Construction & Land Development News

The City of Santa Barbara is excited to announce the launch of our Preapproved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program—a faster, more affordable way for homeowners to build detached ADUs on their property. 

This year, we celebrate nationwide the 57th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act. The Act made discrimination in housing transactions unlawful, including the rental, refinance, and sale of housing. The Fair Housing…

Upgrading your water heater? Switch to a heat pump water heater for a healthier, safer, and more energy-efficient home! These electric alternatives reduce carbon emissions, improve indoor air quality, and lower energy costs.The City’s…

The City has begun updating the Open Space Element and would like to invite you to participate in the process. The Open Space Element, one of the required components of the City’s General Plan, is the blueprint for preserving and enhancing…

Help plan the future of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront!The City of Santa Barbara has begun developing a 30-Year Waterfront Adaptation Plan and is pleased to invite you and your group, business, or organization to participate in the process.

The City is proposing an amendment to the Municipal Code to add objective design and development standards for multi-unit and mixed-use housing projects to comply with state law, set clear design expectations, streamline design review…

On January 15, 2025, the Community Development Department, in partnership with the Sustainability & Resilience Department and Santa Barbara Clean Energy (SBCE), deployed an expedited OnDemand permitting process and permit fee waiver…

The City of Santa Barbara has released draft updates to the Master Environmental Assessment (MEA) Guidelines for Archaeological Resources and MEA Guidelines for Historic Resources. These documents, published separately,…

Starting January 6, 2025, Building Permit Inspection requests will only be accepted online through the City’s Permit Portal.Using an Accela Citizen Access (ACA) account, a requesting party can:Request a new inspection, cancel, or…

End of Year ClosureAs part of the City’s annual Holiday closure, most City Land Development Team offices and operations will close beginning Friday, December 20, 2024, and will resume business on Monday, January 6, 2025.…

Accela Citizens Access (ACA) Permit Portal was temporarily unavailable.The system is operating again, however slow response may be experienced for a short duration.

End of Year ClosureAs part of the City’s annual Holiday closure, most City Land Development Team offices and operations will close beginning Friday, December 20, 2024, and will resume business on Monday, January 6, 2025.…

The City is creating objective design standards for multi-unit and mixed-use housing projects to comply with state law, set clear design expectations, streamline design review approval, and make the permitting process more predictable. On…

To better align in-person service hours across the City organization, walk-in counter hours for the Land Development Permit Center at 630 Garden Street are being extended on Wednesdays until 5:00 p.m. (instead of 12:00 noon). This will be…

The City of Santa Barbara has recently updated the web address, or URL, for the City’s permit portal: Accela Citizens Access (ACA). We are working on redirects to the new web address, but those may not take effect for up to 24 hours.

The City is pleased to announce—DigEplan—our new electronic plan review software designed to enhance the plan submittal experience is now live. During upload, the software will check for plan sheet page numbering, password protection, and…

Coming September 9th!  The City is pleased to introduce—DigEplan—a new electronic plan review software designed to enhance the plan submittal experience. During upload, the software will check for plan sheet page…

On August 8, 2024, the Planning Commission voted to continue the hearing on the Title 25 Objective Design and Development Standards (ODDS) to August 29, 2024. The Planning Commission’s motion also included several amendments to the ODDS.…

On Thursday August 8, 2024, the Planning Commission will receive staff’s presentation and consider a recommendation to City Council on adoption of a proposed ordinance – Title 25 Objective Design and Development Standards (ODDS). The…

The Final Draft Objective Design and Development Standards (ODDS) are now available for review. On Thursday August 8, 2024, the Planning Commission will receive staff’s presentation and consider a recommendation to City Council on adoption…