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Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Santa Barbara

Accessory buildings other than garages may total at most 500 square feet; on residential lots they are limited to 2 stories and 30 feet.

Key points

  • Accessory buildings: Accessory buildings other than garages may total at most 500 square feet; on residential lots they are limited to 2 stories and 30 feet.

Each rule below links to the section of the Santa Barbara Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Santa Barbara's code says

Santa Barbara code What Santa Barbara's code adds
Maximum height
  • No more than 2 stories or 30 feet.
    Applies: Detached accessory buildings in the A-1, A-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, R-1, R-2, R-3 or R-4 zones.
    § 28.87.160 · code text
    No detached accessory buildings in the A-1, A-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, R-1, R-2, R-3 or R-4 Zones may exceed two stories or 30 feet in height.
  • No more than 2 stories and 30 feet.
    Applies: Accessory buildings and structures on lots with residential uses, unless a lower limit applies.
    § 30.140.020 · code text
    Accessory buildings or structures shall not exceed two stories and 30 feet in height, or as otherwise limited by this Title.
Size or lot coverage
  • No more than 500 square feet in total.
    Applies: All accessory buildings on the lot combined, not counting garages.
    § 28.87.160 · code text
    Accessory buildings, excluding garages, shall not have a total aggregate floor area in excess of 500 square feet.
  • No more than 750 square feet in total.
    Applies: Garages in the A-1 and A-2 zones.
    § 28.87.160 · code text
    Garages in the A-1 and A-2 Zones shall not have a total aggregate floor area in excess of 750 square feet.
  • No more than 500 square feet in total.
    Applies: Garages in the E-1, E-2, E-3 and R-1 zones on lots of 20,000 square feet or less.
    § 28.87.160 · code text
    Garages in the E-1, E-2, E-3, and R-1 Zones shall not have a total aggregate floor area in excess of 500 square feet, except that garages on lots in excess of 20,000 square feet shall not have a total aggregate floor area in excess of 750 square feet.
  • No more than 750 square feet in total.
    Applies: Garages in the E-1, E-2, E-3 and R-1 zones on lots over 20,000 square feet.
    § 28.87.160 · code text
    Garages in the E-1, E-2, E-3, and R-1 Zones shall not have a total aggregate floor area in excess of 500 square feet, except that garages on lots in excess of 20,000 square feet shall not have a total aggregate floor area in excess of 750 square feet.
  • No more than 1,000 square feet in total.
    Applies: Covered parking and other detached accessory buildings; lots under 5,000 square feet in single-unit zones or with a single-unit home.
    § 30.140.020 · code text
    Lots less than 5,000 square feet: 1,000 square feet.
  • No more than 1,300 square feet in total.
    Applies: Covered parking and other detached accessory buildings; lots of 5,000 to 9,999 square feet in single-unit zones or with a single-unit home.
    § 30.140.020 · code text
    Lots 5,000 square feet up to 9,999 square feet: 1,300 square feet.
  • No more than 500 square feet.
    Applies: Two-unit residential projects, when the allowed accessory floor area is combined into 1 accessory building.
    § 28.80.040 · code text
    Residential accessory buildings, such as garages and sheds, may be permitted concurrently or subsequent to a two-unit residential development project. Each residential unit may have up to the maximum amount of accessory building floor area as permitted by Section 28.87.160, Accessory Buildings; however, the maximum accessory building floor area may not be combined to create one accessory building larger than 500 square feet.
  • No more than 500 square feet in total.
    Applies: Accessory buildings other than garages in the SP-9 Veronica Meadows Specific Plan zone.
    § 28.50.105 · code text
    Accessory buildings, excluding garages, shall not have a total aggregate square footage in excess of 500 square feet.
  • No more than 600 square feet in total.
    Applies: Garages in the SP-9 Veronica Meadows Specific Plan zone.
    § 28.50.105 · code text
    Garages shall not have a total aggregate square footage in excess of 600 square feet.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Santa Barbara?

Accessory buildings other than garages may total at most 500 square feet; on residential lots they are limited to 2 stories and 30 feet.

General information, not legal advice.

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