Santa Barbara — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page explains how the City of Santa Barbara organizes land by zoning districts, how the official zoning map works, and the local rules that control permitted uses, setbacks, height, parking and special districts. The City’s zoning rules are codified in the municipal ordinance (Title 28 in the version you provided) and the Official Sectional Zoning Map (§ 28.12.001) . For how zoning fits with broader land use rules see Santa Barbara — zoning & planning overview and Santa Barbara Land Use.

How the code is structured (short)

• The territory is divided into explicit base zones such as A-1, A-2, E-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, C-1, C-2, C-M, C-X, OC, M-1, OM-1, plus special zones like PUD, P‑D, SP-8, SP-9, and overlay zones. See the zone index table in § 28.10.001 for the full list and chapter references .
• The Official Sectional Zoning Map is incorporated by reference and shows boundaries; where the map and written descriptions conflict the documented description governs (§ 28.12.001; § 28.10.010) .
• General prohibitions (you may only use land consistent with the zone) are in § 28.10.030 .

(First mentions: parking — [Santa Barbara Parking]; setbacks & development standards — [Santa Barbara Development Standards]; design review — [Santa Barbara Design Review]; overlays — [Santa Barbara Overlay Districts]; ADUs — [Santa Barbara ADUs]; Title 24 / building code — [California Building Standards Code].)

District-by-district breakdown (selection of the most-used districts)

Below are the City’s actual district names with the ordinance citation and plain-English interpretation. This is not every detail in the code but is a decision-focused summary tied to the controlling sections.

A-1, A-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, R-1 — One-Family Residence Zones

• Purpose: Low-density single-family residential with limited accessory uses; the ordinance frames these as “restricted residential districts of low density.” § 28.15.005 .
• Typical permitted uses: single residential unit on a lot and group homes; accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are expressly contemplated as allowed when standards are met (§ 28.15.030, § 28.15.005) . (For ADU-specific state/local interplay see the ADU discussion and state law summary.) Link to ADU guidance: [Santa Barbara ADUs].
• Key standards: Nonresidential uses in these zones must meet special rules (e.g., setbacks double the residential setback and 25% maximum lot coverage for nonresidential buildings) (§ 28.15.085). Off-street parking is required per Chapter 28.90 (§ 28.15.100) .
• Where it applies: Most traditional single-family neighborhoods; all unclassified annexed property defaults to A-1 (§ 28.10.010 L) .

R-2 — Two-Family Residence Zone

• Purpose: Medium-density, focused on two-family dwellings and accessory community facilities (§ 28.18.010) .
• Typical permitted uses: Duplex/two-unit residential, group homes and community-serving uses compatible with residential character. Conditional uses (e.g., some institutional uses) are listed elsewhere (§ 28.94.030) .
• Key standards: See chapter 28.18 for dimensional rules and Chapter 28.90 for parking; permitted uses must conform to § 28.10.030 .

R-3 / R-4 — Multi-family / Hotel-Motel Residential Zones

• Purpose: Higher-density residential and multi-unit housing; Average Unit-Size Density Incentive Program applies to R-3/R-4 and other high-density zones (§ 28.20.030–.050) .
• Typical uses: Multi-family apartments, higher-density residential projects; program details and incentive criteria are in Chapter 28.20 .
• Key standards: Chapter-specific numeric standards and any program-based adjustments — verify with Chapter 28.21 and the Average Unit-Size Program language .

C-X — Research & Development / Administrative Office Zone

• Purpose: Allows research, development and administrative operations at an intensity compatible with adjacent residential areas (§ 28.60.005) .
• Typical permitted uses: research and development establishments and administrative offices; manufacturing is specifically prohibited except for prototypes under limited conditions (§ 28.60.030) .
• Key standards: Intensity must be compatible with the basic zone; the Planning Commission evaluates appropriate activity levels (§ 28.60.005) .

C-1, C-2, C-L, C-P, C-M, OC — Commercial Zones

• Purpose: Range from limited neighborhood commercial (C-1, C-L) to general commercial (C-2) and commercial-manufacturing (C-M) and ocean-oriented commercial (OC) (see the zone index table § 28.10.001) .
• Typical permitted uses: Each zone chapter (e.g., 28.63 for C-1, 28.66 for C-2, 28.69 for C-M, 28.71 for OC) lists uses and conditional uses; churches, educational uses and certain institutional uses may need Conditional Use Permit per § 28.94.030 .
• Key standards: Nonresidential building setbacks, lot coverage and architectural review requirements apply (for nonresidential in residential zones see § 28.15.085; for design/architectural review see the Architectural Board/Historic Landmarks Commission citations) .

M-1 / OM-1 — Manufacturing / Ocean-Oriented Manufacturing

• Purpose: Light manufacturing, industrial and related uses with controls to avoid nuisance effects (see chapters listed in § 28.10.001) .
• Typical permitted uses: Light manufacturing, storage, some industrial services; certain institutional or large-scale uses may be conditional per § 28.94.030 .
• Key standards: Site-specific limits on emissions, noise and parking; consult the M-1/OM-1 chapter for detailed dimensional and use lists (§ 28.72, 28.73) .

PUD — Planned Unit Development Zone

• Purpose: Allows a combined classification to achieve flexible development standards, clustering and open-space preservation (land also remains classified in a basic zone unless the Council finds otherwise) (§ 28.36.001–.005) .
• Typical permitted uses: Any use permitted in the underlying basic zone plus planned unit‑development configurations (single-family, two-family, etc.) (§ 28.36.030) .
• Key standards: Example: PUD zoning is shown on the map as A-1-PUD-.8 or R-1-PUD-5.6 (density figure follows the symbol) (§ 28.36.001.B). Building height in PUDs is limited to two stories (35 feet max in hillside cases) (§ 28.36.050) and special open-space/landscaping rules require not less than 50% open space for some PUDs (§ 28.36.195) .

P‑D — Planned Development Zone

• Purpose: Allows project-specific uses and restrictions where special circumstances (topography, adjacencies, General Plan designations) justify deviations from the base zone (§ 28.39.005) .
• Typical permitted uses: Usually whatever is permitted in the base zone plus specific additional uses enumerated for the P‑D (§ 28.39.030) .
• Key standards: The P‑D is processed with rezoning/conditional use permit rules (Chapter 28.92 and 28.94) and may include project-specific setbacks, landscaping, and parking requirements (§ 28.92.020, § 28.94.020) .

SP-8 (Hospital Zone) and SP-9 (Veronica Meadows Specific Plan)

• Purpose: Specific Plan zones tailor standards for unique sites (e.g., hospital campus, Veronica Meadows) and require detailed development plan review (§ 28.49.050, § 28.50.005) .
• Typical permitted uses: Listed in the chapter exhibits and map for each SP; SP-9 splits Area A (residential) and Area B (open space) with explicit permitted uses (§ 28.50.030) .
• Key standards: Project-level development plan approval, context-specific parking and setback rules, and the Planning Commission’s compatibility findings apply (§ 28.49.040–.050) .

Overlay Zones: Coastal, S-H (Senior Housing), Hazard & Others

• Coastal Overlay: All development in the Coastal Overlay is subject to Chapter 28.44 and Coastal review; the Local Coastal Program controls where it conflicts with other city plans (§ 28.44.030) .
• Senior Housing Overlay (S-H): Applied in combination with base zones (A, E, R) and added to the map with the S‑H symbol; the adoption procedure and required development plan are in § 28.42.010 .
• Zone-map rules, boundary resolution and defaults are in § 28.12.001 and § 28.10.010 (e.g., unclassified annexed property becomes A‑1) .

Quick decision table (common, decision-relevant items)

Practical guidance and comparisons

• If your lot is in A-1 / R-1 expect the code to favor single-family scale, limited commercial activity, and architectural or historic design review for nonresidential structures (Architectural Board of Review or Historic Landmarks Commission) (§ 28.15.085.C) . See [Santa Barbara Design Review] for process hints.
• If you’re planning a multi-unit or higher-density project, check whether the Average Unit-Size Density Incentive Program applies (R-3, R-4 and specified commercial/residential zones) before assuming base densities (§ 28.20.030) .
• For sites near the shoreline, the Coastal Overlay Zone imposes additional review and the Local Coastal Program controls where provisions conflict (§ 28.44.030) . See the overlays page: [Santa Barbara Overlay Districts].
• Parking requirements are centralized in Chapter 28.90 and many zone chapters incorporate that requirement; always check Chapter 28.90 and the zone chapter (e.g., § 28.15.100) for the parking baseline and special parking analyses (§ 28.36.100 for PUD examples) . For practical project design, link to [Santa Barbara Parking].
• Design exceptions: Planned or PUD projects are reviewed differently (development plan + conditional use permit) and the Planning Commission has broad authority to impose conditions (§ 28.36.010, § 28.36.013, § 28.36.025) .

Checklist (what an applicant must confirm before filing)

• Confirm the site’s base zone on the Official Sectional Zoning Map and the documented boundary descriptions (§ 28.12.001, § 28.10.010) .
• Verify the proposed use is permitted in that zone (or whether a Conditional Use Permit / rezoning / PUD is required) (§ 28.10.030, § 28.94.030) .
• Determine applicable development standards (setbacks, lot coverage, height) in the specific zone chapter and [Santa Barbara Development Standards] (§ 28.15.085, § 28.36.075, § 28.36.050) .
• Calculate parking demand and confirm compliance with Chapter 28.90 or prepare a parking analysis where allowed (§ 28.15.100, § 28.49.040) .
• Check for overlays (Coastal, Historic, S-H, etc.) and applicable overlay rules (e.g., Chapter 28.44 for coastal) and whether additional permits are required (§ 28.44.030, § 28.37.090) .
• For nonresidential or landmark-area work, prepare for design review by the Architectural Board of Review or Historic Landmarks Commission (§ 28.15.085.C) .
• If proposing an ADU, confirm consistency with local ADU allowances in the zone and note state ADU rules that limit local discretion (see state ADU summary). Verify building code compliance with Title 24 for construction-level work ([California Building Standards Code]). .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Santa Barbara’s zoning ordinance divides the city into named zones (for example A‑1, R‑1, R‑2, C‑X, PUD) that say what you can build where, when you need a conditional use or rezoning, and which special reviews apply (Coastal, PUD, historic). The official map (§ 28.12.001) and the written zone descriptions together determine your site’s rules — when they conflict, the written description controls — and many projects must also meet parking, design review and overlay requirements (§ 28.12.001, § 28.10.030, § 28.15.085) .

Source References

• Santa Barbara Municipal Code — Zone map title and incorporation language: § 28.12.001
• General zones and index table: § 28.10.001 (zone list)
• Uses permitted / general zone rules: § 28.10.030
• One-Family Residence (A-1, A-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, R-1): § 28.15.005, § 28.15.030, § 28.15.085, § 28.15.100
• R-2 Two-Family Zone: § 28.18.010
• PUD Planned Unit Development: § 28.36.001, § 28.36.030, § 28.36.050, § 28.36.195
• P‑D Planned Development: § 28.39.001, § 28.39.005, § 28.39.030
• SP-8 Hospital Zone: § 28.49.040, § 28.49.050
• SP-9 Veronica Meadows Specific Plan: § 28.50.005, § 28.50.030
• C-X Research & Development: § 28.60.001, § 28.60.005, § 28.60.030
• Zone change, variances and applications: Chapter 28.92 — § 28.92.020, § 28.92.030
• Conditional Use Permit findings and list of conditional uses: § 28.94.020, § 28.94.030
• Coastal Overlay compliance and definitions (Coastal review): § 28.44.030 and § 28.37.090
• Official rules for boundaries, documentation and default zone for annexed/unclassified property: § 28.10.010 and related subsections including G–M (§ 28.10.010, § 28.12.001)
• State ADU law summary in uploaded guidance (context on ADU preemption/limits): uploaded file (2025 California ADU handbook)

Retrieved passages

• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (title shall) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (§ 28.11.040.) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (§ 28.10.030.) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (§ 28.37.131.) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (chapter nor) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (Chapter 28.36.) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (Chapter 28.92.) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (Chapter 28.50.) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (section and) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (§ 28.36.013.) High relevance show source text
• Santa Barbara Zoning Code (§ 28.08.020.) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Santa Barbara Municipal Code — Zone map title and incorporation language: § **28.12.001** (title and)
• General zones and index table: § **28.10.001** (zone list)
• Uses permitted / general zone rules: § **28.10.030**
• One-Family Residence (A-1, A-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, R-1): § **28.15.005**, § **28.15.030**, § **28.15.085**, § **28.15.100** fileciteturn1file0
• R-2 Two-Family Zone: § **28.18.010**
• PUD Planned Unit Development: § **28.36.001**, § **28.36.030**, § **28.36.050**, § **28.36.195** fileciteturn1file9
• P‑D Planned Development: § **28.39.001**, § **28.39.005**, § **28.39.030**
• SP-8 Hospital Zone: § **28.49.040**, § **28.49.050**
• SP-9 Veronica Meadows Specific Plan: § **28.50.005**, § **28.50.030**
• C-X Research & Development: § **28.60.001**, § **28.60.005**, § **28.60.030**
• Zone change, variances and applications: Chapter **28.92** — § **28.92.020**, § **28.92.030**
• Conditional Use Permit findings and list of conditional uses: § **28.94.020**, § **28.94.030**
• Coastal Overlay compliance and definitions (Coastal review): § **28.44.030** and § **28.37.090** fileciteturn1file18
• Official rules for boundaries, documentation and default zone for annexed/unclassified property: § **28.10.010** and related subsections including G–M (§ **28.10.010**, § **28.12.001**) fileciteturn1file15
• State ADU law summary in uploaded guidance (context on ADU preemption/limits): uploaded file (2025 California ADU handbook)
• SantaBarbara_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md

• Official Santa Barbara code library