Long Range Planning

Annual Work Program

The Annual Work Program (Work Program) provides a summary of the various land use planning projects designated for the specific fiscal year.

Accessory Dwelling Units

On October 9, 2019, Governor Newsom approved Assembly Bill (AB) 68, AB 881, and Senate Bill (SB) 13. These bills collectively amended State accessory dwelling unit (ADU) law (Government Code section 65852.2) and junior ADU (JADU) law (Government Code section 65852.22).

Agricultural Enterprise Ordinance

The Agricultural Enterprise Ordinance will amend the County Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) and the Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Article II).

Coastal Resiliency

The County of Santa Barbara's Coastal Resiliency Project is a grant-funded effort to evaluate the impacts of sea-level rise and related coastal hazards along the County's entire 110-mile long coastline.

Zoning Ordinance Amendment Project

The Zoning Ordinance Amendment Project is an effort by Santa Barbara County to bring certain rules, regulations, and review processes up to date with County goals, and reflect current regulatory, economic, and environmental conditions. The overall objective is to make requirements clear and effective, streamline review processes, and incorporate flexibility to adapt to specific circumstances. The project will result in a set of amendments to the County’s land use and development regulatory documents aimed at technical updates, housing accommodation, and process improvements.

Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities Update

Senate Bill 244 (Government Code § 65302.10(c)) requires the County of Santa Barbara to review and update the Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities (DUC) appendix of the Santa Barbara County Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element. The update must include an analysis of water, wastewater, stormwater drainage, and structural fire protection needs or deficiencies for each identified DUC. It must also include an analysis of potential funding mechanisms for the improvement and/or extension of services and facilities to identified communities. The DUCs that the County is analyzing include Ventucopa, Cuyama, New Cuyama, Sisquoc, Garey, Casmalia, Los Alamos, and Isla Vista.

Environmental Justice Element

The County will prepare a separate EJ Element to identify disadvantaged communities within the unincorporated county and develop goals, policies, and objectives.

Farmstay Ordinance Amendments

The Farmstays Project specifically would allow farmstays on all AG-II properties in the Inland Area and Coastal Zone of the unincorporated county.

Housing Element Update

In June 2021, County planners began preparing the 2024-2032 Housing Element Update (HEU). They are currently analyzing a sites inventory and working with a consultant to help collect data and identify regional housing needs within the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County.

Housing Element Update - Spanish

Safety Element Update

The County of Santa Barbara Seismic Safety and Safety Element (Safety Element) of the Comprehensive Plan establishes policies to protect the community from natural and human-made hazards.

Short-Term Rental Ordinance

Learn about information regarding Short Term Rental regulations for Coastal and Non-Coastal Zones.

State Density Bonus Law Update

On September 28, 2016, Governor Brown signed four assembly bills amending State Density Bonus Law. These bills went into effect on January 1, 2017.

Transitional & Supportive Housing

Transitional and supportive housing are types of affordable and special needs housing linked to supportive (social) services.

Utility-Scale Solar Comprehensive Plan

The Utility-Scale Solar Comprehensive Plan and Ordinance Amendments Project initiates amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, zoning ordinances, and Uniform Rules to allow utility-scale solar in the County outside of the current Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Overlay.

Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tool

Staff and its transportation consultant, Fehr & Peers, developed a VMT Tool to help planners, applicants, and other CEQA practitioners apply the new VMT metrics to certain projects.

Annual Zoning Amendments Package

Learn about the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.