Santa Barbara County · Zoning · R-2
Santa Barbara County R-2 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Santa Barbara County's R-2 zone, generally buildings can be up to 25 ft tall and the front setback is 20 ft, with the conditions listed below (Santa Barbara County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 25 ft (Per section 35.423.050; the other residential table, section 35.23.050, sets 35 ft)
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft (Measured from the edge of the right-of-way)
- Minimum side setback: 10% of lot width, min 5 ft, max 10 ft
- Minimum rear setback: 25 ft
R-2 (Two-Family Residential) 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 R-2
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 | 25 ft Applies: Per section 35.423.050; the other residential table, section 35.23.050, sets 35 ft § 35.423.050 · code textTable row “Maximum height”, column “R-2 Two-Family Residential”: 25 ft |
|---|---|
| Minimum front setback | 20 ft Applies: Measured from the edge of the right-of-way § 35.423.050 · code textTable row “Front - Primary”, column “R-2 Two-Family Residential”: 20 ft from the edge of the right-of-way. |
| Minimum side setback | 10% of lot width, min 5 ft, max 10 ft § 35.423.050 · code textTable row “Side”, column “R-2 Two-Family Residential”: 10% of lot width, with no less than 5 ft or more than 10 ft required. |
| Minimum rear setback | 25 ft § 35.423.050 · code textTable row “Rear”, column “R-2 Two-Family Residential”: 25 ft |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in R-2:
- Maximum building height: 16 ft — Any portion of a structure located above an area of the site where the finished grade is 10 ft or more above the existing grade, except where a project received final design review approval prior to 11/5/92. § 35.423.050
- Minimum front setback: 20% of lot width, min 10 ft, max 20 ft — Secondary front. § 35.423.050
- Minimum rear setback: 15 ft — rear abuts permanent open space or a street without access § 35.23.050
Not on this page
We did not find a general stories, lot size, lot coverage, FAR, density limit for R-2 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 R-2 zone?
25 ft (per section 35.423.050; the other residential table, section 35.23.050, sets 35 ft) — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.423.050.
What is the minimum front setback in Santa Barbara County's R-2 zone?
20 ft (measured from the edge of the right-of-way) — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.423.050.
What is the minimum side setback in Santa Barbara County's R-2 zone?
10% of lot width, min 5 ft, max 10 ft — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.423.050.
What is the minimum rear setback in Santa Barbara County's R-2 zone?
25 ft — Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 35.423.050.
General information, not legal advice.
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