Development standards in CV
The general rule for a typical lot in this zone. Zoning tables often attach notes, such as rules for corner lots, lots next to a residential zone, or new subdivisions only. Open “code text” under a value to see the table cell or sentence it was read from.
| Maximum building height | 35 ft § 35.424.040 · code textTable row “Maximum height”, column “CV Resort/Visitor Serving Commercial”: 35 ft |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 20 ft Applies: from edge of right-of-way § 35.424.040 · code textTable row “Front - Primary”, column “CV Resort/Visitor Serving Commercial”: 20 ft from edge of right-of-way. |
| Minimum side setback | 20 ft § 35.424.040 · code textTable row “Side”, column “CV Resort/Visitor Serving Commercial”: 20 ft; 50 ft from a lot zoned residential. |
| Minimum rear setback | 20 ft § 35.424.040 · code textTable row “Rear”, column “CV Resort/Visitor Serving Commercial”: 20 ft; 50 ft from a lot zoned residential. |
| Minimum lot size | None required Applies: The review authority sets the size in subdivision review § 35.424.040 · code textTable row “Area”, column “CV Resort/Visitor Serving Commercial”: None required; minimum lot size shall be determined by the review authority through the subdivision approval process. |
| Maximum lot coverage | 30% § 35.424.040 · code textTable row “Maximum coverage”, column “CV Resort/Visitor Serving Commercial”: 30% |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | 0.10 § 35.424.040 · code textTable row “Maximum FAR”, column “CV Resort/Visitor Serving Commercial”: 0.10 |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in CV:
- Minimum side setback: 50 ft — from a lot zoned residential § 35.424.040
- Minimum rear setback: 50 ft — from a lot zoned residential § 35.424.040
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, density limit for CV in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Santa Barbara County Municipal Code.
Other Santa Barbara County zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Santa Barbara County's CV zone?
35 ft — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.424.040.
What is the minimum front setback in Santa Barbara County's CV zone?
20 ft (from edge of right-of-way) — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.424.040.
What is the minimum side setback in Santa Barbara County's CV zone?
20 ft — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.424.040.
What is the minimum rear setback in Santa Barbara County's CV zone?
20 ft — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.424.040.
What is the minimum lot size in Santa Barbara County's CV zone?
None required (the review authority sets the size in subdivision review) — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.424.040.
General information, not legal advice.
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