Permit Guidance

As required by Assembly Bills (AB) 2234 and AB 1483 and other state laws, the following information is provided for transparency for residential development regulations, costs, and post-entitlement processing.

Application Requirements

The City’s Building & Safety Division has a comprehensive list of all submittal items required for building permits as well as the permit process available online: Building & Safety Forms & Applications

Online Permit System

All building permit applications, including all supporting plans and documents, are accepted online via our Accela Citizen Access Portal (ACA)

Fees

City fees can be reviewed through the fee schedules online at Fee Information

Fee studies can be reviewed online at Reference Library LDT Fee Study 

Financial Reports

Search available financial reports online at Budget & Reporting

Economic Feasibility and Nexus Studies

The following studies have been conducted since 2017:

• Keyser Marston 2017 Economic Feasibility and Nexus Analysis Potential Affordable Housing and Parking Requirements
• Keyser Marston 2019 Economic Feasibility and Nexus Analysis Update Memo
• BAE 2021 Economic Feasibility Analysis Floor-to-Lot-Area Ratio

Affordability Requirements

The City of Santa Barbara requires affordable housing as  described here:  Affordable Housing

Zoning Districts and MAPS

Look up the zone and other information through the City’s mapping application at Reference Library Maps

Zoning Ordinances, Development Standards, and Design Guidelines

The zoning ordinances, development standards, and design guidelines for the City of Santa Barbara can be found in the City’s Reference Library

Sample Documents

The following are examples of complete, approved applications for different types of housing development projects in the City of Santa Barbara:

• ADU – Conversion of Attached Garage
  • Approved ADU Supplemental Application
  • Approved Building Permit Application
  • Permit Record
• ADU – New Detached (Coastal Zone)
  • ADU New Permit Record
  • Approved ADU-JADU Covenant Request
  • Approved NEW Building Permit Application
• Junior ADU
  • Junior ADU Approved ADU Supplemental Application
  • Junior ADU Approved Building Permit Application
  • Junior ADU Permit Record
• Mixed Use
  • Mixed Use Approved Building Permit Application
  • Mixed Use Approved Building Permit Application-Demo
  • Mixed Use Permit Record
• Multi-Unit
  • Multi-Unit Air Pollution-Asbestos Form
  • Multi-Unit Approved Building Application
  • Multi-Unit AUD Program Survey Agreement
  • Multi-Unit Construction Valuation
  • Multi-Unit Permit Record
• Single-Family Residential Detached
  • Single Unit Residential Approved Building Permit Application
  • Single Unit Residential Approved Demo Permit Application
  • Single Unit Residential Grading Self-Certification
  • Single Unit Residential Owner Agent Authorization
  • Single Unit Residential Permit Record for Construction
  • Single Unit Residential Permit Record for Demo
  • Single Unit Residential School Fees Receipt
• Townhomes
  • Townhome Approved Building Permit Application
  • Townhome Base Flood Elevation Determination

Inclusionary Housing In-Lieu Fee Information

Pursuant to state law (Assembly Bill 2663), the City is required to publicly disclose information related to inclusionary housing in-lieu fees. This posting includes the amount of in-lieu fees collected during the previous calendar year and whether those fees are intended to be used for a project. The City is also required to disclose the total amount of in-lieu fees collected over the preceding five-year period and the projects on which those fees were expended.

View the Inclusionary Housing In-Lieu Fee Posting here.